Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: mick on March 03, 2009, 05:24:17 AM

Title: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: mick on March 03, 2009, 05:24:17 AM
I was giving a few frames the blow torch treatment, before using them again.

The beautiful sweet floral smell wafting up from the disolving propolis was quite a surprise.

Has anyone else noticed this? Im thinking maybe some of the candle makers might try to incorporate propolis in the candles.
Title: Re: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: BjornBee on March 03, 2009, 08:48:27 AM
Propolis is one of my favorite smells.

If you make candles with such items as propolis, make sure you liquefy it in some manner taking out all impurities and small particles. Otherwise, you will have small particles being sucked up into the wick at a rate that may inhibit proper burning and may actually put your candle out.
Title: Re: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: Scadsobees on March 03, 2009, 01:59:17 PM
And the flavor!  Nothing better than popping a big ol' wad of propolis in your mouth and chewing it like gum!  Yummy! :-D

:evil:
Title: Re: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: poka-bee on March 03, 2009, 03:06:25 PM
I don't have to burn it to smell ours, it gets on my hands, gloves, camera...the dog...smells so heavenly.  One of the unexpected pleasures of beekeeping, the smell!  J
Title: Re: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: BjornBee on March 03, 2009, 03:30:52 PM
We need that Planters nut girl to do a commercial but instead of dabbing a nut behind her ear, use some propolis...  :shock:
Title: Re: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: Daddys Girl on March 03, 2009, 03:34:42 PM
What does propolis dissolve in?  Alcohol?  Water?
Title: Re: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: mastro on March 03, 2009, 04:11:35 PM
Smells like hops in beer...I wonder...
Title: Re: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: Dane Bramage on March 03, 2009, 07:25:18 PM
Quote from: Daddys Girl on March 03, 2009, 03:34:42 PM
What does propolis dissolve in?  Alcohol?  Water?

It dissolves in alcohol.  It makes an excellent after-shave tincture (among other applications)  btw.

I've tried it in candles - doesn't work (non wax soluble - just sinks).  What does work is placing it in tart burners, which are very inexpensive.   Alternatively, there are more expensive propolis vaporisers/diffusers ~>


Besides the nice aroma, there are other health benefits to propolis vapor:

QuoteExam made from the Italian National Health Service
AIM OF THE EXPERIMENT
The authors wanted to verify whether this combination releases volatile substances into the atmosphere which can reduce the microbial load of the air within a confined environment (in a school near of Turin-Italy) using Propolair, propolis vaporizers.
RESULTS
Using for 3 consecutive days the diffusers in to the schools and after to have analyzed the Air before and after the experimentation, some comments can be made on the antibacterial activity of sesquiterpenes.
Utilizing Propolair diffusers there was a strong microbial load reduction (71,8% in 3 days).
The possibly of using natural substances, without side effects, for the sanitation of the environment is certainly of great benefit.

Scientific study about:
Public Health Lab. Biotoxicological sectio, Local Healts Unit No. 5 in Grugliasco (Turin -Italy) in collaboration with Work Safety and Healt Service, Local Health Unit No.5 in Collegno (Turin – Italy) and Basic medicine Service, Local Health Unit No. 5 in Villarbasse (Turin – Italy). Published on: Biologi Italiani, February 1996 n°2
Title: Re: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: Cindi on March 03, 2009, 07:44:30 PM
Dane, nice video, too bad it was in French though, smiling.  Beautiful day in this great life.  Cindi
Title: Re: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: DayValleyDahlias on March 03, 2009, 08:32:01 PM
If I had a spare $600. I would buy Rosetta Stone-French
Title: Re: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: troutstalker2 on March 03, 2009, 11:48:00 PM
 viva le propolis :-*
Title: Re: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: Cindi on March 03, 2009, 11:51:48 PM
I have a beautiful jar of propolis that sits on my kitchen counter.  I have gathered this since I began my keeping of the bees.  I can't tell the times that I pick this jar, up, place it beneath my nose, inhale deeply through my nostrils, close my eyes -- in my mind's eye, I am right there, right there in a beautiful warm day in summer, close to a massive pine tree that ornaments a part of my yard, or I am on a picnic in the woods with my Grandchildren.  Propolis, memories of the warmth of a summer's day and joy.  Have a most wonderful and awesome day, life, love our life.  Cindi
Title: Re: The perfume of Propolis
Post by: mick on March 04, 2009, 04:03:08 AM
Quote from: Scadsobees on March 03, 2009, 01:59:17 PM
And the flavor!  Nothing better than popping a big ol' wad of propolis in your mouth and chewing it like gum!  Yummy! :-D

:evil:

I will have to try that!

Quote from: Cindi on March 03, 2009, 11:51:48 PM
I have a beautiful jar of propolis that sits on my kitchen counter.  I have gathered this since I began my keeping of the bees.  I can't tell the times that I pick this jar, up, place it beneath my nose, inhale deeply through my nostrils, close my eyes -- in my mind's eye, I am right there, right there in a beautiful warm day in summer, close to a massive pine tree that ornaments a part of my yard, or I am on a picnic in the woods with my Grandchildren.  Propolis, memories of the warmth of a summer's day and joy.  Have a most wonderful and awesome day, life, love our life.  Cindi

I will definately try that too!