Onwọ directly translates to ‘beeswax’ in English and can be used to describe the wax model made by brass-casters. It is an essential material, because when heated the Onwọ melts and creates a vacuum for the molten bronze or brass. Onwọ can refer to bees and honey as well. In contemporary Benin City the brass-casters sometimes substitute Onwọ with candle wax. However, Onwọ cannot be totally replaced in this process, and the brass-casters confirm that some works could only be designed using Onwọ.