These DIY lotion bars start with sweet almond oil infused with dried violets and rose petals, then get melted down with cocoa butter and white beeswax and poured into molds. It's an easy three-ingredient base that sets into firm, fragrant bars you can rub straight onto dry hands, elbows, and heels.

Five floral-shaped handmade soaps with dried flower petals and buds on top, arranged beside a body lotion bar on a dark wooden surface.

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I love making any skincare that involves a mold. There's something satisfying about watching a liquid set up into something solid, then popping it out and having a real, useful thing in your hand. Lotion bars are my favorite version of that.

This batch is all about the flowers. The violets keep their purple color after infusing, so every bar comes out flecked with violet and rose. And since I'm in Arizona, I can tell you these hold up well in the heat.

Why You'll Love These Lotion Bars

The base is just three ingredients: sweet almond oil, cocoa butter, and beeswax.
Hands-on time is about 15 minutes. The rest is waiting.
The violets keep their color, so the bars look as good as they smell.
You can leave the dried flowers in for a light exfoliating texture or strain them out for smooth bars.
They hold their shape in hot weather.
They're fragrant without being overpowering.
They store well and make great gifts.

Four handmade floral soaps with dried flowers on top, arranged in a line beside a nourishing body lotion bar on a rustic wooden surface with scattered petals.

The Basic Lotion Bar Ratio

This recipe uses equal parts oil, butter, and wax: 4 fluid ounces of sweet almond oil, 4 ounces of cocoa butter, and 4 ounces of white beeswax. That balance gives you a bar that stays firm at room temperature but softens as soon as it touches warm skin.

Each ingredient has a job. The oil helps the bar glide, the cocoa butter adds richness, and the beeswax holds everything together. Once you have that base down, the flowers and scent are where you get to play.

Ingredients for DIY Lotion Bars

Sweet almond oil: One of my absolute favorite carrier oils, sweet almond oil is silky and moisturizing but without a greasy feel, making it my top choice for lotion bars. Having said that, any carrier oil you prefer will work in this recipe, so feel free to switch it up. Hemp seed oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil and coconut oil work well.

Dried rose petals: I love to use organic culinary grade rose petals, but any dried rose petals will do.

Dried violet blossoms: Violets add the most beautiful pop of color and fragrance to these lotion bars. They keep their purple after infusing, which is what makes these bars so pretty.

Cocoa butter: Cocoa butter adds a beautiful richness in scent, moisturization properties and soothes irritation.

White beeswax: I think the white color contrasts nicely with the florals, but you can use yellow beeswax if you prefer.

Rose absolute essential oil: This optional ingredient adds additional fragrance for some superpower rose flair.

Handmade floral soaps and a body lotion bar with dried flower petals and buds on a wooden surface, arranged in different shapes and surrounded by scattered dried flowers.

How to Make Homemade Lotion Bars

Gently warm the sweet almond oil with the dried rose petals and violet blossoms for about 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and infuse for at least 1 hour, then strain if desired.
Melt the infused oil with the cocoa butter and beeswax in a double boiler. Stir in the essential oil, if using, then pour into silicone molds. Allow the bars to cool and harden for about 1 hour before removing.
Store in a cool, dark place for up to 1 year.

Five decorative, flower-shaped body lotion bars with dried herbs and petals on top are arranged on a dark wooden surface, with scattered petals around them.

Should You Leave the Flowers In?

It's up to you. I love leaving them in. The bars look beautiful with the violet and rose showing through, and the petals give a light exfoliating feel when you use them. If you want a silky smooth bar, strain the flowers out after the oil infuses. You'll still get the scent from the infusion.

Are Homemade Lotion Bars Greasy?

These aren't. Lotion bars are made entirely of oils, butters, and wax with no water, so they'll always feel richer than a pump lotion. But the beeswax keeps these bars firm, so a little goes a long way. Use a light hand, and try rubbing the bar into slightly damp skin right after a shower so it spreads thin.

Do Lotion Bars Melt in Hot Weather?

I live in Arizona, and these hold up well in the heat. Store them somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight, like a drawer or a tin, and they'll stay firm.

Can You Make Lotion Bars Without Beeswax?

The beeswax is what makes these bars solid, so it isn't something you can just leave out. I haven't tested a plant-based wax version of this recipe, so I'd rather not guess at a swap. If you make one, I'd love to hear how it goes in the comments.

How to Use a Lotion Bar

Hold the bar in your hand for a few seconds to warm it up, then rub it directly onto your skin. Your body heat melts a thin layer as you go. I use them on heels, elbows, knees, and anywhere else that gets dry. They work especially well after a shower on slightly damp skin.

How to Store Lotion Bars

Keep your lotion bars in a cool, dark place and they'll last up to a year. I like to wrap each bar in parchment paper and store them in a metal tin, like a candle tin. That also makes them easy to gift.

Five handmade floral soaps and a body lotion bar with dried flower petals and buds arranged on a dark wooden surface, surrounded by scattered petals.

More DIYs You Can Pour Into a Mold

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5 from 39 votes

DIY Violet Rose Lotion Bars with Cocoa Butter and Beeswax

Easy DIY lotion bars made with sweet almond oil infused with dried violets and rose petals, cocoa butter, and white beeswax. Firm, fragrant, and non-greasy.

Prep Time: 5

Active Time: 10

Waiting and Cooling Time: 2

Total Time: 2 15

Yield: lotion bars

Author: Kristen Wood

Cost: $10

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Equipment

Materials

4 fluid ounces sweet almond oil
2 tablespoons dried rose petals
2 tablespoons dried violet blossoms
4 ounces cocoa butter
4 ounces white beeswax
15 drops rose absolute essential oil optional

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Instructions

In a small saucepan over low heat add the sweet almond oil, dried rose petals and dried violet blossoms. Heat until the pan feels warm to the touch (about 3 minutes), then turn off the heat.
Let the oil infusion sit for at least 1 hour, or until the oil smells as fragrant as you would like. Strain the dried flowers if you would prefer super smooth lotion bars, otherwise, keep them in the oil for visual appeal and to add an exfoliating effect to your lotion bars.
In a double boiler over medium heat, add the infused oil, cocoa butter and beeswax. Heat until all liquifies (about 5 minutes).
Stir in the essential oil, if using, then pour the mixture into silicone molds of your choice.
Let the bars sit until cool and hardened completely (about 1 hour) before removing from the molds.
Keep the lotion bars stored in a cool, dark place for up to one year.

Notes

The violets keep their color after infusing. Strain the flowers for smooth bars or leave them in for a light exfoliating texture.

DIY Lotion Bars with Violet and Rose (Easy 3-Ingredient Base)