Aged Beeswax

[Cyndi]

Today I received something interesting from a distant relative, who just happens to be from the area that I live in. I popped into her house today to say hello. She didn't know until today that I kept bees and made candles. Her Father, who passed away when he was in his 90's, several years ago, (she is 76) was an old time beekeeper. She had this big ring (about 4 pounds) of beeswax in her basement that she wanted me to make her a couple of candles from. Anybody ever used beeswax that's say probably over 30-40 years old??? Believe it or not, it still smells like beeswax too...faintly, but it's there.

[honeyman46408]

If it looks good, smells good I would think it is good, but I am not Xpert.

[JohnK and Sheri]

I have had mixed results from old beeswax, which people offer me for sale fairly regularly. ( In fact later today I am meeting someone to look at some old wax that was in the barn of a farm he just bought.)
If the wax is still yellow it should be fine, it doesn't seem to be age that hurts it. If it is tan or brownish it might be from brood combs and can smell pretty nasty. I would definitely do a small test pour before investing much time in it. Once it is melted you can do the "smell test".
Like Ed says, if it looks and smells good it will work. If it's brownish it might not.
Sheri