Teach Soap

I made some whipped body butter a few days ago using this recipe:

3 oz cocoa butter
6 oz mango butter
3 oz liquid oil (I used almond)

I altered the recipe I found at David Fisher's site which called for Shea, but substituted mango b/c I hadn't received my order of shea yet.

It whipped up nicely and was heavenly, but then it got rock hard. It's still lovely butter and gets soft immediately upon application, but I was really hoping for a nice whipped heavy lotion type of butter.

Is mine hard b/c of the mango butter? I know it's a much harder butter than shea, so I'm thinking that might be why. I want to try to make it again with shea, but if it's going to end up hard, too, I want to find another recipe, or maybe change the ratio of butters to liquid oil.

Any ideas? Thanks! I've learned soooo much from this forum!

Cassy
Lotus Flower Soap Shop

You have 9 ozs. of butter to only 3 ozs. of liquid oil. That's most likely why it's hard. Not all butters have the same melt point and some are harder than others. Also, it can take about to 48 hours before it reaches its final texture and hardness.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Thanks, Soapbuddy. Is a better ratio 1/2 butters and 1/2 oils, instead of 2/3 and 1/3?

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

50-50 works great for me...

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Deb.....


If you blow in a dogs face he gets mad....take him for a car ride ..and he sticks his head out the window....

Thanks, soapbuddy and Debb! I'll try 50-50 this week.

You're welcome.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Bumping up this topic...

I made my first test batch today and I followed the 50/50 butters to oils method. It looks like a nice thick butter, but when I apply it to my skin it instantly melts and looks like pure jojoba oil. Not what I was hoping for. I will wait until tomorrow to make my final decision, but if it is still not thick enough do you think I can add more melted hard butters, or even wax, and re-whip?? Or is it too late?? I might have to at least try.

More specificly I used:
1oz cocoa butter
1oz unrefined shea butter
1oz coconut oil
1oz jojoba oil
and 1 tsp cornstarch (to try to prevent greasiness, which did not do the trick, at least I don't think so)

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Oh, I didn't think wax was typically used in butters, but if that's my only shot at hardening it up, I will try in the am. Thanks!

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I'm afraid this one is going to be a lost cause. Added wax, still too greasy. I don't get it. At least it was a very small batch, one jar for me. But I dont think I want it. Really makes me feel like I am covered in butta! LOL

Maybe I can call it whipped massage oil. It melts better than my massage bars melt!

Is this the first time you have used a body butter of this nature? The thing to remember is with these types of fresh ingredients the greasy feeling is in the nature of the product . I found that by applying a VERY small amount to my skin and giving it a few extra minutes to absorb you are just left with soft and supple skin. Your skin will tell you how much to use. I cut my butters ALOT with aloe vera juice ....but I also have to use a preservative when I do this.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

I had the same issues with body butter. What I discovered quite by accident was when I put this body butter on my feet and put on a pair of sox, in 20 minutes or so my feet feel wonderful. So for Easter gifts for my girls Im gonna make peppermint foot butter as gifts. I may end up selling this later in the year, if it is popular .