Vanilla body cream is a great choice for your skin in damp, gloomy weather. Autumn’s damp weather also takes its toll on our skin, especially on the face and hands, which are often dry and chapped. During this period they require more intensive care, which is why we decided to bring you a recipe for a creamy emulsion that is not only nourishing, but also has a pleasant warm scent of coconut, vanilla and cocoa, without added synthetic fragrances.
About this recipe
This is a creamy emulsion — a nourishing body cream with a warm scent of coconut, vanilla and cocoa, without added synthetic fragrances. The scent does not come from perfuming, but directly from the chosen ingredients.
The vanilla aroma of this cream is provided by our vanilla butter, which is produced from vanilla oil by blending it with hydrogenated vegetable oil. The coconut scent is provided by virgin coconut oil. And we obtain the cocoa component thanks to natural cocoa butter.
Main benefits
- Nourishing care for damp, gloomy days
The creamy emulsion is intended for skin that is often dry and chapped at this time of year — especially on the face and hands.
- A warm scent with no synthetics
The pleasant scent of coconut, vanilla and cocoa comes directly from the ingredients, without added synthetic fragrances.
- No greasy feeling
Vanilla butter is excellently absorbed into the skin and does not leave a greasy feeling, only a pleasant sweet vanilla scent.
- A choice of emulsifier
You can use either Olivem 1000 or BTMS-50 — with both, the mixture should thicken immediately.
- Simple preparation
A standard whisk should be enough to whip the mixture, so you do not need any special equipment.
- You can intensify the scent
You can intensify the fragrance of the cream by adding essential oils — for this quantity we recommend a maximum of 4 drops.
Product properties
Key ingredients in the recipe
Below we go through the ingredients that give the cream its nourishing character and warm scent. At its first mention, each ingredient is linked to the product in our range.
Vanilla butter
The vanilla aroma of this cream is provided by vanilla butter, which is produced from vanilla oil by blending it with hydrogenated vegetable oil. It is excellently absorbed into the skin and does not leave a greasy feeling, only a pleasant sweet vanilla scent. It is therefore an excellent choice for body creams and lotions.
Coconut oil, virgin, cold-pressed, organic
The coconut scent is provided by virgin coconut oil. In the recipe it forms the fatty component together with the cocoa and vanilla butter, which is melted over low heat along with the emulsifier.
Cocoa butter, natural unrefined, organic
We obtain the cocoa component thanks to natural cocoa butter. Together with the coconut and vanilla it completes the pleasant warm scent of the cream, without added synthetic fragrances. In the oil phase it is weighed into a pot and melted over low heat together with the coconut oil, vanilla butter and emulsifier.
Olivem 1000
The emulsifier binds the oil and water phases together — without it, the melted butters would not combine with the water. The thickening and solidifying process depends significantly on the chosen emulsifying agent; sometimes it takes even a few days. With Olivem 1000 or BTMS-50 the mixture should thicken immediately.
Other ingredients
Demineralised water forms the water phase of the cream — it makes up the largest share of the recipe and is mixed together with the glycerine.
Vegetable glycerine is mixed with the water to form the water phase; the mixture is warmed so that it combines.
Cosgard is a preservative that is added only at the end of whipping. The cream contains water, so do not leave the preservative out.
Essential oils are optional — despite the pleasant natural scents from the selected raw materials, you can intensify the fragrance of the cream by adding them (for this quantity we recommend a maximum of 4 drops).
Glass jars are the recommended packaging — the mixture would pass through a pump dispenser only with difficulty.
Formulation (100 g)
The content of the ingredients is given in percentages, so it corresponds to a batch of 100 g of finished cream. Choose the emulsifier according to availability — Olivem 1000 or BTMS-50.
Shop the ingredients for this recipe
Untick what you already have| Phase / ingredient | Content in % |
|---|---|
| Phase A — oil phase | |
| Olivem 1000 (or BTMS-50) | 7 % |
| Virgin coconut oil | 6 % |
| Natural cocoa butter | 6 % |
| Vanilla butter | 6 % |
| Phase B — water phase | |
| Demineralised water | 73 % |
| Vegetable glycerine | 2 % |
| Phase C — preservation | |
| Cosgard | 1 % |
Method
- Melting the oil phase Phase A
Weigh the emulsifier, coconut oil, cocoa and vanilla butter into a pot and melt them together over low heat.
- Water phase Phase B
Mix the water and glycerine together (warm them so that the mixture combines).
- Combining the phases Phase A + B
When the lipids in the pot have melted and combined, add the aqueous glycerine mixture. Mix everything thoroughly together. Only when you are sure that the mixture has combined, remove the pot from the heat source.
- Whipping
Whip the mixture (a standard whisk should be sufficient for you). As the mixture cools, it will also become thicker. The thickening and solidifying process depends significantly on the chosen emulsifying agent; sometimes it takes even a few days — with Olivem 1000 or BTMS-50 the mixture should thicken immediately.
- Preservative, fragrance and filling Phase C
At the end of whipping, add the preservative. Despite the pleasant natural scents from the selected raw materials, you can intensify the fragrance of the cream by adding essential oils (for this quantity we recommend a maximum of 4 drops).
We recommend pouring the cream into glass jars, as the mixture would pass through a pump dispenser only with difficulty.
Frequently asked questions about the recipe
Practical questions about the vanilla body cream — choosing the emulsifier, thickening of the mixture, preservation, adding fragrance and the right packaging.
Which emulsifier should I use in the recipe?
The recipe is based on Olivem 1000, with BTMS-50 as an alternative. The emulsifier makes up 7 % of the formulation and is melted together with the coconut oil, cocoa butter and vanilla butter.
Why is my mixture not thickening?
The thickening and solidifying process depends significantly on the chosen emulsifying agent — sometimes it takes even a few days. With Olivem 1000 or BTMS-50 the mixture should thicken immediately. The mixture thickens gradually as it cools.
When should I add the preservative?
Add the preservative (in this recipe Cosgard, 1 %) only at the end of whipping. The cream contains a water phase, so do not leave the preservation out.
Can I add fragrance to the cream with essential oils?
Yes. Despite the pleasant natural scents from the selected raw materials, you can intensify the fragrance of the cream by adding essential oils — for this quantity we recommend a maximum of 4 drops.
What packaging should I pour the cream into?
We recommend glass jars. The mixture would pass through a pump dispenser only with difficulty, as the cream thickens once it has cooled.
Where does the scent of the cream come from?
Directly from the raw materials — without added synthetic fragrances. The vanilla aroma is provided by vanilla butter, the coconut scent by virgin coconut oil and the cocoa component by natural cocoa butter.
Conclusion
If you have tried to make this sweet vanilla cream at home, do not hesitate to share your experience with us. We will be happy about any message sent to [email protected].
You will find the butters, virgin coconut oil, emulsifier and preservative from this recipe in the Handymade range of basic ingredients.
