Menthol massage oil cools, provides a feeling of relief to tired muscles and smells great. Prepare it with us at home following the recipe.
Are you looking for a body oil that would help alleviate the feeling of tired muscles? Or would you like to make a massage oil for heavy or swollen legs? The body massage oil containing menthol is quickly absorbed into the skin thanks to hemp oil, and menthol induces a pleasant cooling sensation on the skin. So prepare a menthol massage oil according to our instructions and at the same time learn how to process menthol in cosmetic products.
About this recipe
We thank Ivana Jačalová for the great tutorial with the procedure for making this massage oil.
This is a purely oil-based body massage product — hemp oil is quickly absorbed into the skin and menthol induces a pleasant cooling sensation on the skin. It is suitable for massage when you have a feeling of tired muscles or heavy and swollen legs, and while making it you will also learn how to process menthol in cosmetic products.
In the further parts of the article we also offer instructions for variations or possible omission of some ingredients, if you do not have them at hand at the moment or if you want to tailor the menthol massage oil to your needs.
Suitable container: glass bottles made of coloured glass (protection from light) with a pump for dosing oils or with a dropper are suitable. Purely plastic containers could introduce certain substances from the packaging material into the product, or absorb compounds from the oils, therefore for purely oil-based products it is better to choose glass containers.
Main benefits
- Cooling effect of menthol
Menthol induces a pleasant cooling sensation on the skin and has refreshing properties.
- Relief for tired muscles
It helps to alleviate the feeling of tired muscles or heavy and swollen legs.
- Quick absorption
Thanks to hemp oil, the oil is quickly absorbed into the skin and provides it with valuable substances for regeneration and vitality.
- Oils stay fresh for longer
Refined hemp oil combined with antioxidant vitamin E (tocopherol) delays the unpleasant oxidation of the oils.
- Easy to adapt
You can vary the essential oils or leave them out, and reduce the dose of menthol as needed, for example for sensitive skin.
Product properties
Key ingredients in the recipe
Below you will find a list of ingredients needed for the production of the menthol oil. Do you want to adapt the menthol massage oil to your own preferences? Or are you interested in the significance of the individual ingredients? With each ingredient you will also find instructions for variations or possible omission, if you do not have it at hand at the moment.
Hemp oil, refined
An excellent, easily available carrier oil for the production of menthol massage oil is hemp oil. This oil is well absorbed by the skin and provides it with valuable substances for regeneration and vitality. It is an oil from the seeds of hemp (Cannabis sativa), representing a rich source of omega fatty acids, it provides the skin with hydration and is also suitable for oily and acne-prone skin.
A refined type of hemp oil was selected for the product, because cold-pressed hemp oil oxidises relatively quickly and is therefore more demanding to work with, especially for beginners. Therefore, if you want your menthol massage oil to stay fresh for longer (i.e. if you want the oxidation of the oil to proceed more slowly), it is good to combine it with antioxidant vitamin E (tocopherol) and to choose a refined type of this oil. Of course, this oil can be substituted with any other vegetable oil, however, during heating, some valuable components may be lost, especially in the case of more luxurious oils that are rich in nutrients.
Menthol, natural
The cooling effect on the skin is provided precisely by menthol. These are white crystals that are soluble in oil or alcohols; for perfect dissolution, slight heating is necessary. It helps to alleviate the feeling of tired muscles or heavy legs and has refreshing properties. Due to its unique properties, menthol cannot easily be replaced in the product, but you can try eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil. If you have sensitive skin, you can reduce the dose of menthol as needed.
Black pepper essential oil
An unconventional essential oil is black pepper oil. This oil is obtained by steam distillation of black pepper fruits and has a mild spicy scent. In addition to its antibacterial properties, it improves the blood circulation of the skin and is suitable for massage products for stiff muscles.
However, if you do not want any fragrance in the product or if you are allergic to black pepper, then omit the addition of this ingredient to the product. If you want to replace black pepper essential oil with another one, check the recommended dosage according to IFRA standards (given in the documents on the product page).
Lemongrass essential oil
With its fresh citrus scent, lemongrass essential oil will win you over. This essential oil also has good repellent effects, it helps reduce stress and muscle tension. Of course, it also has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Again, it applies that you can completely leave out the essential oil from the product, but in doing so you will lose the benefits it provides to the skin and muscles.
When substituting this oil with another one, check the dosage again for each type of product according to IFRA standards (you will find it listed with the product on the seller’s website), do not exceed the recommended dosage.
Tocopherol, 96 %, liquid
The best-known oil-soluble antioxidant is tocopherol, also known as vitamin E. This thick, dark brown oily liquid is easily incorporated into oil-based products. However, add tocopherol to the product only after it has cooled down, as it is heat sensitive. Thanks to tocopherol, your oils in the product will stay fresh for longer; the stage of unpleasant oxidation of the oils, which you recognise by the changed colour and smell of the oils, will be delayed. Tocopherol can be omitted, but bear in mind that the product will stay fresh for a shorter period of time; you can also replace it with tocopheryl acetate with similar properties.
Formulation (100 g)
The formulation is divided into two phases — phase A is heated in a water bath, phase B is added only after the mixture has cooled down to room temperature. Every ingredient is linked to a product in our range.
| Phase / ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Phase A – Oil phase (water bath) | |
| Hemp oil, refined | 96,30 g |
| Menthol | 1,50 g |
| Phase B – After cooling to room temperature | |
| Tocopherol, 96 %, liquid | 1,00 g |
| Black pepper essential oil | 1,00 g |
| Lemongrass essential oil | 0,20 g |
| Container | |
| Glass bottle, glass dropper | — |
Procedure
- Disinfecting the tools
All tools and vessels that will come into contact with the product must be disinfected (for example with ethanol) and thoroughly dried.
- Mixing the oil and menthol
In a heat-resistant container, mix hemp oil and menthol. Place the container into a water bath and heat slowly.
Phase A - Dissolving the menthol
Menthol will start to melt at a temperature of approx. 42 °C; stir until all the menthol has completely dissolved in the oil. Try not to exceed a temperature of 45 °C so that you do not lose the valuable substances from the oil.
Phase A42–45 °C - Adding tocopherol and the essential oils
After dissolving, let the mixture cool down to room temperature and add tocopherol and the essential oils.
Phase Broom temperature - Filling and storage
Fill into the container, store out of reach of sunlight and heat sources.
How to use
Use the menthol massage oil for massage when you have a feeling of tired muscles or heavy and swollen legs — the oil is quickly absorbed into the skin and menthol induces a pleasant cooling sensation on the skin.
If you have sensitive skin, you can reduce the dose of menthol as needed. Store the finished product out of reach of sunlight and heat sources.
Warning
As mentioned, you can experiment with homemade formulations in order to achieve the desired properties. However, the final result can be influenced by many factors, such as humidity, temperature, quality of ingredients or their storage.
Before you use any ingredient for the production of a cosmetic product, familiarise yourself with its properties, recommended dosage, storage conditions and safe handling. Every ingredient can have the potential to trigger an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals, therefore before using the product we recommend finding out whether you are not allergic to any of the ingredients or to the overall product, for example by a patch test.
If you have very sensitive or very acne-prone skin, or if you have other skin and health problems, we recommend that you consult a medical professional before applying a new product to the skin, whether it is a homemade cosmetic product, a pure ingredient, or a commercially available product.
Frequently asked questions about the recipe
Practical questions about the recipe — replacing menthol, varying the essential oils, choosing the carrier oil and a suitable container.
What can I replace menthol with?
Due to its unique properties, menthol cannot easily be replaced in the product, but you can try eucalyptus or peppermint essential oil. If you have sensitive skin, you can reduce the dose of menthol as needed.
Can I leave out or substitute the essential oils?
Yes. If you do not want any fragrance in the product or if you are allergic to black pepper, omit the addition of this ingredient. You can also completely leave out lemongrass essential oil, but in doing so you will lose the benefits it provides to the skin and muscles. When substituting another essential oil, check the recommended dosage according to IFRA standards (given in the documents on the product page) and do not exceed it.
Why does the recipe use refined hemp oil?
Cold-pressed hemp oil oxidises relatively quickly and is more demanding to work with, especially for beginners. The refined type combined with antioxidant vitamin E stays fresh for longer. The oil can be substituted with any other vegetable oil, however, during heating, some valuable components may be lost, especially in the case of more luxurious oils that are rich in nutrients.
Can I omit tocopherol?
Yes, but bear in mind that the product will stay fresh for a shorter period of time. You can also replace it with tocopheryl acetate with similar properties. Add tocopherol to the product only after it has cooled down — it is heat sensitive.
Which container is suitable and how should the product be stored?
Glass bottles made of coloured glass (protection from light) with a pump for dosing oils or with a dropper are suitable. Purely plastic containers could introduce certain substances from the packaging material into the product, or absorb compounds from the oils. Store the finished oil out of reach of sunlight and heat sources.
Do you suffer from tired muscles or heavy legs? Try our cooling menthol massage oil. You will find the hemp oil, menthol and essential oils from the recipe in the Handymade.sk range.
