This DIY Brazilian bum bum cream is a rich, whipped body butter made with mango butter, shea butter, and lightweight oils, with an optional pistachio-vanilla fragrance. It is a homemade cosmetic inspired by a sweet, nutty scent style—not food or an exact copy of a commercial product—and the simple, water-free formula makes a plush cream without adding a water-based preservative system.
Ingredients
- ½ cup mango butter (105 g), preferably cosmetic grade
- ¼ cup shea butter (55 g), preferably refined and cosmetic grade
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil (28 g)
- 2 tablespoons jojoba oil (27 g)
- 1 tablespoon tapioca starch (7 g)
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 ml) cosmetic-grade pistachio-vanilla fragrance oil, optional; use only if its supplier permits this amount in a leave-on body product
Instructions
- Prepare the equipment. Wash your hands and make sure your bowl, beaters, spatula, and storage jar are clean and completely dry. A 1-cup (240 ml) jar gives this batch room without compressing the whipped butter. Water droplets in the jar or on the tools can introduce contamination, so dry everything carefully. Set up a heatproof bowl over a small saucepan with a few centimeters of gently simmering water; the bowl should sit above the water rather than in it.
- Melt the butters and coconut oil. Add the mango butter, shea butter, and coconut oil to the heatproof bowl. Warm over low heat, stirring now and then, until the solids have just melted, about 8 minutes. Keep the water at a gentle simmer and avoid letting it splash into the bowl. Remove the bowl from the heat as soon as the mixture is liquid; prolonged high heat can affect the texture and is unnecessary.
- Stir in the jojoba oil and cool. Mix in the jojoba oil until evenly combined. Let the bowl stand until the mixture is no longer warm, then refrigerate it for about 90 minutes. Check it after an hour: the edges should look opaque and set while the center is still soft enough to press with a spoon. If it is fully hard, leave it at room temperature briefly until it softens. If it is still entirely liquid, chill it longer in short intervals.
- Add the starch and fragrance. Sprinkle the tapioca starch over the partly set mixture and stir it in thoroughly so it does not form dry pockets. If using fragrance, add the measured amount and mix again. Check the fragrance supplier’s instructions for the maximum concentration allowed in a leave-on body product. If its limit is lower than ½ teaspoon for this batch, use the lower amount; if you cannot confirm that it is suitable for leave-on skin use, leave it out.
- Whip until fluffy. Beat the mixture with an electric hand mixer for about 3–5 minutes, scraping down the bowl once or twice. It should become lighter in color and hold soft peaks, like a thick whipped butter. If the mixture stays runny, refrigerate it for 10–15 minutes and whip again. Avoid whipping a fully hard mixture, which can leave small lumps of solid butter.
- Transfer and label. Spoon the cream into the dry jar and smooth the top without packing it down. Label it with the date and ingredients, especially the fragrance oil, and close the lid. Let it settle at room temperature for about 10 minutes before using; there is no need to heat or cook the finished cream.
Tips
- Use a fragrance made for skin. Candle fragrance, room fragrance, and food flavoring are not substitutes for a leave-on cosmetic fragrance. Fragrance limits differ by formula and intended use, so follow the supplier’s current guidance rather than assuming that a scent is safe because it smells mild. Unscented body butter is a good option for sensitive noses or anyone who prefers no added fragrance.
- Keep all tools dry. This recipe contains no water, but water can enter when wet hands or a damp spoon are used. Use clean, dry fingers or a small cosmetic spatula to scoop it out. Do not add aloe gel, hydrosol, or water to the jar; those ingredients change the formula and require a suitable preservative system.
- Adjust the feel with small changes. Tapioca starch helps reduce the oily feel, but too much can make the cream powdery or drag on the skin. For a silkier, richer finish, omit the starch. For a less firm butter, replace 1 tablespoon (14 g) of coconut oil with 1 tablespoon (14 g) more jojoba oil; the result will be softer and may need more cooling before whipping.
- Watch the room temperature. The butters can soften in a warm bathroom or during hot weather. If the cream melts, chill it until partly set and whip it again. That can restore a light texture, though repeated melting and whipping may make it less airy over time.
Serving Suggestions
This cream is for external use on the body, not for eating or applying to the face. Scoop out a small amount and warm it between your palms; the butter softens with body heat and spreads more easily than it does straight from a cool jar. Apply a thin layer to clean, dry skin, such as arms, legs, or elbows. A little goes a long way, so start with less than you think you need and add more only if necessary.
For a less oily feel, use it sparingly after a shower once your skin has been towel-dried. It is a rich, oil-based product, so it may leave a slick surface in the shower or on a bathroom floor; keep the jar and your hands away from wet, slippery areas. Avoid applying it to broken or irritated skin, and keep it away from the eyes and mucous membranes. If you have a known allergy to an ingredient, do not use it. For a new formula, try a small amount on a small area of skin first and stop using it if irritation develops.
Variations
Unscented body butter: Leave out the fragrance oil for a simple, neutral-smelling version. Do not replace it with extra oil; the recipe will still whip and the texture will remain close to the original. This is also the easiest variation if you do not have a fragrance supplier’s leave-on usage instructions.
Vanilla-forward scent: Use a cosmetic-grade vanilla fragrance oil only if it is labeled for leave-on body products and the supplier lists an appropriate maximum use rate. Some vanilla materials can darken over time, so the cream may change color. Do not use baking extract: it is made for food, may contain water or alcohol, and is not a direct substitute for cosmetic fragrance.
Change the butter: You can replace the mango butter with an equal weight of cocoa butter for a firmer cream with a noticeable chocolate-like aroma, or with kokum butter for a firmer, less soft feel. These swaps alter the texture and scent, so chill the mixture until partly set before whipping and expect to adjust the chilling time. Use cosmetic-grade ingredients and keep the total butter weight the same.
Make it less rich: Replace 1 tablespoon (14 g) of coconut oil with 1 tablespoon (14 g) of jojoba oil, as described in the tips. The finished cream will be softer and more fluid in a warm room. Do not add water-based ingredients to thin it; a water-free recipe cannot be safely converted that way just by stirring.
Storage and Reheating
Store the closed jar in a cool, dry place away from direct sun and heat. For the best texture and freshness, use the batch within 2–3 months; this is a practical use-by window for a small homemade product, not a guarantee that it stays suitable for that entire period. Refrigeration is optional, but it makes the butter firmer and can make it harder to scoop. Keep the jar out of a steamy bathroom if possible, and always close it promptly.
This is an anhydrous body butter, not a sterile or commercially preserved cosmetic. Refrigerate it within 2 hours if the room is very warm or if it has been left in a hot car; do not leave it sitting in heat. Discard it if water gets into the jar, if the smell or appearance changes, or if you notice mold or other contamination. Do not try to make it last longer by adding a preservative without following a suitable cosmetic formula. There is no reheating step for use. If it becomes too firm, let the closed jar stand at room temperature for 10–20 minutes, then scoop a small amount; if the whole batch has melted, chill and rewhip as needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this an exact copy of Brazilian Bum Bum cream?
This is a homemade whipped body butter inspired by the name and a sweet, nutty fragrance style. It does not reproduce any commercial formula, and the ingredients and scent will depend on the specific butters, oils, and fragrance you choose.
Can I make it without a hand mixer?
Yes. A whisk can work once the mixture is partly set, but it takes more effort and may produce a denser cream. Stir thoroughly after adding the starch and fragrance, then whisk steadily until the mixture lightens. A fully liquid mixture will not hold air, so make sure it has cooled to a soft, opaque consistency first.
Why did my body butter turn grainy?
Some plant butters can develop a grainy texture when they melt and cool slowly or unevenly. Melt the ingredients only until just liquid, and chill the mixture promptly until the edges set before whipping. If graininess appears, gently remelt the mixture until smooth, cool it quickly until partly set, and whip again. Keep water out of the bowl during this process.
Can I use essential oils instead of fragrance oil?
Not as a one-for-one scent swap. Essential oils have their own skin-use restrictions and can irritate skin; a natural origin does not automatically make an ingredient suitable for every person or concentration. If you choose one, use only an oil with clear leave-on body-use guidance and stay within its specified limit. Leaving the cream unscented is the simplest alternative.
Can I use this on my face or on a baby?
This formula is designed as a rich body butter, not a facial product or baby-care formula. It contains fragrance if you choose to add it, and its oils may feel heavy on facial skin. For a baby or anyone with particularly sensitive skin, choose a product specifically formulated for that use and ask a qualified healthcare professional about ingredient concerns when appropriate.
Can I add aloe vera, lotion, or water to make it lighter?
No. Adding water or a water-based product changes this water-free formula and can create preservation and separation problems. For a lighter feel, use a smaller amount on the skin, omit the starch if you prefer a more buttery finish, or make the oil substitution listed above. Do not mix a water-based lotion into the storage jar.
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