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.
Donna wrote on March 6, 2013
Great Body Butter recipe!
Amanda wrote on March 6, 2013
I don’t buy the yellow Shea because I was told by a friend from Ghana that when it is made it should be an ivory to very light yellow color. If it is very bright yellow it is from a different tree or has been dyed. I did notice though that when I use FO (haven’t tried EO yet) that the Shea smell is still present. My supplier told me that if I wanted the mixture to not have a smell of Shea to get refined. Are you able to smell the Shea when you use the EO you mentioned ?
& to Kristen, I had that happen to me in the past & my reaction was due to using too much fragrance. Once I reduced the amount I was using I didn’t have a issue with my skin anymore. 🙂
Kristen wrote on March 5, 2013
I made this using unrefined shea butter, unrefined coconut oil and unrefined avocado oil. I used the lavender, sweet orange, and lemon EOs to fragrance. I used it a few days ago for the first time, and the next day I started noticing small, red, itchy bumps in random places on my legs, arms, and hands. I think I’m allergic to an ingredient…coconut oil maybe? I’ve used lotions with shea butter in the past but to my knowledge I don’t remember ever using anything with coconut oil. Has anyone else experienced anythinng like this before? I really want to be able to use natural body butter!
Tammy wrote on March 4, 2013
I was just wondering, why would you have to melt the solid oils, wouldn’t it just whip up together anyway?
Susan wrote on March 4, 2013
It doesn’t quite work that way. 🙂
Diana wrote on March 2, 2013
Can you use something else in place of the coconut oil?
andrew wrote on February 28, 2013
@ Mary-Beth ‘I bought the Shea butter you recommended and it just arrived. It is very yellow. Is this normal?’
Shea butter that is yellow has Palm oil added to it. I prefer the pure white Shea butter…
Susan wrote on February 28, 2013
100% organic, unrefined shea butter (what I use and link to) does have a yellowish tint to it and DOES NOT have palm oil added. When the body butter is made it is the color in the picture.
Olivia wrote on February 25, 2013
Thank you! I am making this right now. I’ve got it in my kitchenaid and don’t see any “whipping” happening. I was wondering if it needed to cool. I am going to put this put this outside pronto. Grateful Hugs!!!!
Susan wrote on February 25, 2013
Olivia…if you read the post, you will see how to cool, and how much to cool the oil mixture before whipping. Thanks for asking!
newbie wrote on February 25, 2013
Thanks for this great recipe. I cannot wait to try it out. Just one question: is it safe to add powdered food coloring? Or will it cause stains?
Susan wrote on February 25, 2013
I am sorry, I don’t have any experience with using any color in this recipe. 🙂
Kristen wrote on February 21, 2013
How many drops of the lemon, sweet orange and lavendar did you use? It sounds amazing and I want to try this recipe!