the wild apothecary
Herbal Body Butter
Soothing • Skin-Loving • Gentle
This body butter is made without coconut oil, because so many folks kept telling me of their allergies to it. This is the same recipe as the Herbal Whipped Body Butter if you rather buy it than make it. Or the recipe is below if you rather make your own.
The first step involves making the infused herbal oil. There are two basic methods for making an infused herbal oil. One method can be done in the crock pot and takes about 6 to 8 hours. The other slower method, takes 6 weeks. Both methods work great. Some herbalists prefer the slow method (also cold solar or cold infusion) because the low temperatures keep the delicate herbal properties intact.
Others prefer the crock pot method because of its quickness and efficiency. I feel like the crock pot preserves the delicate herbal properties as long you keep the oil from getting too heated. Most crock pots these days have a "warm setting" and that is the setting I use to infuse herbs in the crock pot.
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup shea butter
- 1/3 cup mango butter
- 1/2 cup apricot oil (infused with calendula, roses, and chamomile )
- 2 tsp Arrow root powder
- 1 oz beeswax pellets
- Optional essential oils -
- 2 drops lavender essential oil
- 2 drops roses essential oil
- 2 drops chamomile essential oil
Directions
- Measure and add the shea butter and mango butter to a double boiler. Melt, gently over low heat. When melted remove from heat and add the herbal infused apricot oil and the arrowroot powder.
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Stir well to combine and place in the refrigerator to harden and cool down. Once hardened, remove it from the fridge and using a hand mixer or stand mixer, whip until light and fluffy. At first it may seem like it still too runny, but just keep mixing, it will start to fluff up and change consistency to a light whipped texture.
- Add essential oils and whip to combine
- Scoop into clean and disinfected 4oz jars and label. Use within 6 months for best freshness. Mango and shea butter are quite shelf stable, especially if kept in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
Herbal Notes
I love body butter!!!
