Store-bought body butter can cost a fortune — and half the time it’s packed with ingredients you can’t pronounce. The good news? You can whip up a luxurious coconut oil body butter at home in about 15 minutes, with just a few natural ingredients. It’s silky, deeply moisturizing, and melts into your skin without feeling greasy. This easy recipe walks you through every step, plus tips to get that fluffy, cloud-like texture every time.
A fluffy, whipped coconut oil body butter that’s rich yet fast-absorbing — perfect for dry skin, elbows, knees, and hands. It uses coconut oil as the star, whipped to a light, spreadable cream. Naturally scented (or add your favorite essential oil), free of nasty additives, and it makes a gorgeous homemade gift.
Why This Recipe Works
The secret to great body butter is whipping. Plain coconut oil is wonderful for skin, but on its own it can feel hard in the jar and greasy going on. When you whip softened coconut oil with a mixer, you beat in tiny air pockets — turning it into a light, fluffy cream that spreads easily and soaks in faster.
Coconut oil is loaded with skin-loving fatty acids that lock in moisture and leave skin soft and smooth. Adding a carrier oil (like a little sweet almond or jojoba oil) keeps the butter from getting too firm and helps it glide on. The result is a nourishing, all-natural moisturizer that rivals anything on a store shelf — for a fraction of the price. For more skin uses, see our coconut oil for skin guide.
Whipping is the magic step. It transforms solid coconut oil into a cloud-soft cream that melts into your skin — no greasy residue, just soft, happy skin.
Ingredients
- 1 cup organic virgin coconut oil (soft/solid, not melted) — the star moisturizer
- 2 tbsp carrier oil (sweet almond, jojoba, or olive oil) — keeps it creamy
- Optional: 2 tbsp shea butter (softened) — extra richness for very dry skin
- Optional: 10–15 drops essential oil (lavender, vanilla, sweet orange) — for scent
Equipment
- A mixing bowl and a hand mixer (or stand mixer)
- A spatula
- A clean, dry glass jar (8 oz) with a lid
How to Make Whipped Coconut Oil Body Butter
- Soften the coconut oil. You want it soft and scoopable, like room-temperature butter — not fully melted to liquid, or it won’t whip. If it’s rock-hard, let it sit in a warm spot for a bit.
- Add it to the bowl. Scoop the softened coconut oil (and softened shea butter, if using) into your mixing bowl.
- Pour in the carrier oil. Add your 2 tablespoons of almond, jojoba, or olive oil.
- Whip it! Using your hand mixer, whip on medium-high for 3–5 minutes, until it looks light, fluffy, and pale — like whipped cream or frosting. Scrape the sides and keep going.
- Add essential oils. Drizzle in your essential oil drops and whip for another 30 seconds to blend.
- Chill briefly (optional). If your kitchen is warm and the mixture is soft, pop the bowl in the fridge for 10–15 minutes, then whip once more for extra fluff.
- Spoon into a jar. Transfer your fluffy body butter into a clean, dry glass jar. Let it set at room temperature. Done!
- Don’t melt the coconut oil fully — soft-solid is the sweet spot for whipping.
- If your butter turns grainy, it got warm then re-hardened. Just re-whip it, or gently melt and re-chill before whipping.
- In hot climates, add a little more shea butter (or less carrier oil) so it holds its shape.
Fun Variations
| Variation | Add | Great for |
|---|---|---|
| 🌿 Lavender Dream | 15 drops lavender oil | Bedtime, relaxing |
| 🍊 Citrus Glow | 10 drops sweet orange oil | Morning, uplifting |
| 🍫 Cocoa Vanilla | 1 tbsp cocoa butter + vanilla | Rich, cozy scent |
| ❄️ Extra Rich | More shea butter | Very dry winter skin |
How to Use & Store It
To use: scoop a small amount and massage into clean, dry skin — a little goes a long way. It’s perfect after a shower, or on dry hands, elbows, knees, and feet. Best used on the body, not the face (coconut oil can clog pores for some people).
- Store in a sealed jar at room temperature, away from heat and direct sun.
- Keep water out — scoop with clean, dry fingers or a small spoon.
- Lasts about 3 months. Coconut oil is naturally long-lasting since there’s no water in the recipe.
- Warm days: coconut oil melts above about 76°F (24°C), so it may soften — just re-whip or store somewhere cool.
Do a small patch test first, especially if you have sensitive skin or are trying a new essential oil. If you’re acne-prone, keep this butter to your body rather than your face, since coconut oil is comedogenic (pore-clogging) for some people.
The Best Coconut Oil for This Recipe
Since coconut oil is the star, use a pure, organic, food-grade one. Here’s our go-to.
Nature’s Way Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
TOP PICK
Why we picked it: This 100% pure, organic, cold-pressed extra-virgin coconut oil is unrefined and food-grade with nothing added — exactly what you want for a skin recipe. It softens beautifully for whipping, whips up light and fluffy, and leaves skin soft and moisturized. It has a light, fresh coconut scent that pairs nicely with any essential oil, and one jar makes several batches (plus it works for hair and cooking too). Great quality, great value.
- Type: Organic extra-virgin
- Process: Cold-pressed
- Grade: Food-grade
- Scent: Light coconut
- Best for: DIY body butter
- Additives: None
Check the latest price & reviews on Amazon. Price and availability can change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my coconut oil body butter greasy?
A little sink-in time is normal, but if it feels too greasy, you may have used too much carrier oil or applied too much. Use a small amount, and add a touch of arrowroot powder (about 1 teaspoon) when whipping to give it a drier, silkier finish.
Why did my body butter go grainy?
Graininess happens when the coconut oil (or shea butter) melted and re-hardened unevenly. To fix it, gently melt the whole batch back to liquid, then chill it until just solid and re-whip. Keeping it out of heat prevents it from happening again.
Can I use this on my face?
It’s best kept for your body. Coconut oil is comedogenic (pore-clogging) for some people, so on acne-prone facial skin it can cause breakouts. For your face, a lighter oil or a non-comedogenic moisturizer is safer.
How long does homemade body butter last?
About 3 months stored in a sealed jar at room temperature, away from heat and water. Since there’s no water in the recipe, it resists spoilage well. Scoop with clean, dry hands to keep it fresh.
Do I need a mixer?
A hand or stand mixer gives the best fluffy texture, but you can whisk vigorously by hand in a pinch — it just takes more effort and won’t be quite as airy. The whipping is what makes it light and non-greasy.
Your Quick Checklist
- Use soft-solid coconut oil, not melted
- Whip 3–5 minutes until light and fluffy
- Add a carrier oil so it’s not too firm
- Store in a dry glass jar, away from heat
- Patch test and use on the body, not the face
That’s it — a spa-quality body butter made with your own hands, for pennies compared to the store. Whip up a batch, jar some for gifts, and enjoy soft, glowing skin. Ready to make it? Grab a jar of pure organic virgin coconut oil and get whipping.
