A few years ago I shared a SIMPLE {4 ingredient, 5 minutes to make!} lotion recipe with you here on my blog and now I want to update this same recipe with new tips and ideas for you! I also have a free recipe card for you to print and use as a reference!
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cup hot water
- 1/4 cup emulsifying wax (this bag will make quite a few batches)
- 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
- 12-15 drops your favorite essential oils (I used 7 drops lavender, 7 drops tangerine and LOVE the scent! I do not like the scent to be very strong, so this was still a very light scent)
- 1/8 teaspoon of potassium sorbate (if you wish to add a preservative)
More Items Needed
- Small 4oz Ball glass jars – these are the jars I use if I’m giving as gifts. You may want a larger jar for yourself at home
- White plastic BPA-free lids – I prefer these lids to the ones that have 2 pieces
- Hand Pump Ball Jar – I eventually got this type of jar so I could have a hand pump on it. I love the ball jars! So pretty!
Instructions
1. In a 2-cup pyrex measuring glass, I melted the emulsifying wax WITH the coconut oil. (I have seen this recipe using olive oil as well, if you’d like to try that!) The coconut will be a little more white like the 2nd picture as opposed to the 3rd picture – the coconut oil lotion ends up being perfectly white, the olive oil is more of an off-white/creamy color. I put mine in the microwave for about 1 minute and then stirred. (The coconut oil will take a little bit longer to melt, just fyi.)
2. Fill a coffee mug or about 1 and 1/4 cup of water, heat in microwave, again, I heated for about 1 minute. (If you wish to add preservative – listed above under ingredients – you would add 1/8 a teaspoon to your water at this point!)
3. While water is heating, add your drops of essential oil. I only added about 14-15 drops, the original recipe calls for more than that. It really depends on how smelly you like your lotion! you don’t have to add a scent at all!!
4. Pour the hot water into the oil mixture and stir.
5. I then poured my lotion into the small 4oz jars. I left them open because you want to keep stirring the lotion so that it doesn’t separate. I basically left it on the counter and everytime I walked through the kitchen, I stirred it a few times.
After a few hours you have wonderful, homemade lavendar lotion!!
Printable Recipe
Essential Oils
If you’d like to find out more information about essential oils, please click over here where I’m collecting all my information I’m learning!
More Pictures of the Process
This looks so great! Thank you for sharing your recipe.
Do you think that I can sub beeswax for the emulsyifiying wax? I already have that on hand.
Thanks again!
I have the same question!
Yes, you can. Same amount.
Hi, I was just wondering if you know what the expected shelf life is of this made with vs without preservative?
Hi Ruthie! I’m sorry, I thought I answered your questions, but my comment system has been messed up!
For many months I made this recipe WITHOUT preservative and never once had mold. One batch I made at one point got moldy and it freaked me out so I started adding the preservative. 🙂 But, I think either the jars or something must have been dirty because that’s been the only batch to ever do that on me!
So, I would say give it a try and see what happens. I think different households, different containers, the temperature, if you stick your fingers in it as opposed to using a pump…there are so many factors! But I’ve had jars last for months before without any problem!