Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipe | A Basic, Easily Adaptable Recipe
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Homemade Sugar Scrubs Are So Easy
What Kind Of Sugar Is Best For Sugar Scrubs?
Using Oils Essential Oils In Sugar Scrubs
Seems like essential oils get a lot of attention these days. A lot of positive things, but some negative too. Essential oils are the extracted compounds from plants containing all the beautiful scents, the essences, of the plant. Some strong health claims are made for some essential oils, but for all intents and purposes, the focus here is on how they smell in a nice sugar scrub.
You can find essential oils now in grocery stores, gift shops like candle shops and greeting card stores, even sometimes in the Dollar Store! Use your imagination and feel free to get creative.
Of course, you do have to be careful too. Some essential oils, like peppermint, for example, can be very intense and drying on the skin. So, best to test just a bit on your skin first to see if there is any sort of reaction. If you are making homemade sugar scrubs for gifts, try to make sure the recipient isn’t allergic.
What kind of oil to use in Sugar Scrub?
In terms of the oils, you can use them for homemade sugar scrubs, olive oil, coconut oil, even avocado or other vegetable oils work. And just like the types of sugars, the base oils can also add scent notes too, especially coconut oil that isn’t overly refined.
For my basic recipe here I use vegetable oil because it’s one that I always have on hand, but feel free to swap out for any of the others mentioned without a problem. That’s the beauty of this basic recipe, it’s so easily adaptable to what you like and what you have on hand.
I also like to add a little vitamin E oil to my scrubs.
Essential Oil Combinations For Scrubs
I have some recipes below which you are welcome to tweak. However, you may run into a variety of essential oils and wonder how well they might work too. Citrus essential oils like grapefruit, bergamot, tangerine, and lemon all work wonderfully with spicy and woodsy scents like cedarwood, sandalwood, and patchouli.
Minty essential oils like peppermint and spearmint blend nicely with savory and floral essential oils like lavender, chamomile, rosemary, and eucalyptus.
Brown Sugar Vanilla Sugar Scrub
I love the caramel warm vanilla scent of this one!
It uses my basic recipe, but a combination of brown and granulated sugar, mixing 3/4 brown sugar to 1/4 granulated. Use a good quality vanilla or vanilla paste to get the best aroma.
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Lavender Sugar Scrub
Calming, soothing lavender. I love this one! Especially at nighttime, a long bath or shower before bed with lavender is so relaxing.
This lavender sugar scrub is made with the addition of lavender essential oil as well as fresh or dried lavender, mixed into granulated sugar.
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Bubblegum Sugar Scrub
Bubblegum sugar scrub was inspired by my beloved Bubble Gum Cupcake Recipe!
^ pin it! ^
Eucalyptus Mint Sugar Scrub
I love the smell of this one. Takes me back to my days of working at Pier One when it was full of eucalyptus! Love that smell!
I did this one with half granulated sugar and half sugar in the raw. This one will be more abrasive, so use for hands or feet. I love it for tired feet. At the last minute, I added a couple of drops of peppermint extract for the mint.
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Lemon Sugar Scrub Recipe
Fresh, clean and bright smelling, this Lemon Sugar Scrub is one I love to have near my kitchen sink. It’s perfect for removing those smells like garlic or onion from your hands.
I used granulated sugar for the lemon scrub here, but it works great with the raw sugar, too. Especially for your hands. I used lemon essential oil and added fresh lemon zest, too!
^ pin it! ^
Peppermint Sugar Scrub Recipe
This Peppermint Sugar Scrub was where it all began! Still one of my absolute favorites, and a great gift at the holidays!
I use granulated sugar, peppermint extract and crushed candy cane. Note that if you want to be able to use on your body to crush the candy canes finer than you see here. These would be too abrasive for your skin.
^ pin it! ^
Jars and Containers for Homemade Sugar Scrubs
This giveaway is beautylicious!! Today I am giving away a Rae Dunn cosmetic bag full of some of my most favorite beauty products. I am all for self-love and self-care.
This gift includes: 1 Rae Dunn cosmetic bag and “Love Life” socks (I ADORE all things Rae Dunn!) travel-sized Kevin Murphy Plumping Wash and Rinse and Repair Me Wash and Rinse, Kevin Murphy Doo Over Spray and Session Spray, J Beverly Hills Rescue Me shampoo and conditioner, an Elf Kabuki brush and a jar of Rodan + Fields Body Hydration.
Thank you to Oak Salon Studio in Omaha, Kenzie Sabaliauskas, stylist for donating my favorite hair care products, and to Marci Lundquist, Rodan + Fields Consultant for donating the active hydration lotion.
The winner will also receive one of my limited edition t-shirts! I am giving away 11 gifts in all, ($1500 value!) including a KitchenAid mixer! You can read all about the gifts and enter to win here on this blog post, or you can enter right here!
ENTER TO WIN ALL OF THE PRIZES HERE
Kitchen Spa Ideas
I have a section of ideas right here on my website for making your own “beauty/spa” items right in your kitchen. During the pandemic last year, my Listerine Foot Soak went CRAZY!! That’s what happens when you take away a persons ability to get a pedicure I guess!
This Banana Botox makes your face feel incredible! And I love this Lemon Salt Scrub from my friend, Kathleen!
^ Pin the Whole Collection Here^
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Basic Sugar Scrub Recipe
Ingredients
- 3/4 cup *granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup *vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil optional but great idea to add in
- 1/2 -1 teaspoons essential oil or extracts for scenting you will need to play with it to get the scent strength to your liking
Instructions
- Stir oils into the sugar.
- Add in essential oils or extracts. *see notes for measurements shown here in this blog post.
Notes
Nutrition
This sugar scrub recipe was originally posted on December 14, 2011, it was updated to improve user experience and reshared on March 23, 2020, in honor of my 10 year Anniversary.
I want to be one of those teachers. I hope they appreciate all of the love and effort you put into your treats!
Absolutely LOVE this idea. I’m trying to do about 50% homemade gifts this year, so this is a great one!
I skipped your post. There is too much reading just to get to the recipe.
There is literally a button at the top of the page that says “jump to recipe” — you could have clicked it, got the recipe and read nothing.
Thanks so much!! I know. Homemade gifts are the best!! And anyone who has taken the TIME to do them appreciates them even more!! <3
Hi Michaela,
I am new to your blog. I found it by accident…and I am sure glad that I did. I haven’t had the opportunity to try out any of your recipes as of yet. However, I just wanted you to know that I have enjoyed listening to the music that you have playing here. Is there a playlist available?
Kindest Regards…
Welcome to my blog!! I have been a little bit “off the map” lately. Just good ‘ol life getting away!! I am so glad you enjoy the blog, and would love to hear if you try any recipes I have shared. The music was a fluke when I started and it’s been a huge hit!! RIght now I (think) you can only listen via my blog? But perhaps I can be followed via the playlist posted on my blog?? See how un-technologically inclined I am!?!? 😉 I know that many followers have told me they just put my blog on in the background while they surf!! Maybe I should make a “Greatest Hits” CD?? 😀
Is it just regular granulated sugar or something special in the recipes
Nope! Nothing special…. just plain old granulated sugar! 🙂
Well, my skin thanks you! Silky smooth and smelling delicious!
These are too cute and will make great gifts too!
Lovely and interesting post. Very innovative and perfect ideas.
Such a beautiful gift idea, and low how it’s customizable! Thank you for sharing!
This looks so fun and exciting to do with my daughter! I can’t wait to make some scrubs!
These sugar scrubs look amazing! Love the candy cane one.
These look amazing, and so easy too! They would make perfect gifts.
Could I use the base scrub on my scalp? I have an itchy head and am looking for an alternative to the chemical-laden stuff you can buy at a hair salon.
Thanks!
I know that there are essential oils that work great for that. Not sure about the scrub part in your hair. My daughter is a hair stylist and I would be happy to ask her?
Michaela Kenkel, that would be great if your daughter doesn’t mind answering. Thank you for the offer!
She said that you could use it, but be warned that your hair might get incredibly greasy with the vegetable oil. This is technically meant for skin. She told me many of her clients have had good luck with tea tree oil for dry scalps. Also, use cool water when rinsing your hair. If you aren’t a fan of the products at the salon, maybe try your local health food store or vitamin store and see if they have something natural too. I hope this helps!
Thank you for sharing the detailed process for making this. I am excited to create unique sugar scrubs and share them as a gift for others.
I would love to hear what you make!