Review: The Butters Cocoa Butter Lube

It's been a hot minute since I've posted. It's hard to really stay focused on this side of myself at the moment. Sexuality is not really part of my life during these COVIDuous times, and it's been a downer, to be honest. But a lot of the way we interact with our own sexuality can be affected by choice and context, so hopefully trying to get back into more regular posting my head will get back in the game.

This post comes with a little backstory. Near the end of last year, Zan from The Butters reached out to me for a review, and I was incredibly excited because I am passionate about oil-based lubricant. It just works for my body, okay? From reviewing their original recipe formula, I already knew that the company is black-owned, all vegan, all natural, and about as ethical as they come. And they wanted to work with me? Awesome.

Unfortunately, lockdown delayed my collection of the product for months, but it was worth it.

Okay first impressions: I'm quite a fan of the packaging redesign. The first gen labels were minimal and sort of evocative of a modern take of the old-style apothecary. The update features some jazzy teal to inject some fun into the cleanly aesthetic, and while I'm usually more of a monochrome person in terms of my own style; I like this pop of colour! It's echoed in the marketing material and even the little paper bag that the product came in, so the unified aesthetic is pleasing and pretty.

Of course, it's what's inside that counts. The base formula is similar to the original in that it's made with high-quality oils that are hypoallergenic and vulva-friendly; but the Cocoa Butter version does not contain the palm oil which formed the base of the original formula. This is exciting because palm oil gets a lot of hate for environmental reasons, and also cocoa butter smells incredible. More on this later, but if you're curious, you can check out the ingredient listing on the product page here. You'll notice some interesting addendums like kosher salt and apple cider vinegar, which sounds weird until you read the explanations on the product page. The tiny proportion of apple cider vinegar helps maintain the slightly more acidic vaginal pH, which is sensible. And the salt?



Cocoa butter

Gather 'round, children; we're about to get our Sommelier on.

As discussed, this variant of The Butters lube has a cocoa butter base. It smells. Delicious. I love it so much. As I scooped it out the tub, my mouth started watering. It leaves a wonderful chocolately scent on your body and I had to stop myself from eating it out the tub. Then I realised that this product is made from all food-adjacent ingredients and advertised to be happily edible, so I gave it a shot. It doesn't taste chocolately at all, which makes sense because sugar is the enemy of the vagina. What it does taste like is vaguely salty, a little acidic, and kind of like ... vaginal fluids. When I checked out some of the reviews on the product page, I saw that one person described it as almost tasteless -- probably because it just blends with the natural bodily fluids and has more of a noticeable smell rather than taste. Makes sense!

In use, it functions just as wonderfully as it smells. The reason I love oil-based lube to start with is due to some wildly awful experiences with candida that left made any sexual contact painful. Oil-based lubricant eased the pain, didn't dry out, didn't make my sensitive body react to nasty sugary ingredients, and most importantly: it created a thick cushion of protection between my inflamed tissue and any intimate contact. Water-based lubricant is really slippery and slick for clitoral play, but for me it can't compare to the protective thickness of oil lubes. My preferences have been cemented! It's too late to change my mind. Also, it doesn't react with my body and cause candida flare-ups. Why fix what works?



Aloe x Shea

The original Aloe x Shea formula was thick, but the Cocoa Butter formula is thicc. Notice how it's much more of a deeper, buttery (heh) yellow than the somewhat thinner Aloe x Shea formula. This creamy lube has a wonderful texture that spreads but stays forever, and yet somehow it's not solid when you scoop it out the tub? Witchcraft, I say. Unlike coconut oil lubes I've tried and loved, The Butters manage to create an oil that comes out of the tub like lotion, no need to warm it in your palms and get all messy first. It is perfect for internal play and will work will with all body-safe toy materials I'm aware of. I tried it with my Laid D1, which is a super weird and edgey one that needs a bit of extra attention in use, and it was a breeze. The Butters lasts ages, spreads super well, and I love the rich scent it leaves behind.

Downsides? None; in my book. Fans of water-based lubricants may not find this slippery enough for them, but that's not really my preference so it bothers me not one jot. The only thing you need to watch out for is that oils degrade latex, so please don't use this lubricant with barriers unless you know they are latex-free. What you need to know at the end of the day is that the beauty, body, and wellness products this company produces are high quality and made with care.

Importantly, this company is BLACK. It's QUEER. Everything is MADE BY HAND using ORIGINAL FORMULAS that are the intellectual property of the founders. You really don't need an excuse to support them because their products speak for themselves, and I love them. Thanks again to The Butters team for sending me this lube in exchange for my honest opinion; and thank you for six months of patience.

Check them out at the links below!

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