Over the past few years I have been steadily trying to rid my bathroom of products with crazy chemicals. What goes on the body goes in the body, I reasoned, so maybe I should approach them as I do the food I eat. While it took a while to find products that were natural but still performed like their toxin-laden counterparts, I've found a shower soap I like (Dr. Bronner's unscented castille soap) , a facial cleanser I like (Toleraine's foaming cleanser, after using the chemical soup that is Cetaphil for about a dozen years), toothpaste (good ol' Tom's of Maine), toner, moisturizer (Juice Beauty), facial mask (royal jelly), body scrubs (my own), even shampoo (Fekkai's Au Naturel). In my recent foray into body care making, I've played with making body butters, and while they worked great, they could be a little greasy and I missed that creamy consistency. 

Enter in this little jar above. Armed with a list of ratios from Dina Falconi's Earthly Bodies, I tried different solid oils, liquid oils, essential oil combinations until I found one that felt right. It was amazing to pour the mixture out of the blender and have it look, feel and smell exactly like the stuff I've been spending a fortune on at Whole Foods. And even better, when I calculated that each jar only cost about $2. My boys seem to like their orange-scented one too. Since there are no preservatives, you have to be mindful of using the whole batch within 30 days, which is why I chose a smaller jar than I would have normally made. But it's so easy to make, I actually look forward to making it again. Yes I do. 

If you're also so inclined, I highly recommend you make it too. As I've always said, there is indeed something very satisfying about making something yourself that you use everyday. Maybe it's the love, I don't know…

For oils, butters, essential oils, and herbs, Mountain Rose Herbs is great. 

Jasmine Body Cream

6 oz. of liquid carrier oil (I used jojoba, although olive, apricot kernel, almond or macadamia nut oils are other options)

3 oz. solid oil (I used mango butter, but coconut, shea or cocoa butter also work)

9 oz. distilled water (it has to be distilled to keep it from spoiling)

1 oz. beeswax

15 drops of jasmine absolute oil (or whatever you like)

Pour the liquid oil into a heat-proof measuring cup. Add pieces of solid oil until the total volume reaches the 9 oz. mark on the measuring cup. Next, add pieces of beeswax until it reaches the 10-oz. mark. Put the cup into a pot partially filled with water and place over medium heat and stir with a chopstick or spoon until the oils melt and form a unified liquid.

Remove the cup from the water and allow the oils to cool until body temperature. While the oil is cooling, pour 9 oz. of distilled water into a measuring cup and heat to body temperature by placing it into the hot water bath that you used to melt the oils.

Once the water and oils are the right temperature, pour the water into a blender, food processor or mixing bowl. Process at high speed. Then slowly pour in a thin drizzle of the the oil mixture into the whirling water. Continue to process until the mixture is thick and creamy. With my VitaMix, it took about 20 seconds.

Pour cream into sterilized jars. This mixture yielded about 16 oz. total, poured into two 9-oz. jars. Store it away from light or intense heat or refrigerate for longer life. 

Oh so good!