What makes our Book Butter special?

Are you curious about our Book Butters? Do you find yourself asking, What exactly is a Book Butter?

Well, I am here to explain a little bit about Book Butter and how it came to be.

Let’s start with the name.

Obviously, I have a very healthy obsession with books and all things bookish. I am also very particular about the lotions and cosmetics I use. (This will come in handy to know later in another Lunar Library product blog! 😉)

I wanted to make a product that left my skin feeling nourished and less dry, but not greasy. That balance can be surprisingly hard to strike with body care products. While some humans out there have wonderfully balanced skin, I am not one of them.

So, naturally, I went down a rabbit hole.

I spent the better part of six months—and honestly, the research never really stops—learning about cosmetic formulations, butters, oils, emulsifiers, ingredient percentages, and different formulation techniques. I trialed different ratios, ordered small quantities of ingredients from several suppliers to find the quality I liked best, researched Washington State cosmetic laws and requirements, and joined body care formulation groups where I could ask questions, share ideas, learn from others, and generally be “in the know.”

And somewhere in the middle of all of that research, Book Butter started to take shape.

One night, I was reading and reached for some lotion. Before touching the pages of my book, I wiped my hands on my shirt because I didn't want to leave greasy fingerprints behind.

And I thought:

It would be nice to have a book lotion.

Something that would moisturize my hands when they felt dry, but settle into my skin so I could go right back to turning pages without leaving residue behind.

And there it was.

Book Butter.

As I continued developing the product, the formula went through plenty of trial and error. Once I had a version I was happy with and had tested it on myself and my husband for a while, I moved on to the next phase of my very scientific research process:

~Foisting it upon my book club.~

Luckily, they happen to be some of the most brilliant, talented, and lovely women (and man 😉) I know.

Once Book Butter received their seal of approval, I felt ready to start bringing it to market.

From One Collection to the Next

Book Butters officially launched with the Spring Tea Collection, a seasonal collection of cozy tea & a book-inspired scents. From there came the Signature Collection, which is available year-round, followed by my most recent release, the Fall Collection.

Seasonal collections are made in small batches and are only available for a limited time. I love doing it this way because I can create new scents and themes throughout the year while keeping production small and intentional.

And that brings me to another surprisingly important part of Book Butter:

The packaging.

I am a sucker for good packaging.

Originally, I offered Book Butters in jars. But the more I researched—and the more I thought about how people would actually use them—I started looking for a better solution.

Because Book Butter is an anhydrous product, meaning it doesn't contain water, keeping water and wet hands out of the container is important. And because a little Book Butter goes a long way, I wanted packaging that made it easier to dispense what you need without repeatedly dipping your fingers into a jar.

Then one day, while scrolling online, I saw another small business selling squeeze-tube wax for wax warmers.

EUREKA!

Just kidding.

I did not shout “Eureka!” This isn't a movie, and this wasn't some dramatic epiphany. This is actually a story about how, when I decide I want to figure something out, it drives me mildly insane until I do.

So, in reality, I scrolled past it.

Then I scrolled back up.

Then my brain did what it does.

Could I put Book Butter in something like that? How difficult would those be to fill? Would they hold up well? Could I find cosmetic-friendly tubes? Would they travel better than jars?

And further down the rabbit hole I went.

After ordering several sizes of jars that I could no longer return—I sealed those back up and decided Future Talia would figure out another use for them— clicking purchase, I ordered squeeze tubes.

Now, I wouldn't necessarily say the tubes are easy to fill...

But I love them for Book Butter.

They're easy to toss into a purse or bag, keep on a nightstand or set on the kitchen counter, and you can squeeze out just the amount you need without repeatedly dipping into the product.

For those who still love a little jar, those haven't disappeared completely! Small 1 oz jars are available in gift sets featuring the scents within a collection and a small spatula so you don't have to stick your fingers in the jar, as well as through custom orders.

Custom orders can include custom scenting and custom labeling. They aren't live on the website quite yet, but I'm planning to make them available in the new year.

So, What Makes a Book Butter Special?

For me, it comes down to the amount of love, research, trial and error, and ridiculous attention to detail that goes into creating them.

I wanted Book Butter to feel nourishing without leaving my hands feeling greasy—to create something I could reach for while reading, crafting, journaling, or working on a project and then get right back to what I was doing.

No putting down the book.

No greasy fingerprints on the pages.

No waiting around before picking up your e-reader or getting back to your project.

Just a little Book Butter, and back to your regularly scheduled obsession.

Of course, that's coming from someone with a very healthy obsession to being able to dive straight back into a good book.

So perhaps I'm a little biased. 😉