Teach Soap

I am venturing into making whipped Shea Butter. I've researched MANY recipes online, but have yet to make one. I'm wondering about the general process that others use here. How much should be shea butter versus other oils? What consistency should I be looking for? I'm not necessarily seeking a recipe per se, more of guidelines. For example, most people would say that soap should not contain more than 5% Castor oil. So, any additional input would be welcome. I appreciate it!

I use Anne Maries recipie except I put mango and avacado butters in it as well.
http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body- ... -butter-2/

What about adding oils, such as Vitamin E, or Avocado Oil? Is that possible or should you stick to butters only?

I like to use oils that are solid at room temp as opposed to ones that are liquid. I find that with oils like coconut and hazelnuts whipped butters have a bit fluffier of a texture. I made some for my girls and used jojoba and sweet almond oil cause I was out of coconut and while I liked it I definitely prefer coconut. You can use just about any butter you want except maybe cocoa. I have used Shea, mango, avocado, and this weekend when my order gets in I will be using pistachio. I have also purchased small amount of butters like blueberry, pumpkin, mowrah, pomegranate, coffee (which is amazing!) and made whipped butters with those ad well. I love it! A Lot of the unique butters I got from wsp and camdengrey but the unique butter were for my personal use and not for sale. The best way to find out what you like best is just to make small batches and test.

I use AC as little as possible in the summer. What effect with that have if you used coconut oil?

I tested several recipes this past summer in the blistering heat here in Illinois and it didn't matter what butter/oil combination I used. It still melted. I used several different types of butter and solid at room temp and liquid oils. The butter melted as well. When I made some for my girls (it was the shea w/ jojoba and sweet almond) I had some extra that I stuck in a smaller jar. I decided to use it for my tests and it melted just like the rest. I set them outside in the shade when it was 95 degrees here and after about 5 hours it was a puddle.

There are a lot of people that won't make body butters in the summer just for that reason. My coconut and palm oils stayed liquid all summer long and that was inside the house with the air on.

_________________
Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

How about almond butter? By the time I got mine it was much cooler so I have nothing to compare too.

Almond butter would work for a whipped butter. Just chunk it up into little pieces and whip in a stand mixer or if you don't have one a beater will work too. (You get more volume when using a stand mixer though. It whips more air into the butter.) Then just add the other ingredients you would like to use. It will still melt though in the summertime. There is really nothing you can do about that.

OK. I think I'll give it a shot with a small amount of oils that are liquid at room temperature, maybe 10% or so. I'll definitely let you all know how it turns out! Thanks for the tips and tricks.

Royfestfall, can't wait to hear how it turns out!

So a big mixer is better than a stick blender for this?

I have been told that a large, counter style, mixer is better. I think a stick blender will work if necessary, but the end result is better with the larger mixer. That's what I plan to use, so, that's what I'll report on. If anyone has used a stick blender, please feel free to chime in and let us know how that worked.

When I make mine I unfortunatly do not make enough at one time to use my kitchenaid so I just use an electric handmixer and it works great