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Updated October 2026
Shea butter bath melts are little solid bars made from shea butter, cocoa butter and coconut oil, scented with essential oils, that melt in a warm bath or shower and leave your skin soft. My recipe makes 4 melts with just four ingredients and takes about 15 minutes, plus chilling time.
Below is my step-by-step tutorial with photos, a drop chart for other strengths and the essential oils I love most in bath melts. For more ways to use shea, see my 10 shea butter uses with DIY recipes. Jump to the recipe.
What Are Bath Melts?
Bath melts are a blend of butters and oils that sets into solid little shapes. Drop one into warm water and it melts, so your bath water feels silky and your skin is left moisturized. They're a simple way to turn an ordinary bath into an at-home spa night.
No time for a bath? Rub a melt over damp skin in the shower. It softens as it touches warm skin, then rinse lightly and pat dry.
I like that the essential oils are already mixed into the butters. Essential oils don't mix with water on their own, so they need a carrier like these butters before they go in the tub.
Why Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and Coconut Oil?
- Shea butter is rich and softening and is one of my favorite butters for dry skin.
- Cocoa butter is firm, so it helps the melts hold their shape, and it adds a light chocolatey scent.
- Coconut oil softens the blend just enough so it melts easily in warm water.
Can you substitute ingredients? Sure you can, but I've only made this recipe with the ingredients listed. I tried adding beeswax once to make them more stable at room temperature, but the melts didn't melt in the shower and became sticky instead.
Homemade Lemon Bath Melts Recipe
Adults. For kids 6+, use 10 drops of essential oil in the whole batch (about 1%). For children under 6, make them unscented.
What You Need
- 1 oz cocoa butter wafers (by weight). Here are the cocoa butter wafers I use (affiliate link).
- 1 oz shea butter (by weight). Here's the shea butter I use (affiliate link).
- 1 teaspoon coconut oil (affiliate link)
- 20 drops lemon essential oil, or the essential oil of your choice (about 1.5%)
- Kitchen scale and glass measuring cup
- Silicone mold. Here is the silicone mold I used (affiliate link). It's flexible, so the melts pop right out, and I've used it for lots of other DIY projects.
I chose lemon because I love its fresh, bright scent. Lavender is perfect for bedtime melts, sweet orange for cheerful ones, and frankincense for a warm, grounding scent. My essential oil substitution chart has more swaps.
Directions
Step 1: Weigh the cocoa butter wafers and shea butter. Place a glass measuring cup on the scale, turn it on and press "TARE" to zero it with the cup in place. Add wafers until you reach 1 oz, then add shea butter until the scale reads 2 oz.
Step 2: Set the measuring cup in a pot of gently simmering water to melt. It won't take long.
Step 3: Once melted, carefully lift the cup out of the water. It will be hot, so use an oven mitt.
Step 4: Stir in the coconut oil and essential oil. In the photo I made my second batch with coffee essential oil, which is why the oil is brown. :)
Step 5: Pour into the silicone mold. One batch makes 4 bath melts. I made two separate batches, one with lemon and one with coffee, so my photo shows 8. Place the mold in the refrigerator to set.
Step 6: Once they're firm, pop them out of the mold and into a container. Store them in the refrigerator, because they get too soft at room temperature. I wanted my melts made only with butters and oils, with no wax. They keep in the fridge for up to 3 months.
How to Use
Drop one melt into a warm bath and swish the water as it melts. Soak, then pat your skin dry. In the shower, rub a melt over damp skin and rinse lightly.
Bath Melt Safety Tips
- Butters make the tub slippery. Step in and out carefully and wipe the tub afterwards.
- Cold-pressed lemon can make skin sensitive to the sun. Enjoy lemon melts in the evening, or use steam-distilled lemon.
- Skip "hot" oils like cinnamon, clove, oregano and lemongrass in bath melts, since they can irritate skin.
- Patch test a new essential oil before using it in the bath.
- If you're pregnant or nursing, check with your doctor before using essential oils, or make your melts unscented.
- Store your essential oils somewhere cool and dark so they stay fresh.
Bath Melt Drop Chart
One batch makes roughly 1/4 cup of melted butter. Here's how many drops to use for other strengths:
| Strength | Per 1 Tbsp of butter | Per batch (4 melts) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1% | 3 drops | 10 to 12 drops | Kids 6+, sensitive skin, peppermint |
| About 1.5% | 4 to 5 drops | 20 drops | My lemon recipe |
| 2% | 6 drops | 24 drops | Adults, the most I use for bath melts |
See my dilution chart for more.
Best Essential Oils for Bath Melts
Lemon
Lemon has a clean, sunny scent that I find uplifting and refreshing. Learn more in my lemon essential oil spotlight. Adults and kids 6+. Use in the evening if it's cold-pressed.
Lavender
Lavender is my go-to for a bedtime bath. It's traditionally used for relaxation and a restful night, and its soft floral scent pairs well with cocoa butter. More ideas in uses for lavender essential oil. Adults and kids 6+.
Roman Chamomile
Roman chamomile has a sweet, apple-like scent and is traditionally used to help you unwind. It's gentle and a nice choice for dry or sensitive skin. See what blends well with Roman chamomile. Adults and kids 6+.
Sweet Orange
Sweet orange smells cheerful and cozy and is lovely with the chocolatey note of cocoa butter. See my sweet orange spotlight. Adults and kids 6+.
Peppermint
Peppermint gives a cool, invigorating bath that's nice after a workout. It can feel tingly on sensitive skin, so keep it to 1% (about 10 drops per batch) or blend a few drops with lavender. Adults and kids 6+. Not for children under 6.
Keep Exploring
- 10 shea butter uses with DIY recipes
- Best essential oil to mix with shea butter
- Can you mix shea butter and mango butter?
- How to use essential oils for bathing
- Aromatherapy bath recipes
- 7 essential oil bath salt recipes
Shop my Aromatherapy Supply Kits and grab one of my free essential oil guides, including my Shea Butter Recipes Guide.
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