Propolis is produced by bees during the construction and maintenance of their hives. Bees produce propolis using a combination of beeswax and saliva, which acts as a defense mechanism for the hive. They use it to seal cracks in the hive to protect the colony from the elements, such as rain and cold winter drafts, storm-proofing their hive; smooth out the interior; protect against invaders and diseases.

Propolis is a natural product which cannot be standardized and therefore its composition and fragrance vary from hive to hive, according to the harvest period (autumn / spring), the type of plant harvested by the bees and different geographical areas. Normally, it is dark brown in color, but it can be found in green, red, black, and white hues, depending on the sources of resin found in the particular hive area.

Propolis is normally made up of approximately:

    • 10–30% waxes (added to make it more malleable)

    • 50–55% resins and balms

    • 10–15% essential oils

    • 5% pollen

The vegetal component is undoubtedly the most important as it is made up of molecules to which most of the biological activities observed for propolis can be attributed.

Propolis has a long history of use in traditional medicine, and there is abundant human literature exploring the properties of propolis. To date, propolis has been studied in numerous scientific articles investigating its composition and biological activity.

Many of the properties of propolis are associated with its naturally occurring phytochemicals and its high concentration of flavonoids. The variety of compounds and phytonutrients present in propolis contributes to its distinctive characteristics.

At Ki Science, our Italian Propolis is used in various forms, including:

    • Tinctures

    • Creams

    • Nasal and throat sprays

    • Oral wellness products

We even have Propolis diffusers, which allow us to breathe the volatile fraction of propolis in our homes, cars and offices — recreating the aromatic atmosphere naturally found in woodland and forest environments.

See our Propolis products below:

    • Oral Wellness
    • PropolAir diffusers
    • Tinctures
    • Skin Science
    • Nasal spray
    • Throat spray