Lovely Baobab Body Butter

We have another exciting new product for our Adventurous Makers! Introducing Organic Baobab Butter.

A baobab tree.

What is baobab? (I’m glad you asked because I was wondering the same thing!) It is a tree found in Africa with enormously wide trunks and bearing large, teardrop-shaped fruits. Baobab trees live for hundreds of years. The fruits are wild harvested and the pulp most commonly ground into powder. That powder is reputed to have loads of health benefits including being a powerful antioxidant and having exponentially more Vitamin C than citrus. Vitamin C and antioxidants together allow the body to form collagen, which reduces wrinkles and gives the skin a healthy glow.

When I looked at photos of baobab trees, a glimmer of a childhood memory surfaced. I can recall a fascination with baobab and banyan trees, probably because of the unusual shapes. (I grew up in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and the trees there were predominately Jeffrey Pines – nothing unique about those trees, though I sure liked to climb them.) It was fun to go back and recall how I wished to have those unique trees growing near me. As an adult, I have visited places where banyan trees grow; perhaps someday I’ll see a baobab tree in person. In the meantime, I’ll satisfy my yearning with Baobab Butter. Come along as we make a body butter that will make you glad baobabs exist!

What you’ll need:

Adding an extract to a lotion recipe is a great way to boost product performance and label appeal. For this formula, I chose Orchid Extract. Check out this description:

“Orchids have long been used for reparative and protective properties, moisturizing, fighting free radicals, and reducing the appearance of fine lines. High end skin care products use wonderful botanicals like orchids because of their superior profile, rich in minerals and moisturizing compounds.”

I spent a while trying to decide which fragrance to use. I wanted something with more base notes, woodsy, and something that would appeal to both men and women. After testing so many fragrances that my coffee started smelling awful and the mixing scents in the air was causing the dog to sneeze, I settled on Gladiator.

Baobab Butter is a cream-colored solid oil at room temperature.

The finished product has a high viscosity, yet it feels light going on.

BAOBAB BODY BUTTER

Weigh all but the extract, fragrance, and preservative into a microwave-safe container. Heat in short bursts of time, stirring often, until everything is completely melted. Alternately, put the ingredients into the top of a double boiler and heat gently until melted.

All but the extract, fragrance, and preservative are ready to be melted.

Lotion cooling in a plastic bag before adding extract, fragrance, and preservative.

Adding Orchid Extract to the cooled lotion.

Use an immersion blender to thoroughly combine the lotion ingredients, then allow the mixture to cool below 120 degrees. This is important because adding extracts, fragrances, or preservatives when the temperature is too high can cause ingredient degradation or failure of your preservative. If you’re in a hurry, pour the lotion into a plastic bag, squeeze out the air, seal the bag, then lay it flat. The greater surface area allows the lotion to cool more quickly. You can add the remaining ingredients to the bag, seal it again, and knead the lotion well to combine. Then make life really easy by snipping a corner off the bag to dispense the lotion into your container.

NOTES:

The finished lotion is very smooth and creamy. It absorbs readily into the skin, leaving behind a dewy feel. Though the viscosity is thick, the lotion goes on light. However, I think it’s a bit too greasy of a formula for frequent use on the hands. It would be perfect for times when intense moisturizing is needed. The Gladiator fragrance is clean and fresh, which is delightful for a lotion. I’d happily use this after a shower to keep my skin feeling soft all day long.