Learn to Make Natural Balms, Butters & Salves Online 

by | Apr 14, 2022

Balms, Butters, and Salves
Botanical Skin Care

Learn to Make Natural Balms, Butters & Salves Online 

Professional DIY Skincare Certificate Course
Create Professional-Quality Body Care Products From Home
Enroll Now

Interested in making your own botanical body care and skin products?

Master the art of handcrafted skincare and learn to formulate healing balms, luxurious body butters, and therapeutic salves using pure botanical ingredients. This course focuses exclusively on anhydrous (water-free) products, which means you’ll create stable, long-lasting skincare without preservatives or complicated chemistry.

Perfect for beginners and professionals alike.

Why Water-Free Products?

When you eliminate water from your formulations, everything becomes simpler and more stable. No preservatives needed. No worrying about contamination or bacterial growth. Just pure oils, butters, and botanical ingredients working together to nourish skin.

This makes these products ideal for beginners—you can focus on learning ingredients and techniques without the complexity of emulsions or the science of preservation systems.

Discover the art of crafting plant-based balms, butters, and salves
in our enriching online certificate program.

Enroll now

Balms, Butters, and Salves

Course Outline

Module 1

Foundations

We start with the basics: setting up your workspace, understanding good manufacturing practices (even for home use), and what equipment you actually need. Not everything the internet recommends is necessary.

Module 2

Your Botanical Ingredient Palette

This is where you learn the building blocks. We cover carrier oils and their properties, plant butters (shea, cocoa, mango), and how to make your own herbal-infused oils. You’ll also learn about natural antioxidants that extend shelf life without synthetic preservatives.
Since these are anhydrous products, you’re working with stable ingredients that don’t require complicated preservation systems.

Module 3

Body Butters

Learn to formulate beautiful body butters and whipped body butters that stay fluffy. We cover common issues like graininess in shea butter and how to prevent it, plus texture control techniques.

Module 4

Lip Balms, Body Balms, & Lotion Bars

Perfect your lip balm technique, create therapeutic body balms for specific needs (muscle relief, skin healing, etc.), and make solid lotion bars. We also discuss practical considerations like packaging and storage.

Module 5

Salves

Learn to make healing salves for first aid, skin conditions, and therapeutic use. You’ll understand which herbs work for different situations and how to create effective, targeted formulations.

Bonus Module

Natural Deodorants

Go beyond the basics with this expanded module on natural deodorants. Learn the real differences between conventional antiperspirants and natural alternatives, and understand why each ingredient matters—not just what to add, but why it works. You’ll formulate butter-based solids, semi-soft jar deodorants, and alcohol-based sprays.

We cover baking soda-free options for sensitive skin, essential oil selection, and proper packaging and usage guidelines. This module gives you everything you need to make natural deodorant that actually works.

 

 

Learn how to create your own oil-based skincare products!

What you will learn

$

Formulate Your Own Body Care Products: Unleash your creativity and dive into the process of formulating exceptional oil-based body care products. 

$

Craft Skincare Products for Family and Friends: There’s something incredibly satisfying about creating homemade balms, butters, and salves for your family and friends. 

$

Enhance Your Knowledge and Relationship with Botanical Ingredients: Expand your understanding of botanical body care and deepen your appreciation for the wonders of nature’s ingredients. Through this course, you’ll gain valuable insights into the properties and benefits of different botanicals, empowering you to make informed choices while crafting your products.

Butters, Balms, and Salves comes with:

aromatherapy certificate course inclusions

5 Modules devoted to Balms, Butters, and Salves

The Aromatic Studies Signature Blending Method

Exclusive Instructional Videos

Downloadable and Printable PDF lessons
Lifetime Access to Course Material and Video Content

Jade’s Favorite Suppliers and Resources

Professional certificate upon completion

7 CE hours (Aromatherapist: NAHA, AIA, IFPA)

7 CE hours (NCBTMB approved for massage therapists)

This online course is self-paced. Begin as soon as you sign up!

Complete the course at your own pace and convenience.

Sign up now

Who is this course for?

Everyone! This course is your doorway into creating your own balms, butters, and salves.

  • Massage Therapists and Estheticians who would like to make their own oil based botanical products
  • Individuals interested in formulating and making their own balms, butters and salves, for their family, friends and community
  • The Aromatherapy Entrepreneur who would like to develop or expand their existing business
  • Home-schooling parents who would love to learn about and create homemade body care products with their children
  • Herbalists interested in integrating butters, balms and salves into their practic

No experience required. We start from the beginning.

 

 

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What our Students Say

Elevated My Massage Practice

“I’ve been a massage therapist for 12 years and always bought premade massage balms. After this course, I started making my own with arnica and warming oils for my clients with chronic pain. They noticed the difference immediately and now ask me where they can buy them. The bonus deodorant module was unexpected—I made some for my teenage son who has sensitive skin and it’s the first one that doesn’t irritate him.”

— Sarah M., Licensed Massage Therapist, Portland, OR

Not Crafty? No Problem

“Honestly, I was intimidated before starting. I’m not crafty and I failed high school chemistry. But the way Jade explains things made it click. The fact that you don’t need preservatives for these products made it so much less scary. I’ve now made salves for my kids’ scrapes, body butter for my mom’s dry skin, and a muscle balm for my husband. It feels good to know exactly what’s in everything we use.”

— Rebecca T., Parent & Home Product Maker, Denver, CO

From Hobby to Income

“I took this course just wanting to make lip balm for myself and maybe some gifts. Now I have a small Etsy shop that brings in about $1,500 a month. What helped most was understanding WHY ingredients work together, not just following recipes. When shea butter goes grainy or a balm is too soft, I actually know how to fix it. The supplier list Jade provides saved me months of trial and error with bad ingredients.”

— Jennifer K., Small Business Owner, Austin, TX

Payment Details

One Payment

$225

Enroll Now

*Supplies not included, for a complete listing of materials covered in this course, click here: Balms, Butters, and Salves Supply List

Meet Your Instructor

Meet Your Instructor: Jade Shutes

Jade has spent over 30 years working with plant-based ingredients as an aromatherapist, herbalist, and educator. She founded the School for Aromatic Studies after seeing too many courses that were either overly simplified (“just follow this recipe!”) or unnecessarily complicated.

Her approach: teach the why behind the what, so you can formulate confidently on your own.

Background:

    • Diplomas in Holistic Aromatherapy, Holistic Massage, and Reflexology (Raworth College, UK)
    • ITEC Diploma in Aromatherapy
    • Certificate in Herbal Medicine
    • Past President, National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (two terms)
    • Author of “Aromatherapy for Bodyworkers”
    • Co-author of “The Carrier Oil Palette”
    • Main author of “Ultimate Guide to Aromatherapy”

Jade is known in the aromatherapy community for balanced, research-informed teaching that respects both traditional knowledge and modern understanding.

Why Anhydrous Products?

Since we’re working only with oils, butters, and waxes—no water—these products are:

    • Naturally stable with long shelf lives
    • Free from preservatives (none needed!)
    • Less prone to contamination
    • Simpler to formulate and make
    • Easier for beginners to master
    • Highly concentrated and effective

You’re learning fundamental formulation skills without the complexity of water-based products. Once you understand these principles, you have a foundation for more advanced work later.

FAQs

Are there prerequisites?

This course is open to everyone with an interest in learning how to make amazing balms, butters, and salves!

Is this course all online?

Yes. The Balms, Butters, and Salves certification program is an online course designed as a self-paced course of study. You can complete the course on your own time and based upon your own schedule and goals.

Online learning is makes learning easy and accessible. With online education you can take your course with you on any device you choose. Download pdf files to read later, watch video content, or view course content on your device.

How long do I have to complete the program?

As long as you need! The average time to complete is: 1-2 months.

Does this course offer CE hours for Aromatherapists?

Yes. This course offers 7 CE hours for NAHA, AIA, IFPA and other aromatherapy organizations.

Does this course offer CE hours for Massage therapists?

Yes. This course offers 7 CE hours through the NCBTMB. You can earn CE hours for AIA, NAHA, IFPA, and aromatherapy organizations worldwide. 

How do I complete my certification?

To receive your certification for Balms, Butters, and Salves, you will need to complete each lesson and quiz as well as experiential exercises.  You will then be able to download your certificate!

What supplies are required?

Here is our recommended supply list for 

Balms, Butters, and Salves Supply List

Will I need preservatives?

No! That’s one of the benefits of anhydrous (water-free) formulations. Without water, you don’t need preservatives. We do cover natural antioxidants that extend shelf life by preventing oils from going rancid.

 

Can I sell the products I make?

Yes, you can sell your botanical body care products. The course covers basic business considerations and resources.

 

Are you an approved school by a professional aromatherapy organization?

Yes, we are an approved school through the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists (IFPA). We are also approved for massage CE hours through the NCBTMB.

Did you say I have access to the course for Life?

Yes, once you register for an online course, it is yours for life of the program!

Can I sign up if I don’t live in the United States?

Yes! We have students from all over the world taking courses with us. The presentation is in English.

What makes your program different from all the others?

The School for Aromatic Studies is one of the leading schools in North America. We are often asked, What makes our school unique? I believe one of the most unique features is our balanced, progressive & inspiring education that leads to the cultivation of a new generation of aromatherapists to emerge and succeed!

Payment Details

One Payment

$225

Enroll Now

*Supplies not included, for a complete listing of materials covered in this course, click here: Balms, Butters, and Salves Supply List