Beeswax polish going mouldy in tin

[user 3509]

We made a batch of beeswax polish last year and when I opened the last tin recently there was black mould growing on the polish. Can anyone explain why this has happened and how to avoid it?

 

[oliver90owner]

The recipe you used, please, including the method of manufacture?

 

[Karol]

Water content too high coupled possibly with a storage location that has sufficient temperature differentials to support migration and condensation within the jar. One common mistake is to accidentally wet any waxed card liners used within jar lids as part of jar preparation before use. Best thing there is to thoroughly dry in an oven and you can use rice as a dessicant to help the drying process.

 

[Roola]

Use some vitamin e oil, that adds shelf life

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[MuswellMetro]

only seen black mould with beeswax made with olive oil, normally if you use a turpentine recipe it stops it

 

[ichbinpaul]

Perhaps just a spot of Thymol in spirit would be ideal seeng as many of us keep it!.

 

[Karol]

There are two ways in which you can prevent fungal contamination. One is to reduce water activity in the product (i.e. keep the activity level below 0.77 for moulds) or use preservatives where the activity of water is high (i.e. above 0.77).

Essentially you can reduce water activity by drying out a product or by adding a greater proportion of waxes, fats or non aqueous liquids (such as turpentine). Do make sure you have airtight fitting lids.

Some light bedtime reading

http://www.wateractivity.org/microbial-growth

http://www.drugfuture.com/Pharmacopoeia/USP32/pub/data/v32270/usp32nf27s0_c1112.html