I got you on the title, didn’t I?
I know what you are expecting, warm chocolate cookies, banana and chocolate bread. Nope, sorry. Today is warm chocolate lavender oil.
When I had my first son, infant massage was on it’s way back as a method to calm and soothe babies (and I think their parents as well). Jacob and I would always end our evening with a bath, and he loved to float with his ears immersed in the water (they say it replicates the sound of the womb). Before we would get into the tub, I would plug my heating pad in and place it under two towels to warm them up. As soon as we were out we would dry him off, and then place him on one towel, with the other over top. My husband and I took a class right after he was born, and we had our nightly list of massage techniques to use for different issues that might be going on at the time.
Jacob loved it, and to this day he will not go to bed without his massage (“Mama, don’t forget the chocolate oil”). Obviously as children get older, the way that we massage them becomes very different, but some warm oil on the boys backs before bed, or on their tummies when they are not feeling well, or a good head massage when the day has been a bit overwhelming always seems to work.
I love anything having to do with a spa, but not being able to afford going much leaves me with the need to try and recreate it myself. My mom and dad still tell the story that growing up, I loved candles and bath salts like most women love shoes.
Colorado, for all of its beauty and fun and adventure, has the disadvantage of being insanely dry. Oils, lotions, and heavy moisturizers are a daily part of life, and a few years back I was trying to find an oil that would really work for the winter months. I decided to just go ahead and experiment with different types of heavy moisture protectors like shea and cocoa butter. What resulted was a very simple, but delicious oil that makes our skin feel so yummy in those dry months.
I really like having home made oil in the house, mainly because I think that the cost of bath products is crazy, and also because I want to know where something is coming from that I am putting on our skin. I am sure that there are 1000′s of recipes that can be googled for making your own, but I thought that I would share one from our family that always seems to make everyone smile.
Equal parts of avocado, jojoba, apricot and grapeseed oil
4-8 oz of cocoa butter
3 oz of shea butter
1 large scoop of dried lavender, chamomile, and calendula
Vitamin E
Using a mason jar size of choice, add your oils and shea butter. Cocoa butter can be hard to extract, so if needed, use a double broiler method to soften the container, then cut the cocoa butter into small pieces and add to oil.
Add the herbs, stir to combine, and either place the jar in a crock pot of hot water on high over night, or in a pot of simmering water for 2 hours. If using the stove method, please do not allow to boil.
Once the jar is cooled, strain the oil through cheese cloth, bottle it your desired way, and top with 6 drops of Vitamin E.
Infants skin is so delicate, and their little pores can become clogged very easily. For our little ones, we used a combo of apricot, olive oil, and the herbs above, and then steeped it the same way. We did not introduce the heavy chocolate oil until they were over a year.
Using massage has become a great transition tool for us in the evenings, and it just feels cool to know that they love their “chocolate oil” so much. I have to say, it makes the room smell amazing, and I use it as much as they do.
I hope you enjoy
Tomorrow we are joined by Shelley Caskey for our artisit at work series. Monday the Vintage Swap will be up, and I am so excited to get that going
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Heather, Thanks for visiting and enjoying…
Yes, It has taken me lots of slips and falls to REALLY realize that I need to do this for me and it is not selfish, it is necessary.
You did get me, chocolate is one of my favorite things on earth. My Noah loves massages and I am sure that this delicious recipe will be right up his alley.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe — we did some massage with Pan early on, but now it is very, very difficult to get him to sit still long enough to put his diapers and clothing on, let alone rub oil into his wee limbs. Actually, this has become a huge frustration. Sebastian handles it better than me, but the instant we lay the babe down for a diaper change, he begins wailing and thrashing (and he is strong!). We've tried giving him a small toy to distract him and we move as fast as possible, but its become a bit silly. Any ideas?
Oh — and PS — I'm SO excited about the vintage exchange! Thank you so much for taking the time and thought to organize it!
Thank you for the recipe. I have been thinking about doing our own moisturizer (we live in Canada) and I have lavandar and calandula in my garden. Can't wait to try it.
the recipe sounds lovely! thanks for posting it! i have a quick question (or 2 actually LOL)
do you store it in the fridge after its made?
when you put the jar in the crockpot to you put a lid on the jar or leave it uncovered? how about the crockpot – do you put the lid on that too?
thanks! can't wait to try!
I can actually smell it – heavenly and can't wait to make some and try it out. Thanks for sharing
oh, it all sounds so good! the smell, the warmth, the touch, chocolate! I've never made oils before but now I want to give it a try – where do you purchase the oils? is there a good on-line store? thanks so much for all the great info.
yummy Heather! Yes, you got me at "Chocolate Warmth!" No chocolate though? I would love to try this. You have so many great ideas. My son loves his massages that I do (I've been so busy lately that he's been missing them). I do something called peace ball massage for sensory integration that his Anthroposophical (I know I spelled that wrong!) doctor. Have a great weekend!
Your oil recipe sounds heavenly! Thanks for sharing this:) I can just imagine how wonderful the room must smell when you use this.
Great recipe. My husband is a contractor and his body takes some amazing abuse from the work that he does. He loves massages, I may just have to try this one the next time He asks for a backrub.
Thanks for posting.
Thank you for sharing. This is something that has been on my very long To-Do list.
Love this post!!!! Growing up, whenever I was sick my mom gave me a back massage, and it worked miracles. I can't wait to try out this oil! Western NY in the winter = dry, cracked skin!
I just bought some cocoa butter – and i'm excited to try this recipe – THanks!