Planning a Baby Shower Gift Basket - Day 3

Gosh! I am really excited about today! This week we have been creating the perfect care basket for a new mom and baby. What is on the plan for today?

I love how pretty this salve is!

Well, today we are going to make a bottom ointment. I am actually going to base the recipe of the Bottoms Up that Joy created on the blog a while ago. Unfortunately, we have had some ingredients become discontinued since we made this recipe so today we get to update the recipe!

One item that I miss dearly is our Black Currant Oil. Since the Black Currant Oil is no longer available, I wanted to find something that would be easy to find and hopefully something most people would have in their formulating cupboards. With that in mind, I decided on Sweet Almond Oil. If you have an exotic oil such a Cherry Oil, Argan Oil or even Avocado Oil, they would be great options. Feel free to substitute as you need and desire!

So why am I so excited about a diaper cream? For years things like Desitin® has used and recommended by parents and doctors. Even my own mother used it. Until she used it on a minor abrasion, she had gotten on her elbow. She could not believe the amount of burning pain it caused her. Even now, she recounts with tears in her eyes “If I had even an inkling of how painful that was, I never would have used it on you kids. No wondering you screamed when I applied it to your bottom.”

Today I wanted to make something that protects the skin and allows it to heal while giving both mom and baby peace of mind. Let’s go to the blog kitchen where we can spoil mom and baby with the revised version of the Bottom’s Up Salve!

Recipe: Yields 100 grams or 3.53 ounces.

Carefully weigh all ingredients in a microwave-safe container except for the Calendula, Orchid, and Chamomile Extracts. Microwave in short bursts (30-45 seconds) until the Soy Wax is completely melted. The mixture will be a brilliant, clear, orange color and extremely hot when completely melted. Wait until the mixture cools down and is warm to the touch before adding the extracts. Stir and immediately pour into jars or bottles. Let cool and set overnight to completely firm.

Weighing Shea Butter and Aloe Butter

Weighing Seabuckthorn Oil

For the container, I used our 0.75 oz tins. I love this container because it is small and easy to carry in a diaper bag but large enough that it can hold a lot of material. I like how this container balances small and easy to carry with plenty of salve for many, many uses. I had considered our 2 oz tins, but while I loved the size, I felt it was not diaper bag friendly. If you are considering making this recipe, maybe you will want to make two sizes. One that is small and can be carried out and about and one that is larger that can stay at home.

Adding Extract to Melted Salve

Pouring Salve in Tins

Finished Bottom’s Up Salve

Note: The original recipe was a staff favorite, and I wanted to stay as true as possible to the formulation that everyone loved. Once our team got wind that I was making a batch of Bottom’s Up, I was immediately inundated with requests for a jar they could take home or tuck into a purse. I made a few extra jars and passed them out with the warning that I did need to reformulate the original recipe. Everyone loved it, and I had several comments that they couldn’t tell the difference between the new formulation and the old one. Whew! I am so glad it worked out like that!