This Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub recipe is an easy homemade DIY to pamper yourself or give as a lovely gift. A homemade sugar scrub that's all-natural since it contains essential oils and smells lovely!
These 23 Sugar Scrub Recipes are always popular and worth a try! We also recommend our DIY Lavender Bath Salts recipe; it's fantastic!
Have you tried making your own homemade sugar scrub? They are fantastic for banishing dry, dead skin. Store-bought varieties are great but can be expensive and may contain not-so-natural ingredients and preservatives.
It's so simple and inexpensive to make your own natural DIY sugar scrub recipes; you'll be hooked!
Making sugar scrubs at home is definitely something you can easily do. You might even have all the ingredients on hand in your cupboard right now!
One of our favorite things to do is mixing up a batch, placing it in a pretty glass container, and giving it as a gift, too. All of your mommy friends would love one for their Birthday or Mother's Day so that they can pamper themselves with silky smooth skin!
You can even do a spa party and have all your guests make these to take home!
Lavender Sugar Scrub Benefits
Lavender essential oil is known for its calming effect, but there are other benefits as well.
- It's soothing. It can reduce redness and calm irritated skin.
- It helps acne-prone skin. The lavender essential oil can help heal inflamed skin to reveal a smooth, calm surface.
- It calms your senses and relaxes you. This scrub makes a wonderful addition to your nighttime routine.
Table of Contents
Materials Needed for a Homemade Lavender Sugar Scrub
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- Airtight glass jar
- sugar
- (Organic) Coconut Oil (or another carrier oil)
- vitamin E oil (acts as a natural preservative)
- vanilla extract
- lavender essential oil
How to Make a Sugar Scrub
Ingredients
- 1 cup of granulated sugar
- ½ cup oil (almond oil, olive oil, or coconut work best)
- ½ teaspoon vitamin E oil
- ½ teaspoon real vanilla extract
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly.
- You can add more or less oil to your liking.
- Store in an airtight container. Since this recipe doesn't contain any chemical preservatives, it's best to use it within a month or two.
How Much Lavender Essential Oil to Use?
How much lavender essential oil to use in your scrub is a personal preference. You can use 15 drops of essential oil as the recipe instructs. Or, for more lavender scent in your scrub, use 5-10 more drops of lavender essential oil.
Newly Added Printable Tags!
Grab your free printable labels to use on your lavender scrub DIY if giving it as a gift! Just cut the tags out, punch a hole at the top, and tie the tag on with a ribbon or twine!
How to Use Your DIY Sugar Scrub
- Scoop a small amount of the Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub in your hands with a spoon.
- Scrub all over your hands or feet - or wherever you’d like extra soft skin.
- Allow the sugar scrub to soak into your skin for a few minutes. Take a deep breath. Enjoy this time to relax!
- Rinse well and then pat dry with a soft towel.
Notes about Making a Sugar Scrub
- To gain the most therapeutic benefit, we recommend using non-fractionated coconut oil in this recipe.
- If kept clean and dry, we recommend using your scrub within about 3 months.
- If your scrub hardens, place it in a shallow dish of warm water to soften it up before use.
- The vitamin E oil adds a bit more softness when using your scrub and provides a natural preservative to the recipe. If you don't have any on hand, you can leave it out, but your DIY lavender sugar scrub may not last as long.
- For your convenience, we added free custom printable tags for this recipe.
- You can also make this recipe with organic brown sugar.
DIY Beauty Products with Lavender
Bonus! With this DIY beauty product, you not only get skin that's more healthy and vibrant, but you also receive the wellness benefits of using lavender essential oil. These benefits include eliminating tension, promoting relaxation, relieving pain, and enhancing blood circulation.
Yes, please!
We Love to Hear From You!
If you try this homemade Lavender Body scrub or any other recipe on Suburban Simplicity, then don't forget to rate the recipe and let us know how it went in the comments below; we love hearing from you! Better yet, use the hashtag #suburbansimplicity if you make the recipe.
You can also FOLLOW US FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious food, fun crafts, + DIYs!
Also, we have a Sugar Scrub Board on Pinterest you might enjoy!
Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub Recipe
This Lavender Vanilla Sugar Scrub recipe is an easy homemade DIY to pamper yourself or give as a lovely gift. A homemade sugar scrub that's all-natural and smells wonderful!
Materials
- 1 cup of organic sugar
- ½ cup oil (almond oil, olive oil or coconut oil work best)
- ½ teaspoon vitamin E oil (acts as a preservative)
- ½ teaspoon real vanilla extract
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
Tools
- Mixing bowl
- Spoon
- Glass Jar
Instructions
- Place all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix together thoroughly with a spoon. You can add more or less oil to your liking.
- Store in an airtight container. Since this recipe doesn’t contain any chemical preservatives, it’s best if it’s used within a month or two.
Notes
Your scrub will last 2-3 months if kept clean and stored in a cool, dry place.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
This post was originally published on April 1, 2016. We updated it with enhanced instructions on March 17, 2020.
Our other favorite Scrubs is this Vanilla Brown Sugar Scrub that smells good enough to eat!
This DIY Peppermint Bath Salt Recipe is also a great homemade treat.
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Brenda Cain says
I am using coconut oil and am wondering if I will be able to smell the lavender over the coconut. I have made vanilla sugar lip scrub and can’t smell the vanilla over the coconut.
Erin Henry says
It can be hard to get the lavender scent above the coconut. You can try adding more lavender or using another carrier oil like olive oil so that the lavender shines through.
Jinnie says
I’m confused, because it says in parentheses when listing the ingredients that the vitamin E oil acts as a preservative, but at the end of the recipe, it says that it should be used within a month or two because there are no preservatives.
Erin Henry says
Good question, Jinnie. Vitamin E acts somewhat as a natural preservative but doesn't last as long as chemical additives.
Tami says
I was wondering if I. Pups use fresh lavender in this?
Erin Henry says
Yes, using fresh lavender is fine in this recipe.
Suzy says
Loved how easy this was to make and it smelled so good!
Erin Henry says
Yay! This is such an easy DIY you can do from home anytime!
Krissy Allori says
I love this so much. I'm going to tuck this away for a great gift idea. I love being able to make something for myself or for those I love.
Erin Henry says
It's such an easy recipe and friends love getting them for gifts.
Allyson Boykin says
Do you have printable tags for the lavender vanilla scent? Would greatly appreciate them,
Erin Henry says
We don't have printable tags for this scrub, Allyson, but we will add that to our list of future projects. Thanks for stopping by.
Kristin says
Hi! Anyone know how this turns out if you don’t have vitamin E oil??
Thanks!
Erin Henry says
The vitamin E oil acts as a natural preservative, Kristin. It's not necessary, but can make your scrub last longer. Plus, it adds a bit more softness to your skin.
Laura Fay says
I made the Vanilla Lavender Scrub for the first time over the weekend. I love the way it feels and smells. However, I used the coconut oil and found that the coconut smell over powers the Lavender and Vanilla. I was hoping for the Lavender scent to be the primary scent. Should I use more of the Lavender essential oils or use a different oil?. Thanks for the recipes. I can't wait ti try more.
Erin Henry says
You can try more lavender essential oil, Laura. However, you can also try another carrier oil like olive, or almond.
Vicki Porter says
Can you use plastic jars instead of glass since they will probably be in the shower?
Erin Henry says
You absolutely can, Vicki, however, chemicals may leach into your scrub.
Kelly says
Love this! Anything with lavender has to be great right?! I have included your scrub in our article, 5 Homemade Sugar Scrubs. You can view it here if you like, https://www.diythought.com/5-homemade-sugar-scrubs/ Thanks 🙂
Erin Henry says
Thanks, Kelly!
Wendy Feltz says
Love the facial and body scrub recipes
Ttracie says
How do I keep my sugar scrub from hardening
Erin says
This is a bit harder to do in the winter months, Tracie. You could add a little almond or olive oil to make sure the coconut oil doesn't harden.
Ashley says
What size jars are those? 3 ounce jars?
Erin says
These were the smaller jars, probably about 3 oz. However, I usually use larger ones that fit the whole recipe. They are about a cup.
Stephani says
Half pint jars
STEPHANI says
I made this and it's a bit dry, to make it more creamy I would just add more coconut oil right? Can i mix with other oils?
Erin says
Good question, Stephani. Yes, just add more oil to create the consistency you like. I think it would be okay to mix different kinds of oils for this recipe. Enjoy, Erin
cindy harder says
these scrubs are just delightful. I made the lavender mint scrub. It smells so nice and leaves your skin very soft and smooth.
Erin says
I love hearing that you are enjoying the scrub, Cindy! Thanks for saying so! They're so easy to make and smell amazing! The perfect way to pamper yourself.
Jennifer Duke says
Yum! Lavender and Vanilla, great combo.
Erin says
Love it too! So refreshing and simple.
Darlene Watson says
Good morning Erin;
I love this and want to give it to my friends for gifts when they arrive. I have known them since 1974 and I am sure they would love this. I have been searching for the jar you are using here and can't find it anywhere. I wonder if you could tell me where I might find them. I like the look of them so much more than the regular canning jars. Thanks, Erin,
Darlene
Erin says
Hi Darlene,
I'm sure your friends will loves this sugar scrub as a gift - how lovely you've know when so long! I found that jar at Michael's a while ago, but here are a couple that are similar that can be found on Amazon:
https://amzn.to/2nm1GWK
https://amzn.to/2vpZq5j
Enjoy, Erin
Darlene Watson says
Thank you so much Erin I really appreciate that. I will try to find them.
xo
Darlene
Sarah says
The vanilla/brown sugar looks good enough to eat! I imagine it smells even more tempting.
I have always wondered why no one mentions that with the goodness of no preservatives, we do need to use home-made scrubs faster, thank you so much for covering that. (I still wonder about sticking it in the 'frig, but better safe than sorry, I imagine)
I literally am eating a peppermint and was thinking about doing something with peppermint, so I'm *so* excited to see the peppermint bath salts! Headed there now!!
Thank you so much for sharing these, my fave scrub was discontinued and I have missed the heck out of them, it will be fun to try this.
Julie says
How much does this recipe make ? I would like to make for 9 party favors
Erin says
Each recipe makes about 1 and 1/2 cups. If you double double it, the recipes makes about 3 half pints jars. Enjoy, Julie!
lisa says
Hi!Will the sugar in the scrubs cause them to harden?Thanks......Lisa
Erin says
Hi Lisa, great question. You should be able to keep your sugar scrub for a month or two without hardening. Any more time that that and it may harden or spoil since it doesn't have any preservatives. Hope this helps! Enjoy!
Heather says
I’ve made this a few times now and it’s wonderful ! My skin feels so silky and smooth . I’ve experimented with other essential oil fragrances and its turned out great????
Erin says
Yay! I'm so glad, Heather. I just love making them this time of year for gifts...and my self!
Angelica says
How many mason jars of scrub does the recipe make?
Erin says
It makes just over a cup, so depending on how large your jars are, you'll get one of two out of a batch.
Melissa Husted says
What a gorgeous blog! And I can't wait to try the recipes. What with homeschooling eight kids, I am SORELY in need of some spa time! Thanks!
Erin says
Oh, I can imagine you need a little spa time! Enjoy this easy DIY for when you get a little "me" time 🙂
Nancy fried says
Looking forward to many essential oil recipes! Thank you.
Erin says
Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm glad you like the recipe!
Kyndra says
How many ounces does this recipe make?
Erin says
This recipe makes about 12 oz. Maybe slightly more.
Kim says
Such a cute jar too! Where do you get your glass jars?
Erin says
Good question! I get lucky sometimes and I find cute ones in the dollar bin at Michael's. Otherwise, I pick them up where ever I see cheap ones!
Lisa says
Will this turn out okay if you don't have Vitamin E oil?
Erin says
I think so, Lisa. Vitamin E acts as a preserving agents, so it may not last as long. Also, it provides a little added softness to the recipe to make those feet extra soft!
Mary says
I'm allergic to coconut, what would be a good alternative oil to use
Erin says
Have you tried almond oil? That would work well.
Jeannie says
This turned out excellent. I melted my coconut oil and squeezed some vitamin E capsules then added some Body Shop Musk oil and it smells and works better than store bought scrubs. Great gift idea, thanks!
Erin says
Yeah!! I'm so glad. I just love giving handmade gifts. Love the addition of Body Shop Musk...nice job!
Alyssa says
I'm making this for my baby shower favors! I read in your comments that you use the liquid coconut oil. Would the solid one work for the recipe? Also, what size jars do you use and how many do you get out of one batch?
Thank you 🙂
Erin says
Hi Alyssa, I think liquid coconut oil would work best. If you want to use solid, I would warm it up so it softens and can be mixed easily. It's personal preference on how you like the texture...more solid or more smooth. Also, you can use any size container, but I would keep the proportion the same and just double or triple the batch depending on how many you need. One batch makes about a 1 1/2 cups.
Erica says
This sounds amazing! Do you think I could make this in a big batch? I am making this for my boys' teachers, and there are ten of them! Thank you. 🙂
Erin says
It is amazing! I think you could totally make it in a large batch. Just make sure the proportions stay the same. I've made 3-4 at one time, but not 10! Good luck! They'll love it!
Sandra says
My first thought when reading the title of this post was that this would be a great Mother's Day gift. I'm sure my daughter will love and I will make one for myself also.
Erin says
Yes! Definitely a great Mother's Day gift. What mom wouldn't want to be pampered with something yummy and sweet smelling? Have fun making a batch or two, Sandra!
Felicia says
Love lavender and scrubs. Can't wait to try.
Erin says
Me too! Such a great combo for pampering yourself...or someone else 🙂 Thanks for coming by, Felicia!
Mimi says
Oh that looks lush Erin! Can't wait to try it! Mimi xxx
Erin says
Thanks for coming by, Mimi! This is one of my favorite things to make. Easy and so pampering! Enjoy!
Shirley Wood says
Ideal scrub recipe for me. Vanilla is my favorite fragrance. Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday. Pinned to our party board.
Erin says
Me too! I love vanilla, too. Makes me think of sweet, happy things. Thanks for the great party!
Mary-the boondocks blog says
Erin after reading the description I can smell the lavender all the way over here! And I'm positive the scrubbing will help to refresh and soothe our tired feet and in my case fingers. Thanks for stopping by our new party at Sweet Inspiration.
Erin says
Super excited about your party, Mary! Congrats! Yes, the smell of lavender is so relaxing and pampering. Love it. This is so easy to make, it's worth the 10 minutes.
Michelle Marttila - Happy Heart Made says
Just hearing the word, lavender, relaxes me! You always have such beautiful photographs of your work! Love this scrub Erin…thank you for the recipe!!!
Erin says
Thanks, Michelle! I try to get good photos...still a work in progress 🙂 I know, lavender is such a pampering smell! I think I want to make this with lemon for when I want a refreshing smell in the morning!
Marilyn says
My grandmother always kept an embroidered handkerchief with a lavender sachet in her linen cabinet. I think I need to make this nd take a nice warm bath! Thanks Erin. Thank you so much for linking at #ThursdayFavoriteThings! I look forward to seeing what you share very week. Please come back for #OverTheMoon on Sunday night. Don't forget to comment your link #'s so I can be sure to visit. Pinned and shared.
Erin says
Lavender is good for so many uses. I like the way it makes my closet smell too. I also like to spray it on my bed at night for a little extra relaxation 🙂
Nikki Frank-Hamilton says
Erin, this is awesome! The lavender would be a perfect scrub to wind you down at the end of the day, I love it's relaxation properties. You could use a citrus oil for a sugar scrub in the mornings, to invigorate you for whatever comes next! I had no idea that it would be this simple to make my own, it sure will save us money, and we get to feel pampered!
Erin says
Yep, this recipe would be good with citrus in the morning for sure. Maybe that's my next DIY project 🙂 I just love how easy it is and how inexpensive too. Enjoy, Nikki!
Brianna says
Do you melt the coconut oil first? Mine is always pretty hard. Or do you just try to crunch it all together?
Erin says
Hi Brianna, I use the hard coconut oil for cooking, but for making something like this sugar scrub I use the liquid version, like this one here http://amzn.to/1MfdmE9.
Katrin says
How lovely Erin! I like giving home made gifts and this is perfect for Mother's day and looks so cute too!
Erin says
Thanks, Katrin! I love giving homemade gifts too! This sugar scrub is great and looks expensive, even though it's not!
kristiina says
This post comes at the perfect time for me. I've been using a store bought scrub, but have been thinking I want to try to do a DIY version since my current scrub was $25! Plus, I'd like to use something natural for my kids---they LOVE getting a scrub in the shower as a special treat 🙂
I always have coconut oil on hand. I can't wait to try this! Thanks, Kristiina
Erin says
Wow, $25 is a lot. This could be made for a lot less. Plus, you'd feel good about using it on your kids! Coconut oil is great for so many things!
Ziglo's Finest says
Just how often times should you use it in a week'
Erin says
I think You could use this sugar scrub a couple time a weeks.
Sarah says
Mine was $25 as well, a pretty good sized container, but it would often start to smell a bit rancid if I didn't use it up quickly. I still miss it though, there is just something about smelling like chocolate that made me happy! But I love vanilla and have read so many good things about lavender. Saving money and knowing what I am putting on my body sounds really good! I always used scrub once or twice a week, depending on how dry & "patchy" my skin feels.
Do be careful if you get in the shower after using a scrub, oils can make it very slippery.
Erin says
Yes! Do be careful in the shower! It doesn't make you feet very slippery 🙂
Celeste | The Whole Serving says
I used to make salt scrubs like this all the time. I think is's time for me to make some time to do a few for Mother's Day gifts.
Thanks for this recipe.
Erin says
That's awesome, Celeste! I just started making more and giving them as gifts. Mother's day is a perfect time to make them!