The Wonderful World of Plant Butters for DIY Herbal Salves and Body Butters
There is something wonderfully satisfying about making your own herbal salves and body butters.
You start with a few dried herbs, a nourishing carrier oil, perhaps some beeswax, and suddenly you're standing in the kitchen surrounded by tiny jars thinking, "I could make an entire skincare cabinet." 😂
One ingredient that can completely change a homemade balm is plant butter.
Plant butters add richness, structure, creaminess, and a different feel to homemade body products. Some are soft and silky. Some are firm and waxy. Some melt beautifully against the skin, while others help a salve hold its shape.
And they don't all have to be used in the same way.
You can combine them with herbal-infused oils to make salves, whip them into body butters, blend them with beeswax for firmer balms, or combine several different butters to create your own signature texture.
Let's take a look at some of the most useful plant butters for your DIY herbal pantry.
What Is a Plant Butter?
Plant butters are concentrated fats obtained from plants, seeds, kernels, or fruits.
They are different from liquid carrier oils because they are generally solid or semi-solid at room temperature.
That makes them especially useful in homemade body products.
A butter can:
- Add richness to a body butter
- Make a salve creamier
- Add firmness to a balm
- Change how quickly a product melts
- Create a smoother skin feel
- Add naturally occurring fatty acids and other plant compounds
- Reduce the amount of liquid oil needed in a formula
Some butters are soft and fluffy, while others are extremely firm.
That difference matters when you're creating your own recipes.
Shea Butter
The Classic Homemade Body Butter Favorite
If there is one plant butter that belongs in almost every beginner's DIY skincare cupboard, shea butter is probably it.
Shea butter comes from the nuts of the shea tree and is naturally rich and creamy.
It has a soft consistency compared with many other plant butters, making it particularly easy to whip.
Shea butter works beautifully in:
- Body butters
- Hand creams
- Herbal salves
- Foot balms
- Cuticle balms
- Lip balms
- Garden hand salves
- Massage-style body balms
Its texture makes it especially useful when you want a product that feels rich without becoming extremely hard.
Best For
Creamy body butters and soft herbal balms.
Cocoa Butter
Rich, Firm, and Naturally Chocolatey
Cocoa butter is made from the fat of cocoa beans.
It is considerably firmer than shea butter and has a naturally recognizable chocolate-like aroma when using unrefined cocoa butter.
That firmness makes it useful when you want a body butter or salve with more structure.
Cocoa butter is wonderful in:
- Body butters
- Massage bars
- Firm salves
- Lotion bars
- Hand balms
- Foot balms
- Lip balms
It also pairs beautifully with vanilla, orange, peppermint, lavender, and other compatible scents.
Best For
Firm body products, solid bars, and rich winter balms.
Mango Butter
Light, Smooth, and Silky
Mango butter comes from mango seeds and has a smooth texture that makes it a lovely alternative to heavier-feeling butters.
It is generally firmer than shea but often melts nicely when warmed between your fingers.
Mango butter works particularly well in:
- Body butters
- Herbal balms
- Hand creams
- Foot balms
- Lotion bars
- Whipped body butter
It is a great choice when you want richness without the heavier feel that some people associate with traditional body butters.
Best For
Smooth, creamy body butter with a lighter feel.
Kokum Butter
The Firm Butter for Serious Structure
Kokum butter is one of the firmer plant butters.
It comes from the seeds of the kokum fruit and is especially useful when you want a homemade product that holds its shape.
Because it is so firm, it can help create:
- Lotion bars
- Solid balms
- Firm salves
- Body bars
- Foot balms
- Protective hand balms
Kokum butter is especially useful when your homemade formula is too soft.
Instead of adding a huge amount of beeswax, you can sometimes use a firm plant butter to create structure while maintaining a buttery skin feel.
Best For
Firm formulas and solid body products.
Avocado Butter
A Rich Addition to Body Care
Avocado butter is commonly used in richer cosmetic formulations and can be a lovely addition to homemade body products.
It can work well in:
- Body butters
- Hand balms
- Foot creams
- Herbal salves
- Rich body bars
It pairs nicely with herbal-infused oils when you want a more luxurious formula.
Best For
Rich body products and nourishing-feeling balms.
Murumuru Butter
Silky and Lightweight
Murumuru butter comes from the seeds of the murumuru palm.
It is a firmer butter that can add a smooth, silky quality to formulations.
It is especially popular in cosmetic products designed for:
- Hair care
- Body butters
- Balms
- Solid body products
Murumuru can be particularly interesting when you want to experiment beyond the more familiar shea and cocoa butters.
Best For
Silky body products and firm-but-smooth formulations.
Cupuaçu Butter
Soft, Creamy, and Luxurious
Cupuaçu butter comes from the seeds of the cupuaçu fruit, a relative of cacao.
It has a softer, creamy character that makes it appealing in body butter formulations.
It can be used in:
- Whipped body butter
- Hand creams
- Body balms
- Herbal body products
- Hair and scalp formulations
Cupuaçu is especially interesting when you're experimenting with softer, creamier textures.
Best For
Creamy body butters and rich skin-care formulas.
Kokum vs. Shea vs. Cocoa vs. Mango
If you're standing in front of a shelf full of plant butters wondering which one to buy first, here's the simple version.
| Butter | Texture | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Shea | Soft and creamy | Whipped body butter, salves |
| Cocoa | Firm and rich | Balms, bars, firm body butter |
| Mango | Smooth and medium-firm | Body butter, soft salves |
| Kokum | Very firm | Lotion bars, firm balms |
| Avocado | Rich and creamy | Body butter, rich salves |
| Murumuru | Firm and silky | Balms, body products |
| Cupuaçu | Soft and creamy | Body butter, rich formulas |
These characteristics can vary between suppliers and processing methods, so treat them as general starting points rather than absolute rules.
How to Combine Plant Butters
You don't have to choose just one.
In fact, combining butters can give you a much more interesting texture.
Shea + Cocoa
A classic combination.
Shea brings softness while cocoa butter adds firmness.
Great for:
- Body butter
- Hand balm
- Winter balm
- Lotion bars
Shea + Mango
A softer combination with a smooth, creamy feel.
Great for:
- Whipped body butter
- Everyday body balm
- Hand butter
Shea + Kokum
Kokum gives structure while shea keeps the formula creamy.
Great for:
- Firm body butter
- Hand salve
- Foot balm
- Lotion bars
Cocoa + Kokum
This creates a much firmer product.
Great for:
- Massage bars
- Solid body butter
- Foot bars
- Protective balms
Plant Butters and Herbal-Infused Oils
This is where things get especially fun.
Instead of using plain carrier oil, replace some or all of the liquid oil in your recipe with an herbal-infused oil.
For example:
Calendula + Shea Butter
Create a rich body balm using calendula-infused olive oil and shea butter.
Lavender + Mango Butter
Use lavender-infused sunflower oil with mango butter for a smooth body balm.
Plantain + Shea Butter
Combine plantain-infused oil with shea butter for a garden hand balm.
Chamomile + Cocoa Butter
Create a rich, firm balm using chamomile-infused oil and cocoa butter.
You can create your own combinations based on the herbs and oils you already have.
Basic Herbal Body Butter Formula
A simple starting point for a rich body butter is:
- 1/2 cup shea butter
- 1/4 cup mango or cocoa butter
- 1/4 cup herbal-infused carrier oil
- 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil, optional
Directions
- Melt the harder butter gently using a double boiler.
- Add the softer butter and herbal-infused oil.
- Stir until everything is fully melted.
- Remove from the heat.
- Allow the mixture to cool until it begins to thicken.
- Whip with a hand mixer until light and fluffy.
- Spoon into a clean, dry container.
- Allow it to finish setting.
For a firmer body butter, increase the amount of cocoa or kokum butter.
For a softer body butter, increase the liquid oil.
Basic Herbal Salve With Plant Butter
For a richer salve, try:
- 1 cup herbal-infused oil
- 1/4 cup beeswax
- 1 tablespoon shea butter
- 1 teaspoon arrowroot powder, optional
Melt the oil and beeswax together.
Remove from the heat and stir in the shea butter.
Add arrowroot using the slurry method if desired.
Pour into tins and allow to cool completely.
This creates a firmer product than a whipped body butter while still giving it a creamy texture.
How to Make a Less-Greasy Body Butter
Body butters can sometimes feel wonderfully rich...
...and then leave you wondering if you've accidentally moisturized yourself with a stick of butter. 😂
There are several ways to create a lighter feel.
Use a lighter carrier oil
Consider oils such as:
- Sunflower oil
- Grapeseed oil
- Apricot kernel oil
- Fractionated coconut oil
Use a lighter butter
Mango butter can create a different feel than a heavy cocoa butter formula.
Add Arrowroot Powder
Arrowroot can help give whipped body butter a drier, silkier finish.
Start with approximately 1 teaspoon per cup of finished butter mixture and adjust in future batches.
Sift the powder before adding it to reduce clumps.
Don't Overdo the Butter
More butter doesn't necessarily mean a better product.
Sometimes a formula with slightly less butter and more lightweight oil feels much nicer on the skin.
What About Coconut Oil?
Coconut oil is technically a plant-derived oil rather than a plant butter, but it can behave like a semi-solid fat depending on temperature.
It can be useful in:
- Body butter
- Lip balm
- Salves
- Massage bars
- Hair products
Keep in mind that coconut oil melts relatively easily in warm temperatures, so formulas containing a large amount may become very soft in hot weather.
That can be especially important if you're making products during summer.
What About Mango, Shea, and Cocoa Butter in Hot Weather?
This is where your local climate matters.
A body butter that is beautifully firm in a cool room may become extremely soft during a hot summer.
If you live somewhere warm, consider using a higher percentage of firmer ingredients such as:
- Cocoa butter
- Kokum butter
- Beeswax
- Candelilla wax
You can also store finished products in a cooler location.
Don't automatically add huge amounts of wax, though. Too much can turn a beautiful balm into something resembling a candle.
Start with small adjustments.
Tips for Working With Plant Butters
Buy Small Quantities First
If you're experimenting with a new butter, buy a small amount before investing in a large bag.
You may discover that you love the texture of mango butter but don't care for cocoa butter.
Keep Ingredients Dry
Water is one of the biggest complications in homemade body products.
Traditional salves made without water are much simpler than homemade lotions because they don't require the same preservation system.
Keep water out of your jars and use clean, completely dry equipment.
Make Small Test Batches
Don't make an entire pound of something you've never tried before.
Make a small batch.
Test the texture.
Take notes.
Adjust.
Then make the larger batch.
Label Everything
Write down:
- Date made
- Ingredients
- Butter ratios
- Herbal oils used
- Essential oils
- Any texture adjustments
Your future self will thank you.
Creating Your Own Signature Butter Blend
Once you understand what each butter does, you can start designing formulas rather than simply following recipes.
Think of your ingredients as building blocks.
Soft butter: adds creaminess.
Firm butter: adds structure.
Liquid oil: adds spreadability.
Wax: adds firmness and staying power.
Arrowroot: can help create a drier skin feel.
Vitamin E: helps slow oxidation of oils but is not a preservative.
You can then adjust the balance until you find a texture you love.
For example:
Soft Summer Body Butter
- Shea butter
- Mango butter
- Sunflower oil
- Arrowroot
Rich Winter Body Butter
- Shea butter
- Cocoa butter
- Avocado butter
- Olive oil
Firm Garden Balm
- Calendula-infused oil
- Shea butter
- Kokum butter
- Beeswax
Solid Herbal Body Bar
- Cocoa butter
- Kokum butter
- Beeswax or candelilla wax
- Herbal-infused oil
The DIY Herbal Pantry Gets Better With Every Batch
One of the most enjoyable things about making your own herbal body products is that there isn't one perfect formula.
You can make something soft and fluffy.
You can make something firm enough to carry in your purse.
You can create a rich winter balm or a lighter summer body butter.
You can use herbs from your garden, oils already sitting in your pantry, and different plant butters to create completely different products.
Start with shea butter, cocoa butter, or mango butter if you're new to plant butters.
Once you become comfortable with the basics, branch out into kokum, murumuru, cupuaçu, avocado, and other specialty butters.
Before long, you may have a whole little collection of jars labeled with your own homemade formulas.
And honestly, that is half the fun.
Because once you discover that a few simple ingredients can become a beautiful homemade body butter, you're going to start looking at every little jar in your herbal pantry and thinking:
"Hmm... I wonder what I could make with that?" 🌿🥥🌸
A Few Safety Notes
Plant butters and carrier oils are generally used as cosmetic ingredients, but individual ingredients can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions. Patch-test new products, especially when using new herbs or essential oils.
Avoid applying homemade products to serious wounds, infected skin, severe burns, or other conditions that need medical attention.
Homemade body butters and salves that contain no added water are simpler to formulate than lotions, but they can still become contaminated through wet hands, dirty equipment, or moisture introduced into the container. Use clean, dry tools and containers and discard products that develop mold, an unusual odor, or other unexpected changes.
Essential oils are highly concentrated. Use appropriate dilution levels for leave-on products and research the safety of individual oils before using them around children, pets, during pregnancy, or on sensitive skin.
Technical Note
Plant butters vary in hardness, melting point, and texture depending on the variety, supplier, and processing method. Treat recipes as starting formulas and make small test batches when substituting one butter for another. For warmer climates, you may need more firm butter or wax. For a softer body butter, increase the liquid oil gradually. For a less greasy finish, experiment with a small amount of arrowroot powder.
