Sugar Scrubs

These sugar scrubs were made for my mom as a Christmas present. The top one is a combination of the recipe from Our Best Bites for brown sugar scrub and Condo Blues' Kahlua scrub . The pink scrub on the bottom is also a recipe from Condo Blues. It's the candy canes that give it the lovely color.

The scrubs still need a bit of tweaking. I really wished the scrubs were more fragrant. I tried to find some essential peppermint or cinnamon oils to put into the mix, but they were all out at the stores by me. I'm going to keep looking. I think I'll have better luck after the holidays when crafting supplies aren't in as high demand.

Here are some things I learned in the scrub making process: Use mild, light or extra light olive oil. Extra Virgin Olive Oil imparts too much of an olive-y smell. I do like the smell of olives and olive oil, it's just not something pleasant in a body scrub, at least in my opinion. I also discovered that you should avoid using regular brown sugar. It makes the scrub too mooshy. Domino sugar makes a neat granulated brown sugar that helps keep the grainy texture that is desired in a scrub.

Sweet and Spicy Sugar Scrub from Our Best Bites
1/4 C brown sugar
1/4 C white sugar
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t ground ginger
1/2 t ground cloves
Oil: olive oil*, almond oil, grape seed oil, apricot oil, jojoba, etc.
optional: a few drops of essential oil, such as cinnamon

*I use olive oil for my sugar scrubs, which does have a scent. If the smell bothers you, try a “light” olive oil which has a milder taste and smell. Or just use a different type of oil all together.

Combine everything but oil in a bowl and then add in oil and stir to combine. I suggest starting with just part of the oil and adding it until it’s the consistency you want it. Store in a container with a lid. I suggest keeping it in the fridge if you have left overs, it should last quite a while. Stop using it if it smells gross.

Kahlua sugar scrub from Condo Blues
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 cup granulated brown sugar
1/2 cup olive oil (or any of the oils in the basic recipe)
6 drops of vanilla

Pour the granulated white sugar and brown sugar into a bowl and mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well blended. Pour the sugar mixture into a jar. Pour the liquid ingredients into sugar mix. But the lid on the jar and shake it to mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well blended.

Peppermint candy cane scrub from Condo Blues
1 cup granulated white sugar
6 candy canes/peppermint candy (approx ¼ cup), finely crushed into a powder
1/2 cup olive oil (or any of the oils in the basic recipe)
6 drops peppermint essential oil (optional)

Pour the granulated white sugar and crushed peppermint into the jar. But the lid on the jar and shake it to mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well blended. Pour the liquid ingredients into sugar mix. But the lid on the jar and shake it to mix thoroughly until the ingredients are well blended.