What the hell are tub truffles?
Tub truffles are basically candy for your skin.
Tub truffles are tiny “bath candies” designed to add yumminess and skin-nourishing oils to your bath. We call them “tub truffles” because they smell like chocolate (thanks to the cocoa butter) and look like candy, especially when they have been molded into special shapes.
Wee Words of Caution
Since these really do look and smell like candy it’s IMPERATIVE that you label them appropriately and keep them out of the reach of children! Seriously. They aren’t edible (and they smell very much like candy). Please, don’t make it possible for anyone to get confused, especially if you keep the tub truffles in your fridge or gift them to someone else who might get careless.
About the ingredients…
Cocoa Butter
Cocoa Butter is a solid fat made from the fermented, washed, dried, and roasted seed of the cocoa tree; it melts readily when heated or even warmed.
Considered to be skin-protecting, it contains LOTS of Vitamin E and is rich in natural antioxidants. It lubricates, softens, moisturizes, and improves skin flexibility.
It also conveniently smells a LOT like chocolate!
Jojoba Infused with Vanilla Oleoresin
Organic, unrefined jojoba is a rich, golden delight for the skin. It nourishes without clogging pores and coats the skin with a lovely “slickery” coat. In cold winter months, the layer of yum it leaves on the skin can actually be quite warming. Easily absorbed, it is an excellent moisturizer.
I first learned of vanilla-infused jojoba through Andrea Butje of Aromahead Institute; I got some vanilla-infused jojoba in my Aromahead course kit from Aromatics International and I feel face-first in lurve. These days, I buy the oleoresin from them directly to infuse in my own jojoba at home. As I draw off the infused oil, I add more pure jojoba to keep infusing…
Vanilla infused jojoba is deliriously wonderful in its aroma and super easy to make.
Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) absolute
Vanilla remains one of the best-known—and most beloved—fragrances and flavors in the world. Sourced from the precious bean (fruit) of the Vanilla orchid, native to Mexico, its procurement is complicated, delicate, and time-consuming.
In order to meet demand, Vanilla “farmers” have staff waiting patiently to hand-pollinate the flower in the 24-hour window available before the opportunity to encourage fruit has passed; Vanilla plants have less than 1% chance of producing fruit if left to their own devices.
Vanilla absolute is distilled through solvent extraction–we don’t recommend using more than the 20 drops total in this recipe. To avoid chemical solvents altogether, you can also just rely on the vanilla aroma from the infused jojoba.
Much of the association with Vanilla rests in energetic properties that are drawn down directly from its lore, namely that the rare fruit and unique fragrance impart exotic, romantic, and hopeful energies to any endeavor. Prized as an aphrodisiac,
Vanilla aligns with love, romance, sex, and raising energy.
Cocoa & Vanilla Tub Truffles
The truffles smell delicious--but they're not for eating! They are melt-in-your-bathtub goodness for your skin!
Ingredients
- 8 oz Organic, Unrefined Cocoa Butter
- 8T Organic Unrefined Jojoba infused with Vanilla oleoresin
- 20 drops of Vanilla absolute
- Double boiler
- Small candy- or soap-molds (you can also use ice cube trays!)
- Small cutting board, tray, or cookie sheet (to support silicone molds)
Directions
- Step 1 Place water in the bottom of your double boiler and set over low heat. Add the Cocoa Butter in the top of your double boiler.
- Step 2 Stir with a glass stir rod or bamboo skewer until the Cocoa Butter is just melted (about 5-10 minutes).
- Step 3 Add 8 tablespoons of vanilla-infused jojoba to the melted cocoa butter and stir.
- Step 4 Turn off the stove and carefully remove the top of the double boiler. Place on a towel or secure trivet on a counter-top or table.
- Step 5 Allow the mixture to cool slightly (about 3-5 minutes).
- Step 6 Add 20 drops of Vanilla absolute and stir.
- Step 7 If using silicone or other flexible molds, place the mold on a small tray that you can use to transfer the mold to the fridge—they can be wobbly and spill otherwise.
- Step 8 Pour the mixture into individual candy or soap molds.
- Step 9 Carefully place the molds with the bath melt mixture in the fridge for about 30-45 minutes or until the bath melts have completely solidified all the way through.
- Step 10 Remove the solidified bath melts from the fridge and pop them out of their molds. If desired, wrap with colored foil squares while still cold.
- Step 11 Store your bath melts in a cold/cool location.
- Step 12 To use the bath melts, place one or two (depending on the size of the bath melts, desired strength of aroma, and the size of your tub) in a hot bath and enjoy! The bath melts will quickly melt in the warm water delivering a beautiful aroma and coating your skin with the nourishing cocoa butter and jojoba. NOTE… you’ll want to wipe your tub and run hot water through your pipes as they’ll be coated, too!
NOTE: Just like they melt in the warmth of the bath, these tub truffles will melt quickly in your hot little hands! You’ll want to keep them cool–and definitely away from heat!–both before and after you pack them. We leave ours individually wrapped in foil in a sealed bag in the fridge.
You—and your tub!—will be coated with delicious oil and cocoa butter after you soak.
This is a good thing for your skin–and will help keep you warm!–but be careful getting out of your tub, as the surface will be slippery! You’ll want to clean the tub—or, at a minimum—wipe it down after you soak to remove some of the oil.
