Frequently Asked Questions

At The Giddy Bee, we believe good products come from thoughtful choices—about ingredients, sourcing, and how things are made.

Here you’ll find answers to some of the questions we are asked most often about our honey, beeswax body care, ingredients, sourcing, and honey tasting experiences.

Honey & Honey Sourcing

Is all of your honey produced by The Giddy Bee?

Not all of it. The Giddy Bee is a small South Carolina apiary, and the amount and type of honey our bees produce can vary from season to season.

We offer honey harvested from our own hives along with carefully selected honeys from trusted beekeeper partners. This allows us to share a wider variety of floral sources, regions, colors, aromas, and flavors while remaining transparent about where each honey comes from.

Where does your honey come from?

Our local raw honey is harvested in Lancaster County, South Carolina.

We also curate distinctive honeys from trusted beekeepers in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and other regions. The specific origin and floral source are listed on the product page whenever available.

What does “raw honey” mean?

Raw honey is minimally processed and is not exposed to the high heat commonly used in large-scale commercial processing.

It may be strained to remove pieces of wax or hive debris, but it retains the natural character, aroma, texture, and flavor of the original harvest.

Where can I buy local honey in South Carolina?

The Giddy Bee offers local raw honey harvested in Lancaster County, South Carolina, along with a curated selection of regional and varietal honeys.

You can shop online, visit one of our retail locations, or find us at local markets, pop-ups, and seasonal events throughout the Charlotte and Lancaster area.

Button: Shop Local Honey

Does honey have to be local to be good?

Not necessarily. Local honey is a wonderful way to experience the landscape and floral sources of your own region, but geography is only one part of choosing good honey.

The most important things are that the honey is pure, properly handled, clearly sourced, and purchased from a beekeeper or business you trust.

Local honey helps you taste your region. Curated honey helps you taste the world.

Why does honey crystallize?

Crystallization is a natural process and does not mean your honey has spoiled. Pure raw honey may crystallize more quickly depending on its floral source, natural glucose content, and storage temperature.

To return crystallized honey to a more liquid consistency, place the closed jar in a bowl of warm—not boiling—water and allow it to soften gradually.

What makes The Giddy Bee honey different?

Our honey is rooted in place.

We harvest local raw honey from our own South Carolina apiary and curate distinctive honeys from other regions so customers can explore how floral source, weather, landscape, soil, and season shape every jar.

We want you to know more than whether a honey tastes sweet. We want you to discover where it came from, what was blooming, and what makes that particular harvest unique.

Beeswax Body Care

What does beeswax do for skin?

Beeswax helps create a breathable protective barrier on the skin, helping lock in moisture and shield dry areas from everyday exposure.

It is especially useful in products made for dry hands, rough heels, elbows, lips, and other areas that benefit from longer-lasting moisture.

What is the difference between a lotion bar and regular lotion?

A lotion bar is a concentrated solid moisturizer made without water.

The warmth of your skin softens the bar as you rub it over dry areas, leaving behind moisturizing oils and beeswax. Because lotion bars do not contain water, a little goes a long way.

They are easy to carry, less messy than liquid lotion, and especially helpful for hands, elbows, heels, and other dry spots.

How do I use a lotion bar?

Hold the lotion bar against your skin for a few seconds to allow your natural body warmth to soften the surface.

Glide the bar over the desired area and massage the oils into your skin. Lotion bars work especially well after a shower or before bed, when the ingredients have more time to absorb.

Store the bar in its container and keep it away from direct sunlight, hot vehicles, and other sources of heat.

What is the best balm for cracked heels?

A rich, concentrated balm made with beeswax, botanical oils, and herbal-infused oils can help soften and protect rough, dry heels.

Our Cracked Heel Balm is designed to deliver targeted moisture to dry, hardened areas. For best results, apply it regularly—especially before bed—and cover your feet with clean cotton socks.

Button: Shop Cracked Heel Balm

Are lotion bars easy to travel with?

Yes. Because lotion bars are solid and do not contain water, they are convenient for purses, market totes, desk drawers, and travel bags.

They are also TSA-friendly, although they should still be protected from excessive heat while traveling.

Will beeswax body care feel greasy?

Beeswax products are richer and more concentrated than many water-based lotions, so you only need a small amount.

When applied sparingly and massaged into the skin, the product should leave your skin feeling moisturized and protected rather than heavily coated.

Ingredients & Product Making

What ingredients do you use?

Our products are made with purposeful ingredients such as beeswax, honey, plant-based oils, botanical butters, herbs, flowers, herbal-infused oils, essential oils, mineral salts, and goat milk.

Ingredients vary by product, so please review the complete ingredient list on the product page or packaging before use.

What are herbal-infused oils?

Herbal-infused oils are created by allowing selected herbs and botanicals to slowly infuse into a carrier oil.

The finished oil is then incorporated into products such as salves, balms, and lotion bars. This process allows us to thoughtfully pair particular botanicals with the intended purpose and feel of the product.

Are all of your products scented?

No. Some products are unscented, while others are scented with essential oils or other fragrance ingredients depending on the formulation.

The product description and ingredient list will identify whether a product is scented and what has been used.

Are your products handmade?

Yes. Our body care and hive-inspired products are handcrafted in small batches.

Small-batch production allows us to pay close attention to ingredient quality, texture, consistency, and packaging. Because they are handmade, minor variations in color, scent, or appearance may occur.

Are your ingredients natural?

We prioritize recognizable, purposeful ingredients and use honey, beeswax, herbs, botanical oils, butters, minerals, and other plant-derived materials throughout our product line.

However, “natural” does not have one universal regulated definition in personal care. We believe in providing clear ingredient lists so you can make informed choices based on your own needs and preferences.

How should I store handmade body care products?

Store products in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

Because many of our products contain beeswax, oils, and botanical butters, they may soften or melt in a hot car, mailbox, market bag, or sunny window. This generally does not make the product unusable, but it may change its texture or appearance.

Sourcing & Transparency

How do you choose beekeeper partners?

We work with beekeeper partners who value hive health, responsible beekeeping, proper honey handling, and honest sourcing.

Whenever possible, we want to know the beekeeper, region, floral source, and story behind the harvest—not simply purchase anonymous honey based on price.

Will the source of a honey ever change?

It may. Honey is an agricultural product, and each harvest depends on bloom conditions, weather, hive strength, geography, and seasonal availability.

When a particular honey is sourced from a partner beekeeper, we provide the most accurate origin and floral-source information available on the product listing or label.

Why can honey vary from jar to jar?

Honey reflects the flowers, landscape, weather, and season experienced by the bees.

Even honey harvested from the same apiary can vary from one season to another in color, aroma, texture, and flavor. These natural differences are part of what makes raw honey so interesting.

Honey Tastings & Experiences

Do you offer honey tastings or private experiences?

Yes. The Giddy Bee offers guided honey tasting experiences that explore floral source, region, color, aroma, texture, flavor, and finish.

Public classes, private gatherings, corporate experiences, beekeeper-club programs, and custom events may be available throughout the year.

Button: Explore Honey Tastings

What happens during a guided honey tasting?

Guests taste a curated selection of honeys while learning how floral source, geography, soil, weather, and seasonal conditions influence each harvest.

Depending on the experience, guests may use a tasting card to record observations about color, aroma, texture, flavor, finish, and possible floral characteristics.

Do I need to know anything about honey before attending?

No prior honey knowledge is needed.

Our tastings are designed to be approachable, educational, and enjoyable for anyone who is curious about honey. You do not need a highly trained palate or any special tasting experience.

What kinds of honey might be included?

The selection varies by class and seasonal availability.

A tasting may include local Wildflower honey, Clover, Sourwood, Orange Blossom, Tupelo, Buckwheat, Saw Palmetto, Black Mangrove, or other regional and varietal honeys.

Can I book a private honey tasting?

Private experiences may be available for corporate groups, team gatherings, client appreciation, community organizations, clubs, retreats, and special events.

Availability, pricing, group size, location, and tasting format will depend on the event.

Button: Ask About a Private Experience

Are there live bees at the tasting?

Guided honey tastings do not ordinarily include live bees.

Some farm, garden, or apiary-based events may take place near an active beekeeping property, but guests will be informed in advance when that applies.

What if I have an allergy to bees or bee products?

There are generally no live bees involved in an indoor honey tasting. However, the experience includes honey and may include other hive products.

Anyone with a severe allergy or sensitivity to honey, pollen, propolis, beeswax, bee products, or related ingredients should consult a qualified medical professional before participating.

Packaging & Sustainability

Why do you use glass jars for honey?

Glass helps preserve the flavor and integrity of honey without absorbing odors or flavors.

It is also reusable and recyclable. We encourage customers to clean and repurpose their jars whenever possible.

Are your containers recyclable or reusable?

We use glass, metal tins, paper, and other reusable or recyclable packaging whenever it is practical for the product.

Packaging may vary based on product safety, stability, availability, and shipping needs.

What does small-batch production have to do with sustainability?

Small-batch production allows us to make products more intentionally, monitor inventory carefully, and reduce the risk of producing large quantities that may go unused.

We continue to evaluate our packaging, sourcing, and production practices as the business grows.

Still Have a Question?

We are always happy to help you better understand our honey, ingredients, body care, or upcoming experiences. Email us at hello@thegiddybee.com