Learn how to make the easiest homemade lotion bars with essential oils. These bars are perfect for everyone in the family and make a perfect handmade gift.
I have had several requests for a lotion bar recipe, that was simple to make. Sharing several of the ingredients with my whipped body butter, I came up with these homemade lotion bars that are made with all-natural ingredients and are very soothing and nourishing to the skin.
I love how these lotion bars make it easy to use natural products. They keep their shape with the added beeswax, but they melt slightly and soothe dry, cracked skin when rubbed on warm skin.
Perfect for the cold winter months and can be used in the summertime after being out in the sun for extended periods of time. Find relief from dry, scratchy skin in areas like knees, elbows, feet, and hands.
HOMEMADE LOTION BARS VIDEO TUTORIAL
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Melt all the ingredients, except the essential oils, in a double boiler. You can make your own double boiler by placing a glass bowl over a medium-size saucepan.
Bring the water to a boil until the ingredients are melted.
Once ingredients are melted, remove the bowl from the heat.
Let mixture cool slightly and then stir in essential oils.
Pour the mixture into silicon molds or metal tins.
Allow the mixture to cool completely, then pop the bars out of the molds.
Store in an airtight container for up to one year.
LOTION BAR NOTES
This recipe calls for equal parts of each ingredient used, besides the essential oils. You can easily cut this recipe in half or double it to make a larger batch.
Get creative with the types of mold you decide to use! If you are making these for Christmas gifts, you can use Christmas molds and make these bars in the shape of snowmen or snowflakes. Use heart-shaped molds for Valentine’s day.
If making in silicone molds, store the molds in an airtight container after popping them out of the molds. They will last for up to a year.
Store out of direct sunlight and in a cool room. If your house is above 75 degrees, the bars can melt and should be stored in the refrigerator.
HOW TO USE HOMEMADE LOTION BARS
Rub the lotion bar directly onto the skin. When you rub it on the warm skin, it will melt slightly, making it easy to apply.
BEST ESSENTIAL OIL BLENDS FOR HOMEMADE LOTION BARS
Frankincense + Yarrow Pom + Rose
Lavender + Roman Chamomile
Frankincense + Melaleuca + Lavender
Lemongrass + Cedarwood
BENEFITS OF HOMEMADE LOTION
COCONUT OIL
The hype around coconut oil these days is for a good reason. You can use it in the kitchen, on your skin, face, in your hair, and the list goes on.
Fair warning: It makes the lotion smell like chocolate, and you may be tempted to eat it! (Don’t worry, cocoa butter is edible and used to make delicate chocolates.)
Cocoa butter is the fat that comes from cocoa beans, and it smells absolutely delicious, in my opinion. Cocoa butter naturally moisturizes the skin and heals dry, chapped skin.
BEESWAX
This ingredient is essential in fighting against chapped or dry skin with its antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. It forms a protective wall by sealing moisture in the skin without clogging up the pores.
Several essentials oils can do wonders for skin imperfections as well as having many healing properties.
I personally like using frankincense and lavender in my lotion bars because of the soothing properties these oils have for the skin.
See more information on each essential oil below.
ABOUT THE ESSENTIAL OILS
FRANKINCENSE
Frankincense is incredible for the skin and can be used as a daily moisturizer. It can reduce blemishes, fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots.
Frankincense has rejuvenating properties for the skin and is good for dry, flaky skin. Use this essential oil when the skin is dry or cracked.
YARROW POM
Provides powerful antioxidant support; main constituents include Punicic acid, β-caryophyllene, chamazulene.
Yarrow can shrink the skin and promotes healthy skin, especially great for wounds or scars.
Yarrow is a powerful natural astringent (a substance that causes the contraction of body tissues, typically used to protect the skin and to reduce bleeding from minor abrasions).
The yarrow plant is an effective natural cicatrisant, which means that it helps to increase blood stimulation and allows the skin cells to regenerate faster.
ROSE
Rose essential oil has the ability to regenerate the skin, reduce scars, and help the skin regain natural color and tone.
Studies have shown that even scars that were over 20 years old showed improvement after using rose topically on the area of concern.
Roses are high in vitamin C and encourages your body to produce more collagen.
It is very balancing and nourishing for the skin.
LAVENDER
Lavender reduces the appearance of skin imperfections, and it can soothe occasional skin irritations.
It can also help soothe and heal burns, making it a great essential oil to add into the lotion bar if using during the summer after extended periods of sun exposure.
Lavender is a very soothing and relaxing oil that can calm the nervous system. Add this into the lotion bar and use it before bed, especially on kids, to help wind down and promote a healthy night’s sleep.
ROMAN CHAMOMILE
Another essential oil that has incredible properties for the skin is Roman chamomile. This floral oil is gentle and a great option if making this for a baby or child.
Roman chamomile pairs well with lavender and together make a calming lotion bar that can be used as part of the bedtime routine.
MELALEUCA
With its antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antiviral properties, Melaleuca is a perfect essential oil for the skin.
The melaleuca oil makes this lotion bar effective for things such as yeast, fungal infection, and discolored nails.
Apply topically to the area of concern until the problem is resolved.
LEMONGRASS AND CEDARWOOD
These two essential oils will make a perfect blend if you are making the homemade lotion bars for a man.
Lemongrass and cedarwood essential oil give the lotion a woodsy citrus scent perfect for men.
Both these oils are actually great not only for skin, but hair as well.
If you enjoyed this recipe, check out these below! In the meantime, make a few extra bars for the perfect stocking stuffer or birthday gift.
The perfect lotion bar recipe for anyone with dry, cracked skin.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Additional Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours30 minutes
Ingredients
1 cup coconut oil
1 cup cocoa butter or shea butter
1 cup beeswax
15-30 drops essential oil (optional)
Instructions
Melt all the ingredients except essential oils in a double boiler. You can make your own double boiler by placing a glass bowl over a medium-size saucepan.
Bring the water to a boil until all the ingredients are melted.
Remove the bowl from the heat and let cool slightly.
Stir in essential oils.
Pour the mixture into silicon molds or metal salve tins, whatever you prefer to use.
Let the mixture cool completely and then pop the bars out of the molds.
Store in an airtight container for up to one year.
You are a very busy little mom. I am fine than you.
I was wondering how to make lotion cream in a plastic bottle with a pump for the left over soaps. The recipes I make do separates after a day or two. Do you have a recipe I could use. Thank you Laura.
Laura could you please tell what quantity this recipe yeilds? The ladies are church want to make it using silicone cupcake liners as a gift for a ladies thanksgiving dinner.
Hi there! I’ve made some lotion before with coconut oil and found that it actually dries out my skin. Can I sub in more shea or cocoa butter or just more beeswax to help them solidify?
Hello, I am creating a lotion bar similar to yours but I’m not sure how much essential oil I should use. Instead of 1 cup of coconut oil I am using 1/4 cup of coconut oil, 1/4 cup jojoba oil what is a good blend amount for it with lavender and chamomile. I’m making it for kids so I need help please.
Hello,
I also did a batch of this size (1/4 cup of each ingredient) and it feels great but I used orange essential oil (a lot….like 30 drops) and I really can’t smell the orange at all. I let it cool for about 5 minutes before adding the essential oil but wondering if it wasn’t long enough and it evaporated the oil?
Hi there. Is the 1cup in volume or weight? I havent got together my ingredients to see but is each
ingredient an unbalancedd weight if using grams over volume of a cup? Thanks!
Hello! Thanks for sharing!
Question: I made the bars and mine melt super fast when i put them on my hand, too much! Do you think I need to do something different?
I have made these lotion bars (with insect repellent properties) twice now, and this last time I made half the recipe but my bars are very hard. They don’t melt on my skin at all. Am I perhaps using too much beeswax? I bought the 1 oz sticks and used 4 of them. And I love your site. I made he fly repellent with the carrier oil and have it in a roller bottle and it really works. I’m hoping to do the same with the lotion bars.
What is the best coconut oil for using the for the lotion soaps or the other soap? I have MCT oil but not sure if that’s what I can use? Thank you for all you do and can’t wait to try to make the soaps!! 🙂
Hello!
I love your site! 3 questions-
#1 Can these soaps be used on the face?
I am on a low dose of prescription retinol.
I’m thinking if I use the gentler oils such as rose, I have less chance of a reaction; since retinol can make skin a little sensitive., what other oils are gentle to skin?
#2- what do you think of carrot oil? I’ve read it has SPF properties?
#3 One last question can these be used as shampoo bars & if so, what essential oils do you recommend I add that will deep clean the scalp without drying out my thick, course, dry hair?
Thank you for sharing your wisdom!! 🙂
I use all of my homemade soaps on my face, however, I do have recipes for face washes you can check out. Carrot oil is a great carrier oil option. I have two shampoo bar recipes on the blog you can try.
I made small batch but not sure if mine are going to be as firm as I’d like. Also, as a tip, a friend purchased me my first lotion bar. When she had given it to me it had melted through the cheese cloth. I have continued to use it in the cheesecloth as a sort of diffuser. I like much better than with no cloth at all.
I used this recipe and the bars turned out VERY soft! As in, I couldn’t get them out of the molds. I put them in the freezer and they hardened up. Have you heard of this happening? Any thoughts on why this could have happened?
Hi I made these 4 weeks back almost and today I can see white dots and patchy formation on these bars. Is it hardened shea butter? Pls let me know how can I send a picture?
I just want to be clear on the beeswax and shea butter… it says 1 cup, is that melted or solid? I have beeswax pellets and solid shea butter… which obviously once melted, would be less than the measured solid amount
Hi Laura. I’m super excited to try your recipe! I had a question though – is it necessary to add beeswax?
I was thinking that if there is enough cacao butter (raw cocoa butter, which is solid at room temperature), the bar would still harden and thus I could do without the beeswax. While beeswax has great properties, unfortunately there’s bad weather here and I don’t have any left!
I have an issue with lotion bars feeling greasy and sticky. I have used corn starch to absorb some of the oily feel but…🤷♀️
Didn’t help much. I just guessed at the amount I used. Can you offer a solution to minimize the greasy feel.. Thanks in advance 🌻
Could you please give me some guidelines as to when to add the essential oils?
How long should the melted components cool before adding? I am finding I can barely – if at all – smell the EO’s in the final cooled and hardened bars. Which makes me think I am not waiting long enough on the cooling. Is there a temperature to take the hot liquid down to?
folorentorium says
I love your writing style truly loving this internet site.
lauraascher says
Thank you so much! Thanks for following along!
Jojo says
Hie Laura:
You are a very busy little mom. I am fine than you.
I was wondering how to make lotion cream in a plastic bottle with a pump for the left over soaps. The recipes I make do separates after a day or two. Do you have a recipe I could use. Thank you Laura.
Sarah says
These look great, but my skin reacts to beeswax… is there a substitute I could use? Thanks!
lauraascher says
I have a whipped body recipe that does not have beeswax in it, here is the link: https://ouroilyhouse.com/homemade-whipped-body-butter-with-lavender-and-frankincense-essential-oils/
Danielle says
Laura could you please tell what quantity this recipe yeilds? The ladies are church want to make it using silicone cupcake liners as a gift for a ladies thanksgiving dinner.
Laura says
The molds I use makes 12. I would say it would make 4 regular cupcake liners. Or 8 mini.
Marah says
Candelila wax you can find on amazon. Bees wax irritates my skin as well.
Noreen says
Hi,
I was wondering if you could provide the link for your rubber soap mold. thanks
Jasmine says
Hi there! I’ve made some lotion before with coconut oil and found that it actually dries out my skin. Can I sub in more shea or cocoa butter or just more beeswax to help them solidify?
Laura says
I have not tried that yet, but I have made sunscreen with cocoa butter instead of coconut oil when I was out of it and it worked fine!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes says
This is the perfect time of year for this when my hands get so dry!!
amanda says
Hello, I am creating a lotion bar similar to yours but I’m not sure how much essential oil I should use. Instead of 1 cup of coconut oil I am using 1/4 cup of coconut oil, 1/4 cup jojoba oil what is a good blend amount for it with lavender and chamomile. I’m making it for kids so I need help please.
Laura says
I would do 5 drops of each.
Mandy says
Hello,
I also did a batch of this size (1/4 cup of each ingredient) and it feels great but I used orange essential oil (a lot….like 30 drops) and I really can’t smell the orange at all. I let it cool for about 5 minutes before adding the essential oil but wondering if it wasn’t long enough and it evaporated the oil?
Laura says
If you add the essential oils when it is too hot that can happen.
Eva says
I made this and the cocoa butter smell was way too strong for me. What would you suggest?
Laura says
You can use less cocoa butter and more shea butter if you prefer.
Sharee says
Hi I’m looking at purchasing some Shea butter to make these lotion bars. Not sure if I want refined or unrefined?
Laura says
Unrefined is best. I have the kind I used linked in my description box.
Dayna says
Hi there. Is the 1cup in volume or weight? I havent got together my ingredients to see but is each
ingredient an unbalancedd weight if using grams over volume of a cup? Thanks!
Laura says
Volume
Lisa says
Hi! I was wondering if this recipe would do good for lotion sticks? -Thank you 🙂
Laura says
I have never made those before or heard of them but they will hold shape with whatever mold you use.
Lisa says
Thank you 🙂 for your reply.
Kylesha says
Is it ok to add vitamin e?
Laura says
Yes definitely!
Amy says
Hello! How many bars did this yield for you?
Heli says
Has anybody else used this for removing make-up? It works wonders. Highly recommend trying.
Jocy C says
Hello! Thanks for sharing!
Question: I made the bars and mine melt super fast when i put them on my hand, too much! Do you think I need to do something different?
Laura says
They should melt when they touch the skin, but not super fast. Did they fully harden before you started using them?
Becky Y says
I have made these lotion bars (with insect repellent properties) twice now, and this last time I made half the recipe but my bars are very hard. They don’t melt on my skin at all. Am I perhaps using too much beeswax? I bought the 1 oz sticks and used 4 of them. And I love your site. I made he fly repellent with the carrier oil and have it in a roller bottle and it really works. I’m hoping to do the same with the lotion bars.
Laura says
Yes, try using less beeswax. They shouldn’t be to hard to rub on the skin.
Courtney says
Hi I’m looking forward to trying your recipe but was wondering how big of a mold you used and how many you produced. Thanks!
Laura says
I have the mold I used linked. It made 10 bars.
Tabitha Anne Brown says
What is the best coconut oil for using the for the lotion soaps or the other soap? I have MCT oil but not sure if that’s what I can use? Thank you for all you do and can’t wait to try to make the soaps!! 🙂
Laura says
I have the coconut oil I use linked in the post.
Tabitha Anne Brown says
Thank you for getting back with me, can’t wait to try these and other recipes. 🙂
Michelle J says
Can another oil be used in place of coconut oil if customer has a nut allergy??
Tabitha Anne Brown says
Thank you for getting back with me, can’t wait to try these and other recipes. 🙂
Cat M. says
Hello!
I love your site! 3 questions-
#1 Can these soaps be used on the face?
I am on a low dose of prescription retinol.
I’m thinking if I use the gentler oils such as rose, I have less chance of a reaction; since retinol can make skin a little sensitive., what other oils are gentle to skin?
#2- what do you think of carrot oil? I’ve read it has SPF properties?
#3 One last question can these be used as shampoo bars & if so, what essential oils do you recommend I add that will deep clean the scalp without drying out my thick, course, dry hair?
Thank you for sharing your wisdom!! 🙂
Laura says
I use all of my homemade soaps on my face, however, I do have recipes for face washes you can check out. Carrot oil is a great carrier oil option. I have two shampoo bar recipes on the blog you can try.
Beth says
I was wondering if I used soap dye in the lotion bars if it would make the skin turn that color? I have kids that want fun colorful lotion bars.
Laura says
Soap dye should be fine! I use skin-safe dyes and never had any issues.
Mary Roesler Henson says
I made small batch but not sure if mine are going to be as firm as I’d like. Also, as a tip, a friend purchased me my first lotion bar. When she had given it to me it had melted through the cheese cloth. I have continued to use it in the cheesecloth as a sort of diffuser. I like much better than with no cloth at all.
William Fagan says
We appreciate all the hard work you put into your site.
Before making wax deodorizers or lotion bars, I would like to buy some from you.
How do I do that?
Bill
Laura says
I do not sell any of the products, I just show how to make them and share recipes.
Meridith says
I cannot wait to try this!!!!! Where do I find bees wax? And what’s the best cocoa butter to use?
I wanna make sure I’m getting the right stuff.
Laura says
Everything is linked in the post!
Andreina says
I’m dying to try these! Love all your posts
Betsy Hunt says
I would like to make the lotion bars with Frankincense and Rose. I don’t have the Yarrow Pom. What would be a good substitute?
I’m really enjoying learning from your site!
Laura says
You can just use the frankincense and rose if you want!
Lindsey says
I used this recipe and the bars turned out VERY soft! As in, I couldn’t get them out of the molds. I put them in the freezer and they hardened up. Have you heard of this happening? Any thoughts on why this could have happened?
Laura says
They take a while to harden up unless you put them in the fridge or freezer! Completely normal.
Aastha Kataruka says
Hi I made these 4 weeks back almost and today I can see white dots and patchy formation on these bars. Is it hardened shea butter? Pls let me know how can I send a picture?
Laura says
Yes, probably the shea butter.
Jenn says
I just want to be clear on the beeswax and shea butter… it says 1 cup, is that melted or solid? I have beeswax pellets and solid shea butter… which obviously once melted, would be less than the measured solid amount
Laura says
That is before it is melted.
Holly says
This is a confusing reply. Do u measure in grams ?
Julie Matheus says
I thought that your video mentioned a link for labels for lotion bars? I can’t find it!
Laura says
You can find all my labels on my online resource library: https://ouroilyhouse.ck.page/member-resource-library
Haben says
How many drops of lemongrass and cedarwood would you use for this recipe?
Laura says
10 drops each should be fine.
Melissa says
How do you recommend these be stored? I feel like if I stacked them up in a mason jar that they would start sticking together? Thanks!
Laura says
I personally store them in a mason jar with no issues. As long as you keep them in a cool dark place, you should be good!
Shining Stars says
Hi Laura. I’m super excited to try your recipe! I had a question though – is it necessary to add beeswax?
I was thinking that if there is enough cacao butter (raw cocoa butter, which is solid at room temperature), the bar would still harden and thus I could do without the beeswax. While beeswax has great properties, unfortunately there’s bad weather here and I don’t have any left!
Laura says
The beeswax is what makes it hold together as a bar, I have other body butter you can try without it.
Sharell says
Thank you for the recipe. Can you use fragrance oil and mica coloring?
Laura says
Yes!
Fredi Still says
I have an issue with lotion bars feeling greasy and sticky. I have used corn starch to absorb some of the oily feel but…🤷♀️
Didn’t help much. I just guessed at the amount I used. Can you offer a solution to minimize the greasy feel.. Thanks in advance 🌻
Laura says
I add in a little bit of arrowroot powder. Also, it is important to remember that you only need a small amount.
Marlen says
Your thoughts on using olive oil as oppose to coconut oil.
Debbie Brady says
Could you please give me some guidelines as to when to add the essential oils?
How long should the melted components cool before adding? I am finding I can barely – if at all – smell the EO’s in the final cooled and hardened bars. Which makes me think I am not waiting long enough on the cooling. Is there a temperature to take the hot liquid down to?
Thank you – Debbie
Diana says
How do you remove lotion bars of tins after it has set (over night)?
Laura says
If you made them in a tin, you can just leave them in there. For the molds I use, you can simply pop them out when they are hard.
Melinda Halferty says
Excellent video. I just made some of your sunblock recipe and can’t wait to make the lotion bars.