Wax Candy in Australia: History, TikTok Trends & DIY Recipes for Natural Beeswax Lollies
Every now and then customers buy our beeswax and tell us they are using it for all sorts of extraordinary things, from lip balms to polishes, didgeridoo care to plastic wrap alternatives, and for candles of course. But until this week we’d never heard of wax candies.
Australians mostly missed the wax candy phenomena of early 1900’s America but thanks to a new TikTok trend, a new generation of Australian sweet tooths are about to discover more than musk sticks, Violet Crumbles and Fantales.
We wanted to know a bit more about the wax candy phenomena, so it was down the research hive hole for us beekeepers. We did it so you don’t have to!
But, if you already know what you’re doing and want to buy our 100% natural Australian beeswax to make your own wax candies, we have you covered and you can buy our NSW-harvested beeswax online here.
What are wax candies?
Wax lollies are ‘playful, chewable sweets’ made from edible wax, often shaped into bottles or lips (and more recently any kind of shape you can imagine…flowers, hearts, bees, sticks, dinosaurs etc!). They’re filled with flavoured syrup, and enjoyed (or not, as the arguments on TikTok reveal!) for their unique texture and nostalgic charm.
What is wax candy made from?
Often, they are made from paraffin and artificial liquids, but if you’re going to have them, we reckon the best ones for you and the planet are made from our natural beeswax and natural syrups, including honey, maple and fruit syrups.
Why are wax candies popular right now?
A lot of Americans remember the odd but delightful experience of chewing on a wax candy—tiny bottles filled with syrupy liquid or the classic wax lips that doubled as a goofy costume piece before you bit into them. Wax candies have always been a bit of a novelty, but they’re making a surprising comeback, thanks to TikTok’s obsession with all things nostalgic and ASMR-worthy.
What on earth does ‘ASMR’ mean and how does it relate to wax lollies?
Good question! We wanted to know that too. Apparently, ASMR, or Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response, is a tingling, relaxing sensation that some people experience in response to certain sounds, like whispering, tapping, or in this case, the soft chewing of wax candies’. Right…I suppose we get our ASMR from listening to the bees coming and going from the hives and the sound of all those tiny wings in the air and the breeze in the trees…but…we get it.
So, a combination of nostalgia, ASMR, people eating something unusual, and the debates over whether you should eat the wax or not (spoiler: we don’t suggest people who enjoy our honeycomb swallow the actual wax in large quantities), and TikTok, have combined to make wax candy hot again.
But, how did it wax candy get hot in the first place?
A Brief History of Wax Candies (Including Their Prohibition-Era Secret)
Wax candies first became popular in the early 20th century in America when confectioners experimented with using mostly paraffin wax as a way to hold and dispense sweet liquids.
Wax bottles had a hidden use during Prohibition too, because while these candies were originally intended for kids, some ‘enterprising’ adults found a way to repurpose them for smuggling alcohol. Instead of sugary syrup, bootleggers would fill wax bottles with whiskey, rum, or moonshine. These disguised bottles were small, easy to transport, and could be casually chewed on to avoid suspicion.
We’re shocked Americans! …Surely that’s an urban myth as that’s a lot of work to get just a tiny sip of alcohol! You could have been making honey mead out the back instead!
Anyway (thank you internet AI and past wax lolly lovers for this research!)…companies like one called Nik-L-Nip came around in the 1940’s making a name for themselves with their iconic wax bottles. The idea was simple: bite off the top, drink the flavoured syrup inside, and chew the wax like gum—though swallowing it was never encouraged. FYI: When people eat our fresh honeycomb we don’t advise swallowing big chunks either! And we sure wouldn’t want to be eating paraffin!
Other wax-based treats, like oversized wax lips, fangs and moustaches then became Halloween staples (another reason Australians luckily missed the boat as Halloween has never been an Aussie tradition).
Wax Candy’s Viral Moment on TikTok
So one day while we were busy with the bees (wait…that’s every day!), wax candy’s went viral on TikTok. The hashtag #waxbottlecandy has since racked up millions of views, users loving the mix of sensory fun and retro appeal. Some are even making their own versions at home, using flavoured syrups and different types of wax. But that leads us to an important discussion: not all waxes are created equal.
Beeswax vs. Paraffin for Wax Candy
Traditional wax candies have historically been made with paraffin wax, a petroleum byproduct. But now there’s growing interest in alternatives—especially pure beeswax. Hence, this blog post! Here’s why:
Natural and Sustainable – Unlike paraffin, which is derived from crude oil, beeswax is a natural byproduct of honey production, making it a more eco-friendly option.
Better Texture and Taste – Beeswax has a softer, more natural chew, whereas some people say paraffin can feel overly stiff or plasticky. Plus, beeswax has a faintly sweet, honey-like flavour and scent. (we love it!)
No Unwanted Additives – Paraffin wax often contains additives to enhance texture or appearance. Beeswax, on the other hand, is pure and chemical-free.
Food miles & processes – Our beeswax is harvested on the mid north coast of NSW, Australia. It doesn’t go through a zillion processes, cross continents or multiple factory pipelines – it’s so local and natural it’s just perfect for Australian home made wax candy
Making Your Own Wax Candies with Beeswax!
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can try making your own wax candies at home! Here are two classic DIY recipes: one for wax bottles and another for wax lips and shapes. You just need to find the silicon molds you’d like to use.
Recipe for Homemade Beeswax Candy Bottles with Australian Beeswax
Ingredients:
- ½ cup pure food-grade beeswax (direct from us at The Beekeeper would be great!)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil (for softness…experiment also with either a little less or more and keep note for the next time!)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract or a few drops of flavoured oil
- Small silicone bottle molds or a mini bottle-shaped mold
- Flavoured syrup of your choice (homemade or store-bought)
Instructions:
- Melt the beeswax and coconut oil together slowly in a double boiler over low heat. Stir occasionally.
- Pour the melted wax into silicone molds, coating the edges evenly to create a hollow bottle shape. Let the first layer harden slightly, then add another coat if needed for strength.
- Once fully hardened, gently remove the wax bottles from the molds.
- Fill each bottle with your choice of flavoured natural syrup (honey, maple or fruit!).
- Seal the top with a small layer of melted beeswax and let it set.
- To enjoy, bite off the top, sip the syrup, and chew the wax like gum!
Homemade Wax Lips and Shapes
Ingredients:
- ½ cup pure food-grade beeswax
- 2 tablespoons honey (for flavour)
- Natural food coloring (beet powder for red, turmeric for yellow, etc.)
- Silicone molds (lips, fangs, mustaches…or bees, etc.)
Instructions:
- Melt the beeswax and honey together over low heat.
- Stir in natural food colouring to achieve the desired shade.
- Pour the melted wax into silicone molds and let them cool completely.
- Once hardened, remove them from the molds, fill with syrup of your choice, cap with some wax and then enjoy.
If you’re making your own wax candies and want to experiment with natural syrups, there are plenty of delicious options beyond the standard artificial flavors. Here are some all-natural and homemade syrup ideas that work great for filling wax bottles or adding flavor to wax-based candies:
Natural Syrup Options for Wax Candies
How to make honey syrup:
Mix ¼ cup honey with 2 tbsp warm water to thin it out.
Stir until fully dissolved.
How to make maple syrup
Use pure maple syrup as-is or mix it with a little warm water if you want it thinner.
How to make fruit syrups for wax candies
Simmer 1 cup fresh fruit (berries, mango, peach, pineapple, etc.) over medium heat with ¼ cup honey or maple syrup and 2 tbsp water until it thickens (10-15 minutes). Strain out the pulp for a smooth syrup. Some people add ¼ teaspoon of lemon juice to brighten the flavours. Tip: You can store leftover syrup in the fridge for up to a week and use it for drinks, pancakes, or yogurt!
Herbal-Infused Syrups
Steep fresh herbs (mint, basil, rosemary, or lavender) in warm honey or maple syrup for 30 minutes. Strain out the herbs before pouring into the wax candy.
Phew! That’s probably more than either you or us ever needed to know about beeswax candy, but if you have a craving and want to try making them at home, you can buy our beeswax here online, or save money on shipping by picking it up from us at the markets in Port Macquarie, or at Kaleidoscope Store in Coffs Harbour.
Well, we’re heading back out to the bees tomorrow to tell them about this strange human invention and reinvention using their produce. Thanks bees! Sweet dreams everyone.
