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 May 26, 2014
I have used this recipe since November 2013 and made several versions. Always making the body butter – everyone loves it, and my combo of eo’s used in it is clearing my psoriasis. You can always sub mango butter, kokum butter, cocoa butter, any of them – I have a customer that is allergic to coconut oil, so in her customized formula I use mango and shea, and then a liquid oil – grapeseed or sweet almond. She loves it – as far as the distinctive odor of shea, the reason I stick to raw and unrefined is that it has a greater moisturizing power than its refined counterpart that has less odor. Using refined can mean that the product you have made it just a fluffy cream with no real moisturizing power in it, except for the other one or two oils used, so I stick to higher quality and have tried several different online stores before settling on one I really like. Also consider the quality of your eo’s, and understand that some of the scents may get masked, but the quality of the essential oil is intact, even if you don’t smell it strongly or at all. At least the quality of mine is working for me….everyone’s skin is different and requires different treatments…it also has a little something to do with environment, and the list can go on and on – play with it til you get what works best for your needs!
Patty wrote on May 22, 2014
Anything with out coconut oil? I’m allergic.
Susan wrote on May 26, 2014
Hi, Patty, If you read the recipe, you will see that any of the oils can be substituted, you just have to make sure you are using a solid (at room temp oil) to substitute for a solid, and a liquid for a liquid. Wonderful question! Have a great day!
Melissa wrote on May 21, 2014
I’ve tried this but after a few hours, my body butter hardens and no longer has that fluffy soft feel to it.. Anyone experience the same thing? I can’t find a way for my butters (after being whipped and put in jars) to stay soft. They always harden… HELP!
Susan wrote on May 26, 2014
Hi, Melissa, It is going to harden a little more than when it is first done but it should still be easily scoop-able. What ingredients are you using? Cheers!
Veronika wrote on May 19, 2014
Hello ? Please what I am doing wrong?
Susan wrote on May 20, 2014
Did you only use coco butter?
Beth wrote on May 18, 2014
Well I’ve been making this since November 2013. I still love it!
I got it down to a science now. I know how many oz of each variation and how much each batch cost.
I got the best price of shae butter at Amazon. Best buy for coconut oils at Walmart.
So one more time: thank you for sharing!
Veronika wrote on May 15, 2014
Hello, I made this with pure raw cocoa butter, but my seems to melt in glass quiet quickly . What have I done wrong please? Could that be the cocoa butter? Thanks