Christmas shopping just got easier after making a batch of my lavender honey-scented body butter. Easy to whip up in a couple of hours, this body butter is a smooth emollient welcome on winter parched skin. And what better way to put to use the beeswax & honey that I gathered from the hive this summer? For interesting facts on beeswax and other uses for this great natural product of the hive, go to Beeswax-Honeybee Gift.
After going through some recipes on-line and experimenting with several, I came up with a body butter that works great and costs about half of what I was paying Burt’s Bees. Plus, I made a dent in all of my horded beeswax. The whole process is so easy, I don’t know why I was spending all that money before. The butter is a little thicker than others that I have tried because of the addition of beeswax but it still feels light and creamy.
First of all, gather your ingredients.
Healthy Ingredients
Beeswax: Forms a light coating on the skin helping to hold in moisture. Available on-line also, and you can buy beeswax already grated which is easier to use.
Raw Unpasteurized Honey: Adds moisture to the skin and helps lock it in, while providing protective benefits.
Coconut Oil: Naturally rich in proteins which help keep the skin rejuvenated. Coconut oil is becoming ubiquitous in the stores and I am finding more and more uses for it.
Shea Butter: Vitamins, minerals and fatty acids moisturize and revitalize dry skin.
Sweet Almond Oil: Softens and hydrates skin.
Essential Oil: Adds aromatherapy benefits and supports healthy skin. I used lavender oil, but the possibilities are endless-bergamot, lemon, scented geranium, orange, peppermint. I especially like the flavor of lavender and honey.
Honey Scented Body Butter
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1 C Shea Butter
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1/2 C Coconut Oil (solid at room temperature)
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1/2 C Sweet Almond Oil
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3-4 Ounces Beeswax, grated or chopped
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Dozen drops of Lavender essential oil
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1 T Honey
Directions
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Melt the Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, and Beeswax in the top of a double boiler until all lumps melt.The Beeswax has the highest melting temperature, so will be the last to melt. Beeswax has honey deposited in it so you get the fragrance of the honey from your beeswax, as well as the added liquid honey at the end.
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Remove from heat, letting cool slightly, and add the Sweet Almond Oil.
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Place the whole thing into the refrigerator until the mixtures turns almost hard and opaque. This could be 15 minutes or less. If you let it harden too much, just return to the heat to melt the mixture again. You want it soft enough to whip, but not too hard that the mixture will form lumps. Creamy smooth is the key, not hard and solid.
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While in the refrigerator, the mixture will become opaque.Bring the mixture out, adding the honey and the lavender oil and whip it with a mixer or immersion blender until thoroughly mixed. The more air incorporated, the lighter the mixture.
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Scrape into containers. I used an old Burt’s bees container and some small mason jars. Dress them up with a sprig of lavender when giving as gifts.
18 Comments
Loving your idea. It’s easy to make and super useful. I made a batch and it turned out better than I expected. I keep the body butter in Infinity Jars which blocks harmful light and keeps it in optimum condition for ages. https://infinityjars.com/collections/screw-top-jars
I’ve made body butters before, and I love them! I love the idea of adding honey because of the health benefits, and j can imagine how yummy this butter will smell. I’m curious as to the texture, though. Will the honey make the butter sticky, or leave a sticky residue on the skin?
Just made a batch of another recipe with beeswax tonight, wish i had seen this one first. I will never go back to store bought brands. I will try this one next.
Can I leave out the beeswax completely?
Yes!!
Can I melt it on the stove or does it have to be in a double boiler? My first batch with this recipe didn’t work out as well it was too gritty so I’m trying it again today.
I just did it on the stove. Please let me know how it turns out.
Mine didn’t really fluff. It has tiny balls of wax in it. Can I reheat it?
Yes, you can. You need to melt the wax completely.
Yes, you can. You need to melt the wax completely.
What is the shelf life? What is the best way to store it? Can I replace the almond oil with safflower oil?
Hi,
Can you plz tell me instead of cup measure can I use Oz or ml, if so how much so I consider as per the above measurements mentioned.
You would have to convert cup measurements to ounces.
Thank you Claire, I will try this recipe and hopefully it aids my chapped garden hands ! Cheers !
What can I substitute almond oil with? My daughter is allergic to nuts. Thank you
i have plenty of beeswax in Uganda if you interested Clare lets see how we can cooperate.
otherwise good job.
Are the coconut oil and shea butter unrefined or refined?
please answer!!!
Is this to make one batch? I would love to use this recipe but don’t know how the measures when wanted to make batches of it.
I pray you answer. Thanks