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.
Susan wrote on March 15, 2015
Hi.
I am really loving all the positive comments etc. I anticipate I will have a problem though. I live in a tropical country in South East Asia. So coconut oil where I am, is not solid. (I don’t think any of the oils are liquid except for butters) *sad*
Has anyone tried replacing the solid oils with combination of oil and hardener (beeswax?other stuff?)
I would really love to whip up something.
Thank you girls…
Shelly wrote on March 12, 2015
Love this recipe! I use 100% cocoa butter nightly to keep my hands from chapping–this is the first winter I haven’t had cracked, bleeding hands, due to me finally figuring out some allergy issues and eliminating items from food and skincare items. It’s not convenient, however, to have to melt the cocoa butter every night (and my kids say it looks like I’m practicing some bizarre witchcraft since I heat it in a small bowl over a candle)–so I found your recipe and am thrilled to have a handy jar at the ready now. I substituted cocoa butter for the shea butter and avocado oil for the almond oil. I didn’t add essential oils since my son has very sensitive skin, and I love the smell of cocoa butter anyway, but I did add a few drops of a natural, high quality vitamin E oil after the cocoa butter and coconut oil was melted. Turned out perfectly–thank you for sharing the recipe!
Pam Mausar wrote on March 6, 2015
I’ve had the same problem as several other people here with it hardening or not staying “whipped”. I used the ingredients it called for but I am wondering if I used the wrong amount of the Shea butter. It calls for one cup/8 ounces and I bought it in a 16 ounce package. I used half to equal one cup. Should it have been a cup of melted Shea butter? Any ideas? Maybe I’ll just try it again with half the amount.
Susan wrote on March 6, 2015
The recipe calls for 1 cup melted shea butter. That is a different measurement that 8 oz of shea butter. Also some shea butters are much stronger than others. I hope this helps. Cheers!
Pam wrote on March 6, 2015
Thanks. The recipes didn’t say “melted” Shea butter and I wasn’t smart enough to know! It said “solid” Shea butter so never having used it before, I didn’t know how much it would melt to. As to the smell, I used the brand the recipe called for. All of this being said, I made it again today using a quarter of the pound and it probably was still too much. It does stay whipped but the smell is still there. It’s not bad, it just is not “decadent”! So I guess I’ll try one last time by melting some and adding until I get a cup! Huh
Susan wrote on March 7, 2015
Sorry…that was my fault. It doesn’t meed to be melted, just measured with a measuring cup. A measuring cup measures 8 oz of volume. You were originally measuring 8 oz of weight. There is a difference. This recipe isn’t so persnickety that melted vs solid should make that much difference. My guess is that there is something in the way you are making it that is off. Are you following the directions exactly? You need to be careful not to let it cool too far, but it has to cool. Just look at the pictures. Cheers!
Pam mausar wrote on March 6, 2015
I made this the other day using the called for ingredients. It hardens after sitting. Doesn’t stay whipped. I wonder if I used the wrong amount. It comes in a 16 ounce package so I used half to get the one cup. Also the Shea butter smell never went away after adding vetiver oil. Around 40 drops. Any idea what I could have done wrong?
Susan wrote on March 6, 2015
A weight measurement is different than a liquid measurement. Cheers!
Stephanie L wrote on February 21, 2015
Absolutely love this recipe! Made it for the first time today and made a “spiced macaroon”….vanilla and clove essential oils with coconut, shea and sweet almond oils. Cannot wait to make this for gifts!
Karolina wrote on February 18, 2015
I’ve made this recipe 3 times, each time mixing and matching solid butters and liquid oils and each time it has turned out awesome!!!! So easy, fun and I love knowing the ingredients in the stuff I slather all over my body! I have eczema, very dry and very sensitive skin and this is the best remedy!
Niecey wrote on February 15, 2015
Excellent tips – I’m book marking this page.
Warmest regards,
Niecey
StacyLV wrote on February 15, 2015
Thank you for this recipe, I can’t wait to try it. By the way when I tried to print it out using the print-friendly option only the title prints, you may want to check it out! And I agree about the YL oils I would never use anything else!! Thanks again.