Homemade Body Butter

I find that it is easier to make homemade products in small manageable batches while I am testing out new recipes. The below is a pretty good starting recipe for anyone looking to dive in and make some nice-smelling shit that will also make your skin soft.


Stuff You Need

1 cup sweet almond oil
1 oz unrefined shea butter
4 tbsp beeswax (I like to buy it in beads so I'm not constantly hacking chunks off a block of wax)
1 tsp cornstarch
10 drops/2 capsules vitamin e oil
10 drops essential oil (I used jasmine and lavender for this project)
Hand mixer or a whisk

First things first, you've got to get things warm enough for the beeswax to melt. Take the almond oil, shea butter and beeswax and either heat gradually in a double boiler or microwave in 40 second increments until the wax has mostly melted.

Transfer to a bowl and add in cornstarch and vitamin e oil. The vitamin e acts as a natural preservative to keep the oils from going rancid, and the cornstarch will make the texture less greasy. Add essential oils of your preference (go easy on these or every time you use the butter your entire life will reek of its delicious aroma for hours).

Now mix/whisk away to your heart's content. Oh your heart is content already? Isn't that sweet. Keep mixing. This will take at least 15-20 minutes. You are aerating the mix as it cools, which will help it keep a fluffy body butter texture. You can cheat and speed up the cooling by placing your mixing bowl in a bowl filled with ice (don't let any water in the mix!) but then you have to be diligent about mixing like your life depends on it. No breaks for you. Once your butter is sufficiently fluffy and cooled (it should have peaks like merengue or whipped cream) spoon or pour it into airtight jars. Store in a cool dark place.

Finished butter in the tubs on the left!

Stay tuned for the scrub recipe coming soon!