Warming Winter Vanilla Body Butter Recipe

Warming Winter Vanilla Body Butter

There is something I love about the warm scent of vanilla in winter. Its aroma is grounding and brings a warmth without being spicy like some of the warming scents, it’s like wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket.

Infusing vanilla bean into a carrier oil and using that carrier oil in a body butter is wrapping yourself in the warm aroma of vanilla.

Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and with a spoon scoop out the vanilla bean paste (some folks call this the caviar). Holding the top of the vanilla bean with one hand, slide the spoon down the length of the vanilla bean. Scrape the vanilla paste off the spoon into the double boiler.

Chop the remaining vanilla bean into smaller sections, I do about 1in sections and place those into the double boiler.

Cover the vanilla bean paste and vanilla beans with ¾ cup the carrier oil (the apricot or jojoba oil).

Place the double boiler over low heat and gently heat the vanilla bean oil mixture for 3-4 hours. 

While it is still warm, pour the warm oil mix into the clean glass jar and secure with a tight fitting lid. Place the jar in a warm, dark place for a week or two.

You can check on your vanilla oil and smell its aroma to get a feel for when you think it is strong enough.  

Once the vanilla oil is strong enough strain it through a fine mesh strainer into a clean glass jar. You will have around half a cup of vanilla infused oil. 

You could stop here. You can strain this lovely little jar of bliss into a bottle with a pump lid or a dropper bottle and have a beautiful, calming massage oil, or body oil, or bath oil.

Or you can continue on and use it in the recipe below for Warming Winter Vanilla Body Butter.

Warming Winter Vanilla Body Butter 

This is a really soft body butter, the coconut oil gives it a smooth, soft texture and the scent of it blends well with the vanilla oil. It contains no essential oils so it's a nice option for the folks that are sensitive to strong scents or don’t like essential oils. The oils and butter are gentle on most skin types, but with any topical skin care always do a test patch first, just to be on the safe side.

1. Measure the shea butter and coconut oil into a double boiler. Gently warm until just melted.
2. Remove from heat and add the Vanilla infused oil to the melted butters.
3. Place the bowl in the refrigerator until it is solid. Once it is solid, remove it from the refrigerator. If it's too solid, let it warm up a little before mixing.
4. Using a stick blender, whip the butter oil mixture until it is smooth and well blended. It will change consistency and become light and fluffy.

This makes about 14 fluid ounces, so it fits well in two 8 ounce jars, but of course divide it up however you want. If I am giving these away as gifts, I put it in three 4 ounce jars and put the little leftover bit in a 2 ounce for myself.

This is an incredibly smooth body butter. With the heat of your own skin it melts in very quickly and helps dry, itchy skin. It's perfect for winter skin that may be dry from heat and rough from winter clothing.

It’s best used after a shower or bath while your skin is still hydrated from the water. The oils in the vanilla body butter help to seal moisture into the skin, and the water helps the oils in the body butter sink  deeper into the layers of skin.

You could also make and use this vanilla body butter in summer, but be careful where you store it because it will melt very easily.

*The vanilla bean link is an affiliate link, which means I make a few dollars here and there, which helps me to keep sharing these recipes with you :) 

And as always, please feel free to tell me about typos or things that aren't clear or questions you may have.

And enjoy!