Christmas Giving: DIY Body Butter

Cold winters, dry skin, body butters become helpful gifts for the season. I made a variation of this many years ago and decided to have another try to give out in the spirit of giving. We did two variations; one lavender and feminine, one unscented gender neutral.

Supplies:
1-2 Cheesecloth or straining pouch
2 large pots (stainless steel)
beeswax (1 tablespoon per 8 oz container)
2 liters grapeseed oil
2 liters olive oil

the beginning stages....

essential oil of choice (we used lavender, lemon eucalytptus, juniper berry)
1cup green tea (osthmanthus fancy and jasmine pearls)
3 cups calendula flowers
2 cups chamomile flowers
1 cup lavender flowers
1/2 cup jasmine flowers
7 ounces vitamin e oil
18  8 oz. containers (used glass canning jars)

(makes about 18 8 oz. jars of body butter)



Lavender Body Butter:
Combine 1 liter grape seed and one liter olive oil in a stainless steel pot over low heat. Add 1 1/2 cup calendula, 1 cup chamomile, 1 cup lavender flowers, 1/2 cup jasmine, and 3 ounces of vitamin e. Stir and cook over low heat in oil for about 3-4 hours. Herbs will start to darken in color by then, strain oil in cheesecloth or straining pouch. Add 5 tablespoons of beesewax and 1-2 tablespoons lavender essential oil  to infused oil and dissolve beeswax with oil in a double boiler. When fully dissolved, pour into 8 oz glass jars, should fill about 3/4 of the way. Let cool. Oil will begin clear and darken to a green when fully settled. Use immediately for relaxing, dry skin relief.

Unisex Body Butter:

The butter cools....

1 liter grapeseed oil
1 liter olive oil
3 ounces vitamin e oil
1 cup green tea
1 1/2 cup calendula
1 cup chamomile

Combine  1liter of olive oil and 1 liter of grapeseed oil together. Add vitamin e, green tea, calendula flowers, chamomile, stir. Cook over low heat for about 3-4 hours. Once herbs and tea have browned, after 4 hours, strain oil in cheesecloth. Add infused oil back into double boiler on medium low heat and add 4-5 tablespoons beeswax to oil and dissolve. Once dissolved pour into glass jar, about 3/4 full. Allow to cool completly. Mixture will go from clear green to solid green. Makes about 8 8 oz jars of butter.

Will look like this when almost cooled...