This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy.
This homemade muscle rub is soothing and relaxing to sore muscles. Made into a convenient lotion bar for easy transport and application, this rub is easy to use for general muscle discomfort. With all-natural ingredients and pure essential oils, it is hydrating and nourishing to the skin, too.
If you are looking for a soothing muscle rub for pre- or post-workout, look no further! These muscle rub bars are just the thing you need to relieve joint and muscle discomforts at home.
Made with soothing essential oils, they can help relax the muscles and give your body a nice cooling effect. Plus, they will leave your skin soft and moisturized.
This recipe is complete with just 4 simple ingredients: coconut oil, shea butter, beeswax, and essential oils. You’ll be amazed at how easy muscle rub is to make!
Why You’ll Love Them
Soothe sore muscles: The essential oils in this muscle rub are soothing to sore muscles. This is such an easy and natural way to get some quick relief.
Convenient lotion bar: I love lotion bars because they are easy to transport and apply! Rather than bringing a bottle of liquid cream that can spill and leak, these bars are perfect for travel. They’re also great for quick application. All you have to do is rub the bar on your skin and allow your warmth to melt the perfect amount.
Nourishing ingredients: With shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax, these muscle rub bars will nourish and hydrate your skin while your muscles are being soothed.
What Goes Into This Recipe
- Shea butter: Shea butter is one of my favorite ingredients for skincare. I make it into homemade shea butter lotion and homemade whipped body butter because of its moisturizing properties and benefits to the skin. In this muscle rub, it will also help to soothe joint pain and sore muscles.
- Beeswax: Beeswax allows the bars to hold their shape. It also helps homemade lotions and rubs lock in moisture by creating a protective barrier on the skin.
- Coconut oil: Another moisturizing ingredient, the anti-inflammatory properties of coconut oil may help with muscle pain and soreness.
- Essential oils: There are many essential oils that can help with achy muscles. You can use one of them in the muscle rub or use a blend to maximize the benefits. You can find recommended oils below.
How to Make Homemade Muscle Rub
Step 1: Add shea butter, beeswax, and coconut oil to a double boiler over medium heat. If you don’t have a double boiler, you can make your own by placing a small glass bowl over a saucepan of water and bringing it to a boil.
Step 2: Once melted, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly—about 5 minutes. Add in essential oils of choice. I use 8 drops of peppermint and 4 drops each of lavender, helichrysum, marjoram, and frankincense.
Step 3: Stir until all of the ingredients are well combined, then pour the mixture into silicone molds.
Step 4: Allow the mixture to cool and harden completely before removing the bars from the mold.
Essential Oils for Muscle Rub
To make the muscle rub soothing for the muscles and joints, we are using essential oils. There are a number of different oils that are great for reducing joint and muscle discomfort.
I’m going to be using a blend of oils for maximum benefits. Below is a list of essential oils that I recommend adding to your soothing lotion bars.
Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint essential oil is very cooling and soothing for the muscles. It contains menthol, which can help with inflammation, tension, and discomfort. Peppermint essential oil should always be diluted before being applied to the skin as it is very concentrated.
Marjoram Essential Oil
Marjoram essential oil is well known for the benefits it has for easing muscle and joint discomforts. When applied topically to the area of concern, it can help reduce stiffness, soreness, and spasms.
Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense is a very calming, soothing, and relaxing essential oil. Because frankincense can relieve tension and reduce pain, it makes a great natural solution for a hurting back, stiff neck, achy joints, and discomfort.
Helichrysum Essential Oil
Helichrysum essential oil is a soothing essential oil with anti-inflammatory properties. When applied topically to the area of concern, it can soothe and relax joints and muscles.
Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender is a well-known oil to help with sleep, stress, and calming. Just like it can help relax the mind, it can relax muscles and joints, and it is particularly good for pain and swelling. Lavender oil is a very gentle oil with a soothing aroma.
How to Use Homemade Muscle Rub
To use homemade muscle rub, simply rub the bar on your skin. It will melt slightly from the warmth, leaving a layer on your skin. You can then massage it into the skin, paying extra attention to the sore muscles.
This muscle rub bar can be used on the hands, feet, or body. The base ingredients are safe for the face; however, several of the essential oils are not. I recommend following a different recipe for a homemade face moisturizer and reserving this muscle rub for the body.
This muscle rub is designed to reduce muscle and joint discomfort, stiffness, and tension. You can apply the lotion to the area of concern as needed throughout the day.
Expert Tips
- For best results, I recommend using more than one of the suggested essential oils. That way, you get the benefits from multiple oils.
- Store the muscle rub bars in an airtight container out of direct sunlight to maximize their shelf life.
- If you live in a hot climate, you may need to store the muscle rub bars in the fridge during the hot months.
- You can use any type of silicone mold you have on hand. If you’d rather have the muscle rub as a cream instead of bars, omit the beeswax, whip the mixture with a hand mixer, and store it in a jar.
Recipe FAQs
These muscle rub bars are good for 6 months to a year. You can maximize their shelf life by storing them properly. You may also add an antioxidant like vitamin E or rosemary antioxidant to help extend the product’s shelf life if desired.
It’s important to store them in an airtight container out of direct sunlight to extend their shelf life. Be sure to keep them out of high heat as they may melt. If you live in a hot climate, you may want to store them in the refrigerator during the hot months.
Yes, if you want to make the muscle rub bars vegan you can use soy wax instead of beeswax. The wax can also be omitted, but the muscle rub will be more like a cream rather than a bar. In that case, I recommend skipping the silicone molds, whipping it like I do with my DIY body butter, and storing it in a mason jar.
Related Content
If you tried this Homemade Muscle Rub or any other tutorial on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Homemade Muscle Rub
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 oz shea butter
- 2.4 oz beeswax
- 3 oz coconut oil
- 25 drops of essential oil, choose from the list above
Instructions
- Add shea butter, beeswax, and coconut oil to a double boiler over medium heat. If you don't have a double boiler, you can make your own by placing a small glass bowl over a saucepan of water and bringing it to a boil.
- Once melted, remove from heat and allow to cool slightly—about 5 minutes.
- Add in essential oils of choice. I use 8 drops of peppermint and 4 drops each of lavender, helichrysum, marjoram, and frankincense.
- Stir until all the ingredients are well combined.
- Pour into silicone molds.
- Allow the mixture to cool and harden completely. Pop the lotion bars out of the molds.
- Store in an airtight container.
These are such a great idea! I’m going to try them with the deep blue oil, I love the deep blue cream (it works extremely well) but I don’t like touching it LOL, so using the person’s idea in the comments to use a deodorant container is perfect.
I tried this diy today and I love the outcome. I added frankensense oil and lavender oil. I suffer with lupus and the joint pain can be really painful. This actually helps the pain and I can use it anytime I like. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for the recipe. I made these just the other day, but mine came out soft. I set them in my laundry room for several hours. To test them, I lightly pressed on the top. It gave way ever so slightly. We’re they supposed to do that? I assumed they’d be harder. I ended up putting them in an old (clean) yeast jar. I’d use a few more drops of oils next time for myself. I have a high tolerance for pain unfortunately. The bars didn’t quite relieve my discomfort. How can I adjust the recipe to make them more solid? Thanks! Oh, I am using DoTerra oils (the best in my opinion).
I would place them in the fridge or freezer to harden them. They should be solid. Also, you can add in more essential oils to make them stronger.
I am going to make this for my friend . she has Arthritis and really painful stiff joints.
Also for me after I’ve finished my newly started get fit idea .
Hope you like it!
I made these lotion bars, but cut the recipe in half. And I put them in the round containers you used in your foot balm recipe. A half batch filled 2 containers. I gave one container to my husband & one container to my dad to try. I am excited to see how they like the lotion. I will keep you posted. I love your blog & YouTube channel. Thanks for the recipe!!
Thank you so much!
Could you put this recipe in a deoderant type container for easy application
I haven’t tried that but I do think it would work!
Diane that is a GREAT Idea. Thanks for sharing.
Warmest Blessings
Can’t wait to try this