Homemade Body Butter Recipe
I made my first batch of body butter today. I think my life has changed forever. Delightful, decadent and easy, I have wanted to try making it for a long time. I was convinced that it would be difficult and not work the way I wanted. Boy, was I wrong.
I love creamy body butters. Living in a climate that gets quite cold and dry in the winter, they are a must in my house. But two things have always bothered me. They can be quite expensive and also, full of ingredients that are less than desirable for your skin and health.
We often forget that our skin is the largest organ on our body and absorbs what we put on it. If you are using lotions and body butters with chemicals in them (fragrances, preservatives, color additives, etc.) be aware that your skin absorbs the chemicals, too. Not exactly desirable. I often just use almond oil on my skin after a shower but sometimes I want something a little more decadent. Body butters, made with pure oils and essential oils for fragrance are just the thing.
I called my friend Jen Vertanen, who writes the blog, “The Wholehearted Life”, knowing that she has spent years playing with recipes for home made soaps and lotions and asked her opinion on ingredients. She told me to use 75% solid to 25% liquid oil. Sounded easy enough.
I measured out shea butter (I use this shea butter: organic raw shea butter
I wanted to use rosemary as one of my scents. I didn’t have any rosemary essential oil so I added fresh rosemary as the oils were cooling. I also stirred in the almond oil at this point. Once the oil was cool, I strained out the rosemary, added peppermint (just a few drops, it is strong) and sweet orange essential oils and tried to whip the butter as instructed in other body recipes that I had researched. Nothing happened. I was about to give up and just let the oil harden when I had an idea.
I placed the oil mixture outside (it’s cold…it’s Minnesota) and let it partially set up. At that point, I tried whipping it again in the kitchen aid mixer and, success! A beautiful body butter, so simple to make, smelling delicious and with a texture that was like clouds of silk.
*Because of the popularity of this recipe on pinterest, I am getting many, many questions that are more suited for an expert. This is a raw food site, this was my first attempt at body butter, it worked better than I could have hoped for and if you make this recipe as stated, it will work great for you too!! I am sorry but I can’t answer the technical questions. Cheers!*
IF YOU ARE HAVING TROUBLE WITH YOUR BODY BUTTER WHIPPING: you probably rushed this step. It needs to be cooled significantly….like in the picture.
I have to admit, I am pretty excited at how easy it is to make. I used sweet orange, lemon and lavender in my second batch. Heavenly. You can just use the basic recipe and add your favorite essential oils. Just make sure they are skin friendly!
A few people have asked about jars. I use these: Weck Jars
TIPS: PLEASE READ!
- You can use what ever oils you wish, just make sure you keep the ratio 75% solid to 25% liquid. SO IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO ANY OF THE ABOVE LISTED OILS, JUST REPLACE THEM WITH AN OIL THAT YOU ARE NOT ALLERGIC TO. Just make sure you replace a solid for a solid and a liquid for a liquid.
- The chilling step is crucial. If you don’t chill it properly, it won’t whip or stay whipped. About 20 minutes in the freezer usually does the trick for this batch. Make sure you scrape down the sides before mixing.
- Since this recipe does not contain any water, it will not mold. You should keep in a cool place but it does not have to be refrigerated.
- I do not know the exact shelf life but I know it will keep at least a few months, plus.
- The body butter melts as it goes on and gets a little oily but absorbs beautifully, quickly and leaves your skin very soft.
- You can order the shea butter here: Raw Shea Butter
You can order the coconut oil here: Coconut Oil
You can order the almond oil here: Almond Oil
You can order the Weck Jars here: Weck Jars
Alternatively, coconut oil and almond oil are quite easy to locate at your local coop, Whole Foods or health food store.
- This recipe has been tested many times. If you don’t follow the recipe, you will not get the same results.
- Many people ask for exact amounts of essential oils. I start with at least 20 drops of what ever oil I want to use and just increase slowly until I am happy with how it smells. So…be free! Use your own creativity here.
Body Butter
MAKES 2 1/2 to 3 CUPS WHIPPED BUTTER
- 1 cup organic raw shea butter
- 1/2 cup coconut oil (solid)
- 1/2 cup almond oil (liquid)
- Melt shea butter and coconut oil in the top of a double boiler. Remove from heat and let cool for 30 minutes.
- Stir in almond oil and essential oils of your choosing.*
- Place oil mixture in freezer or outside to chill.
- Wait until oils start to partially solidify (see photo) then whip until a butter-like consistency is achieved.
- Place in clean, glass jar and enjoy! A little goes a long way.
*Not all essential oils are skin friendly or child friendly. Please do your research before adding.
Virginia wrote on November 9, 2012
Can you/did you use almond cooking oil? That’s the only kind of almond oil I can find at my local natural foods store. Thanks 🙂
Susan wrote on November 10, 2012
Virginia, I am not sure what you mean by almond cooking oil. If it is a cold pressed almond oil, it should be fine. Cheers!
Stephanie wrote on November 9, 2012
Has anyone tried whipping it with a hand mixer? I don’t have a stand mixer or whipping beater. I don’t have almond oil so I’m going to try it with cocoa butter, coconut oil and olive oil. I can’t wait!
Susan wrote on November 10, 2012
Stephanie, I haven’t tried it but I would think it would work just fine. Cheers!
alison wrote on November 8, 2012
Hi !
This is so awsome, i want to do a bunch of that to give a bunch of my friends…. How much does one recepie gives ? And if i add double or triple, is it okay ?
And you used rosemary, can i use something else to have a bunch of differnt scent ?can you give me examples please 🙂
Thank you very much.
*sorry for bad english. I’m from Montreal hehehe
Alison 🙂
Susan wrote on November 10, 2012
You can use what ever essential oils you like (see post). I am not sure exactly how much one recipe makes as I didn’t measure it. But it is at least a couple of cups. Cheers!
felicia wrote on November 6, 2012
hey there,
I’m really excited to try out this recipe! does anyone know how big of a batch it makes?
like what size of container it will fill? I’m thinking about making it as christmas gifts, but need to know what oz jars to order for it. 🙂
thanks so much!
chelsea ferrer wrote on November 6, 2012
what are other alternatives for shea butter? because we can’t find it in our place. we’re going to use it for our project to make a mosquito repellent.
Sylvia Alakusheva wrote on November 5, 2012
I added some extra solid butter, so hopefully that works 🙂 I am off to whipping now…
Thank you!!
Sylvia Alakusheva wrote on November 5, 2012
Hi Susan, thank you for this beautiful recipe! I tried to make it at home with a mix of cocoa butter, shea butter, coconut oil, and liquid sesame seed oil, but once I mixed everything together, my “butter” remained liquid…I am so bummed! Did I do something wrong?
Susan wrote on November 5, 2012
Sylvia, did you put it in the freezer to chill? See the pictures in the post as to how it should look. Also, did you stick with the 75% solid and 25% liquid rule?
Cedric wrote on November 4, 2012
I have tried to make my own but it re hardened, not sure what I did wrong, but after reading I think it’s because I didn’t allow it to fully cool. Also is there a replacement for coconut oil or can I just use Shea butter? I don’t really like it
kathleen wrote on November 3, 2012
I gave sensitive eyes. I think fragrances for the most would irritate. I made my own with shea, coconut oil, almond and olive. No fragrances, but I don’t like the smell.
Any suggestions to put in batch to mask this ? I am also considering adding cocoa butter as I heard it is best for skin.
My skin is already doing much better.