EASY! HOMEMADE! SMELLS KICK-YOU-IN-THE-CROTCH-SPIT-ON-YOUR-NECK-FANTASTIC* body butter, that you can personalise to suit the spud muffins you‘re making it for. Get excited!

* Yes I borrowed an expression from F.R.I.E.N.D.S

I love making prezzies but I don’t knit, I’m a mediocre sewer and wouldn’t consider my painting skills “a gift”. Thankfully I have a keen sense of smell and can pair essential oils together to create a stunning aromas. I’m also handy with saucepans and stovetops. Put the two skills together and voila; body butter.

I didn’t follow a recipe here. I literally added essential oils to melted cacao butter and it worked a treat. Don’t you love it when intuitive experimentation and keeping it simple works out for the best?

I sure do lovely ones! 

Makes 2 small pots

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• 100g raw cacao butter (available at health food and bulk food stores)
• 3 drops of essential oil. I made a Christmas blend (cinnamon, orange and clove) but single oils – such as peppermint for a fresh foot butter – work too. You could purchase a pre-made EO blend and use 3 drops of that. For sensitive skin, always try the body butter on the inside of the wrist before applying anywhere else on the body. Make sure no reaction occurs.

Method

Melt cacao butter over a low and gentle heat in a saucepan. Pour into two small pots (with lids) and add essential oils. Allow to cool and store in refrigerator until set. During cooler months this will last for a few months at room temperature. In the summer keep it in the fridge and take out to soften 10 or so minutes before application.