Nourish your skin and lift your mood with this DIY body butter recipe. Made from all-natural ingredients, this citrus body butter uses real fruit zest for a fresh, natural scent instead of relying on essential oils.
This creamy citrus body butter is especially comforting in colder months and makes a thoughtful handmade gift for friends, family, or teachers.
Note: this recipe calls for fresh orange and grapefruit zest for fragrance. If you choose to substitute essential oils, be cautious: citrus essential oils can increase sun sensitivity, so avoid sun exposure on treated skin.
Benefits Of The DIY Body Butter
- All-natural ingredients
- No synthetic chemicals
- Simple and budget-friendly to make
- Deeply hydrating for dry skin
- Customizable scent using fresh zest
This is one of my favorite DIY body butter recipes: it’s straightforward, nourishing, and leaves skin feeling smooth.
I prefer natural skincare because my skin responds well to pure ingredients. Since our skin can absorb what we apply to it, I aim to use the best possible components in homemade products.
The Ingredients
Sweet almond oil: helps the body butter stay smooth and silky without feeling greasy.
Beeswax: adds structure and firmness to the mixture while providing a subtle, natural scent.
Cocoa butter: gives richness and a velvety texture that helps lock in moisture.
Coconut oil: nourishes and can have soothing, antibacterial properties, making it a great base for body care.
Using fresh orange and grapefruit zest to infuse the oil delivers a bright, uplifting aroma. When fresh fruit isn’t available, you can use pure essential oils—just follow safety precautions for citrus oils.
Quick tip: buy beeswax pellets rather than large blocks. Pellets melt quickly and evenly, which makes the process much easier.
How To Make It
- Place a double boiler on the stove and add the almond oil, coconut oil, beeswax, and cocoa butter. Add the orange and grapefruit zest to the oil so the scent can infuse.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 15 minutes to allow the zest to infuse and the solids to melt.
- Stir regularly with a small whisk to ensure everything melts and combines evenly. Let simmer an additional 2–3 minutes to make sure there are no remaining beeswax chunks.
- Carefully strain the hot mixture through a fine mesh sieve into clean small jars to remove the zest pieces. If you’re using essential oils instead of zest, add 5–7 drops of each oil after straining and whisk to combine.
- Leave the jars on the counter to cool and set for 24 hours before sealing and storing.
How To Use The Body Butter
Use this body butter on arms, legs, elbows, and any areas that need extra moisture. Because the recipe is rich and cacao-butter based, it works best on the body rather than on delicate facial skin.
After applying, wait a few minutes before dressing so the product has time to absorb. This prevents transfer to clothing and helps the skin fully benefit from the oils and butters.
Frequently Asked Questions About DIY Body Butter
What’s the difference between whipped and non-whipped body butter?
Whipped body butter is aerated after it sets to create a lighter, fluffier texture. Non-whipped body butter has the same nourishing ingredients but is denser and more solid.
What are the best butters for a DIY body butter?
Cocoa butter, shea butter, mango butter, and similar natural butters are excellent choices. Each one offers unique benefits, but all provide nourishing, hydrating properties.
Other DIY Recipes You’ll Like
- DIY chocolate lip balm
- DIY body butter with beeswax
- Homemade relaxation bath bombs
- Do’s & don’ts of homemade lotion
- How and why to make bath bombs
Citrus Body Butter
A six-ingredient body butter that combines coconut oil, cocoa butter, beeswax, and sweet almond oil with fresh orange and grapefruit zest to nourish skin and refresh the senses.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Set Time: 24 hours
Total Time: ~1 day, 35 minutes
Yield: 2 small jars
Equipment
- Double boiler
- Mini whisk or small spoon
- Small mesh sieve
- Two small mason jars
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sweet almond oil
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil
- 4 tablespoons beeswax (pellets recommended)
- 2 tablespoons cocoa butter
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 tablespoon grapefruit zest
Instructions
- Combine the almond oil, coconut oil, beeswax, cocoa butter, and citrus zest in a double boiler.
- Heat until the mixture reaches a gentle boil, then reduce to a simmer and let it infuse for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir well and allow an extra 2–3 minutes of simmering to ensure all beeswax is fully melted.
- Strain the hot mixture through a fine mesh sieve into clean jars to remove zest bits. If using essential oils, add them now and stir to combine.
- Let the jars cool and set on the counter for 24 hours, then cap and label them.
Notes
- If substituting essential oils for zest, use 5–7 drops of each oil and avoid sun exposure on treated skin when using citrus oils.
- Because the base contains coconut oil, the butter will soften in warm conditions. Store in a cool, dry place.
- The body butter should keep for 3–5 months if stored properly and kept free from water or contamination.
If you’re after a hydrating, uplifting, and easy-to-make DIY body butter with coconut oil and natural fragrance, this citrus body butter is a perfect choice. The blend of cocoa butter and coconut oil leaves skin soft, while the orange and grapefruit zest adds a bright, refreshing scent.