Recipes - Balms & Ointments

Table of Contents

Here is a selection of base recipes for you to start with.

Balm Base or Ointment Base (otherwise known as an Unguent)
Lotion Base
Cocoa Butter Massage Bars 

Basic Ointment and Balm Base for Aromatherapy

15-20g beeswax or cocoa butter
20-100 drops essential oil
80-85ml vegetable oil

1. Slowly melt the beeswax or cocoa butter with the vegetable oil by placing them in a bowl over a saucepan with water coming to the boil.
2. Once this mixture starts to cool, add the essential oils and stir in thoroughly.
3. Pour into glass jars, cap and label.

Makes approx 100gm

Base Lotion

Oil Phase

10g emulsifying wax
30ml vegetable oil (typically sweet almond, grapeseed or olive)

Water Phase

5ml vegetable glycerine
150ml purified water
2ml citrus seed extract or benzoin tincture

Utensils

Scales
Measuring utensils
2 bowls
2 saucepans to fit bowls
Thermometer
Mixing Spoon (Plastic or metal)

1. Weigh out your ingredients.
2. Place the waxes in a glass bowl.
3. Pour your water phase ingredients into another bowl.
4. Place the bowls over a saucepan each that is partly filled with water.
5. Place the saucepan onto the stove.
6. Add your vegetable oil to the melted waxes and heat until the oil phase reaches 65-70°C.
7. Bring the water phase to 65-70°C.
8. Slowly pour the water phase into the oil phase bowl while it is still sitting on the saucepan. Stir continuously while doing this.
9. Once all the water phase ingredients have been incorporated into the oils phase ones, remove from the heat. The emulsion will be very watery in consistency and look milky.
10. When the emulsion cools to 45°C add your essential oils and stir in thoroughly.
11. Once the emulsion begins to thicken, but is still pourable, pour into jars.
12. Cap and label your jars once the emulsion is cool. Include on your label the purpose of the emulsion, ingredients and date.

 Makes approx 200gm.

Cocoa Butter Massage Bars

25g beeswax 
25g cocoa butter
50g coconut oil
20-50 drops essential oil (depending on your selection of oils)

1. Slowly melt the beeswax or cocoa butter with the vegetable oil by placing them in a bowl over a saucepan with water coming to the boil.
2. Once this mixture starts to cool, add the essential oils and stir in thoroughly.
3. Pour into moulds, and leave to set. 

I find flexible moulds work well, as do ice cube trays and mini muffin pans.

These basic recipes, and many exciting ones, are from "Do It Yourself Pure Plant Skincare" by Carolyn Stubbin – which is unfortunately out of print at the moment so scan your local op shop shelves for it as it's a great introduction to natural skincare.  

Available on our site in the Create It Yourself section, you will find all the raw ingredients you need for the recipes above, and we have a range of jars in our Bottles & Pots section.  And if this looks a little too complicated to start with, then try our DIY Cream Kit, ideal for ages 8+!