Kpangnan Body Frappé - How a New Product 'Just Happens'
Getting to know raw ingredients is always a pleasure, and the star butter in this product has been no exception. After liking everything kpangnan butter had to offer in a lotion bar, I decided to do a simple whipped body butter – just to test this butter out in a different type of formula.
The texture turned out so light, creamy, and non-greasy that I have been using this buttery-smooth frappé everywhere from face to feet since the first batch. What started out as an ingredient test grew into a new product.
Suddenly, a scent was being composed, labels were being designed and a few testers were being contacted.
I didn't plan this product. It really just happened.
Here's a peek at how I put together batch 2 (before labels were designed and scent was added):
Apart from kpangnan butter, the rest of the ingredients are
- Fractionated coconut oil - a neutral, non-greasy oil that stays in the background and lets all the other ingredients shine
- Evening primrose oil - just for the sheer, skin-loving goodness it brings to this mix
- Shea - to add another skin loving fabulous butter to the mix
- Essential oils - in this case, purely for scent
Here is the star ingredient being melted very slowly over low heat.
And here are the beaters after the mixture was whipped to a light and frothy texture. It looks good enough to eat, don't you think?
Initial Test Conclusions
So far this frappé has all the makings of a winner.I find the light, almost white color of this product quite inviting. The feel is absolutely fabulous, and my skin is loving it.
The texture is also staying rock-steady stable in the jar (despite a summery rise in temps), and the scent – a combination of melissa officinalis (lemon balm) essential oil and pelargonium graveolens (geranium) essential oil – is just the right combination of fresh green and floral.
Comments
My best suggestion is to tweak the proportions in your recipe until you have a texture that is stable through 'most temps'. Cocoa butter will not melt as fast as she or coconut oil, so try upping the cocoa butter amount and cutting a bit of the coconut oil.
As for sending through the mail: I find that wrapping the finished product in ample bubble wrap and sending in a generous sized box helps guard against the most extreme temps. Best of luck with it.
One last question, do you prefer to use a hand mixer to an immersion blender?
Any difference?
Hope this helps :)
María - that is a great suggestion for Michelle with the addition of a touch of carnuaba or candela wax!