I love making natural beauty products as gifts, and homemade body butter is one friends and family always love to receive. It’s a gift that is easy to personalize with custom natural scents (and even can help with sleep if you add a little magnesium!).

Put the finished product in a cute glass jar with ribbon and a tag, and you have a thoughtful and beautiful gift that will make them feel pampered for months.

Even if you aren’t typically the type to make your own gifts, this recipe is easy for DIY beginners and fun to make. Give it a try!

Why Body Butter?

Body butter is thicker than lotion and contains less water. This means it takes longer to penetrate the skin (don’t walk on a floor barefoot after applying body butter to your feet!) but it’s very moisturizing and softens even those tougher, very dry spots like the knees, elbows, and feet.

By whipping body butter, you get the best of both worlds since it is soft and easy to apply but still extra moisturizing.

How to Make Body Butter

This new recipe has similar ingredients to these homemade lotion bars, but removes the beeswax and whips the mixture as it cools to create a cloud-like lotion that is extremely nourishing! The shea butter and cocoa butter combine for a luxurious feel, but you can also add mango butter if that’s what you have.

This body butter is great for babies or sensitive skin, and scents can be added to make it a custom gift for anyone (or to keep for yourself!).

My current favorite is a peppermint-scented version for the holidays, but I also like a citrus/lavender combination.

diy natural body butter recipe homemade gift

4.20 from 73 votes

DIY Whipped Body Butter Recipe

The combination of shea and cocoa butter with two nourishing oils makes a highly moisturizing combination, but whipping the mix helps it go on smoothly without being oily.

Active Time25

Chilling time1 10

Total Time1 35

Yield: cups

Author: Katie Wells

Equipment

Double boiler or bowl suspended over a pan of water

Materials

½ cup shea butter
½ cup cocoa butter
½ cup coconut oil
½ cup almond oil (or jojoba, or olive)
10-30 drops essential oil (optional, I use lavender)

Instructions

In a double boiler or glass bowl, combine all the ingredients except for the essential oils.
Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until all ingredients are melted.
Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
Stir in the essential oils if using.
Place the bowl in the refrigerator and chill for 1 hour or until the mixture is starting to harden around the edges.
Use a hand mixer to whip for 10 minutes until fluffy.
Return to the fridge for 10-15 minutes to set.
Store in a glass jar with a lid and use as you would regular lotion or body butter. If your home is above 75°F, the body butter may soften and need to be kept in the fridge to maintain the whipped texture.
Keep for yourself, or give away! Enjoy!

Notes

Cocoa butter, shea butter, and mango butter are all interchangeable in this recipe. If you only have one or two on hand, feel free to substitute or play with different proportions.

Body Butter FAQ

This recipe has been around for a while, so here are some of the questions you’ve asked the most:

Will it be greasy?

Body butter is definitely more emollient and has a heavier texture than lotion does, but after a few minutes it will penetrate the skin and lose any greasy feel.

How long will it last?

Stored away from moisture and light this homemade body butter should last 6-8 months. Using a spoon or spatula to dip rather than your fingers will extend the life of the body butter.

Why is mine not white like yours?

Shea butter especially can vary in texture and color depending on the brand. Not to worry, it will still work just as well!

Will this clog my pores?

Nope! This body butter actually did wonders on my cystic acne back in the day.

Other Body Butter Variations

Mastered the recipe? Try mixing up your own combinations! Here are some ideas to get you started:

Magnesium Body Butter – Get the benefits of magnesium with this therapeutic version
Vanilla Mint Chocolate Massage Butter – Perfect for a couples’ at-home massage!
Herbal Body Butter – Marshmallow root and calendula flowers make this extra nourishing for skin
Orange Blossom Body Butter – I’ve been dying to round up the ingredients for this recipe and try it out.
Three Kings Christmas Body Butter – For an extra-special holiday gift, use the base recipe above and add 10 drops each of frankincense and myrrh essential oils plus 1 teaspoon gold mica powder.

Ever made your own body butter? Want to try this recipe? Share below!

How to make simple and luxurious whipped body butter with shea butter and natural oil

Sources

Become a VIP member!

Get access to my VIP newsletter with health tips, special deals, my free ebook on Seven Small Easy Habits and so much more!

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

734 responses to “Luxurious Homemade Whipped Body Butter”

Shanice

August 15, 2014

Where is the best and cheapest place (online) to buy these products? I want to know that I am getting a good deal without losing quality. Thanks!

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  August 15, 2014
  
  There are links to all of the ingredients in the recipe…which is where I get the products.
  
  Reply
Lydia Henricks

August 6, 2014

I used this recipe and loved it! but last week i noticed some dark discoloration in the lotion against the glass jar, has this ever happened to anyone? I’d like to make some new this afternoon I was wondering if maybe i did something wrong? or if there’s a way to prevent this from occurring again?

Reply
Leslie

August 5, 2014

If you use cocoa butter though there isn’t much that will cover that smell. You’re better off using shea and make sure you smell your shea before you buy it. I’ve tried some of the lower quality ones (even though they’re marketed as high quality) and the smell was horrible.

I’ve made one with lavender and peppermint and a little bit of eucalyptus (sounds weird but smells amazing). You need to use a fair amount to cover the scent. I mix that with coconut oil and beeswax. I’ve changed the amounts as well because I’m only using the harder ingredients to ensure it doesn’t melt. It still whips up amazingly and as long as its not out in a sweltering car it won’t melt.

Reply
coxy

August 5, 2014

Hi, I have found the same as Riorita above. It doesn’t mater what scent I use or how much, it still mainly smells of the main ingredients. Do you (or anyone else!) advice on how to get a better scent? So far, peppermint is the only one that really ‘sticks’. Thanks!

Reply
Amanda

August 2, 2014

Hi,
I’ve tried some of your natural recipes, and they are great! I was wondering what the best way to clean up the mess is? I’m always worried off clogging the drain with things that become solid at room temp or just have a hard time getting oils and butters off things.
TIA

Reply
Claud

August 1, 2014

How do you store this? How long does it last? I am worried it will melt.

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  August 1, 2014
  
  Well, honestly I am not sure about max shelf life. We go through it remarkably fast. I store mine out, but in the summer it might be nice if cooled in the fridge, and it will keep longer if cold.
  
  Reply
Riorita

August 1, 2014

Hi have a question I used 30 drops of lemongrass essential oil and it does not smell the lemongrass it smells shea butter with cocoa butter, can you advise me please

Reply
summer

July 24, 2014

Hi KAtie,
Can i sub the almond oil for avocado oil? I’m just wondering since avocado oil is more fragile, will it change the shelf life at all?
Thank you!
Also is it ok to store this in a double walled plastic tub since there are EOs in it?

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  July 26, 2014
  
  You could certainly try it. You are right, it may shorten the shelf life… but that may not be an issue, depending on how quickly you go through the stuff.
  
  Reply
Chelsea

July 21, 2014

This is probably the best body butter recipe I’ve come across. I just made a large batch about a month ago and it turned out amazing!!! The oils took a little longer than an hour for them to solidify – about an hour and a half tops. I used jasmine essential oil to add some flavor, and after about a day of allowing the jasmine to really “sink in,” I realized how heavenly my home made body butter smelled. Thank you so much Wellness Mama for sharing this awesome recipe!!! I will never buy commercial brand lotion after discovering how easy this is to make at home, let alone how beneficial all the ingredients are for your skin and body 🙂

Reply
Kate

July 14, 2014

I’ve been looking for the perfect whipped body butter for AGES. And when I found Wellness Mama, I knew (having read through practically your WHOLE blog) that your recipe would be extremely perfect. My worry for all body butters is the greasiness, so I put a teensy weensy bit less sweet almond oil, hoping that would fix this problem. With previous experiences of making (horrible) body butters, I knew that 3 hours, was the trick for freezing. I did exactly that. But when it came time to bring out by sturdy old red (Kitchen Aid Mixer, tehehe), and whip it up, I ran into a bit of a problem. After whipping for several minutes (about 5), I found that the consistency was terribly runny. Did test it though, and seriously, this stuff absorbs so quickly. I decided to put it back in the freezer for another half hour, rewhip it a bit, then another 15-20 minutes in the fridge to sturdy it up. When I re-whipped it after about 25 minutes, I was totally satisfied. It had the consistency of homemade buttercream frosting, and indeed, my 3 y/o wanted to have some. I am absolutely satisfied for this batch, but I do recommend adding a bit less coconut oil, and subbing it for more Shea or Cocoa butter.
Definitely will make again 😀

Reply
Dawn

July 13, 2014

I purchased Hydrosol from Mountain Rose Herbs. Can that be used in the Whipped Body Butter recipe in place of the essential oils? If so, what amount should I use?

Reply
Camellia

July 11, 2014

Hello, I would like to ask would it make a difference if my coconut oil is melted already? Or do I have to put more coconut oil then? I live in a hot climate. Thankss

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  July 11, 2014
  
  You would not need to use more. The consistency might be a little different, but it should not really alter the recipe too much.
  
  Reply
Candice

June 25, 2014

Whats the shelf life on this lotion? Ive looked at alot of other lotions and they only last like a month in the fridge

Reply
Margaret

June 24, 2014

Hi–I just made this recipe and thought I’d comment. This is my first body butter and it was very exciting to make. Overall, it is a bit runny–I live at high elevation (Almost 7000 ft) and it took 2 hours to set in the fridge not 1. When I whipped it, it did look like whipping cream…but I was expecting it to be a bit more solid/stiff (but it literally was LIKE whipping cream). I wonder if less almond oil and more cocoa butter would make it a bit stiffer. In any event, it did smell very nice, but I did put in almost 40 drops., not 30. It feels lovely and my skin is very soft. I’m sending it to my girls as a care package–I hope it doesn’t melt in the summer heat! I gave it four stars because of the more liquify texture (was expecting a bit stiffer), but my skin feels lovely. Thank you for providing this recipe!

Reply
1. Margaret
  
  July 12, 2014
  
  I’m replying to my own comment above. I figured out the problem. Again I’m not sure if this is the high elevation for me which is why it was thin at first, but all I did after making the recipe was put in the refrigerator for a few hours and then it stiffened up and continues to be stiffened. Don’t even need to keep in the fridge now. I’ve given it as gifts to several of my friends and they absolutely LOVE IT. They want more–so now I know what they’re all getting for Christmas. I did send it to my girls who are in NC for the summer and they did say it melted a bit, but they just put it in the refrigerator and now they said it’s fine. My daughter has been around my obsession with essential oils long enough to know that they are antiviral. She started coming down with a sore throat and told me that she rubbed some of this body butter around her neck area and the next day the soreness was gone. So now that i’ve learned the trick, I’m now giving this recipe 5 stars. By the way, my friends said they not only love the smell (I made the lemony lavender) but they love the texture and cannot believe how soft it has made their skin. Thank you again for providing this recipe. 🙂
  
  Reply
Diane Houser

June 16, 2014

Hi,

I am new to your site. There’s a lot of interesting things you have on here that intend on exploring eventually.

The “Whipped Body Butter” sounds great and a must have. However, I have cocoa butter wafers and wondered how many should I use or should I melt them down first. Also since I live in the Midwest the summer weather is practically here. I am talkin’ humidity. This whipped butter would most likely melt quickly. The winter months are definitely not an issue. I do have some beeswax pastilles on hand and wondered how much should I use just to keep the butter itself a tad solid.

Thank you.

Reply
Leslie

June 12, 2014

I’m a newbie to this type of thing but I’d like to start making homemade products for myself and friends. I wanted to find out why one would choose one of the butters over another (shea, mango or coco butter). Personally I don’t like the smell of coco butter as its too overpowering and I’ve found that mango is more expensive than shea. I just wasn’t sure if one of these butters was better for skin softening/healing etc. Any help would be appreciated.

Reply
Jodi

May 31, 2014

Hi Wellness Mama,

I blog and I was wondering if I could talk about my experience with this butter (and I also played around with the one Holistic Squid did) as well my eventual hybrid of sorts. I will (of course) give you the full credit that is due.

I just want to be sure you’re fine with this.

Thanks.

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  June 3, 2014
  
  Sure. Links with attribution are fine as long as the post isn’t copied 🙂
  
  Reply
Angela

May 13, 2014

I followed this recipe to a tee, but unfortunately it’s much too greasy for my taste. It melts on contact with skin and it basically feels like I just rubbed my body with an oil slick. I would be afraid that this would ruin my clothes or bed sheets if I left it on. Sadly I think I’ll be throwing it out unless someone has a suggestion as to how to re-purpose it. I gave it 2 stars because it does look exactly like the pictures, just not for me.

Reply
1. Annie
  
  May 13, 2014
  
  That’s exactly what I was afraid of – it melting on contact, being greasy and just sitting on the surface of the skin not being absorbed.
  
  I haven’t made this recipe yet, so I might do a test of each ingredient separately to see how it absorbs into my skin. Then I’ll have a gauge of the melting temp (how long it takes to melt and absorb) and greasiness left (if any). I’ve already been using almond oil which absorbed very well into my dry eczema/psoriasis prone skin after showering. But it didn’t have enough moisturizing effect and found my skin got dry after less than a day. I shower at night and sleep with a moisturizer on so it has maximum absorption possible.
  
  I know alot of people use these butters (the solids) raw and just rub it into their skin, almost like a balm stick. I’ll also do the same test after gently melting and letting them solidify again to see if the melting process changes anything…
  
  We’ll see how it goes!
  
  Reply
Annie

May 8, 2014

Having been a devoted Body Shop butter user (over 20 years!), and as much as I (my skin) loves their butters, it is getting just too expensive. So, I’m looking for an alternative to Body Shop butters. This looks just right up my street…but I have a question:

The coconut liquid oil is different from the solid coconut oil/butter, and should stay liquid (at room temp) when the mix is cooled/set. From a little research, the coconut oil is separated from the fatty solids by heat (like clarified butter).

I wonder if something is lost in the nutrients through this process (I think it’s called Fractionated oil)? And if so maybe another more nutrient rich oil could be substituted? One that hasn’t/doesn’t need fractionating, and is just cold pressed. I was thinking maybe Hemp seed oil as a alternative as I’ve heard it’s good for eczema/psoriasis which I suffer from.

Reply
Morgan

May 6, 2014

I did everything to a T, and taking it out of the fridge it is liquid as can be. Help?

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  May 9, 2014
  
  Did you use coconut oil that is solid at room temperature (unrefined)?
  
  Reply