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Next time you are shopping for a body lotion, pick up several and look at their ingredients. Aside from the long, unpronounceable names of preservatives and Latin terms, a lot of what you will see are common, household items. Every lotion, including the most expensive ones, has the same basic ingredients of oil, water and scents. Instead of spending dollars on lotions, why not try making your own for pennies? Not only will you save money, but have the fun of experimenting and personalizing your own lotions. You can spend quality time with friends and family, including teenage daughters.

Water is often the chief ingredient for lotions. You can use tap water, but many experts recommend distilled water for purity. The next neccessary ingredient is oil. Olive oil is considered one of the best, however, you can also use peanut oil, mineral oil or vegetable oil. For scents essential oils are generally used. These are highly concentrated oils which may be found in any health food store and some specialized grocery stores. They are used sparingly in the mixtures. Some of the most popular ones are lavender, rose and peppermint. If you have a favorite scent, look for that essence. Various essential oils are used for different moods. Lavender, for instance, is said to be relaxing. Peppermint is invigorating. You can check websites such as auracacia.com to learn which essential oils do what. Household spices are also frequently used for aroma and mood enhancers. Rosemary, thyme, cinnamon are all good ingredients to try. Some recipes will also use milk, buttermilk, goat's milk and honey. Another variation is to use liquor, which can act as an astringent. Vodka is popular additive, since it doesn't have much of a scent on it's own.

There are a couple of things to remember before making your own lotions. First, you may need to experiment and vary ingredients to get the outcome you want. Don't be disappointed if the lotion curdles or doesn't "gel" evenly at first. Keep trying. Second, homemade lotions do not have the preservers found in commercial lotions, therefore, will not last as long before souring or separating. It is better to make lotions in small amounts to avoid waste and frustration.

Some methods start from scratch, even making their own scents from flowers. This involves starting with creating an emulsion from borax and water and making flower water. The latter is done by boiling the desired flower petals in water, infusing the scent. The water is then strained

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