Preparation:

Melting in a double boiler:

1. Simmer a few inches of water in a saucepan and stack a stainless steel bowl on top of a saucepan, making sure the bowl fits snugly. The water in the bottom pan shouldn’t be touching the top bowl.
2. Combine the mango butter, shea butter, coconut oil, and almond oil in the top bowl.
3. Gently melt and stir until the mixture is liquid.

Melting in the dehydrator: (this is what I do)

1. You will need a dehydrator that has a large cavity such as an Excalibur.  A stacking tray dehydrator won’t work.
2. Place the containers of the oils in the dehydrator and warm it to liquid.
3. I find this method much easier as I don’t have to scoop out hard butters/oils from their jars… I melt it all, use what is needed, return the lid and let it set back up until I have another wild hair to make some body butter.

Whipping the body butter:

1. Once the oils have melted, allow the mixture to set up partly.
   • I placed mine in the freezer for a few minutes until it started to set up partly.
   • Be careful that you don’t let it stay in the freezer too long or it will harden right back up.  Remelt it if it does.
2. Once the mixture is partly set, add the essential oil, and whip with a hand mixer or stand mixer until fluffy and stiff peaks have formed.
   • If it blends creamy but isn’t getting fluffy,  slide the bowl in the fridge or freezer for a few more minutes, then continue to whip it.
   • There shouldn’t be any lumps in the body butter.
   • Be sure to scrape the sides down during the mixing process.
   • You will notice that the mixture is more on the yellow side when you first start, but after whipping it, it turns white.
3. Spoon or pipe the creamy butter into a jar.
   • I like to pipe the body butter into the jars; this keeps everything clean.
   • I put a ziplock bag into a tall jar or glass and fold the opening of the bag over the edges of the jar.  I then put the butter in the bag, remove the bag, zip shut, and snip the bottom corner off of the bag.
   • Pipe into the jar, stop occasionally and tap the jar on the countertop to help settle the body butter into the jar.
4. In an airtight jar, you can expect this body butter to stay fresh at room temp between 3-6 months. But please use it daily, so it doesn’t sit around too long, shelf life is just an estimate.
5. Always use clean hands when scooping out the butter or use a plastic or wooden popsicle stick.
6. It is best to store the body butter in amber or cobalt colored jars as they protect the contents from sunlight, which promotes oxidation.  If you use a clear jar, keep it out of the sunlight.