Learn how to make homemade sugar scrub using just three simple ingredients. This easy recipe helps exfoliate dry skin and restore moisture to hands and feet.
If you’ve never made a sugar scrub, it’s a simple and inexpensive way to help dry hands, feet, and cuticles feel better fast. A basic sugar scrub gently exfoliates to remove dead skin while adding moisture, which is especially helpful during cold or dry weather. Although these recipes work beautifully as a homemade body scrub, I personally don’t use them on my face since they provide more moisture than I need. If you choose to try it on your face, use a very small amount on damp skin, avoid the eye area, rinse well, and limit use to about once a week, depending on your skin type.
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Supplies Needed
- white granulated sugar
- coconut oil
- essential oil
- airtight container (I use small mason jars. If you want to give a jar as a gift, I’ve included printable tags for the white sugar scrubs at the end of the post.)
How To Make
- Combine the sugar and coconut oil in a large bowl and stir until well mixed. The basic ratio for a simple sugar scrub is 1 cup sugar to 1/4 cup oil. I prefer coconut oil, but other mild oils work as well. If your coconut oil is solid, warm the jar briefly until it’s just soft enough to measure.
- Add essential oil, and stir again.
- Package in airtight containers.
If you don’t have coconut oil, a few simple substitutions work just as well. I recommend sticking with one of the following options: Jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, canola oil, or vegetable oil.
Packaging
Once the sugar scrub is mixed, transfer it to airtight containers. I’ve used both 4 oz. and 8 oz. Ball mason jars, but any jar will work as long as the opening is wide enough to scoop the scrub out easily. The two-cup recipe makes three 8 oz. jars, and it can be doubled to fill six 8 oz. jars if you’re making gifts.
To dress up the jars, cut circles from kraft paper and place one over the lid. Center the paper on top, then gently smooth it down over the edges with your hands. Secure it with string or twine tied around the neck of the jar. Brown paper bags work just as well if that’s what you have on hand. For a finishing touch, tie on a small wooden spoon for scooping, and be sure to fill out the form at the end of the post to receive the custom printable tags.
Helpful Tips
- The amount of essential oil you add is a personal choice. I like to open a finished jar and smell it right away, so I usually use a bit more than the recipe calls for. Start small and add more if needed.
- If you’d like to add color, one or two drops of food coloring is plenty. A little goes a long way.
- For best results, make small batches and keep water out of the jar. Store the scrub tightly covered and use a clean, dry spoon or scoop. I prefer to use homemade sugar scrub within about a month, but it really lasts much longer.
- Any brand of organic coconut oil will work, and you can substitute another oil if needed. Just choose something mild and skin-friendly.
- A large scoop makes filling jars quick and neat, especially if you’re making multiple jars for gifts.
Ways to Use Sugar Scrub
- Keep a jar by the sink and use it regularly to help with dry hands and cuticles.
- Wrap a jar as a simple hostess gift.
- Use as favors for bridal or baby showers, or as a thoughtful gift for a new mom or bride.
- A great gift for teachers, especially during the colder months when hands get dry.
- Tuck into Christmas stockings, gift baskets, or Easter baskets.
- A lovely homemade option for birthdays or Mother’s Day.
- Use before a special occasion to soften hands if you don’t get manicures.
- Sugar scrub also works well on knees and feet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Seasonal Variation: Brown Sugar & Orange Scrub
For fall, I made a simple variation using brown sugar and sweet orange essential oil. The brown sugar gives the scrub a slightly softer texture, and the orange scent is light rather than strong. It has a warm, natural feel that seems especially nice as the weather begins to cool. For this small batch, I used:
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil
- 30 drops sweet orange essential oil
Combine the brown sugar and softened coconut oil, then stir in the essential oil. This amount fills two 4 oz. mason jars perfectly. I found that a large cookie scoop made filling the jars especially quick and neat. This version doesn’t need anything fancy for packaging. A simple mason jar is all you need, which makes it an easy little seasonal project to make for yourself or share with someone else.
All Supplies
- 8 oz. mason jars
- 4 oz. mason jars
- Lavender essential oil
- Rosemary essential oil
- Eucalyptus essential oil
- Peppermint essential oil
- organic coconut oil
- small wooden spoons
- baker’s twine
Homemade sugar scrub is a simple and affordable way to care for dry skin using basic ingredients you likely already have on hand. Sugar gently exfoliates while the oil adds moisture, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth without anything complicated. Making it yourself also gives you control over the ingredients, which is especially helpful for sensitive skin. If you enjoy easy handmade gifts like this one, be sure to visit my Gifts in a Jar collection, where I’ve gathered several simple ideas that are perfect for the holiday season.
Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups Sugar
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 20 to 25 drops essential oil
Instructions
- Soften coconut oil in the microwave for a few seconds before measuring.
- Combine sugar and coconut oil in a large bowl.
- Stir until completely mixed together.
- Add essential oil, and stir again.
- Package in airtight containers.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
HOMEMADE SUGAR SCRUB TAGS
Fill out the form below and your gift tags
will arrive in your email inbox!
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I loved this sugar scrub the first time I made it and will continue making it. It is so fragrant and feels luxurious when using. I also like making a citrus scrub for those mornings I need a little help waking up.
Ann, would love the gift tags for your yummy sugar scrubs for the Lavender sugar scrub and also the Rosemary sugar scrub.
Thank you so much! Deb
Thank you for the easy recipe! It only took about 45 minutes to put together 6 jars of scrub including time searching the basement for the jars and lids, printing labels and having a snack. 😃 What an easy gift idea complete with printable labels!
I had to keep one to try of course. It works really well to relieve dry hands. Just don’t get the coconut oil on fabrics. Much appreciated.
Would you be able to tell me the name of the plant in the 3rd picture just above the packaging section. I have the same plant which I thought was kalanchoe but it has never flowered and grows lengthwise.
I made this recipe years ago for a bridal shower favor. Everyone loved it!
Hello! I’ve been taking this journey with you for years! I thank you for your insights, creativity and cheering me along when changes seem even harder than usual! I do love this recipe – I’m an esthetician and I can also recommend grape seed or apricot seed oils as well. Grape seed oil is so light and absolutely no fragrance to it. I use it a lot. Again, thank you for being you and having great ideas!
I’m making your recipe for 6 women. How should I increase the Ingredients?
Hi Stacey…to make six 8 oz. jars you would need to double the recipe. So 4 cups of sugar, 1 cup of oil, and 50 drops of essential oil. I know that sounds like a lot of essential oil, so you could try less and see if the scent is to your liking. Enjoy!
Hey!! Is there any way you can make the round and square tags editable? I added vitamin E oil and different scents to my scrub and would like to have the tags to show that. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much for the suggestion! At this time I’m not able to make the tags editable. The PDF would need to be fully redesigned, and that’s more than I can take on right now. I hope the tags are still helpful as they are, and I truly appreciate you being here.
Can’t wait to make this…