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.
brittany wrote on May 1, 2013
can you use vanilla extract? i have heard of it being used in other lotion/body butter recipes…
Kristin wrote on April 28, 2013
I just made my first batch of body butter using your recipe and it came out BEAUTIFUL! Followed your steps to a “T” and used Lemongrass essential oil as my fragrance. I will be doing a blog post on it so others can enjoy this recipe as well! Thank you for sharing.
Chi wrote on April 28, 2013
Hi, thanks so much. I made mine and it was so lovely after the whipping. However, the next day, it was hard again. I used mainly shea butter and almond oil. I am wondering if I needed more of the almond oil. Thank you
Susan wrote on April 28, 2013
The proportions are listed above. I have experience with those. If you have too much Shea Butter it would harden.
emily parker wrote on April 27, 2013
I made this today and added tangerine & lavander essence oils and during the whipping period I used 1 tbs of grapeseed and avocado oil. it feels so good and small too.
emily parker wrote on April 27, 2013
I made this on today with tangerine & lavender essence and added a tbs of avacado and grapeseed oil during the whipping period. love it.
Sonja wrote on April 26, 2013
This stuff is GREAT!!! I make it all of the time and my customers love it!! I use it twice a day!! I also use it in my hair!!! The last batch I made I used cocoa butter along with the other oils and it shrank too much in the jars. It’s also alot dryer feeling than without the cocoa butter. I think I will stick to the original recipe. I do add vitamin E oil. Thanks for the great recipe.
Diane January wrote on April 25, 2013
I love the addition of the other oils! I make a whipped raw shea butter, but I do not heat or melt my butter. I whip mine until it’s smooth and creamy using my Kitchenaid with the whisk attachment. I’m going to try adding some of those oils to my next whipped batch of butter.
Teresa Jones wrote on April 24, 2013
Hi Susan,
I’ve been trying my own version of body butter that I actually got off You-tube, I’m still trying to perfect it and it’as getting worst, I have attached my formula and would love your insight before I give up.
March 30, 2013
I doubled this recipe, it’ original formula was 1/3 cups each, I used 2/3 cups each
1. 2/3 cups each cocoa butter, shea butter, coconut oil
2. 2 oz. pure olive oil
3. 2TBLS. Jojoba oil
4. 1TBLS. Vitamin E Oil
My skin using this formula is ashy dry and itchy. Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Susan wrote on April 24, 2013
I can’t comment on someone else’s recipe as I have no idea why they are using those ingredients. Why don’t you try this recipe? It works beautifully.
Christine wrote on April 23, 2013
Any advice on what to do if you don’t have a mixer? Can the butter still be used if it isn’t whipped/can I whip it by hand?
Susan wrote on April 23, 2013
I believe someone has success with a hand mixer.