Coconut oil is one of those versatile staples that belongs both in the kitchen and the bathroom. I keep one jar in the pantry for cooking and another in the bathroom for personal care. Virgin coconut oil works beautifully for shaving, removing makeup, hair masks, face masks, and moisturizing cuticles and skin. It’s also the perfect base for an easy, effective coconut sugar scrub.
Simple coconut sugar scrub recipes
There are countless sugar scrub variations, but two straightforward recipes are all you need to get started: a Peppermint Foot Scrub and a Citrus Hand & Body Scrub. Both exfoliate, soften, and hydrate skin. They’re quick to make, use minimal ingredients, and can be adjusted to suit your scent preferences.
What’s in the coconut sugar scrubs?
Sugar
Sugar is the exfoliating component, and you can use many types: granulated, turbinado (raw), brown, or superfine. Coarser crystals provide stronger exfoliation; finer sugar gives a gentler scrub. I choose turbinado sugar for feet because it’s more abrasive, and regular granulated sugar for general hand and body scrubs.
Virgin coconut oil
Virgin coconut oil melts around 75–77°F (24–25°C), so it can be liquid or solid depending on your climate. Either state works, but using liquid oil makes mixing easier. After combining the sugar and oil, chilling the scrub briefly helps solidify the mixture so the sugar stays evenly distributed.
Essential oils (optional)
Essential oils are optional but fun for personalizing your scrub. Peppermint refreshes and invigorates, lavender calms, and citrus brightens. Use pure essential oils rather than blends diluted in carrier oils. If you prefer no scent, a plain scrub of sugar and coconut oil is perfectly effective.
Citrus Hand and Body Scrub recipe
Ingredients:
2/3 cup (about 125 grams) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (60 mL) coconut oil, liquid
20 drops sweet orange essential oil
10 drops lemon essential oil
Instructions: Mix the sugar, coconut oil, and essential oils until evenly combined. Transfer to a jar with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for about 30 minutes so the mixture firms up and the sugar remains suspended.
Peppermint Foot Scrub recipe
Ingredients:
2/3 cup (about 125 grams) turbinado (raw) sugar
1/4 cup (60 mL) coconut oil, liquid
20 drops peppermint essential oil
Instructions: Combine the turbinado sugar, coconut oil, and peppermint oil. Stir well, place in a jar, and chill for about 30 minutes so the texture firms. Use on wet feet in the shower, rinse thoroughly, and pat dry. The scrub helps remove rough skin and leaves feet feeling soft.
Fancifying your sugar scrub
Once you’ve mastered the basic sugar-and-oil scrub, experiment with variations: coffee grounds for an energizing scrub, vanilla for a warm scent, or seasonal spices like cinnamon for a cozy aroma. Keep in mind that adding fresh ingredients—fruits, herbs, or brewed liquids—introduces moisture and reduces shelf life, so make small batches if you go that route.
Sugar scrub shelf life
A simple sugar-and-oil scrub is quite stable and can last many months when kept dry and in a sealed container; practically, most homemade scrubs are used up within a few months. If you add ingredients with water content, the shelf life shortens. To extend longevity, store scrubs in a cool, dry place, use clean utensils to remove product from the jar, and discard the scrub if it develops an off smell, discoloration, or mold.
Although these scrubs are made from edible ingredients, they’re formulated for topical use and not intended as food.
Further reading
- Coconut oil tips for kitchen and body care
- Simple castile soap scrub ideas
- DIY non-toxic recipes for cleaning and body care