Something a little different today.
A DIY body scrub with uplifting properties to bring a bright note to the weekend.
The base recipe for this aromatic shower scrub is only 3 ingredients! (oil, sugar & essential oil) — you’ll also need a container of sorts to store it in (or a pretty jar if you’re planning on gifting it), and that’s it.
If you want to get fancy, you can add additional aromatics as I’ve done here with the citrus peel but the idea is that you can make this relaxing spa treat at home without much fuss (also a great small hands project!)
The Basic Recipe
here are the basic ingredients you’ll need to make this body scrub:
- 3/4 cup (150 g) of coarse sugar
- 3 Tbsp of oil
- a few drops (to smell preference) of your favorite essential oil fragrance/s
The Sugar
I like using turbinado sugar (also known as ‘sugar in the raw’) for its coarse texture — it makes an ideal exfoliant without being too harsh and leaves skin feeling silky smooth. It also holds up well with the oil. If you prefer something softer, you can opt for regular sugar (cane/white table sugar) or brown sugar (which is even more gentle / softer than cane sugar). If you end up using cane or brown sugar, you might want to use slightly less oil (you can experiment with that).
The Oil
my favorite oil for this body scrub is fractionated coconut oil — this is a specific type of coconut oil that remains liquid at room temperature (the coconut oil that is used in cooking hardens at room temperature like all saturated fats) — fractionated just means ‘liquid’ in this case, which is how you want the oil to behave in the scrub. You will get all the emollient properties of coconut oil in liquid form and it will leave your skin feeling incredibly soft and hydrated. It’s quite wonderful.
shop — you can find fractionated coconut oil at ‘health’ food stores including Whole Foods (I think Walmart carries it too!) and online.
sweet almond oil — if you can’t get your hands on fractionated coconut oil, my second choice would be sweet almond oil. Beyond that, you can experiment with any number of other oils including olive oil. Here are some other ideas: grapeseed oil; walnut oil; hempseed oil; avocado oil; jojoba oil.
The Essential Oils
concentrated aroma: essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that retain their essence and are an excellent way to capture the signature fragrance of botanicals; these aromas can support our psychological and physiological wellbeing when harmonized with our particular response system.
individual response: although essential oils have certain properties and typical associations, each person reacts differently to aroma and it’s really important to work with oil essences that elicit the desired response for you and avoid those that may cause adverse reactions (headaches, nausea, etc). This may also mean using different aromas at different times of day and in different seasons.
daytime vs evening: the featured day scrub uses peppermint oil an essence typically associated with energizing properties: uplifting, invigorating & mind clearing — generally well suited to morning/daytime with its mild stimulating effect. I have paired it with the soothing and cheerful properties of orange, to create harmony in the morning shower. I’m also choosing to use orange peel rather than the more concentrated orange oil so the predominant influence is the peppermint energy. You can play around with these elements and experiment with what works best for you. Another really nice daytime combination is rosemary & lemon — similar awakening/mind clearing properties as peppermint but with a very different fragrance profile. For evening, I’m usually drawn to the calming oil aromas such as lavender and clary sage, to invite the more relaxing, soporific properties of bedtime. In the winter, I love frankincense but find it overbearing in the summer. So these preferences vary quite a bit and you can experiment with your individual likes and responses.
How Long Will the Sugar Scrub Last?
As a general rule, the sugar scrub should last up to one month and then it’s time to make a fresh batch. I find that the more organic (fresh // alive) the ingredients are, for example fresh citrus zest, the shorter the shelf life. It is best to keep the sugar scrub in a container with lid and store in a cool, dry spot out of direct light.
Wishing you a beautiful weekend wherever you may be and whomever you may be with 🕊
- 150 g (3/4 cup) turbinado sugar also known as sugar in the raw (or other sugar, see post)
- 3 Tbsp (or so) fractionated coconut oil (or other oil, see post)
- A few drops (to smell preference) of essential oil of peppermint (or other essential oil, see post)
- 1 Tbsp orange zest, finely diced (or other aromatic, see post)
- Place the sugar in a roomy bowl (you will want to be able to mix all of the ingredients thoroughly without spilling) -- add the oil, essential oil/s and orange zest (if using).
- Stir everything together and then make any adjustments desired (for example, add more oil for a more liquid base or a few more drops of essence for a more concentrated aroma) - then transfer to a container with lid such as an 8 oz mason jar.
- I've been recycling a dark plastic jar that was gifted to me a while back and it works perfectly for the shower (no risk of glass breaking, etc) and the dark color blocks light, which theoretically protects the integrity of the oil (extends shelf life by a bit) -
- The scrub should last for about 1 month and then you can make another batch!
- I especially like to use this scrub around my neck, shoulders and décolleté area. Magic.
- I hope you love it too!
The information in this post is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician or other health care professional directly with questions.
Made this with my daughter yesterday. We used lavender, a fragrance we both love and she gathered flowers (and sticks :) ) from our garden – her idea! This was a really nice, approachable project for the long weekend and the scrub smells divine. Thank you so much, I needed the boost. Ilona.
oh my goodness, this made my day, so sweet (the thought of the sticks etc. has me beaming) I’m so glad this brought the two of you joy at a time when we could all use some. Much love to you and your daughter and thank you so much for dropping in to let me know.
What a pretty scrub. Do you think salt would work instead of sugar? Don’t want to inadvertently attract any unwanted guests!
oh interesting, i didn’t think about that; thanks for your note Eva. Couple suggestions, keeping the lid on the sugar scrub is helpful and using a sponge to remove any remaining bits (guide them down the shower/bath drain) would be helpful. I use epsom salt in the bath but have not made a body scrub with it (although I know they exist) — maybe someone else on the thread has direct experience with salt body scrubs?
How very invigorating! I’m going to have to have Bobby scrub my back with some of this. That would feel SO good. All of your suggestion sound nice as well. I’m especially drawn to the lavender and sage. This scrub is perfect for the current state of affairs. thanks Kelly!
perfect for the current state of affairs… yes indeed. Cheers friend, I hope you are keeping well.
Looks beautiful and what a fun idea! I’ve never heard of fractionated coconut oil that makes so much sense to prevent the coconut oil from solidifying. Will give that a try. Thank you for all the information and ideas!
You are most welcome! thank you for your kind note; fractionated coconut oil is a great discovery, isn’t it? That’s the thing, regular coconut oil would solidify at room temperature and not really work in this preparation.
I love this Kelly!!!
Do you think I can use citrus peel instead of essential oils altogether?
Hi Melissa, you can experiment here and omit the essential oil/s but you will not get the same concentration of fragrance; so depending on what you are looking for in the scrub, the citrus alone may or may not work for you (it will be a muted fragrance). I personally love the penetrating smell of peppermint, I find it so enlivening and hopeful but I can’t stress enough how individual these responses are. I hope you find what works best for you and thank you so much for your note.
It was perfect the first time. I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up great post.
wonderful, thank you for dropping by.