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.
Pat wrote on November 8, 2014
Hi, my name is Pat and I’ve been making soaps and what-not for quite a few years. Shortcuts, anyone? If you melt Shea Butter don’t take the temp over 150. When Shea gets heated above 175 and it rehardens it will have tiny grains that ruin the feeling. To prevent this, don’t go above 150. If you do, you’ll have to cool the butter rapidly. I process my raw Shea by taking it to 180 and putting it in the fridge. For body butter I keep the temp down. If you get the grainy feeling heat to 175-180 and then cool rapidly. It’ll be smooth and silky again. Now, to do a whipped butter, I melt everything and add the other oils and what-not and whip it in an ice bath. You don’t have to stop and put it in the freezer or outside. Just put ice in the larger bowl with ice and water, your oil mixture in the smaller bowl, and whip it. It takes a while, but it will turn suddenly into what looks like a fluffy white frosting. You have to make sure it doesn’t melt later, either. I had a container fall out of my bag in the car in the summer. It melted and resolidified into what looked like salve and had the grainy feel to it. It still worked, but the texture isn’t nearly as nice feeling.
amy wrote on November 8, 2014
This is the recipe that l use to make body butter, l use jojoba oil instead of almond oil, l think it absorbs better, and l use a little vit. E oil too, and l love lavender and l also make one with sweet orange and lemongrass…smells so good, l am making about 10 for Christmas gifts….
Meghann wrote on December 1, 2014
I was wondering if I could use jojoba oil instead because that’s what I have on hand. So, thanks for posting!
Anna wrote on February 5, 2015
I agree, I prefer using jojoba in this recipe instead. My Mom swears by this body butter. It has completely healed her cracked heels 🙂
Wendy wrote on February 14, 2015
that is good to know that it heals cracked heels mine get horrible
Meshia wrote on October 23, 2014
Hi! I will be making this soon 🙂 But was wondering about how much this makes, as I am making it as gifts 🙂
amy wrote on November 8, 2014
Depending on how much you whip it, but l got over 4 cups with my last batch..
Sherrie wrote on October 3, 2014
I stumbled on this body butter recipe and would like to try it. Can you tell me what the shelf life is, and does it need to stay in the refrigerator or is it stable enough to leave on bathroom shelf? Also… have you ever tried it with Argan oil instead of Almond or Coconut oil?
Susan wrote on October 3, 2014
If you make sure no water gets in it, it will keep for months. I keep it in the bathroom cabinet. If it gets too warm, it will liquify. I have not tried it with argan oil. Cheers!
Jo wrote on October 2, 2014
Hallo, hope you’ re still monitoring this page for further comments, and still giving up your time to answer them 😉
I plan to give this recipe a try, but i’ll do it with butter and oil.
I mean, i’m italian and this is what is in my kitchen ;)))
Cow milk butter and extra virgin oil….
Ok, maybe some mixed seeds oil, the one we sometimes use to fry.
I’ll try with tea spoons, same ratio, so if it smells horrible it won’t be a great loss.
I can maybe clarify, if you use the same verb, the butter to reduce the water amount. Mean that i heat the butter just to have it liquid and the water in it to evaporate.
Do you think it will work?
Great post, i’ll put your blog in my to-read list
Ps 757 comments???? Am i supposed to read all through them????????;)))
Susan wrote on October 3, 2014
I would NOT recommend using real butter. It is not a skin care ingredient. Shea butter, almond oil, and coconut oil all are good for skin. Cheers!
Jo wrote on October 6, 2014
Me,again 🙂
Hallo, susan.
I’m still searching and surfing the net for answers and i found that ghee, real butter from cow milk but “clarified”, which means heated butter to have it lose its water, is used in ayurvedic medical culture. Please check this google link https://www.google.it/search?q=ghee+skin+benefits&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=it&client=safari&norc=1&zx=1412592625269
Thanks for your time
Susan wrote on October 6, 2014
Hi, Jo,
You are welcome to try what ever you wish for your skin. I have no idea if it will work in this recipe. My guess is that it isn’t going to whip or set properly. Plus, I should state, this blog is vegan, as I am so we do not recommend the use of animal products. Cheers!
Jo wrote on October 6, 2014
Ops, my fault. I hadn’t yet perused the site so i supposed you were only about raw food…
Have a nice day!