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.
Jeanette wrote on February 8, 2013
April
Your recipe for Sandalwood/Orange sounds amazing! If you don’t mind, approximately how many drops each of Sandalwood, Orange, Helichrysum, VitaminE; as well how many drops for your recipe of Lavendar & Grapefruit did you use?
Can’t wait to try it…thank you!
Tish wrote on February 7, 2013
I just made my second batch of body butter. The first batch turned out really well. I used shea butter, grapeseed oil and almond oil and added lime and geranium essential oils. The whipped butter turned out really well and smells delicious. It absorbs into the skin quite quickly and makes a difference.
The second batch I used 1/2 shea butter, 1/2 cup avacado butter and 1/2 of coconut oil. Melted them and immediately added almond oil and the essential oils. I put the glass bowl on top of a bed of ice and put it outside for 30 minutes. I whipped for a minute or two and perfect body butter appeared
Kay wrote on February 6, 2013
I have super super dry skin to the point that i get prickly and itchy sensations. I made this recipe, initially did not see much difference, but with time I must admit things are looking quiet good! My question is I have dry skin throughout the year (but nothing beats winter!) and I was wandering if I made it during summer is there a chance that it will partially liquefy?
Hilary wrote on February 5, 2013
I made this yesterday only subbed olive oil for the almond oil bc that’s what I had on hand. This stuff is awesome! I may have whipped it too long but I was fascinated by how it changed from a liquidy substance to a cream and then something kind of chunky. I’ll reduce whip-time by about 30 seconds when I make the next batch but I’d say this was a success. Bye bye dry winter skin 🙂
April wrote on February 4, 2013
I’ve made two batches and both turned out great texture-wise. The first I used coconut oil, shea butter and olive oil with lavender and grapefruit EOs (smells delicious). But something about it was making me itchy even after using it for 3 weeks. So last night I made a new batch with shea, mango butter, olive oil, a touch of vitamin E, sandalwood and orange EOs plus helichrysum (I stayed in a 5-star hotel 9 years ago that had a sandalwood orange lotion that was so yummy). This new one feels so wonderful. I have found coconut oil to be drying in the past, so I think that might have been the problem. Anyway, I love it. I use it on my face as well. I’ve been really suffering with painful dry skin since we left the humid South, and it finally feels better. Thanks!
liliana wrote on February 3, 2013
I like your recipe, I use cocoa butter instead of coconut oil and a few drops of tea tree oil. Does not have a strong smell, next time I will add more essential oils.
I shared the cream with my in laws today and I have to live my sample, my father in law love it! Oily at the beginning, but the skin absorves easily in a few minutes. Thanks for sharing your recipe. God bless you.
diane rosales wrote on January 30, 2013
i did this and my body butter is more liquidy…. definitely nothing like a lotion. 🙁 not sure what i did wrong?
Susan wrote on January 30, 2013
Most likely either the measurements were off or you didn’t let it cool enough before whipping. I wish I could tell more I have no way of knowing… Cheers!
Rose wrote on January 30, 2013
In order to get the ratios exactly right, should I melt the shea butter first to ensure that it is exactly 1 cup?
A. Smith wrote on January 30, 2013
I made this a few months ago and I think its great, but my wife, not so much lol. She doesn’t like the smell or taste (we’re all of adults here) of it. Any ideas on a mixture of essentials oils that work better for men?