One of the questions I get asked most often is, “When should I use Muscle Butter?”
Is it best after a workout? Before physical therapy? Before bed?
The truth is, there isn’t one right answer.
When I created Muscle Butter, I wasn’t thinking about athletes or elaborate body care routines. I was thinking about my daughter. As her caregiver, massage became part of our daily rhythm before and after therapy sessions. I wanted something made with thoughtfully selected herbal ingredients that felt nourishing on her skin and gentle enough to become part of our everyday routine.
What surprised me was how naturally it became part of mine, too.
Last week, after one of the more challenging Pilates sessions I’ve had in a while, I came home with sore triceps and immediately shifted into mom mode.
Dinner.
Bath.
Pajamas.
Bedtime.
Like many families navigating therapy, massage is part of Ila’s evening routine. As I warmed a little Muscle Butter between my hands and began massaging her muscles, I caught myself thinking:
This would feel really good on my arms right now.
Before finishing her bedtime routine, I scooped out a little more and rubbed it into my own sore muscles.
It was such a simple moment, but it stopped me in my tracks.
As I sat there caring for both of us, I realized this was exactly what I had hoped Muscle Butter would become. Not a product reserved for sore muscles after an intense workout or tucked away for special occasions, but something that naturally fit into everyday life. A product I trusted enough to use as part of my daughter’s therapy routine and one I instinctively reached for after asking a little more of my own body than usual.
That moment reminded me that body care doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. Most of us aren’t setting aside an hour every day for elaborate recovery routines. We’re fitting small moments of care into lives that are already full, after a long shift, before bed, following physical therapy, after gardening, or in the quiet moments between caring for everyone else.
That’s why I don’t think there’s a single “best” time to use Muscle Butter.
The best time is simply the moment your body asks for a little extra attention.
When I created Muscle Butter, I wasn’t trying to make another body butter. I was trying to meet a need in my own home.
As Ila’s caregiver, much of our daily life revolves around therapies designed to help her body move, grow stronger, and do things that don’t always come easily. Massage naturally became part of our routine before and after those sessions, and I wanted something made with thoughtfully selected herbal ingredients that felt nourishing on her skin and gentle enough to use every day.
Over time, I realized those few minutes became about much more than applying a product. They became an opportunity to slow down, check in with her body, prepare together for the work ahead, or help her unwind afterward. In the middle of busy days filled with appointments and responsibilities, those quiet moments reminded me that caring for the body deserves our full attention.
As Muscle Butter found its way into other people’s homes, I discovered that no two routines look exactly alike. Some people reach for it after a long run or an intense workout. Others use it before physically demanding activity as part of preparing their bodies for movement. Massage therapists have incorporated it into their practice, and I’ve heard from people navigating aging bodies, long workdays on their feet, and families like mine who have made it part of their therapy routines.
What connects all of those experiences isn’t the activity itself. It’s the intention behind it.
Whether you’re preparing for movement, winding down afterward, or simply responding to what your body is asking for, taking a few intentional moments to slow down and care for yourself matters.
That’s what Muscle Butter has always represented to me, not perfection, but presence.
One of the reasons I love this question is because my answer is always the same:
It depends on the day and the need.
There isn’t a schedule I follow or a checklist I try to complete. Instead, I’ve learned to pay attention to what my body needs.
Some mornings, I reach for Muscle Butter after Pilates or a long walk. Other days, it’s after spending hours packing orders, standing at an event, or working at my computer longer than I intended. There are evenings when I massage it into my shoulders before bed, and other times I’ll use it before or after a therapy session with Ila.
I’ve found that slowing down for even a few minutes helps me reconnect with my body. I scoop a small amount into my hands, let it soften between my palms, and gently massage it into the areas that have carried me through the day.
Sometimes that’s my shoulders or forearms.
Other days, it’s my calves or feet after being on them for hours.
Those few minutes have become less about following a routine and more about paying attention.
Our bodies do so much for us every single day, yet it’s easy to move from one responsibility to the next without noticing how we’re feeling. Taking a moment to massage my muscles reminds me to pause, breathe, and appreciate everything my body has carried me through.
That’s why I don’t think there’s a single “best” time to use Muscle Butter.
The best time is whenever your body asks for a little extra attention.
One of the greatest joys of creating Aye & I Apothecary has been hearing the stories people share after taking Muscle Butter home.
What started as something I made for my own family has become part of so many different routines, and no two are exactly alike.
Some people use Muscle Butter before or after physical therapy. Massage therapists have incorporated it into their bodywork, while others reach for it after long workdays, spending hours in the garden, or standing on their feet. I’ve even met customers who keep a jar at their desk and massage it into their shoulders and forearms after a long day at the computer.
One customer, Marvin, shared that Muscle Butter has become part of his post-game routine:
His experience isn’t the only way to use Muscle Butter. It’s simply one example of how people make it their own.
That’s one of the things I love most about this product. It isn’t built around a rigid routine or a list of rules. It naturally becomes part of the moments that already exist in your day.
Whether you’re recovering after physical activity, preparing for therapy, winding down before bed, or simply responding to what your body needs after a long day, the best routine is the one that feels natural enough to become part of your life.
When I created Muscle Butter, I wasn’t looking to make another body butter. I wanted to create something that reflected the way I care for my own family, simple, intentional, and made with thoughtfully selected herbal ingredients.
Every ingredient has a purpose. If it’s in the jar, it’s there for a reason.
Unrefined shea butter creates the rich, moisturizing foundation, while cocoa butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and apricot kernel oil work together to create a smooth, nourishing texture that makes massage feel effortless.
At the heart of the formulation is kombo butter, the ingredient that first inspired Muscle Butter and continues to make it unlike anything else I’ve found. Its rich color, earthy aroma, and long history of traditional use in body care are what first drew me to it, and it’s still the ingredient that defines this product today.
Lavender, cedarwood, and jasmine essential oils provide a subtle, grounding aroma that complements the experience without overwhelming the senses, while vitamin E helps keep the oils fresh and stable.
Together, these ingredients create a rich herbal body butter designed to become part of your everyday routine.
If you’d like to learn more about kombo butter and why I chose it, I’ve written a separate article that explores its history, traditional uses, and what makes it such a special ingredient.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that body care doesn’t have to be earned.
You don’t have to finish a marathon, complete an intense workout, or push yourself to exhaustion before giving your body a little attention.
Some days your body is recovering from movement. Other days it’s simply asking you to slow down.
Both are worthy of care.
I think we’ve been conditioned to believe that caring for ourselves should come after everything else is finished. As a mother and caregiver, I know that’s rarely how life works. There is always one more errand to run, one more email to answer, one more load of laundry waiting to be folded.
I’ve stopped waiting for the perfect time.
Instead, I’ve learned to embrace the small moments that already exist throughout my day. Those few minutes before bed. A quiet pause after Pilates. A moment to check in with my body after standing at an event all afternoon.
Those moments may seem small, but over time they’ve become some of the most meaningful parts of my routine.
If your body carried you through the day, that’s reason enough to care for it.
Looking back, that evening after Pilates wasn’t really about sore triceps.
It was about realizing that the product I created for my daughter had quietly become part of caring for myself, too.
When I first began formulating Muscle Butter, I hoped it would become something families could trust and use every day. I never imagined how many different ways people would make it their own, or how often I’d find myself reaching for it without even thinking.
That’s my hope for you.
Not that you use Muscle Butter exactly the way I do, but that you discover the moments that make sense for your own life.
Whether it’s after a workout, before or after physical therapy, following a long shift, after a day in the garden, or simply while winding down before bed, I hope it becomes one of those small reminders to pause, listen to your body, and appreciate everything it carries you through.
Because the best body care routine isn’t the most elaborate one.
It’s the one you’ll actually return to.
Danielle Motley is a dedicated mother and passionate herbalist who believes in nurturing the mind, body, and soul through nature’s healing power. Inspired by her daughter’s special needs, Danielle embarked on a journey to master the therapeutic uses of plants. Her commitment to promoting natural wellness and holistic health for all has led her to immerse herself in the study of herbal medicine.
Danielle shares her extensive knowledge through writing, workshops, and personal consultations, inspiring others to embrace a balanced and natural lifestyle. Her compassionate approach and expertise in plant-based wellness make her a trusted guide on the journey to holistic health.
Her areas of expertise include:
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