How We Tested

Best of the Year arranged for Buff City Soap’s corporate team to ship Body Butter directly to 15 evaluators during summer 2026. Because the whipped formula may lose its structure in warm-weather transit and is not ordinarily available for online shipping during that period, the products were shipped over ice. For practical testing logistics, Buff City Soap selected the mailed fragrances from among its bestsellers; unlike customers purchasing at a Makery, judges and testers did not choose which fragrance they received.

Reviewers used the Body Butter on their skin and assessed its texture, application, perceived hydration, skin after-feel and overall performance. Expert review included two dermatologists, two cosmetic formulation experts and three additional category judges with decades of experience in beauty and personal-care products. A sustainability judge assessed relevant environmental considerations, while two packaging specialists reviewed the packaging and dispensing experience.

Best of the Year analysts and editors also visited the Buff City Soap Makery in Rye Brook, New York, to observe and participate in the in-store preparation experience. During the visit, they sampled a range of fragrances and made their custom formulas by adding their favorite fragrance to the unscented bases already prepared in the store. They also used the Body Butter over an extended period of time and considered their own observations alongside the ingredient information, marketing claims, submitted materials, expert assessments and consumer feedback in reaching the final decision.

What Our Experts and Consumer Testers Said

Moisturization was the clearest strength, especially for dry skin. “It really did an amazing job moisturizing my skin. I have VERY dry skin and it made it very soft,” one tester said. She was surprised that the thick butter absorbed without leaving her fingers greasy.

“It really did an amazing job moisturizing my skin. I have VERY dry skin and it made it very soft” -Best of the Year Consumer Tester

A dermatologist also praised the scent she received and said it “left skin very soft with no film.” Another judge called the product “divine,” adding, “It smells amazing and does what it says, hydrated skin for many hours.”

“The product is divine! It smells amazing and does what it says, hydrated skin for many hours” -Best of the Year Judge & Beauty Category Expert

Reviewers appreciated how rich the butter felt, though they described its texture in different ways. “Very light by look and feel, but extremely rich when you put it on,” said one judge. A cosmetic formulation expert found it “very nourishing and not overly greasy considering the high level of shea butter.” She added, “I love the whipped texture. Sort of crumples when you pick up a sample of it, which is incredibly sensorial.” Another expert praised the application and the feel afterward: “It felt nourishing and supportive.”

“I love the whipped texture. Sort of crumples when you pick up a sample of it, which is incredibly sensorial.” -Best of the Year Judge & Beauty Category Expert

The "makery" experience gave our team a chance to choose fragrances and mix them into our own jars. That choice matters with a product so centered on scent. Several reviewers loved the fragrances Buff City Soap selected for their mailed samples, while others found theirs too strong or not to their taste.

“It felt nourishing and supportive.” -Best of the Year Judge & Cosmetic Formulation Expert

The richness was not for everyone. One tester said, “It was fine for my skin. It moisturized well but it was sticky.” A judge found it “very greasy and heavy,” while another, who otherwise liked the product, said it was “a bit greasy feeling.” If your skin isn’t especially dry—or you prefer a lighter moisturizer in summer—this butter may feel like too much.

“It was fine for my skin. It moisturized well.” -Best of the Year Consumer Tester

Some mailed samples to our reviewers had small uneven bits. One tester, who otherwise liked the thickness and how well it moisturized her dry skin, said, “There were still chunks in the body butter.” Because each jar is mixed by hand, some variation is possible. Summer shipping may also have played a part: even with ice packs, portions of the whipped butter could have softened in transit and firmed up again, changing its texture. We could not determine which factor caused the bits we found. Buff City Soap limits Body Butter to Makery purchases during summer to avoid texture changes in shipping, and our visit let us try it freshly prepared.

Best of the Year Bottom Line

Buff City Soap makes buying a jar of body butter feel like an outing. At the Makery, the fragrances we tried were sophisticated and well balanced—we had a hard time choosing just one, especially once we learned we could blend them. You can also adjust the scent strength or skip fragrance altogether before mixing your jar. Most of our reviewers with dry skin loved how soft the rich butter left them, and at about $17 for 3.1 ounces, the hands-on experience adds to its appeal. If you typically prefer a lighter moisturizer, try the texture while you’re there before committing.

Why Trust Us?

The Best of the Year Media team comprises award-winning editors, analysts, subject-matter experts and consumer specialists who have spent their careers helping people make smarter, more confident decisions. With deep expertise across consumer lifestyle categories, our team brings decades of experience evaluating products, brands and services. Our recommendations are grounded in rigorous evaluation combined with expert judgment and consumer insights, giving readers trusted guidance on products, services, and experiences worth bringing into their lives.

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