Spar Lotion Recipe

Spar Lotion Recipe

The scent of silver fir essential oil is fresh, woody, earthy and slightly sweet, as if taking a deep breath in a green, pristine pine forest. Many users compare the aromatic experience to the “Great Canadian Outdoors”: pure, invigorating and enveloping. It is an ideal oil for those looking to create tranquility, clarity and renewed energy.

To make a silver fir lotion, first melt together beeswax and a carrier oil such as sweet almond or jojoba oil. Then remove the mixture from the heat and let it cool slightly. Then add distilled water, a preservative and your pine needle essential oil, along with any other desired oils. Whisk the mixture until it thickens and store in an airtight, sterilized container, preferably in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

• Oil phase:
  • ¼ cup (50 ml) of carrier oil (e.g. sweet almond, jojoba or argan oil)
  • ¼ cup (50 ml) beeswax beads or emulsifying wax
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons shea butter or cocoa butter for extra creaminess
• Water phase:
  • ½ cup (125 ml) distilled water
• Cooling phase:
  • 10-20 drops of spruce needles essential oil
  • Optional: vitamin E oil for preservation
  • Optional: broad-spectrum preservative, especially if you don’t use vitamin E and for longer shelf life
• Supplies:
  • Au bain-marie (or a heatproof bowl over a pan of water)
  • Whisk or hand blender
  • Sterilized, airtight container for storage

Instructions

1. Melt the oils: Put the carrier oil, beeswax and any optional butters in a double boiler. Gently heat until everything is completely melted.
2. Hot water: While the oils are melting, gently heat the distilled water in a separate container. There is no need to boil it.
3. Combine the phases: Remove the oil mixture from the heat. Slowly pour the hot water into the melted oils while continuing to whisk.
4. Cool and thicken: Use a whisk or hand blender to blend the lotion as it cools. At first, the lotion will be thin, but as it cools, it will thicken. Keep mixing until you reach a thick, lotion-like consistency.
5. Add essential oils: Once the mixture has cooled to below, whisk in pine needle essential oil and any other additives such as vitamin E oil or a preservative.
6. Storage: Pour the finished lotion into a sterilized, airtight container. Label with the date and store in the refrigerator.

Important considerations

• Use distilled water: Tap water contains minerals that can negatively affect the quality and consistency of your lotion.
• Add essential oils at the end: Essential oils should be added only after the mixture has cooled to prevent the heat from affecting their therapeutic properties.
• Patch test: Always do a small patch test on your skin before using the lotion widely, as some people may be sensitive to certain essential oils.