Lotion bar recipe.

Worked example

A 90 g batch of equal parts with 1% essential oil: the essential oil is 0.90 g, which leaves 89.10 g split three ways, so 29.70 g each of beeswax, butter and oil. At 30 g per bar that makes 3 bars. Doubling the beeswax parts to 2:1:1 on a 100 g batch with no essential oil gives 50 g beeswax and 25 g each of butter and oil.

How it works

Each ingredient = (batch grams minus essential oil grams) x its parts / total parts. The equal-parts starting point comes from Lappe's Bee Supply, which describes a beginner lotion bar as 1 cup each of coconut oil, a butter and beeswax (equal parts by volume; this tool applies 1:1:1 by weight as a starting point because the three weigh differently per cup), harder with slightly more beeswax and softer with less beeswax or more oil, and recommends small test batches.

Lotion bars contain no water, and Lappe's Bee Supply says most water-free bars do not need the preservatives used in water-based lotions, though clean handling and dry storage still matter. If you ever add a water-based ingredient, that no longer holds.

The 3% essential oil cap is the top of the Tisserand Institute range for body oils and lotions (1 to 3%); stay lower on sensitive skin.

Sources (opened 2026-10-08): Lappe's Bee Supply, Beeswax Lotion Bars Recipe (updated 2026-05-15); Tisserand Institute, Dilution for essential oils.

FAQ

What is the ratio for a lotion bar?

A common beginner recipe is equal parts of beeswax, butter and oil, 1:1:1. Lappe's Bee Supply gives equal parts by volume (1 cup each of coconut oil, a butter and beeswax), and this tool applies 1:1:1 by weight as a starting point because beeswax, butter and oil weigh differently per cup. Lappe's Bee Supply says to increase the beeswax slightly for a harder bar or reduce it for a softer one.

How much beeswax do I need for a lotion bar?

At 1:1:1 beeswax is one third of the batch. For a 90 g batch with 1% essential oil that is 29.70 g.

Why is my lotion bar too soft or too hard?

Too soft usually means too little beeswax or too much oil. Too hard means the opposite. Change one part at a time on a small batch.

Do lotion bars need a preservative?

Lappe's Bee Supply says most water-free lotion bars do not need the preservatives used in water-based lotions, but keep them clean and dry.

Can a lotion bar melt?

Yes. Lappe's Bee Supply notes bars can soften or melt in high heat because they contain oils and butters.