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Home » Homemade Skincare » Body Butter Recipes

Homemade Whipped Shea Butter

Published: Jan 2, 2021 · Modified: Feb 6, 2025 by Celine Logan · This post may contain affiliate links · 125 Comments

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This super fluffy whipped body butter will leave your skin feeling smooth and nourished. Learn how to make DIY body butter in 10 minutes with a few simple steps. No cooling in the fridge required - easy-peasy!

body butter in jar.

Make your own DIY whipped shea butter at a fraction of the price of store-bought. Making homemade body butter will give you total control over the ingredients, and you can customize it to your liking by adding your favorite essential oils.

Over the years, we've made plenty of body butter together, from mango body butter to non-greasy body butter and even beeswax body butter. But this is still my go-to remedy for dry, irritated skin, especially during the winter months; it's just so nourishing and moisturizing!

Jump to:
  • What is Body Butter?
  • Why you'll love this recipe
  • Ingredients
  • Equipment
  • How to Make Whipped Shea Butter
  • How to Use Whipped Body Butter
  • Whipped Shea Butter Recipe

What is Body Butter?

Body butter is a rich body cream that softens rough skin and protects sensitive skin. It's made of natural butter (like shea butter or mango butter) with a small amount of liquid oil mixed in.

This allows the butter to be soft enough to be whipped. The process of whipping produces a smooth and spreadable body butter that is light and airy.

Natural body butters are extremely nourishing to the skin and very easy to make at home with few natural ingredients. Unlike homemade lotions, body butters do not contain water. They don't require preservatives but still have a relatively long shelf life.

finished body butter.

Why you'll love this recipe

  • it stays soft, fluffy, and spreadable
  • it's quick and easy to make
  • you'll only need 4 main ingredients
  • made without coconut oil (which makes it feel less greasy)

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, see full disclosure here.

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup cocoa butter - great for soothing dry, irritated skin
  • ⅓ cup apricot kernel oil - you can use a different lightweight oil, like olive oil, argan, rosehip, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, or sunflower oil
  • ¾ cup shea butter (room temperature) - a fantastic moisturizer for all skin types filled with skin-loving fatty acids. It won't clog your pores and can even help with acne. I prefer refined shea butter since it doesn't have an odor.
  • 1 teaspoon cornstarch (alternative: arrowroot powder or tapioca starch) - adding a small amount of starchy powder will work wonders to offset the greasiness of shea butter.
  • 10 drops of essential oil (optional)- great choices are sweet orange, chamomile, and lavender essential oil. Stay away from essential oils that can be skin irritants like cinnamon, clove, and oregano, or ones that can cause phototoxicity when exposed to sunlight, like lemon, orange, and bergamot.
  • ½ teaspoon of purple mica (optional for color) - Cosmetic-grade micas are easy to work with and produce the best colors, but they're not considered natural. Alternatively, you can add purple Brazilian clay for a slightly muted purple.

Equipment

  • mixing bowl
  • hand mixer or stand mixer
  • measuring cups
  • small glass container
  • microwave, double boiler, or water bath
  • spatula
  • sharp knife
  • wide mason jars

How to Make Whipped Shea Butter

whipped shea butte.r
adding cocoa butter and oil.
fluffy texture, holds peaks.
finished body butter with color.
  1. Melt cocoa butter and apricot kernel oil - in a glass container in 15-second bursts in the microwave or in a water bath over medium heat until cocoa butter is just melted. Caution: glass gets quite hot!
  2. Set aside and cool
  3. Measure out the shea butter - use room temperature shea butter for maximum whipability. Before you proceed take a small piece of shea butter and rub it between your fingers, if you feel any graininess, follow the instructions here to get rid of it.
  4. Whip shea butter using a stand or hand mixer on high speed until it appears white, fluffy, and smooth for about 1 minute
  5. Add melted cocoa butter little by little while whipping on low speed
  6. Add essential oil, cornstarch, and mica (if using)
  7. Whip until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula as you go.
  8. Whip until body butter holds stiff peaks
  9. Let cool fully
  10. Prevent hardening - after 12 hours, check if body butter is still soft and spreadable at room temperature. If not, add more apricot kernel oil (start with 1 tsp) and whip again, repeat the procedure until the body butter stays soft
  11. Transfer to a mason jar using a spoon or piping bag
  12. Store in a cool spot away from direct sunlight

How to Use Whipped Body Butter

Body butters do a fantastic job at healing, softening, and moisturizing the skin. Their rich texture creates a natural barrier on top of the skin, protecting it and locking in moisture.

But remember: They lack water!

Which means they will never be able to hydrate your skin. Most of us need hydration of the skin unless we live in a very humid climate. Drinking a lot of water is great, but it will never reach the outermost layer of your dermis.

So,

  • apply body butter on damp skin after a shower to lock in moisture
  • use it on top of a body lotion
  • massage into very dry areas like hands, elbows, knees, and heels before bed
  • treat body butter as an add-on product to a skincare routine that already provides plenty of hydration

What is the shelf life? Do I need a preservative?

Stored in an airtight container away from heat and sunlight, the shelf life of body butter is 3-6 months. If at any point it starts to smell rancid, discard it.
This body butter is completely oil-based. Since it doesn’t contain any water, you don't need to add a preservative. You can add a small amount of Vitamin E oil (5g) to extend the shelf life.

How can I prevent body butter from hardening?

To achieve a mousse-like, creamy texture that doesn’t deflate or seize up, you need to carefully balance the ratio of the soft butter (shea butter), brittle butter (cocoa butter), and liquid oil (apricot kernel oil). However, the consistency also depends on the ambient temperature. Just like the butter we eat, it will be harder the lower the temperature and softer in a warm climate.
After your body butter has come back to room temperature, whip it again. To make sure you’ll love the consistency of your end product, leave the body butter out at room temperature for 12 hours and check if it’s still soft and spreadable. If not, add another 5g of liquid oil (in our case, apricot kernel oil), whip it again, and wait to see if it improves. Repeat this step until the desired consistency is achieved.

Will whipped body butter melt in hot weather?

Body butter will melt if exposed to high temperatures (like in a hot car, on a delivery truck, or on someone’s doorstep when shipping). Make sure you store it in a cool place (70–74 Degrees F). Adding beeswax is also going to help keep it from melting in slightly warmer temperatures.

whipped body butter recipe
4.58 from 247 votes
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Whipped Shea Butter Recipe

Whipped body butter made with rich shea butter and lovely lavender essential oil. Fluffy and skin loving - so good!

Course Body Butter Recipes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 1 minute
Total Time 21 minutes
Servings 2 4oz jars
Author Celine Logan

Ingredients

  • 3.52 oz/ 100 g/ ¾ cup shea butter refined
  • 1 oz/ 28 g/ ¼ cup cocoa butter deodorized
  • 2.6 oz/ 75 g/ ⅓ cup apricot kernel oil you could use any lightweight oil here: argan, rosehip, jojoba, etc.
  • 1 teaspoon tapioca starch cornstarch or arrowroot powder; optional
  • ½ teaspoon of skin safe purple mica optional for color
  • 10 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions

  1. Melt cocoa butter and apricot kernel oil - in a glass container in 15-second bursts in the microwave or in a water bath over medium heat until cocoa butter is just melted. Caution: glass gets quite hot!
  2. Set aside and cool
  3. Measure out the shea butter
  4. Whip shea butter using a stand or hand mixer on high speed until it appears white, fluffy, and smooth for about 1 minute
  5. Add melted cocoa butter little by little while whipping on low speed
  6. Add essential oil, cornstarch, and mica (if using)
  7. Whip until combined, scraping the sides of the bowl with a spatula as you go.
  8. Whip until body butter holds stiff peaks
  9. Let cool fully
  10. Prevent hardening - after 12 hours check if body butter is still soft and spreadable at room temperature. If not: Add more apricot kernel oil (start with 1 tsp) and whip again, repeat the procedure until the body butter stays soft
  11. Transfer to a mason jar using a spoon or piping bag
  12. Store in a cool spot away from direct sunlight

More Body Butter Recipes

  • body butter lip balm and roses.
    Best Natural Butters for Skin Care
  • hand with grainy body butter.
    Grainy Shea Butter? Here's How to Fix it.
  • body butter in jar with wooden spoon.
    How to Make Body Butter Less Greasy
  • lotion in glass jar.
    Breastmilk Lotion Recipe
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Comments

    4.58 from 247 votes (247 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Jenny says

    June 12, 2018 at 12:19 pm

    Step 2 the shea butter gets hard; in Step 6 I'm directed to start beating it. Do I need to soften it up before I beat it?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      June 12, 2018 at 12:57 pm

      Hi Jenny,
      That's a good question. The shea butter has to be room temperature in order for it to get nice and fluffy otherwise you're left with a more gloppy consistency. I even like my shea butter to by just a little chilled. Technically you could leave out the step of melting and cooling the shea butter again. I like to do that, because I find it's easier to whip that way since you have a nice smooth surface instead of a bunch of clumps.
      I hope that helps.
      Let me know how it turned out.

      Reply
  2. Paula says

    July 03, 2018 at 9:53 am

    Can’t wait to try this! What’s the shelf life. Do you reds preservative thanks!

    Reply
    • Celine says

      July 03, 2018 at 2:43 pm

      Hi Paula, good question. The shelf life is determined by the oil or butter with the shortest shelf life. In this case it’s most likely the hemp seed oil which typically has a shelf life of 6 months. To be absolutely sure check the expiration date on your supplies and take it from there.
      Body butter doesn’t contain any water so you won’t need a preservative.
      Where I live it’s very hot right now. If you live in a warm climate it’s a good idea to store your body butter in the fridge. High temps will turn your fluffy body butter into a sad gloppy puddle 😉

      Reply
  3. Jeneen says

    July 06, 2018 at 7:59 pm

    I can't wait to true this😊

    Reply
  4. Nancy says

    July 11, 2018 at 7:08 pm

    How many jars does this make? I apologize if I missed it...

    Reply
    • Celine says

      July 12, 2018 at 9:39 am

      HI Nancy, good question and no you didn't miss it 😉 I forgot to put it in there, my bad. This recipe will make about 24 oz of finished product. So, if you're using a 4 oz jar you would need six of those. Happy Tinkering!

      Reply
  5. Julie says

    August 06, 2018 at 1:57 pm

    Celine,
    Followed instructions exactly and just have soup!! Is there anyway this can be saved?
    Help!!
    Julie

    Reply
    • Celine says

      August 06, 2018 at 4:40 pm

      Oh no! I’m guessing the cocoa butter and hemp oil where still too warm when you poured it in the Shea butter. Summertime is a little tricky to be making this project since room temperatures can run higher than usual...
      You can absolutely save this badge. Put the whole thing in your fridge. When the sides start to set up a fair bit, take it out and whip it up. It probably won’t be as fluffy, but it will still be light and spreadable. Remember to then keep your finished product in a cool place.
      Let me know how it goes.

      Reply
      • Sabrina says

        October 17, 2021 at 12:52 pm

        What shea butter an coco butter do you use that has no scent?

        Reply
        • Celine says

          October 17, 2021 at 3:56 pm

          it has to be refined or deodorized

          Reply
  6. Debbie Crawford says

    August 08, 2018 at 1:06 am

    Hi Celine, Do you have to worry about bacteria or mold? Do you disinfect your equipment.

    Reply
    • Celine says

      August 08, 2018 at 7:50 am

      Hi Debbie, good question. I do desinfect my equipment with 99% rubbing alcohol. However, there’s no water in this product. That’s why I didn’t add a preservative. But you could if you’re worried it could get in contact with water, I recommend Optiphen.
      This body butter has a shelf life of about 6 months, depending on how fresh your oils and butters are. Overtime those will go rancid. Even a preservative can’t prevent that. What you can do to extend the shelf like is add a little vitamin e oil to your body butter before whipping it up.
      Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any other questions!

      Reply
  7. Deb says

    August 16, 2018 at 7:47 pm

    I melted the Shea butter (100% shea) and let it cool for several hours but it never got hard again. All still very liquid. What’s that about?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      August 16, 2018 at 8:15 pm

      Hi Deb, did you try putting it in the fridge? Sometimes in the summer room temperatures can be too warm. Remember to store your finished body butter in a cool place, if you live in a hot climate.

      Reply
  8. Linda says

    September 07, 2018 at 2:57 am

    Thabks for sharing this. I have a question when mixing in the cocoa butter.. do I whip as I add the cocoa butter or just add the cocoa butter and mix using say a spatula?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      September 07, 2018 at 8:57 am

      Hi Linda, yes you want to whip it with a mixer. I will add that to the instructions;)

      Reply
  9. Krisztina says

    September 16, 2018 at 3:00 pm

    I tried the recipe but the Shea butter smell is so unpleasant that I could not stand next it.. I added 20drps lavender essential oil, 10 drops of sweet orange oil, 20 drops calendula oil and still could not get rid of the Shea butter smell can you please help in explaining how did u manange. M making a baby body butter n I want to smell good..
    your prompt response will be highly appreciated.
    Thanks
    Krisztina

    Reply
    • Celine says

      September 16, 2018 at 3:43 pm

      Hi Krisztina, I used refined Shea butter and didn’t have an issue with the smell. Unrefined Shea butter however can have a smoky odor that can be unpleasant. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to get rid of the odor if you bought the unrefined type.

      Reply
  10. Victoria says

    November 19, 2018 at 8:13 pm

    Hi! I wanted to use Sweet Almond Oil in place of the jojoba oil, would that work?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      November 20, 2018 at 7:05 am

      Hi Victoria,
      yes, I imagine it would work.

      Reply
  11. Joanne says

    February 16, 2019 at 12:56 am

    Thank you for your post, I have tried several different ones before and never quite got that whipped texture at the end. So far this one seems to be great although I didn’t have any dry oils so did substitute it for coconut oil but it looks great!! Hopefully it won’t go too dense later. Thanks again 👍

    Reply
    • Celine says

      February 16, 2019 at 8:42 am

      Hi Joanne, I’m so glad to hear. Coconut oil has worked well in the past for me. Hope it stays fluffy for you:)

      Reply
  12. Tracie says

    February 26, 2019 at 8:55 am

    I just bought hempseed oil..I doubt I dump the whole thing in there...how many drops??

    Reply
    • Celine says

      February 26, 2019 at 11:05 am

      Hi Tracie, for a fairly large batch you'll need 2 oz. But you can easily split the recipe in half.

      Reply
  13. Naomi says

    March 12, 2019 at 7:32 pm

    Do you use refined shea butter and refined cocoa butter? Also, can you use food coloring or mica powder in replacement of the clay to add color? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Celine says

      March 12, 2019 at 7:59 pm

      Hi Naomi,
      I use refined shea butter simply because I can't stand the smoky scent of the unrefined one. Unrefined cocoa butter could work, but your body butter will have a slight chocolat-y scent to it. Mica definitely works, if you use food coloring use gel based food coloring. You don't want to introduce anything that contains water or you will have to add a preservative.
      Hope that helps, Celine

      Reply
  14. Yan says

    April 20, 2019 at 2:17 pm

    Ow wow that’s amazing thank you for this post I’m from Russia and sell natural cosmetics in my district , I want to add something new to my shops and will try to make this one soon

    Reply
    • Simay says

      January 06, 2021 at 4:20 am

      I did it but somethings wrong its not fluffy.. my cocoa butter and liquid oil was at 37’ celcius.. ı dont know whats wrong but its just soup... Will wait for more in the fridge. Then whip it i hıpe i can save tha batch

      Reply
      • Celine says

        January 06, 2021 at 6:21 am

        Yes you will be able to whip it up once it’s cooled. No worries!

        Reply
  15. Bobbi says

    May 12, 2019 at 9:22 am

    Help! My body butter is hard as a rock, what did I do wrong???

    Reply
    • Celine says

      July 13, 2019 at 11:06 am

      Hi Bobbi, did you use shea butter or another butter? What was the temperature in the room you whipped or stored it?

      Reply
  16. Maria says

    August 17, 2019 at 3:23 am

    How long is the shelf life? I tend to use product slowly would you recommend any kind of preservatives?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      August 18, 2019 at 5:55 pm

      Hi Maria, the body butter should be good for around 6 months. Since this product doesn’t contain water a preservative isn’t necessary but you could use a broad spectrum preservative if you wish like optiphen plus. To lengthen the shelf life of the body butter you could add vitamin e oil. I would suggest making a small amount at a time. Happy Tinkering:)

      Reply
  17. cindy glenna says

    August 25, 2019 at 4:38 pm

    HI i have made this recipe 3 times and did not get a fluffy result at all. It gets too hard, and almost waxy.I
    Im not sure how your coming up with fluffy, but any tips would be nice thanks

    Reply
    • Celine says

      August 26, 2019 at 8:35 am

      Hi Cindy, I’m sorry to hear that. I’ve had body butter that hardened, but it was mainly due to the room temperature being too cold. I’m not sure what could make it feel waxy, but I’ll ask other DIYers if they ever encountered that. In the meantime you could try to omit the cocoa butter and add more Shea instead. Will get back
      to you soon.

      Reply
    • Lisa3002 says

      January 04, 2021 at 9:57 am

      Hi, I love your site. I made your Charcoal vetiver soap as my 2nd soap ever. Can’t wait to try it after it cures, it smells divine!

      I’m going to try this lavender mousse but notice a few comments mention hemp oil. I don’t see hemp oil in the ingredients. Is it missing from the ingredients? If so, how much? And when to add it?

      Reply
      • Celine says

        January 04, 2021 at 11:48 am

        Hi Lisa, I’m so glad you enjoy your soap. I changed the recipe after some folks had trouble with it. You can basically use any soft oil you have on hand. 🙂

        Reply
  18. gloria donna wamsley says

    September 13, 2019 at 11:28 pm

    Where do you get the ingredients from. Recipe sounds great.

    Reply
    • Celine says

      September 14, 2019 at 11:17 am

      Hi Gloria, I’ve linked the ingredients if you click on the name of the ingredient to a place you can order. Depending on where you live you could also order from a bath and body supply company like Brambleberry or Wholesale Supply Plus. Happy Tinkering 🙂

      Reply
  19. Jezreel Gill says

    October 15, 2019 at 9:57 pm

    My grandmother loves lavander and I just made a dye from blueberries. It did not mix well this go around with my lip balm but I was going yo mix it with arrow root powder ('dehydrating'in oven again if too wet). Do you think the 'dye' would mix well with this?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      October 16, 2019 at 2:08 pm

      Hi Jezreel, I wouldn’t use it in this body butter you run the risk of your product growing mold if there’s still any moisture left in your dye. Happy Tinkering!

      Reply
  20. April says

    January 15, 2020 at 9:10 pm

    Hi! I made this and it turned out wonderful in the beginning. Nice fluffy texture but, I put it in a glass jar with a lid and about an hour later it was hard butter. I can still grab some and it will melt in my hands and moisturize really well but, no more fluffy. Any suggestions? I followed the recipe to a T except I used cornstarch because that’s what I had on hand and you said it would work as a substitution. Disappointed because I was so happy with the way it turned out 😞

    Reply
    • Celine says

      January 16, 2020 at 1:11 pm

      Hi April, I’m sorry your body butter didn’t come out great. Interestingly enough the same thing happened to me recently. I never had an issue with this recipe until I changed the brand of my shea and cocoa butter. I’m still trying to figure out why this happens... here’s what you can do: melt the body butter you made completely and add more hemp oil or another soft oil to the mix. Let everything cool to room temperature and whip it up like you did before. Let the butter rest overnight if it hardened again repeat the process. If you’re happy with the result go ahead and pack it in your jar. It might not end up being quite as fluffy but at least soft and spreadable. Again I'm sorry. Happy Tinkering!

      Reply
  21. Rebecca Dillon says

    February 21, 2020 at 2:50 pm

    This looks amazing! What a great recipe for dry winter skin.

    Reply
    • Celine says

      February 22, 2020 at 8:59 am

      Thank you, Rebecca. It's very moisturizing.

      Reply
  22. Cyna says

    February 22, 2020 at 11:16 am

    What a wonderful recipe, Celine! I love natural colour Brazilian clay provides, so pretty!

    Reply
  23. A Life Adjacent says

    February 24, 2020 at 5:38 pm

    What a lovely recipe! This looks like the perfect body butter to use before bedtime. Love that fluffy texture and stunning colour!

    Reply
    • Celine says

      February 25, 2020 at 12:13 pm

      Thank you!

      Reply
    • Celine says

      February 28, 2020 at 9:57 am

      Thank you 😊

      Reply
      • Melissa says

        April 26, 2022 at 9:50 pm

        I used Brazilian purple clay and it didn't change the color. I also doubled the recipe. I am letting it set for the 12 hours and see how it goes. Thanks.

        Reply
        • Celine says

          April 29, 2022 at 8:35 am

          HI Melissa,
          I'm sorry you didn't get the color you expected. I will change the recipe to purple mica. I've heard from a few readers the Brazilian clay is not as strong in color as it used to be. They might have changed the supplier. I hope you still enjoy your body butter.

          Reply
  24. T says

    March 23, 2020 at 12:18 am

    Hello - Awesome recipe! I might have missed it but, when do we add the tapioca starch?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      March 23, 2020 at 7:24 am

      You can add it in with the essential oils. Happy Tinkering 🙂

      Reply
  25. Ellie says

    March 29, 2020 at 8:17 am

    I left this overnight, and it was still soft, hardened up just a bit...should I still whip it again with a bit of apricot oil?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      April 04, 2020 at 7:30 am

      Hi Ellie, it depends on your preference. I don’t mind it if it’s a little firm as long as it’s still spreadable. Happy Tinkering 🙂

      Reply
  26. Celine says

    April 07, 2020 at 9:44 am

    you got it.

    Reply
  27. Tyrie says

    April 21, 2020 at 2:19 pm

    How much lavender oil can be safely added to this recipe? I used unrefined she’s butter and I’d like to mask some of the smell but safely lol

    Reply
    • Celine says

      April 21, 2020 at 6:30 pm

      you can add 2 g. Happy Tinkering:)

      Reply
      • Tyrie says

        April 21, 2020 at 10:59 pm

        Thank you and mine turned out great. I wish I could have gotten the purple a little darker but it stayed beautiful and fluffy. Thanks again

        Reply
        • Celine says

          April 22, 2020 at 4:58 am

          I’m glad to hear that!

          Reply
  28. Jasmine Muhammad says

    June 14, 2020 at 1:52 am

    Hello

    What would be the measurements say for a 6oz container as opposed to a 24oz batch?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      June 14, 2020 at 8:16 pm

      Hi Jasmine, this recipe fills 2 jars loosely that are 4 oz each. For a 6 oz jar I would make the same recipe, fill up the jar don’t pack it in too much and use the little bit of left over up quickly or fill a smaller jar.

      Reply
  29. Monica says

    June 14, 2020 at 8:06 pm

    Hi I was wondering if you could help. I made a batch of body butter i used different ingredients and applied your concept. Can out beautifully and still holding its texture. So thank you. I have a slight issue. My butter is transferring color. I happened to notice because i have a white blanket and saw yellow (which is the color of my butter). Is there a reason why this happened? How can I avoid that?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      June 14, 2020 at 8:17 pm

      Hi Monica, I’m glad you like the way your body butter came out. Some butters or oils naturally have a yellow tint to them. Did you use any additional color?

      Reply
  30. Nichole says

    August 01, 2020 at 8:48 pm

    Hello I tried the recipe and love it but I only get barely a little over 4 oz and I read it makes 24? What am I doing wrong

    Reply
    • Celine says

      August 02, 2020 at 7:10 pm

      Mine filled 24 oz by volume not weight after it was whipped. I also scooped it in very loosely in order not to squeeze all the air out.

      Reply
      • Sarah Schroeder says

        November 16, 2020 at 5:50 pm

        Ok 24oz by volume. But won't gravity condense the product over time? Like wont gravity flatten it making the jar appear pretty empty??
        Im making this for Christmas gifts. But it seems that 1 batch only makes 8oz jar. Right? I've never made body butter before. I want to make sure its in budget to make. I realize making is cheaper than buying.

        Reply
  31. Kristine says

    August 02, 2020 at 10:49 am

    Hi there how can we make the whipped not melted if we shipped it especially in hot weather?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      August 02, 2020 at 7:08 pm

      Hi Kristine, unfortunately that’s not possible with this product. You might want to look into making a lotion that won’t melt.

      Reply
  32. Priyan says

    October 19, 2020 at 9:16 am

    Hi,
    I stay at Ireland. It has 10-13 degree Celsius now. Do you think if I use cacao butter and almond oil, the butter would stay fluffy in this temperature by any chance if i use more oil? Its winter here and I have extremely dry skin, was hence looking for something very moisturizing and chemical free. Your recipe came up when I searched body butter that stays fluffy even in cold climates and does not harden. It would mean a world to me, if you could help.

    Reply
    • Celine says

      October 19, 2020 at 9:27 am

      Hi Priyan, I think it would, but you will have to do a little experimenting on the amount of oil that’s perfect for your region. Follow the steps outlined when I explain what to do if body butter is too hard until you find the right consistency. Good luck!

      Reply
  33. Nikki says

    October 27, 2020 at 2:22 am

    How do i get the essential oil smells to stick ? I used to make it and the smell sticked well but now when I make it the smell is like not existent . Would you know why ? I’m assuming something with the temperature when i add the oils maybe .

    Reply
    • Celine says

      October 27, 2020 at 4:14 pm

      Let the butter cool down until it’s only slightly warm to the touch before adding the essential oil. It’s also possible that you’re using a low quality oil or one that’s past it’s prime in terms of freshness.

      Reply
  34. Alefiya says

    October 29, 2020 at 4:34 am

    Hey!
    I made shea+olive oil body butter. it was fluffy after whpping but was finding it hard to spread. Can u please tell me what went wrong. and what shall I do to make it spreadable. plus what shall I add to make it less sticky.

    thanks

    Reply
    • Celine says

      October 31, 2020 at 8:50 pm

      You can add more olive oil like I talk about in step 12. Add a small amount, whip and see if it stays fluffy.

      Reply
  35. Dawn says

    November 04, 2020 at 1:00 am

    Good evening and thank you very much for sharing this recipe, I cannot wait to try it. Can I add activated charcoal to this recipe and if so, how much would I add. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

    Reply
    • Celine says

      November 05, 2020 at 8:12 pm

      I have personally never tried activated charcoal in this recipe. I would keep the amount low 1/2 - 1 tsp. Keep in mind that it could stain your clothes.

      Reply
  36. Dawn Howard says

    November 04, 2020 at 10:54 am

    Thank you for sharing this recipe, I cannot wait to try it.
    Can I add activated charcoal to the recipe and if so,how much would I add? Thank you.

    Reply
  37. Sarah Schroeder says

    November 17, 2020 at 12:23 pm

    Hello! I want to make this for Christmas gifts. But I am struggling to understand how much ingredients I need to result in the finished qty I need. You said 24 oz. by volume. But won't gravity eventually settle the butter so that the jar looks empty? Because this makes 8oz by weight, yet filling a 24oz jar by volume. so., tomorrow, If I make 1 batch, fill 6-four oz jars, will they settle between now and Christmas appear half full?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      November 17, 2020 at 12:29 pm

      Hi Sarah, the body butter will settle slightly. I have a jar here I made in February and it still looks full. If you’re on a budget I would definitely omit the clay for color. It doesn’t add to the recipe except for visual interest. Let me know if you have more questions.

      Reply
  38. Olivia Green says

    February 24, 2021 at 11:55 am

    In the most recently updated recipe, can you replace the apricot kernel oil with cold pressed extra virgin olive oil?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      February 24, 2021 at 1:20 pm

      Hi Olivia, yes you can but olive oil has a pretty distinct smell that might be noticeable in your body butter.

      Reply
      • Olivia Green says

        February 24, 2021 at 1:46 pm

        Will the scent of the olive oil and unrefined shea butter be too hard to mask with essential oils?

        Reply
        • Celine says

          February 24, 2021 at 5:19 pm

          Yes, you can’t really mask it entirely.

          Reply
  39. ashley says

    March 01, 2021 at 9:52 pm

    Hey!! My butter consists of about 50% oil and it is still hard after i whip it. At first it is very soft then it hardens after a while. Should I double whip it to get the creamy consistency?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      March 04, 2021 at 9:02 am

      Is your room temperature pretty low? I would try whipping it again and if that doesn’t work use a little more oil.

      Reply
  40. Alicia says

    April 04, 2021 at 11:45 pm

    Hi! Thank you for the recipe. I used hempseed oil and it’s ever so slightly soupy and slightly gritty feeling. I mixed it several times on high speed but can’t seem to get the initial grit feeling out Can I fix this somehow?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      April 05, 2021 at 11:46 am

      Hi Alicia, if it’s soupy your room temperature is too warm. The grittiness comes from the Shea butter. I would add a little more Shea butter and melt the entire batch again. Then quickly put your mixture in the fridge that way hopefully the Shea butter will not get grainy. Once it’s cooled down completely take it out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature and whip. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  41. Anah D Shields says

    April 16, 2021 at 12:11 am

    Hi Celine,
    I love this recipe. The first time I tired it it came out amazing. Then I tried it with mango butter instead of cocoa butter and it came out great, but just recently I tried it and it came out like soup so I thought ok I didn't let it cool down enough and the room was warm so I tried the freezer but it comes out more creamy then fluffy. I follow the instructions to the T. I am so sad how do I get the fluffy back? Help.

    Reply
    • Celine says

      April 19, 2021 at 6:35 am

      Hi Anah, try whipping it again at room temperature

      Reply
  42. Sandra L Gaines says

    June 11, 2021 at 8:40 pm

    Hello, I would like to try this but make triple butter using shea, mango and cocoa. I assume add the same amount of mango as cocoa butter? Will this work and how much should I increase the oil?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      June 15, 2021 at 8:39 pm

      Hi Sandra you’ll have to give it a try. Changing a recipe is always a little tricky. If it comes out too hard you can always add more oil

      Reply
  43. Shivangi says

    July 11, 2021 at 4:00 pm

    Hi Celine,

    I live in a very Humid region, so my problem is I did followed your recipe in the exact way you have mentioned above but since the temperature here is humid n hot my body butter was turned more like a body lotion. 😞
    So I tried again. And this time I put half the quantity of Argan oil ( which I used as a base oil) mentioned in your recipe. But still that doesn’t help. Obviously it was better then the 1st batch I made, but still not soufflé-ish.
    So now I want to ask you that, is it important to use a base oil along with our Cocoa and Shea butter? Can I use just the combination of these butters along with essential oils and whip them up to made my body butter? Does, not using any oil will cause any reaction or damage to once skin?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      July 15, 2021 at 7:58 pm

      You can use butters only, that’s fine. Let me know how it works out.

      Reply
  44. Sana says

    September 02, 2021 at 9:35 am

    Hey, if I use any esther, will the shelf life change?? Thanks.

    Reply
    • Celine says

      September 03, 2021 at 7:46 am

      No it won’t.

      Reply
  45. Elizabeth Perez says

    November 12, 2021 at 6:23 pm

    Wow! I cant wait to try this method. I have been making body butters for years now, it wasn't until recently that someone had asked for a more whipped butter. so I looked it up. And I found this recipe. I cant wait to try this. Might be a new addition to my body products. Thank you for being so informative with this recipe.

    Reply
    • Celine says

      November 12, 2021 at 6:35 pm

      Can’t wait to hear how it turns out.

      Reply
  46. Dawn says

    December 15, 2021 at 10:15 am

    I have Shea butter and mango butter on hand for this recipe. Can I substitute more Shea or mango butter for the cocoa butter?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      December 20, 2021 at 5:00 pm

      Yes you can.

      Reply
  47. Ana Bravo says

    January 12, 2022 at 2:57 pm

    Hi Celine,

    I don´t have apricot oil, on hand right now but I have sweet almold, avocado, macadamia, calendula and argan oil.
    Can I substitute for one of these ?
    Thank you

    Reply
    • Celine says

      January 12, 2022 at 7:33 pm

      Hi Ana, you could use any one of those oils. It’ll be a great substitution.

      Reply
      • Ana Bravo says

        January 17, 2022 at 6:52 am

        Hi Celine,

        I made 2 sample batches, half the recipe (someone here doesn’t like lavender 😉) so 1st for me with half of the amount of corn starch.
        Whipped beautifully but after some time had hardened, meaning no “whipped cream” consistency anymore. That is fine by me, as it’s still spreadable. Just a little to oily for my taste.
        The 2nd sample batch I used just a bit of baby powder fragrance oil and 2 tsp of corn starch, no colorant.
        This one really looked like whipped cream when finished (OMG), but hardened just the same in the jar.
        Still spreadable so totally usable and not so oily.
        With the 2nd batch (better whipped) I filled 2 jars to the top with roughly 72 gr./each, just for us. (these would take 200 gr of nutela).
        I have a question though: does yours maintain the fluffiness ? I’m afraid that if I put more oil it’ll feel too oily. I also live in the Netherlands…so very cold right now, but I don’t think this is the only issue.
        Any ideas for troubleshooting? Thank you so much for the recipe, it’s amazing 😉 !
        Best regards

        Reply
        • Celine says

          January 18, 2022 at 1:23 pm

          Hi Ana, yes, mine stays fluffy in the jar. I would try using more oil sometimes just adding 5g of oil make a difference. Try using a "dry" oil like Camellia oil, it absorbs right away and is awesome. let me know how it goes. Celine

          Reply
          • Ana Bravo says

            January 25, 2022 at 5:22 pm

            Hi Celine,

            Followed your advice and added 5 more gr of avocado oil. Green, after whipped turned into a light yellowish tone, Beautiful texture and colour as well.

            Thank you so much !

          • Celine says

            January 26, 2022 at 5:19 pm

            That’s great 😃

  48. Maggie says

    January 17, 2022 at 3:52 pm

    Do you ever have a problem with the body butter ruining your clothes? I have made and used body butter for a number of years and have tried different combinations of oils and butters. I typically apply my body butter after my night time shower and have noticed that the oils become embedded in my pajamas, leaving a stale oil/grease odor, even after laundering. I have stopped using my homemade product for this reason, but am wondering if there is a remedy. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

    Reply
    • Celine says

      January 18, 2022 at 1:18 pm

      Hi Maggie, I never had that happen to me. Personally, I use my body butter sparingly and only on parts where my skin is very dry (elbows, knees, hands and feet). I hope that helps. Celine

      Reply
  49. srishti says

    February 12, 2022 at 12:52 am

    hi!! needed to thank you!! worked sooo sooo well! the most beautiful butters i've ever made :*

    Reply
    • Celine says

      February 12, 2022 at 7:48 am

      I'm glad to hear!

      Reply
  50. K o says

    February 15, 2022 at 12:35 am

    Ok! I've made this three times now and this is the easiest method:

    Melt Shea, cocoa, and the liquid oil together and mix. Leave overnight in fridge. Let it come to room temp the next day. Whip it on high speed and then add cornstarch. That's it. It works well for me because the Shea butter I buy has little crumbles and requires melting anyway.

    The first time I made this it went as planned. The second time my Shea was crumbly so I melted it but it didn't solidify fully in the fridge before I started combining it with the other oils and so it didn't work and it was less fluffy (more of a butter consistency and still amazing, I'd add). Third time I accidentally turned it into a soup during the step where you add in the cocoa and liquid oil (oil was probably too hot), so I put it in the fridge overnight and it was perfect after whipping the next day.

    Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!

    Reply
    • Celine says

      February 16, 2022 at 5:01 pm

      I'm glad you made it work! Enjoy!

      Reply
    • Karen Cotton says

      February 19, 2022 at 7:37 pm

      If I want to substitute the essential oil for fragrance oil, how many ounces of fragrance oil do I need to add?

      Reply
      • Celine says

        February 20, 2022 at 3:24 pm

        It depends on the manufacturer. There should be guidelines on the bottle or website. Look for a "leave on product" suggested amount.

        Reply
  51. Ness says

    March 04, 2022 at 6:17 am

    HELP I accidentally melted 100 g of cocoa butter (instead of 28 g) with 75 g of sweet almond oil in the microwave! So stupid. I have enough cocoa butter to make a new batch, but not enough sweet almond oil. Do you think grapeseed oil would work too? And do you think I could put a few drops of vitamin C (15%) in the body butter as well? I also don't want the mixture of cocoa butter and sweet almond oil to go to waste. It's solid now but it's really hard, so I don't think it could be used as a moisturizer by itself unless I want to use a knife and melt it in the microwave every time. Do you have any suggestions as to what I could do with it?

    Reply
    • Celine says

      March 04, 2022 at 12:22 pm

      Hi Ness, yes absolutely grapeseed oil is great. For your cocoa butter and almond oil, I would melt the whole thing again and add maybe 75 g of grapeseed oil. Then put it in the fridge until it starts to turn almost solid. Whip it up with a hand mixer and let sit at room temperature. Let me know how that works. It should be spreadable and softer at this point.

      Reply
  52. Marie gilus says

    November 11, 2022 at 9:42 pm

    Hi Celine,
    Can I use raw cocoa butter to make whipped body butter

    Reply
    • Celine says

      November 13, 2022 at 6:59 am

      yes you can, but it will have a slight odor.

      Reply
  53. May says

    December 01, 2023 at 9:55 pm

    Hi, I was just wondering how to access the recipe card? Sorry if I missed it.

    Reply
    • Celine says

      December 02, 2023 at 8:03 am

      Hi May, if you click on "jump to how to" right in the beginning below the title it will take you there.

      Reply
  54. Maysie says

    December 02, 2023 at 4:17 am

    Hi Celine! I was just wondering if the cocoa and Shea butter needs to be pure- would the kind sold at chemists and pharmacys be ok?
    Thankyou!

    Reply
    • Celine says

      December 02, 2023 at 8:05 am

      It needs to have no other ingredients except for cocoa and shea butter. The one sold in pharmacies is likely mixed with other things already.

      Reply
headshot celine.

Hi, I'm Celine, I've been making my own soap and skincare since 2015 to help my family's sensitive skin. You can do it too, I'll show you how right here.

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