Hi!

So, yes, you can substitute shea for cocoa butter, but expect a softer, creamier, less firm product, as shea is softer than hard cocoa butter. If you find it is too soft, you can remelt the whole batch and add a bit more beeswax to help it firm up. It’s very forgiving.

If you get a chance, do pop back in and let me know how it worked out!

Hi Cynthia,

I apologize for the late response.

Yes, you could mix the cocoa butter and shea butter for a softer consistency. The beauty of this is that you can re-melt the balm to tweak the ‘recipe’ to get what you want.

Have fun creating!

Hi Camara,

As mentioned in the post, it is a firm balm, not as much for dipping as it is for rubbing. If you wanted it to be softer, you could substitute mango or shea butter for cocoa butter. Happy experimenting.

Hi Nancy,

I’ll send them to now!

Good Morning Lauren,

What a great question! I need to include this information in the post. I have had mine for over a year and it smells, feels and moisturizes the same that it did a year ago. I have a very sensitive nose, anything rancid would set it off, and there is no smell or change in texture. I did a deeper dive and discovered that beeswax has an almost indefinite shelf life. Cocoa butter seems best used within two years. Straight Grapeseed oil is best used within one year, however, the whole reason that Vitamin E is added to the hand balm recipe is to extend the shelf life of the ingredients, like grapeseed oil. So, all that to say, I’m confident it has at least a one year shelf life, but most likely longer.

thanks! just made my first tin.