Okay, so I have a thing about fall scents. Always have, always will. It is my weakness. The second the air gets that first bite of coolness in September, I start wanting everything to smell like warm spices and baked apples.

I recently made an apple pie sugar scrub and it smelled WAY TOO GOOD, so naturally I had to make a DIY apple pie body butter recipe to accompany it!

I’d been making whipped body butter for a while at that point, but always pretty simple stuff. It took me a few years, but I finally found a formula that works every single time!

This DIY body butter smells SO good it genuinely surprised me the first time I whipped up a batch. And it actually works beautifully on dry skin too, which matters a lot when winter rolls around and my skin starts getting that tight, uncomfortable feeling!

This homemade body butter recipe is my current favorite fall and winter body butter. It’s an easy apple pie body butter with essential oils that comes together without a lot of fuss, and it makes your skin feel incredibly soft. Here’s how I make it 🙂

Benefits

Here is a little bit about why I chose each ingredient:

Shea butter is the base here and it is GENUINELY one of the best things you can put on dry skin. It’s rich in fatty acids and absorbs without feeling too greasy once it’s whipped. I’ve been using it in recipes since basically the beginning of my herbal journey and it never gets old!
Tallow might raise an eyebrow if you haven’t used it before, but it’s been a staple in skin care for centuries. It has a fatty acid profile that’s actually really compatible with human skin, which means it absorbs well and doesn’t just sit on top.

It gives this homemade apple scented whipped shea butter a creamier, more luxurious texture than shea alone.
The carrier oil adds another layer of slip and skin nourishment. You can choose based on what you have or what your skin likes (jojoba, sweet almond, and rosehip all work nicely here). I used jojoba infused with vanilla and it added so much scent!
The apple pie spice blend isn’t just for scent. The spices add a gentle warming quality to the butter and give it that cozy apple harvest body butter vibe. It does make the texture very slightly grainy, which is normal and fine.

I personally like it as it gives some exfoliation, but if you don’t like that, you can easily strain it out in the recipe!
For the essential oils: cinnamon leaf and clove bud are warming and have been used traditionally to support circulation, nutmeg is grounding and pairs perfectly with the spice blend, orange adds a brightness that keeps everything from smelling too heavy, and vanilla oleoresin rounds the whole thing out with a soft sweetness that makes this smell genuinely like dessert!

If you love the smell of this, you will surely love my homemade fall oil candle recipe too!

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DIY Apple Pie Body Butter Recipe

Makes: approximately 4 to 5 oz

Ingredients

¼ cup shea butter
2 tablespoons tallow
2 tablespoons carrier oil (I used vanilla infused oil)
1 teaspoon ground apple pie spice blend
8 drops cinnamon leaf essential oil
5 drops orange essential oil
10 drops nutmeg essential oil
5 drops clove bud essential oil
5 drops vanilla oleoresin

Instructions

In a double boiler (or a heatproof bowl set over simmering water), melt the shea butter and tallow together until fully liquid.

*If you are going to strain the apple pie spice blend, add it here so it will infuse!

Measuring cup containing tallow, shea butter and ingredients on a marble surface.

Add in essential oils to the infused oil.

Hand adding essential oil drops into a bowl of carrier oil.

Remove from heat and stir in the carrier oil once it has cooled down for a few minutes.

Bowl of oil being poured into a glass measuring cup with ingredients.

Add in the apple pie spice blend here only if you don’t want to strain out.

Adding cinnamon powder to a mixture in a glass measuring cup.

Allow to cool down and get solid.

Whip with a hand mixer or stand mixer until light and fluffy, 5 to 8 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed.

Whisk mixing ingredients in a stainless steel bowl.

Transfer to a jar and store in a cool, dry place.

Top view of whipped butter on a marble surface.

Notes

This is about a 1% dilution rate, but there are hot oils (cinnamon leaf and clove) so do a patch test to see if it works with your skin.
Next time, I will definitely add the apple pie spice blend right with the tallow and shea butter to infuse better and longer! Again, if you don’t want the little pieces of grit in the body butter, simply strain out.

Glass jar of whipped cream texture butter on a white marble surface.

How to Use It

Apply a small amount to dry skin after a shower while your skin is still slightly damp. I’ve learned it absorbs best that way!

Focus on really dry spots like elbows, knees, and heels. This winter dry skin body butter is RICH, so a little goes a long way!!

Store it in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct sunlight. In warmer months you may want to pop it in the fridge. It should last a 6-12 months.

Skip this one if you have very sensitive skin or known reactions to cinnamon or clove, even with the patch test. Avoid using on broken or irritated skin.

Apple Pie Body Butter

Yield: approximately 4 to 5 oz

A whipped body butter made with shea butter, tallow, and a blend of apple pie spices and essential oils. It smells like warm baked apples and spices while deeply moisturizing dry skin.

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Ingredients

¼ cup shea butter
2 tablespoons tallow
2 tablespoons carrier oil
1 teaspoon ground apple pie spice blend
8 drops cinnamon leaf essential oil
5 drops orange essential oil
10 drops nutmeg essential oil
5 drops clove bud essential oil
5 drops vanilla oleoresin

Instructions

In a double boiler (or a heatproof bowl set over simmering water), melt the shea butter and tallow together until fully liquid.
Add in essential oils to the infused oil.
Remove from heat and stir in the carrier oil once it has cooled down for a few minutes.
Add in the apple pie spice blend.
Allow to cool down and get solid.
Whip with a hand mixer or stand mixer until light and fluffy, 5 to 8 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed.
Transfer to a jar and store in a cool, dry place.

Notes

This is about a 1% dilution rate, but there are hot oils (cinnamon leaf and clove) so do a patch test to see if it works with your skin.
Carrier oil options include jojoba, sweet almond, or rosehip.
Store in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct sunlight; in warmer months you may want to refrigerate it. It should last a 6-12 months with normal use.
Skip if you have very sensitive skin or known reactions to cinnamon or clove. Avoid using on broken or irritated skin.
Next time, I will definitely add the apple pie spice blend right with the tallow and shea butter to infuse better and longer! Again, if you don't want the little pieces of grit in the body butter, simply strain out.

Final Thoughts

I started making this as a fall DIY body butter for myself and ended up giving jars of it away to pretty much everyone I know. It’s the kind of thing that feels like a real gift, not something you just threw together.

My daughter actually asked if she could have some for her room because she loves the smell so much, and I love that she enjoys it as much as I do 🙂

If you try making your own apple pie body butter at home, I’d love to hear how it goes. Let me know what carrier oil you used or if you tweaked the spice ratio!