Homemade Sugar Body Scrub
As promised, one solution to overpriced, way over packaged, chemical laden, body care products. I make a lot of homemade body care stuff - but this one is my favorite because it’s so good it’s gift worthy. Perfect to make in bulk, and give away to friends. Some people I know make this with salt - I have this lame tendency to try and chop veggies like a knife pro (which I’m not) and cut my fingers - salt and cuts don’t mix. That’s why I use sugar. But you can use salt.
Supplies:
- 2 cups sugar - I like a mix of coarse natural brown, and basic white; it makes a good scrub worthy feel. You can use just coarse brown or just plain white though. Do not use soft brown baking sugar.
- Oil: I like apricot or light olive best. Any oil that’s natural and from a nut or fruit will work. Baby oil (non-scented) will also work. Do not use cooking oil like corn - that will make a funky smell and a too-slick feel.
- Vanilla beans: Use whole organic, or in a pinch I’ve used organic vanilla extract (seriously, I was hard up). However, extract will darken your mix - no biggie though.
- Organic lavender essential oil.
- Any old container with a lid.
Instructions:
- Place vanilla beans in dry sugar. Cover and let sit for a week or two - the longer it sits the better the smell. If using vanilla extract, skip this step.
- Remove vanilla beans. Cover sugar until saturated (but not over saturated) with oil. Short on oil? You can also use a mix of oil and water - I know the two don’t mix, but in sugar it will work.
- Add a few drops of lavender oil. If you’re using vanilla extract add a few drops now.
- Use to scrub down your body either before you start the shower or during. Rinse well. Do not use on face or hair.
- This last a long time - i.e. it won’t mold or anything before you use it up. You can keep it in your bathroom. Also, contrary to what you may think, you won’t be sticky. You don’t need to wash this off with soap; plain water is fine.
One, you will feel smooth and smell delicious. Two, your bathroom will also smell great all day long. I’ve been reusing the same container for years. If you want to give this as a gift, look for short, squat, wide glass containers at thrift stores. You can also mix this up with various herbs and essential oils.
Other nice mixes I’ve tried include:
- Grapefruit and peppermint
- Orange, clove, and lemon
- Tea tree
- Basil and lemon
- Cedar and lavender
- Coffee (I ground a bit of espresso) and grapefruit
- Almond and orange
Really the sky is the limit. The best thing about homemade body scrubs is how versatile and cheap they are. If you mess up, no big loss. It’s natural and degrades so no worries. If you don’t have essential oils around they can be a be more costly to get started with. I use oils for everything though so I have many. Also, one small bottle of organic lavender oil will make tons of this stuff. TONS. I saw some sugar scrub at the store and it was $22 - holy. I can make batches for that much money. Plus mine has no artificial anything in it.
Give it a try, you’ll love it.
Tags: body scrub, essential-oils, homemade sugar scrub, lavender body scrub, natural body care, salt scrub, sugar scrubRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Beauty, Health & Wellness, Organic Body, Save Money
16 opinions for Homemade Sugar Body Scrub
Julie
Feb 8, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Nice! I’d love the almond one, almonod has such a relaxing scent. I have everything here to make a batch of this, with sugar and with salt. I like using both…er, but not in the same mix. Ew.
Julie
Feb 8, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Wow. I can’t spell almond.
marye
Feb 8, 2008 at 1:31 pm
really nice! I amke this with turbinado sugar..cause it is scrubbier.
I need to make it with salt because Kyrie has been known to eat it. :P
Jennifer
Feb 8, 2008 at 6:05 pm
almonod does have a lovely smell! That’s a great spelling - no worries. I spell lame easy stuff wrong; like those and whether.
Yeah, turbinado - I couldn’t remember what it was called. I always call it coarse. Eat it; like there’s not enough cooking going on at your house that your girl is eating the scrubs! That’s funny.
N & J
Feb 8, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Sounds awesome. I am waiting for my store bought body wash and scrub to run out and then I want to make my own.
Mary Jo
Feb 9, 2008 at 1:21 am
I’m one of those people who would think nothing of plunking down $22 if the scrub smelled good enough to eat. Scrubs last me forever, and I have about six different “flavors” currently open.
After reading how easy this is, I’ll use up what I have and then make my own. Even if I have to spend a little for some essential oils to get started, it’ll make me feel a whole lot better than spending all that money.
I hope you continue to have great recipes like this!
Jennifer
Feb 9, 2008 at 7:12 am
N&J - you’ll like it a lot I think, and the best part is you can cut the recipe so in case you want to try something new, you don’t have to live with the mistake for long - once I tried a chocolate deal (it was bad).
Mary Jo - Really! I hate spending money on this kind of stuff - but my sis like to so I get it. But homemade is kind of fun, and so custom too, which is nice. Essential oils, even organic are pretty inexpensive as well, especially the mainstream scents like lavender, so it actually is pretty cheap to get going. Some are a bit more, but they’re more for people into natural medicine with oils.
DramaMama
Feb 9, 2008 at 10:42 am
This sounds awesome! I don’t usually use any scrubby stuff, but I should. I do like to give homemade gifts like this though! I’ve got a bunch of bridal showers coming up, so this is really useful…thanks!
Faith
Feb 9, 2008 at 10:43 am
awsome!! just wondering..what would happen if sugar and salt would be used in the same scrub??i just want to try cause i’ve tried both..and it did a good job on my skin!! i’m now thinking if these two can be mixed..
Jennifer
Feb 10, 2008 at 10:53 am
DramaMama - this is perfect for showers. A glass jar of this looks great if you design a pretty and simple label, and tie some hemp (or ribbon) with a small bit of lavender around the jar.
Faith ~ Salt scrub purists would not mix the sugar and salt, because of the therapeutic salt benefits. That said, it won’t hurt anything to mix them. Not sure about the scent though. Salt and sugar lend to a fairly unique scent in scrubs. Together I don’t know. You can try and then let us know.
Weekend Jaunt Around the Channel
Feb 10, 2008 at 11:06 pm
[…] issues. I think we’re back on track now, though!!!! Here goes: Oh wow…..I really want to try this!!! I used the store sample sugar scrub years ago and LOVED the way it made my skin feel! I still […]
Pana
Mar 5, 2008 at 11:11 am
Hey! I am looking for a recipe that can be applied and then either taken off with hot towels or that will disovle with a lotion after it is applied. Does anyone have any suggestions?
peggy
Mar 18, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Question…
Do you have to refridgerate sugar scrub? I’d like to make up something with a year long shelf life.
Jennifer
Mar 18, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I don’t think sugar scrub would last a year and do well, it would get crusty, also, the value of the oils would go down quite a lot. If you don’t use that much, I’d make less.
Sarah
Apr 18, 2008 at 7:40 am
Sounds great! but how long would this product last?
Jennifer
Apr 18, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Sarah, like I said above, a year is pushing it. Frankly six months is pushing it. sugar won’t go bad but the oil integrity will. If forced to estimate, I think people should make about as much natural body products as they can use in about two months. Any longer and stuff like herbs and oils lose their impact. Although, in the case of sugar scrub it stays scrubby obviously. I had some once for about four months and it was fine. But really small batched are best.
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