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While these items are traditionally know as "lotion bars", the name is a bit of a misnomer as they do not contain lotion (which is an emulsion of water and oil). Instead, lotion bars are generally 100% oil and nut butter based. They glide lightly across the skin, melting at room temperature and depositing skin loving, moisturizing ingredients on the skin surface as they go. :->

Also, while they can be molded as bars, many people prefer to pour them in roll-up type deodorant containers, or pour them into silicone ice cube trays. The resulting ice cube-sized lotion bars can be packaged in small plastic containers and rubbed on the skin to apply. Some people also like to pour their lotion bars into plastic condiment cups with lids (available at warehouse clubs or food service supply houses) for carry along mini lotion bars.

Finally, some people alter the recipe to make it a bit softer and "scoopable" and pour it into metal tins or plastic cosmetic tubs for a scoopable body butter.

Here are several recipes for lotion bars that you might want to try as the basis for your own lotion bar creations. All measurements are by weight:

Recipe One:

One part wax (beeswax, candelilla, soy, etc.)

One part soft nut butter (avocado, mango, shea, etc.)

One part oil/liquid wax (grapeseed, olive, jojoba, etc.)

Recipe Two:

One part wax (beeswax, candelilla, soy, etc.)

One part cocoa butter

One part soft nut butter (avocado, mango, shea, etc.)

One part oil/liquid wax (grapeseed, olive, jojoba, etc.)

The best way to craft the recipe is generally to melt the ingredients in order of melting temperature. Melt the ingredient with the highest melting point (the wax) first in a double boiler), turn down the heat to the melting point of the next ingredient, and keep going until your last ingredient is stirred in.

At the end, you can add up to about 3% fragrance oil or essential oil, and perhaps some T-50, ROE or Vitamin E (up to 2% by weight) to prevent rancidity. The recipe generally sets up best in a refrigerator; you can preview the texture of the finished recipe by dipping a metal butter knife kept in your freezer in the melted lotion bar mixture.

The recipe can be made firmer by adding more ingredients with a higher melting point, like wax. This is a good idea for crafting lotion bars for use in summer, when people might leave them in a hot car or in a bag at the beach. When you want to make a softer lotion bar, you can add more liquid oils and cut back on the amount of wax in the recipe.