Put all of the ingredients (except benzoin and 3/4 of the water) into a huge microwavable bowl (the biggest that will fit into your microwave) and 1/4th of the water (48 oz). Heat 5 minutes, using wire whisk stir for just a little, heat again 5 minutes, stir again, and continue doing this until all waxes and butters are completely melted. Be sure that there are no little tiny pieces of waxes left and that they are completely melted.
Mix will be extremely hot! Once all is melted completely, remove from microwave and with your stick blender, start whipping while adding the rest of the remaining water. Be careful not to splash the hot mix on you. You may have to use a larger heavy plastic bucket to transfer your mix into if your bowl isn't big enough.
Just mix for a minute or two until you have all the water added in and mixture looks white. Let stand for 15 to 30 minutes, stir once again with your stick blender for about 30 seconds. Let stand another 15 to 30 minutes then stir with stick blender for another 30 seconds. By this time the lotion should be feeling much cooler and thicker.
Once the lotion has cooled, but slightly warm, you can add in the 48 ml of Benzoin resinoid and mix thoroughly into the lotion mixture. If you try to add this in before the lotion has cooled it will crystallize into your lotion and you will get a gritty feeling and brown specks into the lotion. This will not hurt the lotion, but will only look a little strange and have the gritty feeling.
This recipe will make approximately 2 gallons of lotion. |