A Bedtime Body Oil to Moisturize & Relax
A natural aromatic body oil is a lovely way to nourish the skin. And best of all, body oils are super easy to make and customize. When included as part of a bedtime routine, an after bath body oil can help set the stage for restful sleep.
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In this Post:
Why an After Bath Body Oil?
Although it’s not absolutely necessary to apply a body oil after bathing, your skin experiences the most benefit when you do. The oil combines with the water on your skin to provide both hydration and moisture.
Essential oils are necessary in a body oil, but I like to include them for their energetics and aroma. This body oil includes essential oils that help calm the mind and relax the body. And the fragrance is beautiful.
⭐️After Bath Bedtime Body Oil Recipe
- 2 ounce dispensing bottle
- 5 teaspoons (20g) Jojoba oil/wax (Simmondsia chinensis)
- 4 teaspoons (16g) Meadowfoam seed oil (Limnanthes alba)
- 3 teaspoons (12g) Argan seed oil (Argania spinosa)
- 1 teaspoon (4g) Sea Buckthorn seed oil (Hippophae rhaminoides)
- 1/4 teaspoon (1g) Vitamin E (Tocopherol)
- 6 drops Ho Wood essential oil (Cinnamomum camphora ct linalool)
- 4 drops Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carteri)
- 4 drops Bergamot FCF essential oil (Citrus bergamia)
- 2 drops Vetiver essential oil (Vetiveria zizanoides)
- 2 drops of ONE of the following “Precious” essential oil options:
- Rose Absolute (Rosa spp.)
- Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum spp.)
- Neroli essential oil (Citrus x aurantium var amara)
- Sandalwood essential oil (Santalum spp.)
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
Making Your Body Oil
Because I appreciate the warm golden color of this body oil, I use a clear glass bottle with a treatment pump. However, if you would prefer not to use glass, a PET plastic bottle with a pump or disc top cap will work just fine. (Shop for bottles.)
To make the body oil, you can add the ingredients directly to the dispensing bottle or combine them in a small beaker first. If adding directly to the bottle, a small funnel can help prevent spills.
- Start with the essential oils.
- Next add the Vitamin E.
- Then add the lipid carrier oils.
- And finally, affix a label!
Why These Lipid Carrier Oils?
Let’s start with the lipid oils. I chose each of these lipid oils because they are highly nourishing and supportive to the skin barrier. Additionally, because they are light oils, they will penetrate deeply into the skin, providing rapid, non-greasy, moisturizing.
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
Jojoba Oil/Wax (Simmondsia chinensis)
Jojoba oil/wax has a fatty acid profile that is almost identical to human sebum. This makes it superb for skin barrier support. And as a liquid wax, Jojoba is a beautiful emollient that enhances moisture retention in the skin. It’s a very common skin care ingredient as it has no appreciable aroma, a very long shelf life, and resists oxidization.
Meadowfoam Seed Oil (Limnanthes alba)
Meadowfoam seed oil is another highly stable oil. In fact, it can help stabilize the other oils in a body oil.
It works alongside Jojoba to balance sebum production, supporting overall skin wellness. It’s rich in antioxidants and absorbs rapidly leaving the skin soft and supple.
Meadowfoam seed oil has very little aroma itself. But, as a bonus, it extends the aromas of the essential oils in the body oil.
Argan Seed Oil (Argania spinosa)
Argan seed oil is a common ingredient in skin care because it helps support skin elasticity, nourishes the skin barrier, and enhances healing of damaged skin. Rich in natural anti-inflammatory vitamin E, Argan helps ease red, irritated skin.
Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil (Hippophae rhaminoides)
Although it’s a small portion of this body oil, Sea Buckthorn seed oil is the star. You’ll soon see why it’s one of my favorites to include in a body oil.
Sea Buckthorn seed oil is rich in antioxidants and vitamins. The incredible golden orange hue of the oil reflects the presence of carotenoids which support skin elasticity. It’s a superior source of phospholipids and sterols which also enhance skin elasticity and strengthen the skin barrier.
Sea Buckthorn seed oil is one of the few lipid carrier oils rich in Omega 7 (palmitoleic) fatty acid. Omega 7 is important for skin barrier maintenance, cellular regeneration, and wound healing. [Another Omega 7-rich lipid oil is Macadamia nut oil.]
Sea Buckthorn seed oil has a warm, somewhat fruity, herbaceous aroma. In addition to the seed oil, Sea Buckthorn also provides a berry oil extracted from the pulp.
Vitamin E Oil (Tocopherol)
Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that supports a healthy skin barrier and protects the other oils from oxidization. It has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe red, irritated, dry skin.
NOTE: Vitamin E, in general, doesn’t have a pleasant aroma. Rest assured, the small percentage used in skin care products won’t impact the aroma.
Why These Essential Oils?
Now for the essential oils. Each of the essential oils in this body oil are very calming and help support restful sleep. And not only do they soothe the psyche, they are gentle and soothing to the skin.
🌺See my Recommended Suppliers below
The Base Essential Oils
Ho Wood (Cinnamomum camphora ct linalool) is one of my favorite oils for calm, especially if I’m feeling stressed or anxious. It has a complex aroma that is both floral and woody. Ho Wood is calming to the skin and helps soothe itchiness and irritation.
Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) has a fresh resinous, slightly coniferous aroma. It quiets the mind and promotes tranquility and emotional healing. It can also help improve skin texture and tone and speed healing of damaged skin.
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) has a complex aroma, soft and sweet, but also slightly peppery and herbaceous. It helps ease tension and enhances calm. When used carefully, Bergamot improves skin tone and soothes irritation.
✴️Special Note on Bergamot: If used topically at too high a percentage, Bergamot can cause a phototoxic reaction when the skin is exposed to UV light. For topical preparations, like a body oil, I prefer the FCF essential oil which is free from phototoxic constituents (furanocoumarins).
Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) is a rich essential oil that imparts a deep, smoky, earthy aroma to this body oil. It’s energetically grounding and promotes tranquility and sense of stability. As Vetiver is healing to the spirit, it’s also soothing to skin and helps calm irritation and redness. Because of its thick consistency, Vetiver can be a bit of a patience-tester; instead of waiting for it to come out of the reducer top, use a disposable dropper to measure the essential oil.
The Additional “Precious” Essential Oils
Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena/R. centifolia) has a rich, sweet, complex aroma. It goes right to the heart and enhances feelings of self-love and eases emotional aches. Rose loves the skin and supports cellular regeneration and skin barrier function.
Jasmine Absolute is available as Jasminum grandiflorum (day blooming) with a green floral aroma and Jasminum sambac (night blooming) with a deeper sultry, floral aroma. Both varieties help reduce tension and move energy blockages. Jasmine loves the skin and can improve skin tone and texture.
Neroli (Citrus x aurantium) has a complex aroma that is floral, yet herbaceous and slightly peppery. Common in skin care, skin loving Neroli soothes irritation and can improve skin texture. It is calming, helps ease nervous tension, and opens the mind.
✴️Special Note on Neroli: Because Neroli essential oil is commonly adulterated, always source from reputable suppliers. (Learn more about what to look for in an essential oil supplier.)
Sandalwood (Santalum album/S. spicatum) is one of my favorite oils for promoting inner peace and harmony, especially when anxiety or overwhelm is present. This spiritual oil has a warm, exotic aroma that instantly helps me feel calmer and more grounded. It can help reduce skin irritation and improve elasticity.
✴️Special Note on Sandalwood: It’s on the endangered species list, so please source this essential oil from a supplier that works with an ecologically friendly, sustainable grower.
Wishing you Sweet Dreams and Wellness!
Mom’s After Bath Body Oil Shopping List
You can find all the ingredients for this bedtime body oil in my favorites for Skin Care on Amazon. Amazon is also an excellent place for containers. Here are the lipid carrier and essential oils I personally use for my After Bath Bedtime Body Oil.
Specific Lipid Carrier Oils
- Argan seed oil (Argania spinosa):
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Renewalize, organic (on Amazon).
- Jojoba oil/wax (Simmondsia chinensis):
- Meadowfoam seed oil (Limnanthes alba):
- Plant Therapy, sustainable (Direct and Amazon)💛
- Edens Garden, sustainable (on Amazon).
Specific Essential Oils
- Bergamot essential oil (Citrus bergamia):
- Aromatics International, organic (for inhalation)
- Plant Therapy, organic, skin-safe FCF (Direct and Amazon).
- Frankincense Carteri essential oil (Boswellia carteri):
- This is a precious species, threatened by over-harvesting, choose your supplier wisely
- Aromatics International, organic💛
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct or Amazon).
- Ho Wood essential oil (Cinnamomum camphora ct linalool):
- Aromatics International, organic
- Plant Therapy, sustainable (Direct and Amazon).
- Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum spp.):
- Neroli essential oil (Citrus x aurantium var amara):
- Aromatics International, organic
- Plant Therapy, sustainable (Direct and Amazon)
- Substitute: Neroli/Petitgrain co-distill from Aromatics International, organic.
- Rose Absolute/Otto (Rosa spp.):
- Aromatics International, Absolute, organic
- Plant Therapy, Absolute, sustainable (Direct and Amazon)
- Aromatics International, Otto, organic
- Plant Therapy, Otto, sustainable (Direct and Amazon).
- Sandalwood essential oil (Santalum spp.):
- This is a precious oil, choose a supplier carefully
- Aromatics International, S. album, organic
- Plant Therapy, S. spicatum, organic (Direct and Amazon)
- Plant Therapy, S. album, conventional (Direct and Amazon).
- Vetiver essential oil (Vetiveria zizanioides):
- Aromatics International, organic💛
- Plant Therapy, organic (Direct and Amazon).
This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It is for educational purposes only.
All recipes provided are for personal use and are not designed for re-sale or large-scale manufacturing.
Please consult your doctor, naturopath, herbal practitioner, or other qualified health professional for medical advice and before starting any herbal regimen, particularly if you are pregnant or nursing, have any existing medical conditions, or are taking any medications.
Chris P | Author, Certified Aromatherapist, Natural Skin Care Formulator
Chris (“Mom”) enjoys formulating bespoke aromatherapy, skin care, and herbal products to support her family, pets, friends, and clients. She also loves experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. An avid reader, writer, and lifetime learner, Chris enthusiastically explores research rabbit holes and then writes about her discoveries.💚 (Learn more >>)
