This recipe started with a smell. I've always loved virgin coconut oil and vanilla beans, and one day in a health food store I picked up a jar of organic vanilla beans and knew instantly I wanted to build something around that scent. I took a few home, did some research, and infused them into organic coconut oil. That was it — I knew I was onto something.
What makes it work
The result is a multi-purpose oil that won't weigh down your hair and feels great on skin. The scent gives off tropical vibes without being overpowering, so it layers well under your usual perfume or cologne. Like everything else we make, it's natural and vegan, with no added fragrances or chemicals — just ingredients that are genuinely good for your skin.
How it's made
It starts with measuring out the coconut oil. It's one of my favorite ingredients to work with because it melts so easily and works beautifully on both hair and skin. The fats in coconut oil are also antimicrobial, meaning they help fight off bacteria and viruses. I set it on a double boiler to melt while I move on to the vanilla beans.
I slice the vanilla beans in half to really open them up, then cut them into smaller pieces to pull out as much of that rich, warm aroma as possible.
Once the coconut oil has melted — which doesn't take long, since it has such a low melting point — I measure out grapeseed and avocado oil. Avocado oil absorbs beautifully and locks in moisture, while grapeseed oil is light and absorbs well too. I chose both because neither has much scent of its own, so they don't compete with the coconut and vanilla.
All the oils go into the jar together, and then the vanilla beans go in last. The coconut oil is still warm at this point, which helps kick off the infusion process. I give it a good shake to make sure everything's combined, and repeat that a few times over the following weeks. The blend needs to sit for at least three weeks before it's ready to package.
It's a simple recipe, but the wait is worth it — the finished oil carries all that warm vanilla and coconut scent we fell in love with from the start.
Watch the original video: Behind the Scenes: Making Coconut Vanilla Oil