Doing a different sort of cooking today!
After decluttering my kitchen I found a piece of unrefined organic cocoa butter in the cupboard under the kitchen sink (as you do) and as it really needs using up decided to make a quick batch of lovely bath melts.
These are really easy - if you have the ingredients of course - and are just gorgeous in your bath or for gifts. Cocoa butter is easy to come by online and inexpensive - I bought mine at eBay or Amazon (I forget which) and you'll also need sweet almond oil or fractionated coconut oil. I think a nice olive oil would work too but I can't vouch for it as haven't tried it myself. If I did try olive oil I'd go for a light oil rather than virgin or extra virgin which can have a strong smell.
And then you need essential oils for their properties and for the beautiful fragrance. Use whatever you like and whatever you have (as these melts are primarily for fragrance any brand is fine) but I do recommend doTERRA oils for their purity and therefore health-giving properties.
I'm using lemongrass and lime oils for these bath melts, and some lime zest too - just for interest and to make it look nice (although I'm yet to try bathing with miniscule bits of lime zest in the bath!).
Here's what you need:
100g unrefined natural cocoa butter
2 tablespoons sweet almond oil or fractionated coconut oil (or probably a light olive oil is fine too)
approx 10 drops in total of essential oil/s of your choosing (more of less depending on strength of oil)
You'll also need a silicone mould - I use a silicone ice cube mould (that I DON'T use for ice cubes any more, don't worry)
Melt the cocoa butter in a glass bowl or jug in or over a saucepan of hot water - bring the water to a slow simmer but don't boil.
As soon as the cocoa butter has melted turn the heat off and add the oil, and stir.
Add the essential oils then leave to cool just slightly before pouring into the ice cube mould.
Add lime zest or rose petals or lavender or anything else you're using at this stage, but you don't need to add anything at all!
Then carefully put in the fridge to harden. It'll take a couple of hours.
These might look small but they pack a punch in terms of being super-moisturising - so be careful not to slip when you get out of the bath!
Store in the fridge in hot weather to prevent them melting.
If you're interested in doTERRA oils you can buy them here - or get in in touch to find out more.
