I made my first body butter years ago in a tiny apartment kitchen with a hand mixer I got from the thrift store. It was a cocoa butter and coconut oil situation, and honestly, it wasn’t my favorite. But, I made it! That empowered me and I just kept trying until I now have amazing body butter recipes that I love.

This DIY peppermint body butter version is SO much better than that first attempt. The combination of tallow, shea, cocoa butter, and a carrier oil gives it this rich but actually-absorbs-into-your-skin texture that I’ve been reaching for constantly since I made the first batch.

The peppermint gives it a fun wintery feeling, especially around Christmas time. Almost candy cane style without the colors. I do have candy cane sugar scrub and lip balm recipes too!

This is a simple homemade peppermint body butter recipe, but a few details make the difference between fluffy and perfect versus sad and greasy. I’ll walk you through all of it so you can give it as the perfect DIY Christmas gift 🙂

Benefits

Here are some benefits of making body butter with these ingredients:

Tallow is rendered animal fat, usually beef, and I know that sounds weird in a skin care recipe. I thought the same thing at first.

But it’s actually incredibly skin-compatible because its fatty acid profile is close to what our skin naturally produces. It absorbs well and doesn’t sit on top the way heavier oils can.
Shea butter is a classic for good reason. It’s packed with fatty acids and has a soft, slightly silky feel that makes it great for whipping. It’s also one of the more gentle options if you have reactive skin.
Cocoa butter is the ingredient that gives body butter its staying power. It melts at skin temperature, which means it releases slowly as you massage it in. It’s thicker and more solid than shea, so it adds structure to the finished product.
The carrier oil (something like jojoba, sweet almond, or fractionated coconut oil all work) lightens the whole thing and helps everything blend into a smooth, whippable consistency. You can also infuse it with dried peppermint leaves ahead of time for an extra herbal layer, which I LOVE doing that for as many recipes as possible!
Peppermint essential oil gives that unmistakable cooling sensation. It’s invigorating on sore muscles or tired feet, and the smell alone does something for your mood. Plus, it smells like Christmas when paired with vanilla 🙂
Vanilla essential oil rounds out the peppermint and makes the whole thing smell like something you’d find at a fancy boutique. Not sweet in an artificial way, just warm and grounding.

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DIY Peppermint Body Butter Recipe

Makes: approximately 1 cup

Ingredients

¼ cup tallow
¼ cup shea butter
¼ cup cocoa butter
¼ cup carrier oil (I did peppermint infused almond oil)
15 drops peppermint essential oil
15 drops vanilla essential oil

Instructions

Add the tallow, shea butter, and cocoa butter to a heat-safe bowl or jar set over a pot of simmering water.

Stir occasionally until everything is completely melted, about 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in the carrier oil. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes so it’s warm but not hot, usually around 135 degrees F.

Add the peppermint and vanilla essential oils.

Place the bowl in the fridge or freezer until the mixture is opaque and firm around the edges but still soft in the center, like soft butter. This takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Don’t let it freeze solid.

Using a hand mixer or stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whip on medium-high for 5 to 10 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed, until the butter is light, white, and fluffy with soft peaks.

Spoon or pipe the whipped butter into a clean jar and put on the lid. Store in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight. This makes about 1 cup.

Notes

For an herbal boost, infuse the carrier oil with dried peppermint leaves before making the recipe.
If the butter is greasy after whipping, add a teaspoon of arrowroot powder at a time until it feels better for you.
Whipped butters can melt and lose their fluffy texture in warm rooms, so store it below about 75°F.
Peppermint is a strong essential oil, so keep this away from the face and chest of babies and young children.
Patch test before using on sensitive skin.

How to Use It

A little goes a long way with this body butter! Start with a small scoop (about a dime to nickel size) and warm it between your palms before applying. It melts on contact with skin.

It works especially well on dry elbows, heels, legs after shaving, or hands before bed. The peppermint cooling effect makes it a nice option after a long day on your feet.

Apply it right after a shower when your skin is still slightly damp for the best absorption. This is my favorite way to use this body butter!

Store the jar somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight. A bathroom cabinet works as long as your bathroom doesn’t get really warm in summer. If it starts looking melty or loses its fluff, refrigerate it briefly and give it another quick whip.

Skip this one on babies and very young kids, especially anywhere near the face or chest. The peppermint essential oil is too strong for little ones. Adults with sensitive skin should do a patch test first, inside the wrist or behind the knee, before going all in.

Peppermint Body Butter

Yield: approximately 1 cup

A whipped body butter made with tallow, shea butter, cocoa butter, and a carrier oil, scented with peppermint and vanilla essential oils. It has a light, fluffy texture that absorbs well and delivers a cooling, tingly sensation on the skin.

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Ingredients

Instructions

Add the tallow, shea butter, and cocoa butter to a heat-safe bowl or jar set over a pot of simmering water. Stir occasionally until everything is completely melted, about 10 minutes.
Remove from the heat and stir in the carrier oil. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes so it's warm but not hot.
Place the bowl in the fridge or freezer until the mixture is opaque and firm around the edges but still soft in the center, like soft butter. This takes about 30 to 45 minutes. Don't let it freeze solid.
Add the peppermint and vanilla essential oils.
Using a hand mixer or stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whip on medium-high for 5 to 10 minutes, scraping down the sides as needed, until the butter is light, white, and fluffy with soft peaks.
Spoon or pipe the whipped butter into a clean jar and put on the lid. Store in a cool, dry place away from heat and sunlight.

Notes

For an herbal boost, infuse the carrier oil with dried peppermint leaves before making the recipe.
If the butter turns soft or greasy after whipping, it got too warm—pop it back in the fridge for 15 to 20 minutes and whip again.
Whipped butters can melt and lose their fluffy texture in warm rooms, so store it below about 75°F. Peppermint is a strong essential oil, so keep this away from the face and chest of babies and young children.
Patch test before using on sensitive skin.

Final Thoughts

I’ve been making a big batch of this and putting some in smaller jars to share with friends and family. It’s just too good to keep!

Next time I want to try infusing the carrier oil with both peppermint and lavender leaves from the garden and swapping the vanilla for a touch of pine needles too. Let me know if you try it!