Intense Berry DIY Bath and Body Gift Sets Perfect for Gift Giving

This DIY bath and body gift set makes a great gift for Christmas or any time.  Includes recipes for an emulsifed whipped sugar scrub, lip balm, lotion, and soap with a natural Intense Berry scent.

This year, I couldn't figure out what to give my son's therapists.  I usually make them cute travel coffee tumbler with a Starbuck's gift card because they are on the road all day between clients.  I did that last year, so I wanted something new for this year.

My son has two (soon to be three) therapists that come to the home once or twice a week year round.  They both have the patience of a saint.  Thanks to their help, Caleb has made so much progress in three years.  

He was almost completely nonverbal two years ago.  Now he holds a conversation with nearly anyone and only shuts down when it's time to write.  It's amazing to see how far he's come!

I wanted to get them something special and something that would pamper them a little.  Something that they would enjoy but maybe not get for themselves.

So I decided to make them DIY bath and body gift sets with shea butter lotion, an emulsified whipped sugar scrub, shea butter soap, and lip balm.  

INTENSE BERRY DIY BATH AND BODY GIFT SETS

I wanted these to be a set with the same scent.  Normally, I'd have used essential oils so I could also use them in a lip balm.  

I went to Bolek's Crafts last week, home of Crafty Bubbles that you see here so often, and he has some brand new scents.  

They are all natural, food grade natural flavors that are great for soaps, lotions, lip balms, and nearly any bath and body recipe.

They are super concentrated.  I used less than half of what I would with an essential oil.  A drop of them will last for several days in a diffuser.  

They have:

• Chocolate
• Intense Berry
• Apple
• Blueberry

I chose the Intense Berry for this DIY bath and body gift set because it's my favorite scent, although the chocolate that was in the diffuser in the store smells amazing too.

I hope they will be available on Amazon soon.  You can visit their site for ordering information in the mean time.  (I don't earn a commission, but it would be nice if you'd let them know I sent you.)

These are so new that they aren't on their website, but you can see the flyer with information on their Facebook page.  

LOTION RECIPE

I used to sell a lot of lotion when I was selling bath and body products.  I tried a lot of lotion concentrates, but then I found my holy grail.  

This was when Crafty Bubbles had just started.  I picked up a container of lotion concentrate and noticed that I could add one ounce of oil or butter per seven ounces of concentrate and water.  

The other concentrates that I used had one ounce of oil or butter per gallon.  This would have one ounce in every 8-ounce bottle.  

I bought it to test it, and I haven't used anything else since.  I would sell a bottle, and more often than not, the customer would come back to buy several more bottles within a month.  

This lotion is that good.  

It's not available on Amazon, so you can only get it from Bolek's Crafts.  I'm lucky enough to live about an hour from the store, but you can get it shipped by calling them or emailing them to place an order.  

The directions for the lotion are for one 8-ounce bottle.  You can scale it up to make several bottles.  

LOTION INGREDIENTS

• 3.5 ounces by weight Crafty Bubbles lotion concentrate
• 3.5 ounces by weight distilled water
• 1 ounce shea butter
• 12 drops essential oil per ounce for a 2 percent dilution
• 8-ounce lotion bottles

DIRECTIONS

STEP #1

Weigh the lotion concentrate, water, and shea butter in a double boiler.  Heat over medium heat until runny.

STEP #2

Carefully remove the hot lotion from the stove and set on a hot pad.  Add the essential oil.

STEP #3

Use a hand mixer on low speed to gently mix the lotion until it is smooth.

STEP #4

If the lotion is runny, you can use a funnel to bottle it.  If it's set up and started to thicken, I use a cake decorating bag to fill bottles.  

EMULSIFIED SUGAR SCRUB RECIPE

This recipes makes one 8-ounce container.  I quadrupled it with no problems.  

I love this recipe because it's whipped, so it feels light and airy.  It's also emulsified, so it turns into a lotion when you rinse it off.  

EMULSIFIED SCRUB INGREDIENTS

• 150 grams sugar
• 50 grams sweet almond oil
• 15 grams emulsifying wax
• 10 grams stearic acid
• 10 grams cocoa butter
• 6 grams organic coconut oil
• 5 grams shea butter
• 2 grams essential oils
• 1 gram vitamin E oil
• 1 gram phenonip (I used 0.75 grams methylparaben)
• 1-4 drops soap colorant
• 8-ounce mason jars

DIRECTIONS

STEP #1

Weigh each ingredient.  Melt the emulsifying wax, stearic acid, cocoa butter, coconut oil, and shea butter in a double boiler.  Do not use the microwave because it can cause the shea butter to get gritty.

STEP #2

When everything is melted, remove from heat.  Add the oil to the melted mixture.

STEP #3

Let cool to 175 degrees Fahrenheit.  I use a digital thermometer to check the temperature.  Add the vitamin E oil, essential oils, and preservative.

STEP #4

Place in the freezer for 10 minutes.  The edges should be hard.  

STEP #5

Use a whisk attachment on a hand mixer to whip.  Add the sugar and whip again.  

MELT AND POUR SOAP RECIPE

I used a combination of clear and white melt and pour soap bases so I could get a lighter color.  I used mica for the colorant, but you can use soap colorant.

I added shea just because I used it in the lotion.  You can add any carrier oil that you'd like in place of the shea. 

INGREDIENTS

• 16 ounce melt and pour soap
• 1 tablespoon shea butter 
• 1 teaspoon essential oils
• 1/8 teaspoon mica or soap colorant
• rectangle soap mold

DIRECTIONS

STEP #1

Cut the soap into 1 inch cubes.  Melt in a double boiler over medium heat until melted.

STEP #2

Carefully remove from heat.  Add shea butter and stir.  Let cool to 175 degrees.

STEP #3

Add the essential oils and mica or soap colorant.  Stir well.  Pour into molds.

STEP #4

Let sit until hardened.  Remove from molds.

LIP BALM RECIPE

I love this recipe because it's simple and easy.  Jojoba is my favorite carrier oil for lips.  I use Crafty Bubbles vitamin E oil because it's so thick.  I've used some vitamin E oils that are thin like fractionated coconut oil, but this is very thick.  This recipes makes 12 lip balm tubes.  

LIP BALM INGREDIENTS

• 3 tablespoon jojoba oil
• 1 tablespoon beeswax
• 2.5 teaspoons vitamin E oil
• 5 drops essential oil
• 12 lip balm tubes (These are made in the USA!)

STEP #1

In a double boiler, combing the jojoba oil, beeswax, and vitamin E oil.  Heat over medium heat until melted.  

STEP #2

Let cool to 175 degrees.  Add the essential oils.  

STEP #3

Carefully pour into lip balm tubes.  Let sit until hardened.

LABELING YOUR INTENSE BERRY DIY BATH AND BODY GIFT SETS

When I sold bath and body products, labeling them was my least favorite part!  I used to have templates and print on precut sticker papers.  

I don't have my templates anymore, and I only had full sheets of sticker paper, so that's what I used.  

I was going to make pretty labels, but time was an issue.  I decided to just purchase a set from Etsy and customize them.  I found these adorable kraft paper looking labels.

After I bought them and got them on my computer, I measured what size label I needed for each product.  Then I went to Canva and created a new graphic in that size.  

I uploaded the kraft label, resized it, added text, and saved it.  Then I used Photoshop to lay out the labels and print them.  

I attached them and then covered the lotion label with clear tape.  This helps stop the ink from smearing when you have oily hands.  You can also wrap the lip balm tubes with tape or use shrink wrap bands.  

I wrapped the soap with clear plastic wrap and added a label.  When I sold soap, I used heat shrink baggies for a more professional look.  

If I ever sell bath and body products again, I will not hesitate to order my labels from Sticker You.  Their labels are smudge resistant, vibrant, and gorgeous.  

If you need more DIY bath and body gift ideas, check out these posts:

• 40 DIY Bath and Body Recipes for Gift Giving
• 10 Pretty Stocking Stuffers for Natural Beauty Lovers
• Homemade Winter Gifts
• Homemade Holiday Gifts
• DIY Christmas Gifts For Friends

I hope this DIY bath and body gift set gives you some inspiration!  Let me know if you make any of these.