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.
Carolyn Blount Brodersen wrote on November 27, 2012
I LOVE this shea body butter recipe! I looked around and found only tricky and scary recipes. Yours unraveled the secret–the partial hardening before whipping secret! Voila! Now it’s an easy process. I am all about those insanely brilliant short-cuts. Thank you for sharing! Hugs!
Andrea wrote on November 26, 2012
Thank you so much for sharing this. I am making it right now for the second time. I found myself unable to keep it to my self last time I made it. It was so wonderful that I had to share it and was giving samples to my friends! My pregnant friend used it on her belly. I also plan on making this and giving it away as Christmas presents. It’s just good stuff!
Jan Pace wrote on November 24, 2012
Suggestion…. This works if you have a stand mixer, not sure about a hand mixer. Measure your shea butter and place in mixer. Melt your oils gently in a double boiler (or do what I do and place oil in pyrex in pan of water that you have started on the stove. I usually bring water to boil and turn down on lowest flame possible. I never use microwave for this as you really cannot control the temp.). Turn on mixer and let it start working your butter on low, then VERY slowly, add your oil to the Shea (can use Mango, Avocado or other butters here too) after about 1 minute your oil of choice will be incorporated into the shea. Add vitamin E and your fragrance/essential oil and mix about 30 seconds. At this point fold in about 2-3 tablespoons of Arrowroot powder (you can get this at healthfood store) or Cornstarch then turn mixer on again and let-her-rip for a few minutes. Voila!! light and fluffy with no shards from the fat in the butter (s) getting cold too quickly.
Faye wrote on November 24, 2012
I have made this kind of butter and it is too hard to spread on my body. I have to hold it in my hands a few seconds for it to melt to put on body. What did I do wrong? Do I need to add an emolient?( SP?) Can I remelt me butter and try whipping it again? Maybe I whipped it to long??
Az wrote on November 23, 2012
Woke up to fresh layer of snow today, getting ready to make a new batch of body butter, had a great idea because it is windy and I plan to set my batch outside with a shower cap cover to set up, I found a package of 6 @ dollar tree for a buck! Yea!
Amanda W wrote on November 22, 2012
Joann, I found that the longer I whipped it, the lighter in color and fluffy it got. I thought mine was also yellow because I started with yellower Shea butter. I used vanilla extract in mine and it smells like frosting. Yum!
Dee wrote on November 19, 2012
How did you get yours to come out in a white/ivory color? Mine came out an ugly yellow and I’ve used the same type of shea butter as you
Jenny wrote on November 18, 2012
Can anyone recommend where to get the raw shea butter? I clicked on the link which brought me to Amazon, but saw so many mixed reviews about it smelling bad and being rancid. Thanks!
Susan wrote on November 18, 2012
I have ordered this one many times and never had a problem. You could try your local coop. They might have it.
Marie wrote on November 15, 2012
I just made my first ever Body Butter using this recipie and I couldn’t believe how well it turned out. I was kind of expecting a disaster as with some of my other first-timers. I absolutley love this recipie and would recommend it to anyone!