multi use rose oil

DIY HOMEMADE LAVENDER LOTION RECIPE WITH ESSENTIAL OILS

This DIY Lavender Lotion Recipe is Light, Creamy, and Made with Natural Ingredients like Shea Butter and Lavender Essential Oil.

Switching to all-natural skincare can feel expensive, especially when you see the price difference between Burt’s Bees lip balm and regular chapstick. I thought there was no way I could make it work long-term on a budget!

But here’s the good news: making your own beauty products like body butter, lip balm, and even baby wash is super easy—and often cheaper than store-bought versions!

Most commercial lotions are packed with chemicals, fragrances, parabens, and preservatives, which aren’t exactly the ingredients you want soaking into your skin. Making your own lotion with ingredients you know and trust is a much better choice!

I personally struggle with dry hands, especially in the winter (and all year since we don’t have a dishwasher). This lavender lotion has become a key part of my nighttime routine to help me unwind after a long day.

It’s also great for my kids—rubbing it on their legs and backs helps them relax and get ready for sleep, as the calming scent of lavender is perfect for sweet dreams.

Prefer a solid option? Check out my recipe for homemade lavender lotion bars!

What You Need To Make Homemade Lavender Lotion

Ingredients:

  • White Beeswax Pellets – Beeswax helps reduce the greasy feel of your lotion while still locking in moisture, leaving your skin feeling soft and hydrated.
  • Shea Butter – Known for its skin-softening, soothing, and anti-inflammatory properties, shea butter is a fantastic choice for homemade skincare. If you prefer, you can substitute it with cocoa butter for a slightly different texture and scent.
  • Almond Oil – This oil has healing properties that make it great for acne and skin blemishes. If you don’t have almond oil, jojoba oil or olive oil are good alternatives.
  • Vitamin E Oil (optional) – A teaspoon of vitamin E oil adds extra healing power to your lotion, making it great for dry or sensitive skin.
  • Lavender Essential Oil – The star of this recipe, lavender essential oil, provides a calming, natural scent perfect for a relaxing lotion. I recommend this particular brand for DIY skincare because it’s both strong and affordable.

Supplies:

  • Electric Mixer – You can use a blender, food processor, stand mixer, or a hand mixer with a bowl to blend the ingredients into a smooth, creamy lotion.
  • Double Boiler – Alternatively, you can create a double boiler by placing a glass bowl on top of a saucepan with an inch or two of water in it. Heat the water over medium heat, and add your ingredients to the glass bowl to melt.
  • Glass Container – Use a glass jar or container to store your finished lotion. Make sure it’s airtight to preserve the freshness of your homemade product.

How To Make This Homemade Lavender Lotion Recipe:

Melt – In a double boiler or a glass bowl placed over a pot with a few inches of water, heat the almond oil, shea butter, beeswax, and vitamin E oil (if using) over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until everything has melted and there are no solid bits left.

Whip – Once the oils have melted and cooled slightly, transfer the mixture to a stand mixer or use electric beaters. Whip the mixture on high speed. Slowly and gradually add in the water, continuing to mix until the lotion becomes light and creamy.

Add the Essential Oils – Once all the water has been incorporated and the mixture turns bright white and fluffy, add 30–50 drops of lavender essential oil. Continue whipping to fully combine the scent into the lotion.

Tips For Success:

To Use: This homemade lavender lotion is safe for most parts of your body, but it’s best to avoid sensitive areas like your face or eyes. If you experience any irritation, discontinue use immediately.

To Store: Store the lotion in a cool place, like the refrigerator, in an airtight glass jar for up to 3 months.

Variations: Lavender pairs beautifully with other essential oils like orange, lemon, vanilla, and grapefruit. You can experiment with a blend of these oils, but make sure the total amount doesn’t exceed 50 drops.

Substitutions: If you don’t have almond oil, you can easily substitute it with jojoba or olive oil in this recipe.

About This Lavender Body Lotion Recipe

All-Natural Ingredients
This lotion is made with completely natural ingredients, making it a great choice for even sensitive skin types. No worrisome chemicals here!

Easy to Make
You can make enough lotion to last your family all winter in just 15 minutes—no complicated steps required!

Super Cheap
The ingredients cost only a few dollars, which is a fraction of the price of store-bought all-natural lavender lotion. And even if it seems a bit pricey the first time, you’ll have plenty of leftover ingredients to make multiple batches.

Plus, leftover beeswax can be repurposed to make baby lotion, beeswax candles, or lip balm!

Moisturizing
Each ingredient in this lotion is naturally hydrating and healing, perfect for dry skin.

Creamy
This homemade lotion is light and creamy, melting into your skin without any greasy residue.

Easy to Customize
Lavender essential oil blends well with many other oils. Try adding a few drops of chamomile, vanilla, lemon, grapefruit, rose, geranium, or orange essential oils to create your own signature scent!

FAQ About This Homemade Lavender Lotion Recipe

How Many Drops of Lavender Oil Should You Put in Lotion?
It’s generally recommended to use 12 drops of lavender essential oil for every ounce of carrier oil, body cream, or lotion. Since this recipe uses about 4 ounces of oils, I typically add between 30 and 50 drops of lavender oil to achieve a pleasant, fragrant scent.

How Should You Store Homemade Lotion?
To extend the shelf life of your homemade lotion, store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator. When kept in the fridge, it can last up to 3 months. Plus, essential oils should be stored away from direct sunlight to preserve their potency, so the fridge is the perfect place to keep your lavender lotion fresh and aromatic.

Is This Lavender Lotion Safe to Apply to Your Face?
This lavender lotion is made with all-natural ingredients, so it should generally be safe for use on your face, as long as you avoid your eyes and nostrils. However, to be on the safe side, it’s a good idea to do a patch test first. Apply a small amount of lotion to a spot on your cheek, and wait a few minutes to see if any redness or irritation develops before using it more liberally on your face. This will help ensure your skin reacts well to the ingredients.

CONCLUSION


Making your own lavender lotion is a simple, cost-effective, and natural way to keep your skin hydrated and healthy. With ingredients like shea butter, almond oil, and lavender essential oil, you can create a luxurious, moisturizing lotion without the worry of harmful chemicals. Not only is it easy to make, but it’s also highly customizable to suit your preferences, whether you want to add other essential oils or create a thicker or lighter texture.

By making this homemade lotion, you’ll save money in the long run, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing exactly what’s in your skincare products. Plus, the soothing lavender scent is perfect for relaxation, making it a great addition to your nightly routine.

Store your lotion in a cool place, and it’ll last up to three months—so you can enjoy soft, nourished skin all season long.

GROW ROSES FROM CUTTINGS: 2 EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR PROPAGATION!

Whether you’re looking to multiply a stunning rose plant from your garden or transform a Valentine’s bouquet into a flourishing rose bush, it’s natural to desire more colorful and beautiful rose bushes and vines in your home and garden. Many plant enthusiasts have experimented with growing roses from cuttings. Various propagation methods exist, such as rooting in soil or water, air layering, and even using potatoes for cuttings. While some of these techniques yield great results, others can be less effective.

In this guide, we’ll compare the best and worst ways to propagate roses, whether from a garden plant, cut flowers, or a bouquet. Imagine the joy of having more roses in your garden or as lovely gifts for friends! 

CAN YOU PROPAGATE PATENTED ROSES?

A plant patent lasts for 20 years, after which the plant can be propagated without restriction. If you’re considering propagating rose cuttings, keep in mind that if the roses were patented within the last two decades, it is illegal to propagate them without the patent holder’s consent.

However, there are countless varieties of roses that you can propagate. For instance, the renowned “New Dawn” and “Charlotte Armstrong” roses have been patented for over 50 years, and many old-fashioned heirloom roses often root more easily than modern hybrids.

New Dawn Roses

Charlotte Armstrong Rose

Now that you know which roses to avoid propagating, let’s explore the best and easiest methods for rooting rose cuttings!

BEST TIME TO GROW ROSES FROM CUTTINGS 

The ideal time to grow roses from cuttings is during spring and summer when flexible new stems, known as softwood cuttings, are actively growing. These cuttings are the fastest and easiest to root, especially when you choose healthy stems. For some inspiration, check out the beautiful rooted rose cuttings showcased by Vuon & Nha on YouTube! (See video tutorial below.)

The next best option is semi-hardwood cuttings, which should be taken in late summer and early fall when the new stems have partially matured.

Hardwood cuttings are the most challenging type to root. These cuttings are collected in late fall or early winter when the rose stems have matured and entered dormancy.

GROW ROSES FROM CUTTINGS BY AIR LAYERING 

Air layering is an ancient and effective propagation method that has been used for thousands of years. Today, there are convenient products like reusable air layering pods, or you can easily make your own using small water bottles or plastic bags.

This technique is the best way to propagate roses (and many woody plants) from a bush or vine already growing in your garden or a friend’s garden. One of the advantages of air layering is that you don’t need rooting powder to succeed. The ideal time for this method is in late spring or summer when the weather is warm and the rose bushes are actively growing.

To start, select a stem about the thickness of a pencil and longer than a foot. Using a clean, sharp knife, make a cut about one foot down from the top of the stem, removing any leaves and thorns in that area. Carefully peel off about an inch of the green bark to expose the white wood beneath.

Alternatively, you can make a 2-inch cut along the stem and insert a small piece of plastic straw to keep the cut open, as demonstrated in the video tutorial by Vuon & Nha. Be cautious not to cut too deeply into the stem to avoid breaking it. Optionally, dust the cut area with rooting hormone to speed up the rooting process.

Next, create a pouch using plastic wrap or a small plastic bottle filled with moist peat moss, coir, or potting soil. Coco coir is an excellent choice because it’s sustainable and clean. Ensure the cut area is completely covered with enough space for the roots to grow, and secure the top and bottom with strings or a twist tie (not too tight to allow for plant growth). You can also use reusable air layering pods for convenience.

Since the stem remains attached to the parent plant, it continues to receive water and nutrients while roots develop, which significantly boosts the success rate to nearly 100%! Most rose plants will show white roots in about 3 to 5 weeks. Once you see a healthy root system, clip the stem off below the layering area.

Gently remove the ties and covers, then carefully plant your new rose plants. Keep them well-watered and shielded from direct sunlight for a couple of weeks to help them adjust to their new environment.

Grow roses from cuttings in soil or medium 

To propagate rose cuttings successfully, start by filling clean pots or containers with a rooting mix and water it thoroughly until it’s moist and fully hydrated. You can use clean potting soil or a soil-less mix like sand, peat moss, perlite, or coco coir, which is an excellent medium due to its sustainability and cleanliness.

Photo by Hedgerow Rose

Important: Ensure that the containers have drainage holes and never let them sit in water for too long.

Photo by Grownups

Steps to Propagate Roses from Cuttings:
Choose Healthy Cuttings: Take rose cuttings only from well-watered, healthy plants. Select fresh stems that have grown from the woody base, with at least 3-5 leaf nodes. Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle near the base and place them in water immediately.

Check out the video tutorial by Vuon & Nha on YouTube for more tips on propagating rose cuttings in coco coir!

Prepare the Cuttings: Cut the stem into pieces that are 6 to 8 inches long, ensuring each has at least three nodes (the points where leaves meet the stem). Remove all flower buds and leaves except for one set of leaves at the top of each cutting.

Use Rooting Hormone: Dip the bottom half of each cutting in rooting hormone powder or gel to encourage root growth. Use a pencil to make a planting hole about 3 to 4 inches deep in your rooting mix, then plant the cutting so that at least two nodes are buried in the mix.

Create a Humidity Tent: Keep the cuttings in a warm, bright place, away from direct sunlight. Water the mix when the top inch feels dry. You can use recycled coffee cups or large jars as a humidity tent (as shown by Pamela at Flower Patch Farm), or even prop up a plastic bag or use a mini greenhouse for added humidity.

For tips on using a humidity cover made from plastic bottles, check out this YouTube tutorial by Mike.

Monitor Root Growth: Most softwood rose cuttings will root within 2 to 6 weeks. If you see healthy leaves growing and feel some resistance when gently tugging on the cuttings (but be careful not to pull too hard), it’s a good sign that they have rooted.

Final Steps: Once the cuttings have established roots, you can remove the humidity cover and allow them to grow for a couple more weeks before transplanting.

With these steps, you’ll be well on your way to successfully propagating beautiful rose plants! For additional inspiration, check out propagation examples by Lilisim.

Can you root rose cuttings in water?

While it’s possible to root rose cuttings in water, the success rate is low—around 20%. Cuttings often take a long time to root and are prone to rotting. For better results, consider using soil or layering methods, which can yield an 80% success rate.

Can you grow rose cuttings using potatoes? 

There’s a trend of using potatoes to grow rose cuttings, but there’s little scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. Many gardeners have reported failures with this method. While potatoes may sprout roots, they do not provide the necessary environment for rose cuttings to thrive, as they require a medium that retains moisture and allows for air circulation.

Alternative Easy Propagation

Hydrangeas are among the easiest flowers to propagate. Whether using soil or water, you can achieve nearly 100% success with proper techniques.

For successful rose propagation, stick to soil mediums or air layering. Enjoy your gardening!