Cocoa butter is a vegetable fat extracted from the cocoa bean. It naturally has a warm, chocolatey aroma and a firm, brittle texture. Learn more about cocoa butter here. I was inspired by the decadent properties of cocoa butter to create this body mousse. Melted cocoa butter chunks and jojoba oil are whipped together with avocado butter to create a smooth and fluffy consistency. The mousse melts on contact with the skin, making it easy to spread over dry areas like elbows or hands. It’s an extremely unique and decadent texture!
The new Cocoa Butter Cashmere Fragrance Oil gives the body mousse a sophisticated and cozy scent. I specifically chose the cocoa butter chunks because they have a rich chocolate aroma. They smell amazing with the Cocoa Butter Cashmere Fragrance Oil. If you don’t have this particular type of cocoa butter on hand, any kind will work. If it’s deodorized cocoa butter, the final product will not smell quite as strong.
What You’ll Need:
Three Tall 8 oz. Bail Jars
8 oz. Avocado Butter
3 oz. Cocoa Butter Chunks
2 oz. Jojoba Oil
6 mL Cocoa Butter Cashmere Fragrance Oil
Dropper
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ONE: Add the jojoba oil and cocoa butter into a small, heat-safe container. Melt in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts. Cocoa butter has a high melting point, so be careful when removing the container from the microwave. It will be very hot.
TWO: Once the mixture is melted, add the Cocoa Butter Cashmere Fragrance Oil and mix in completely. Set aside to cool.
THREE: In a separate large container, add the avocado butter. Use a hand mixer (or stand mixer) to whip the butter until it’s completely smooth. Note: You are not melting the Avocado butter, just whipping it up at room temperature.
FOUR: Slowly add small amounts of the melted cocoa butter and jojoba oil to the avocado butter, and whip after each addition.
FIVE: Continue adding the melted mixture and whipping together. I recommend to add the cocoa butter mixture in no less than four parts. If too much of the melted butter is added at once, it will completely melt the avocado butter. As you whip the mixture it will begin to thin and become more smooth.
SIX: Continue whipping for several minutes. Use a spatula to clean the sides of the bowl if necessary.
NOTE ABOUT PRESERVATIVES: This product does not contain water, and does not require a preservative. But if you’re selling this product or would like to be on the extra safe side, add an oil soluble preservative like Optiphen at a usage rate of .5-1% .
SEVEN: As the mixture cools, it will thicken and become more “fluffy.” The mixture shown below has returned to room temperature (about 70° F). It’s a much thicker consistency than the butter shown in step six, which was about 90° F.
EIGHT: Place the butter into bail jars or other containers and enjoy! Store this product in a cool place, or it may melt and lose some of the fluffy consistency. If you live in an extremely hot climate, you may want to store the butter in the fridge until ready to use. Enjoy!
- Three Tall 8 oz. Bail Jars
- 8 oz. Avocado Butter
- 3 oz. Organic Cocoa Butter Chunks
- 2 oz. Jojoba Oil
- 6 mL Cocoa Butter Cashmere Fragrance Oil
- Dropper
- Add the jojoba oil and cocoa butter into a small, heat-safe container. Melt in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts. Cocoa butter has a high melting point, so be careful when removing the container from the microwave. It will be very hot.
- Once the mixture is melted, add the Cocoa Butter Cashmere Fragrance Oil and mix in completely. Set aside to cool.
- In a separate large container, add the avocado butter. Use a hand mixer (or stand mixer) to whip the butter until it's completely smooth.
- Slowly add small amounts of the melted cocoa butter and jojoba oil to the avocado butter, and whip after each addition.
- Continue adding the melted mixture and whipping together. I recommend to add the butter in no less than four parts. If too much of the butter is added at once, it will completely melt the avocado butter. As you whip the mixture it will begin to thin and become more smooth.
- Continue whipping for several minutes. Use a spatula to clean the sides of the bowl if necessary.
- As the mixture cools, it will thicken and become more “fluffy.” The mixture shown below has returned to room temperature (about 70° F). As you can see, it’s a much thicker consistency than the butter shown in step six, which was about 90° F.
- Place the butter into bail jars or other containers and enjoy! Store this product in a cool place, or it may melt and lose some of the fluffy consistency.
How to make body butter absorbed by the skin and non-greasy ?
Adding Arrowroot Powder to body butter recipes can help cut the greasy feel.
Arrowroot Powder: https://www.brambleberry.com/Arrowroot-Powder-P3706.aspx
I just started down the path of lotion/soap making. This was the second recipe I made and I find I’m not a fan of the cocoa butter smell. And it seems pretty heavy on my skin. What can I use in place of the cocoa butter?
Hi Tami, you can use either Shea or Mango Butter since they are about the same consistency. You would also use the same amount as well.
Hey. I tried making this yesterday with half the portions of everything but I didn’t manage to get to the fluffy cream stage. My product remained in it’s liquid form – yellowish colour even though I had beaten it for quite a while. I also tried to ‘firm it up ‘ by putting it into the fridge for a bit and then beating it again but just remained in it’s liquid form. When it finally cooled over night it set as a hard white form. Not quite what I was going for. Any recommendations on how to fix my liquid product?
Thanks
How hot were the oils, and was it pretty warm in your house? If it’s pretty warm it may take quite a bit of beating to get the butters fluffy.
I would say yes my house was warm when making but the oils were quite cool to the touch of being in the fridge. Ok I’ll have another go maybe I was too keen to see results!
Thanks
Whipping it longer should help. To speed the process up, you can place your bowl in an ice bath.
I am hoping to make a recipe similar to this one. I plan on switching the avocado butter for shea butter (only because it cost less) and I want to use natural deodorized cocoa butter because that’s what I have on hand but I want the color of the body butter to be a little more white so I thought about using meadowfoam oil but I’ve seen a lot of people making body butter with magnesium oil and I was wondering if I could switch out the meadowfoam for the magnesium oil and if anyone has any experience with this raw material.
Also, I know sometime people use tapioca powder and arrowroot powder so the product is less greasy on the skin. Would kaolin clay work and would it be necessary in this recipe?
This is the first time I will be making a body butter for other people than myself so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks so much!
We haven’t worked with magnesium oil so I don’t know a lot about it. I would recommend talking with the manufacturer to find out if it’s skin safe for body butter and if so, what the usage rate is.
Also, you can use kaolin clay in place of tapioca or arrowroot powder. I would recommend starting with 1/8 teaspoon for this recipe and testing it on the skin. If you want more you can add from there.
Kaolin clay: https://www.brambleberry.com/Kaolin-Clay-P3235.aspx
I live in a hot and humid climate, so I’m looking for something more lightweight. I’ll be substituting the avocado butter with Shea. Also, jojoba oil is crazy expensive here in Malaysia, is there any other oils I could substitute it with?
You can use any lightweight liquid oil you like in place of jojoba oil. Argan, meadowfoam, avocado, or sweet almond oil will work. You may want to make a small test batch with the substitutions to see what you think of the consistency.
Argan oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/argan-oil-p5574.aspx
Meadowfoam oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Meadowfoam-Oil–P4978.aspx
Avocado oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Avocado-Oil-P3198.aspx
Sweet almond oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sweet-Almond-Oil-P3205.aspx
Hi! Love this recipe but how do I prevent my body butters from separating and keeping its form. I have had issues with melting and separating and I don’t want my customers to have the same problem. Does the Optiphen help or is there anything else that would work. Any suggestions?
Body butters can melt in hot climates, so you can tell your customers to store them in the fridge. That will help them keep the fluffy texture until they’re ready to use.
This post has more tips for dealing with the heat: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-in-the-summer-heat/
Preservatives don’t stop a butter from melting, but they do protect against mold and bacteria. This product does not contain water, and does not require a preservative. But, if you’re selling this product or would like to be on the extra safe side, add an oil soluble preservative like Optiphen at a usage rate of .5-1% .
Optiphen: https://www.brambleberry.com/Optiphen-P3682.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
HI! I’ve got a question about this. I have all ingredients needed to make several batches of this, I’ve read about tempering but I’m still unsure about one thing. Do I have to temper the cocoa butter before each and every project? Or is it just a one time thing and I can temper it all at once and just measure what I need for my next project and not have to worry about it?
You only have to temper that butter once, which makes it nice and easy. That involves heating and holding the butter, then putting it in the fridge to cool rapidly. Whenever you need to use it, you can measure and melt what you need. Learn more about tempering here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-in-the-summer-heat/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This is the 4th batch of this body mousse that I’ve made. However, I’ve had to substitute Cocoa Butter Cashmere fragrance oil (not a fan). I did make the Cocoa Butter Cashmere recipe first, then made new recipes in Lime, Champagne, and Lavender. This is amazing! Love it! Makes your skin feel sooooo soft. Thank you!
That’s awesome, glad you’re loving this recipe MaryAnn! The lime, champagne, and lavender blend sounds amazing. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
LOL – it’s not a blend Kelsey. I made a batch of each of those fragrances. Although, the blend does sound interesting.
Definitely. 😉
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I have not tried all the recipes, but wow! This is my favorite!!!! This is luxury!!!!
That’s awesome, glad you’re enjoying this recipe Mary! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This body butter looks soo good, and finally i ordered the fragrance oil and avocado butter from you. If i like to add Vitamin E, how much would you recommend?
You can use the vitamin E at 1% in this recipe! That helps extend the shelf life of the recipe a bit. 🙂
Vitamin E oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Vitamin-E-Oil-P3200.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I’ve made cocoa butter lotion bars before & the cocoa butter always just seems to sit on top of my skin. It never seems to absorb. I love your Shea Butter & Coconut Oil body butter though.
Cocoa butter is firmer, so it won’t melt on the skin as easily as shea. However, the avocado butter and jojoba oil feel moisturizing and light on the skin. If you like, you can use shea butter in this recipe! It will feel slightly different, so you may want to make a small test batch to see what you think. 🙂
Shea butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I use a mix or shea and mango butter in most of my products. I’m not a fan of cola as it is pretty greasy. Would this mixture hold up well in this recipe and keep it a bit firmer than Shea alone?
Yes, mango butter would give the recipe more firmness. You may need to adjust the shea and mango based on personal preference, but a 1:1 ratio is a good place to start. Like cocoa, you’ll want to melt the mango before whipping it.
Mango butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Mango-Butter-P3221.aspx
I made this lotion and I absolutely love it!!! I divided the lotion and put some in two glass jars and some in a plastic container. Today the lotion in the plastic container is perfect consistency and not greasy but the two in the glass jars have small lumpy bumps, it still super soft, and very greasy. I did add Optiphen and arrowroot powder but I added it all together and then divided it up into containers. Any suggestions on what went wrong?
That’s awesome, glad you’re enjoying this recipe! Do the bumps create a sort of grainy consistency? If so, it may be the cocoa butter. If the cocoa butter cooled too slowly, it can form grains. It helps to temper the butter beforehand! Learn how to do that here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-in-the-summer-heat/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
When I contacted BB on chat to ask about this issue, I was told that when finished whipping all the ingredients, put the filled containers in the refrigerator. Would that be an alternative to tempering the cocoa butter?
That can help the butter cool down slowly and hold its shape, so you can definitely do that. If you like, you can temper the shea or cocoa butter when you get it to prevent any graininess in future batches. That helps especially in the warm summer months.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can I replace the avocado butter with coconut oil?
We haven’t given that a try, so I’m not entirely sure. I think it should work just fine, the balm just may be a bit softer overall. If it’s a bit too soft, you can add more cocoa butter to firm it up. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Coconut oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Coconut-Oil-P3196.aspx
Could you please recommend essential oils to be used with regular cocoa butter, and and also the refined cocoa butter, to replace the fragrance oil?
You may like balsam Peru essential oil! It has a sweet tobacco scent reminiscent of vanilla. 🙂
Balsam Peru essential oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Balsam-Peru-Essential-Oil-P4443.aspx
You can use our Fragrance Calculator to find out how much to add to this recipe: http://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi, I can’t wait to try this recipe. But I don’t have avocado butter. Would mango butter work? I have lots of that. I know you mentioned coffee and shea butter but I can’t use either of those two. Thanks for your help!
Mango butter will work! It’s more firm than the avocado butter, so the butter overall will have a more firm, stiff texture. Because it is more firm, I would recommend melting it with the cocoa butter, then whipping until fluffy. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Mango butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Mango-Butter-P3221.aspx
Is it possible to replace the jojoba oil with fractionated coconut oil instead?
You can substitute fractionated coconut oil if you like! It’s a bit lighter than the jojoba oil, so the butter will have a lighter feeling. You may want to make a small test batch to make sure you like the consistency. If you want it thicker, you can add more butter or a heavier oil like avocado or sweet almond. 🙂
Fractionated coconut oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/CaprylicCapric-Triglycerides-Fractionated-Coconut-Oil-P4957.aspx
Avocado oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Avocado-Oil-P3198.aspx
Sweet almond oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sweet-Almond-Oil-P3205.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Wow Kelsey! You do a great job answering all of the questions.
My question: I love the Shea Body Butter base but want to make my own to share with friends and family. The Shea BB base has water which if I understand requires a preservative such as Optiphen, but it also has BTMS-50, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, and additional glycerin. Why aren’t BTMS-50, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Lactate, and glycerin included in the above recipe?
The Cocoa Butter Cashmere FO was the best of the Autumn FO offerings!
Hi Carol!
When working with water and oil, you need an emulsifier like BTMS-50 to help them mix together. Also, water can cause mold and bacteria growth, which is why the preservative is required. Because this recipe doesn’t have water, it doesn’t need an emulsifier or a preservative. It’s an easier alternative to traditional lotion! It will also be a lot thicker and super moisturizing. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can the oils be melted using a double boiler? I don’t have a microwave, so I hope so! 🙂
Vivian
You sure can! A double boiler will work well for melting the cocoa butter and jojoba oil. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I don’t like greasy lotions or balms so have never used butters. I have a friend who is much like me so she suffers all winter with dry, ashy skin. I cut this recipe in thirds to make her a 4oz trial jar. I left out the jojoba oil, added a teaspoon of tapioca and with the cashmere fragrance it doesn’t smell like a candy bar. It is so amazing I had to make a jar for me. It glides on, melts into my skin without being really greasy. Use it on your feet with cotton socks at bedtime and wake up with wonderfully soft feet. Simply amazing. Thanks for the intro to avocado butter!
So glad you’re enjoying this recipe Kathy! Thanks for saying so. I love applying this butter and putting socks on to really moisturize my feet. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This is an absolutely amazing recipe!! I totally love how it turned out… like I want to bathe in it!
Just need to be careful about the temperature (too hot) of the cocoa butter. I did it a second time and poured the butter too hot. It turned out just a little less awesome, so I’ll be mindful of that next time!
Thank you guys for another great recipe! 🙂
You’re very welcome, glad you’re loving this butter Michelle! Thanks for the great tip too. Butter that’s poured on the cooler side will fluff up nicely. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I have made this several times. The first time, I did not add Optiphen. It was wonderful and smooth as silk, and still is. I made several more batches now for gifts, and I added Optiphen at 1% or 4ml. It comes out great, but after several days, I noticed it has a grainy texture to it. It smoothes out rubbing it in. Is it the Optiphen? Other suggestions?
I’m thinking instead of the Optiphen it may be the cocoa butter! If cocoa butter cools too slowly, it can get a grainy texture. To prevent that, we recommend tempering the butter. That involves heating the butter to 100F and holding it there for 45-60 minutes. Then, pop it in the fridge to cool down rapidly. 🙂
Read more about tempering butters here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-in-the-summer-heat/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you!
You’re welcome! 🙂
Hi Kelsey,
I’m still thinking about this….
Please explain to me how I should incorporate the tempering of the Cocoa butter while making the body butter.
Thank you 😉
Tempering is something you do beforehand. Sorry about the confusion! So, as soon as you get that cocoa butter in the mail, we recommend tempering it. Then, when you’re ready to make this butter, you can weigh out what you need from your tempered butter and add it as the recipe shows above. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Ok, thanks a bunch! You are terrific!
You’re welcome Becky!
What temperature do I need to cool the melted cocoa butter to before I begin to add?
Once you’ve removed the cocoa butter from the microwave and whipped the avocado butter, it should be ready to pour! At that time it will be around 100-110F. If it’s warmer than that you can still add it. If you notice it starting to harden up again, pop it in the microwave for another 10 seconds or so to remelt it. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
hi,,,
made the cashmere mousse substituted almond frag for the coco cashmere frag.turned out beauty & the smell lets just say good snuff to eat!! lol but would like to try the actual coco cashmere tho. thx great recipe!! 🙂 am onto the next,, cranberry scrub yippee,,,,hehehe
That’s awesome, sounds like a delicious smelling butter! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Almond Cybilla Fragrance Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Almond-Cybilla-Fragrance-Oil-P3355.aspx
Cranberry Sugar Scrub: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/soaks-and-scrubs/cranberry-sugar-scrub/
I love this so much! I used your almond FO and it smells delightful! Any other suggestions that will go well with the cocoa butter scent?
Cocoa butter smells amazing with anything sweet! I love it mixed with Espresso and Vanilla Select Fragrance Oil. That makes it smell like a mocha. 🙂
Espresso Fragrance Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Espresso-Fragrance-Oil-P5889.aspx
Vanilla Select Fragrance Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Vanilla-Select-Fragrance-Oil-P3888.aspx
It also smells great with some minty notes! Moroccan Mint is really nice with cocoa butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Moroccan-Mint-Fragrance-Oil-P3925.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
The scent is decent, but I have to say this recipe is a little greasy. I’ll have to try using tapioca powder in it next time. I’m also wondering if a little bees wax melted with the cocoa butter wouldn’t hurt?
Tapioca powder or arrowroot powder will definitely help! They help absorb some of that greasy feeling. For this recipe, I would recommend starting with 1-2 teaspoons of power. Then, test it on your skin. If you want more, you can add from there.
Tapioca powder: https://www.brambleberry.com/Tapioca-Powder-P3803.aspx
Arrowroot powder: https://www.brambleberry.com/Arrowroot-Powder-P3706.aspx
As for the beeswax, we haven’t given that a try but that may make the balm a bit more firm! I would recommend melting about 2 ounces of wax, then adding it in small sections (.5 ounces or so). Make sure to test it often to see if you like the way it feels. Once you get your desired consistency, you can stop adding the wax. You can also heat up and add more if you want a firmer feeling. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I made this Friday and I love it. It does feel a little heavy when you first apply but that feeling does go away. I think it will work well on my super dry winter skin. Hubby took some to work to see if any one would be interested in buying. I hope I get to keep a jar for myself. I love this stuff. I can’t wait to try some others.
That’s awesome Julie, glad you’re loving this recipe! I hope you sell some as well. It’s perfect for this time of year. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I recently made this and the scent is amazing! It turned very hard though but still usable. I had a little avocado butter left and the rest I used cranberry butter along with the cocoa butter. I also substituted avocado oil for the jojoba as I didn’t have any. Do you think the cranberry butter made a difference and what should I do to get it to the right consistency again?
Thanks!
Hi Deb! If the butter is a bit too stiff, you can add more avocado oil. That will give it a thinner consistency that’s more spreadable. I would recommend whipping the butter again to loosen it, then add about .5 ounces of oil. Keep adding the oil and whipping until it feels soft to the touch. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you Kelsey it worked and it goes on like silk 😊
Oh glad to hear that! Enjoy Deb. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
The recipe calls for 8 oz of avocado butter, Can you split the measurement using 4 oz each of two different butters? For example, 4 oz of Shea and 4 oz of Avocado?
Absolutely! Shea butter is a bit more firm, so the butter will have a more firm consistency. I would recommend cutting it into small pieces before whipping. That will help prevent any clumps. 🙂
Shea Butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
hello
i have a few questions. not good @ percentages. lol
could i use almond fragrance oil in place of the cashmere frag oil? & can i use phenonip & how much. can u break it down for me pls-like tsp or ml thx. can’t wait to make this it looks great & i can’t imagine the smell mmmm lol
Hi Bernita!
You can use almond in place of Cocoa Butter Cashmere! That will smell really nice. You can use our Fragrance Calculator to find out exactly how much to add to this recipe: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx
Also, you can use Phenonip at .5-1% in this recipe! The best way to find out how much to add is using multiplication. So, you want to multiply the total weight of this butter (13 ounces) by .005 or .01 (depending on if you want to add .5% or 1%). If you do 1%, you will multiply 13x.01, which gives you .13 ounces. Then, type “.13 ounces in mL” in Google and it will give you 4 mL. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Is there a good substitute for the avocado butter?
Coffee butter is a good substitute because it has a similar texture to the avocado butter! It also has a delicious coffee scent. If you don’t have coffee butter, shea will work too. It’s more firm than the avocado butter, so the texture will be a bit different. I would recommend cutting the shea into chunks before whipping to prevent any clumps. 🙂
Read more about butters here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/all-about-butters-in-bath-beauty-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Coffee butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Coffee-Butter-P3444.aspx
Shea butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
Thanks for the quick reply.
You’re welcome. 🙂
Hi, I made this just as your recipe directs but it looks like the jojoba is separating out from the avocado and cocoa butter. Did I do something wrong ? Is there something I can do so this doesn’t happen again. It has separated in 3 of my 15 jars (I made a double batch 🙂
I love how this feels on my skin, I just don’t like to think that the jojoba has separated !
Once this butter is all whipped it should stay together! Is it pretty hot where you are? I’m wondering if some of the butter is melting and pooling in the jar. Let me know. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
just wondering, does this mousse have the consistency of whip cream topping, which would be great. I’ve made many recipes that are called a mousse but they turned out more like a body butter
The consistency is somewhere between a body butter and a mousse. It’s nice and creamy, but does have a fluffy/slightly stiff texture. It feels really awesome on the skin. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
can I sub out jojoba oil with jojoba butter?
You can if you like! Without the oil, this recipe will be a lot thicker. If you want to thin it out and make it easier to apply, I would recommend adding a liquid oil. Any lightweight oil will work! Some good options are sweet almond, avocado or chia seed. 🙂
Sweet almond oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sweet-Almond-Oil-P3205.aspx
Avocado oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Avocado-Oil-P3198.aspx
Chia seed oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Chia-Seed-Oil-P5612.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I recently ordered Stephenson African Soap Melt, when I reality I needed Palm Steric Acid. I need one ounce for making goats milk lotion… will this work ok? or do I need to reorder steric acid?
Hi Barbara!
Stephenson African Black Soap Base and stearic acid are different. The African Black Base is a soap base, while stearic acid helps emulsify and thicken lotion. If you need to make the lotion quickly, you can skip the stearic acid and increase the emulsifying wax. Then, you can decrease the water a bit to thicken the lotion.
Read more about lotion formulation here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/how-to-create-homemade-lotion-recipes/
I believe Terah also emailed you a recipe with our African Black Melt and Pour Base! It’s a fun recipe, and the soap feels great on the skin. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
love the texture of this mousse! I only wish I had used about half as much of the cocoa cashmere fragrance oil because I find the scent to be very strong. I made this for gifts; I hope the recipients like the scent as much as I’m sure they’ll like the whipped consistency and smooth texture.
So glad you’re enjoying this recipe Kathy! I think your friends and family will love it too. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Will arrowroot or tapioca help make this body butter feel less greasy?
Absolutely! Arrowroot and tapioca powder help absorb the oil and make it feel less greasy on the skin. I would recommend starting out with 1-2 teaspoons in this recipe. Then, test the butter on your skin. If you want more powder, you can add from there. 🙂
Arrowroot powder: https://www.brambleberry.com/Arrowroot-Powder-P3706.aspx
Tapioca powder: https://www.brambleberry.com/Tapioca-Powder-P3803.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi. I’m located in Australia. Avocado butter is incredibly difficult to purchase. Is there another substitute that can be used? I’ve managed to initially locate some but even this supplier is struggling.
Love this site.
Hi Susan!
Coffee butter is a great substitute because it has a similar texture to the avocado butter! It has a delicious coffee scent as well. If you don’t have coffee butter on hand, shea will work too. It’s more firm than the avocado butter, so the texture will be a bit different. I would recommend cutting the shea into chunks before whipping to prevent any clumps. 🙂
Read more about butters here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/all-about-butters-in-bath-beauty-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Coffee butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Coffee-Butter-P3444.aspx
Shea butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
I made this yesterday, substituting sweet almond oil for the jojoba. It is absolutely devine! And I love those cocoa butter cubes. So convenient.
That’s awesome Bonnie, glad you’re loving this butter! Can’t beat the lovely smell of cocoa butter. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Sweet almond oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sweet-Almond-Oil-P3205.aspx
I would like to purchase some of this kits to make as Christmas gifts. How soon before Christmas should I make them?
Betsy
Hi Betsy!
This butter has a fairly long shelf life of about 1-2 years. That means you can make it pretty far in advance if you like! Just make sure to store it in a cool, dry place. 🙂
Read more about product shelf lives here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/shelf-life-bath-products-ingredients-rancidity-vs-mold/
And more about how to store your products here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I made this using avocado oil in place of the jojoba(since I don’t have any) and it smells and feels great. My mom and husband like it too! It has a bit of an oily feel when first applied. I think that is due to my substitution, and the feeling goes away as it absorbs into the skin. Leaves my hands soft and smooth. Jojoba is on my wishlist for future trials as I expect this recipe will be even better as you wrote it.
That’s awesome Ashley, glad this butter turned out well! It’s perfect for the fall and winter when your skin can get pretty dry. Enjoy! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hey there,
I’m trying to figure out which products will discolor due to a fragrance with vanilla. Do body butters discolor at all? This recipe looks amazing. I can’t wait to try it. 🙂
Hi Nicole!
That’s a great question! Soap will always discolor. However, other handmade products like lotion and bath bombs are a bit more inconsistent. Sometimes the products discolor, sometimes they don’t. I just checked the body mousse in our lab and it is still a creamy white color. However, it may discolor over time. To be extra careful, you may want to use a fragrance that’s vanilla free. 🙂
Clear and vanilla-free fragrances: https://www.brambleberry.com/Clear-Vanilla-Free-C491.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Do you think its to heavy for the face? I am looking since a long time a recipe with cocoa that can be applied to the entire body including face. Thanks a lot.
Hi Maria!
It depends on your skin type! If your skin is oily, this recipe may be too moisturizing for the face. If your skin is fairly dry, this would make an amazing hydrating night cream! I would recommend testing a small bit on your face to see what you think. 🙂
We also have some great recipes for face lotion I’ll link below!
Oil Free Lavender Lotion: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/oil-free-lavender-face-lotion/
Lavender and Aloe Lotion: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/lavender-aloe-face-moisturizer/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hello! Your blog is fantastic and I really want to try out your recipes…but I have a question. If you don’t use everything by the end of the shelf life, how do you safely dispose of the product? Thanks~
Thanks so much Katie, glad you’re enjoying the post! This body mousse can be sealed in the container and thrown away in the trash. You can also save the container to use for next time – just wash it out well! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Just wondering if I should add a preservative as I am giving it as a gift to someone who will use it after showering. If so, what kind do you recommend?
Hi Patti!
This product does not contain water, and does not require a preservative. But if you’re selling this product or would like to be on the extra safe side, add an oil soluble preservative like Optiphen at a usage rate of .5-1% . 🙂
Read more about preservatives here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I have some cocoa butter, but it isn’t in cubed form. Will it work just as good?
Absolutely! Any shape of cocoa butter will work for this recipe. Before melting, make sure the cocoa butter is cut into small pieces or grated up so it melts easily. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can I substitute the avocado butter with shea butter?
Coffee butter is a good substitute because it has a similar texture to the avocado butter! It also has a delicious coffee scent. If you don’t have coffee butter, shea will work too. It’s more firm than the avocado butter, so the texture will be a bit different. I would recommend cutting the shea into chunks before whipping to prevent any clumps. 🙂
Read more about butters here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/all-about-butters-in-bath-beauty-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Coffee butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Coffee-Butter-P3444.aspx
Shea butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
I have a ton of cocoa butter, so I’ve been looking for a good recipe for a cream or body whip! I do not have avocado butter though, would shea or mango butters work? Also, I’m thinking with the addition of some sugar, this would make a great scrub as well, right?
Thanks for another great recipe! 🙂
Hi LuAnn!
Coffee butter is a good substitute! It has a similar texture to the avocado butter, and also has a lovely coffee scent. If you don’t have that on hand shea butter works as well. It’s just a bit more firm than the avocado butter, so the texture will be a bit different. 🙂
Read more about butters here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/all-about-butters-in-bath-beauty-products/
Also, this would make an amazing scrub! I would recommend starting out with about 5 ounces of sugar. Then, test some on your skin. If you want it more scrubby, add more sugar from there. 🙂
-Kelsey
Coffee butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Coffee-Butter-P3444.aspx
Shea butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
what would happen if this was shipped across the country in a mail truck in the hot summer? would it melt and be useless?
Randy: just a quick comment if I may: I live cross country in WV where it has been 90 plus for over a month and my cocoa butter arrived still in loose cube form, just as it was shipped. It wasn’t even all that soft due to the high melting point. I hope this helps!
By the way, it smells FANTASTIC!
If the body butter gets too hot (above 90F) it will melt. This is especially the case in a hot delivery truck! This butter is best shipped in the cooler fall and winter months. That way it will stay nice and fluffy. 🙂
Learn more in the Soaping in the Summer Heat post: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-in-the-summer-heat/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I have had customers asking for a whipped Cocoa butter, just working on formulating one. This looks really good, hoping the Cocoa butter scent shines through without adding fragrance. Either way, I’m sure it will be wonderful!
Thank You!
You’re welcome! The cocoa butter adds a lovely chocolate smell in this recipe that goes so well with Cocoa Butter Cashmere. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I would like to HALF the recipe. Can I just use half the ingredients??
Absolutely! You can cut this recipe in half for a smaller batch. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This us high on my to do list! I don’t often use cocoa butter in body butters…. But might give it a go. Tweak the avocado butter for Shea. Excited to smell the new fall scents. Many on my to get list.
Have fun giving this body mousse a try Betty! It feels and smells amazing. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I don’t think that’s something I would make, but it really looks amazing and I bet it feels good! Can’t wait to get these new fragrances.
This butter feels so nice on the skin! Enjoy the new fall fragrances Michael. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry