Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Easy homemade lemon drop lotion

First of all, I apologize for another non-gardening post. The reality is that I'm just not out in the garden lately...too cold and dark. But I did manage to pull a few carrots for dinner:
Anyway, the main topic of this post is the fabulous homemade lotion that I just made:

I'm calling it lemon drop lotion, since I seem to be obsessed with all things citrus lately. The best thing about it is just how easy it is to make. The recipe has been passing through the blog-o-sphere recently with various modifications as it travels. I saw it on A Sonoma Garden. My version is below:

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup emulsifying wax
1/4 cup olive oil
24-36 drops organic lemon essential oil (it can be any scent)
containers for lotion...the recipe makes 1 1/4 pints

I purchased the emulsifying wax (1 pound for $6.50) and organic lemon essential oil (1/2 oz. for $5.75) at Mountain Rose Herbs. This is enough to make more than a dozen half-pints of lotion...which makes it less expensive than even store brand lotion!

Directions:
1) In a large (at least 2 cup) glass measuring cup combine the olive oil and emulsifying wax and microwave for 1 minute until melted.
2) Then microwave 1 1/4 cup water for 1 minute in a separate container.
3) While that is heating up, add the essential oil into the melted wax/olive oil mixture and stir.
4) Next, pour the hot water into the wax/olive oil mixture and watch it turn milky white.
5) Then pour the hot lotion into a container(s) and let cool overnight. Poof! Homemade lotion with no weird or scary ingredients!

4 comments:

Ellie Mae's Cottage said...

I've never thought of making lotion before but this sounds so easy that I may give it a try.

Carol said...

This post sure seems to be linked to a garden Jackie... it contains lemon, olive oil and your carrots look yummy. Gee I bet that lotion smells lovely. Carol

Stefaneener said...

I bet I could use beeswax. . .

Jackie said...

I'm thinking about adding some cocoa butter to the next batch...

Stefani, I bet you COULD use beewax! I'll probably try that out, too. But unfortunatley I'll have to BUY some beewax...lucky girl, you.