Homemade Sugar Scrubs, Two Ways

I totally know what you should make for Valentine’s Day.

It’s not red. It’s not pink. It’s not even heart-shaped.

But this, this is pure luxury. And it’s not even for eating. (Shocking, I know.)

These sugar scrubs are amazingly easy to put together, and can be customized to smell like whatever you want. All you need is sugar, vegetable glycerin, and something to make it smell yummy. The sugar was, obviously, quite easy to come by. I found the vegetable glycerin and essential oil at a local food co-op, but I’ve seen them at Whole Foods, as well. AND. You can get the vegetable glycerin online for a really good price if you’re making this for all of your Valentines.

Oh. You’ll also need a vessel for your pretty little bath product. You’ll want something that has a wide mouth so you can scoop out scrub. Mason jars would be lovely, but I’ve been looking for an excuse to use these gorgeous little jars for some time now, and this seemed like just the thing.

But what should it smell like? The capricious weather of sunshine-bordering-on-balmy and icy-as-frost-on-the-windshield has left me feeling seasonally confused.  Do I want something warm and comforting that smells like a warm blanket by the fire on a snowy day? Or something forward-looking that ellicits a sense of lazy lounging on a sun-soaked porch?

Well, shoot. How about both?

For one, a simple white sugar with just a few drops of sweet orange oil. For the other, a blend of white and brown sugars accompanied by a few pinches of spice.

Add a little bit of ribbon (always, always ribbon), and you’ll have a perfect little gift to send to someone who deserves a little luxury.

And whether they want something warm and comforting…

…or fresh and bright…

… they’ll be in for a win no matter what the weather’s up to.

Spring Sunshine Sugar Scrub
Adapted from Care2

Makes enough scrub to fill a 4 oz container

1/2 c white granulated sugar
1/4 c vegetable glycerin
a few drops orange essential oil (or your favorite!)

Combine ingredients in a bowl and mix well. Rub a small amount on your hands, legs, or face for a refreshing burst of summer exfoliation!

Winter Warmth Sugar Scrub
Adapted from Care2

Makes enough scrub to fill a 4 oz container

1/4 c white granulated sugar
1/4 c light brown sugar, loosely packed
1/4 c vegetable glycerin
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Combine ingredients in a bowl. Mix well. Use a small amount to scrub away the dry skin of cold winter.