Mimosa Lotion for World Bartender Day

World Bartender Day was February 24, and I’m celebrating with a body lotion recipe inspired by the Mimosa cocktail. Equal parts champagne and citrus juice (usually orange juice), this tasty beverage is a staple at many Sunday brunch tables. The combination of sparkling wine and juice originated centuries ago in Spain, but it has spread far and wide, and there are lots of variations on the original.

I wanted my lotion to have the distinctive scent of the Mimosa. I chose Champagne Sugar Fragrance Oil and Valencia Orange Essential Oil. Valencia oranges are juicing oranges, and their odor is what most people associate with orange juice. Champagne Sugar somehow manages to capture the effervescence of champagne along with its delicate, distinctive scent. It’s a fragrance I really enjoy! I also opted to add a bit of Lemon Yellow dye to mimic the color of the cocktail.

This recipe has some wonderful ingredients! I began with Oil Perfection Base, which is an incredible non-greasy blend of skin-loving oils (Coconut Oil Fractions, Sunflower Oil, Argan Oil, Jojoba Oil, Aloe Extract, and Orchid Extract). I think it is fantastic to get all those oils in one bottle! I almost always use a butter in any lotion recipe. This time I chose Cocoa Butter because it adds a wonderful feel and thickness. I used the Deodorized Cocoa Butter, because as much as I like orange and chocolate together, this might not be the right place for that combination. Oat Oil is a luxury additive to pamper the skin.

I chose Conditioning Emulsifier to lend the velvety feel to the finished lotion, and Rice Bran Wax to keep the mixture smooth and provide substance.

Let’s get busy mixing up a batch of this great-smelling lotion! You’ll need the following supplies:

Mimosa Lotion:

INSTRUCTIONS:

Weigh all but the fragrance and preservative into a microwave-safe container. Heat the mixture in minute-long bursts until it is melted enough to blend.

It’s important to know the melting point of the ingredients that are solid at room temperature, so you have an idea of how warm the mixture needs to be to thoroughly mixed. In this recipe, the melting points to know are Rice Bran Wax (180º F), Conditioning Emulsifier (149º F), Stearic Acid (156º F), and Cocoa Butter (101º F). I made sure the mixture was at least 180º to be certain everything would be fully melted and able to mix completely with the other ingredients.

I stick blended the lotion until it was emulsified, then I poured it into a plastic bag to help it cool faster. While I waited, I weighed the fragrance oil, essential oil, and preservative, and I cleaned up my work area.

When the lotion in the bag was below 120º F, I opened the bag and added the fragrance and preservative. Then I used my hands to knead the mixture to incorporate the ingredients thoroughly. I also added about 10 drops of premixed Lemon Yellow Dye. I think the color turned out about right. Maybe it could be a bit more yellow, but I’m happy with it.

Ingredients in a beaker about to get heated in the microwave.

Blended lotion in a bag; adding Lemon Yellow Dye.

I packaged the lotion in one-ounce squeeze bottles with disk-top closures. The mixture is probably thick enough for a jar, but I decided to use the bottles anyway.

The scent is not quite as strong as I had hoped, but I will allow it to sit overnight before I make a final judgment. As I was taking photos of the finished lotion with the champagne and orange juice, I was quite tempted to grab a beaker and mix up a cocktail. I might have if the popping sound of the champagne cork wouldn’t have given me away!

The lotion is thick, but it’s not stiff.

Do you have a favorite adult beverage? Can you think of a way to make it into a body care product? Let’s hear your ideas!