This decadent body butter combines the intoxicating tropical fragrance of Monoi de Tahiti oil with the wonderfully smooth texture and fantastic moisturizing properties of capuacu butter.

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Cupuacu butter is often praised for the almost silicone-like feel it leaves on the skin, distinguishing it from the more popular unrefined shea butter (USA / Canada), which is stickier and greasier. A relative of cocoa, the raw butter has a slight cocoa-y scent, with hints of what could be described as sour milk. Though the scent dissipates quickly, New Directions Aromatics no longer sells the raw version (only a refined and deodorized one), and that might be for the best. In any event, I’m using the deodorized version here.

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Monoi de Tahiti is made by macerating the petals of the tiare flower with virgin coconut oil. After the petals have been strained out, the remaining virgin coconut oil is heavily perfumed with the aroma of the tropical flower. Physically the oil performs just like coconut oil, but with an added heavenly scent.

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Blended together, the Monoi de Tahiti softens the cupuacu enough to make for a lovely body butter that smells of the tropics and leaves your skin decadently soft.

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I’ve added a few drops of spearmint essential oil to temper the sweetness of the Monoi de Tahiti and round out the scent, and it’s lovely. Give it a try 🙂

Cupuacu, Mint, and Monoi Body Butter

50g | 1.76oz capuacu butter
10g | 0.35oz Monoi de Tahiti oil
10 drops spearmint essential oil

Measure the capuacu butter and Monoi de Tahiti into a glass measuring cup and melt in a double boiler.

Once the oils have melted together, remove them from the heat and stir in the spearmint essential oil.

Pour the melted mixture into a tin (100mL/3.3oz is a good size) and pop the tin in the fridge to set up.

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