This homemade gingerbread raw sugar body scrub will make you want to keep it for yourself or make batches of it, because it’s just that good! It has simple, natural ingredients that will bring back memories and scents of the holiday season. I am pretty sure your family and friends are going to prefer you making batches of it so you can share it with them too!

gingerbread raw sugar body scrub, glass mason jar and decorative twine

natural ingredients for the gingerbread raw sugar body scrub

Raw Sugar is the main ingredients of this gingerbread sugar body scrub. This brings a beautiful natural brown coloring to the sugar scrub, which makes it really fun. The best part is that raw sugar is an excellent exfoliator for the skin. Raw sugar is larger than your standard cane or brown sugars, making it a gentler exfoliator and perfect for this kind of recipe.

whipped coconut oil and raw sugar in glass bowls

Coconut oil plays a key role in this recipe, as we are using two different kinds. When testing out different recipes, I couldn’t get the right texture until I combined both traditional coconut oil and fractionated coconut oil. The traditional coconut oil is a solid that can be slightly melted down to create a smooth whipped coconut oil. While the fractionate d coconut oil is already a liquid, it helps to balance out the solidified coconut oil so the gingerbread sugar scrub recipe doesn’t harden.

Essential oils make this recipe smell just like the gingerbread recipes you remember baking at home. The combination of ginger, vanilla, cinnamon bark and clove essential oils bring this recipe to life. Without them, you have a good sugar body scrub recipe. But with them, you have this amazing gingerbread raw sugar body scrub that you are going to make year after year!

basics of making a sugar body scrub

These are truly the type of recipes that I enjoy making and sharing. They are simple, contain good ingredients and everyone can make them. The first step to any good recipe, is making sure you have all your ingredients and supplies ready. For this gingerbread raw sugar body scrub recipe, you will need the following items:

3/4 cup raw sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 fractionated coconut oil
Essential oils (ginger, vanilla, cinnamon bark & clove)
Glass mason jar 8oz
Glass bowls

Shop any single essential oils or essential oil blends here.

how to make a gingerbread raw sugar scrub

First, the coconut oil needs to be soft enough to whisk but not so soft that is starts to melt. To soften your coconut oil, place in a glass bowl and microwave for 5 second increments checking on it every single time. If you happen to melt your coconut oil, you can put it into the fridge for 5-10 minutes (checking on it again) until it starts to solidify again.

Once the coconut oil is soft, you will whisk the 1/4 cup coconut oil for 30 seconds to 1 minute. This adds a lightness the coconut oil and also gets out any lumps. You can whisk for longer if you like, but my arm was done at around one minute.

Next, add in the 3/4 cup raw sugar and 1/4 cup fractionated coconut oil to the whipped coconut oil. Fold gently to combine the ingredients.

sugar scrub and raw sugar in glass bowls

Add in the 3 drops ginger, 3 drops vanilla, 2 drops cinnamon bark and 2 drops clove essential oils to the raw sugar and coconut oils mixture. Stir to combine.

gingerbread raw sugar body scrub in bowl and ginger essential oil, raw sugar in glass bowl

Finally, store the gingerbread raw sugar body scrub in an 8oz glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Add a cute label (or download my free printable tags), card or decorative ribbon or twine if gifting to someone during the holiday season.

how to make a gingerbread raw sugar scrub

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Equipment

Glass mason jar 8oz
Glass bowls

Ingredients

3/4 cup raw sugar
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup fractionated coconut oil
essential oils - ginger, vanilla, cinnamon bark & clove

Instructions

The coconut oil needs to be soft enough to whisk but not so soft that is starts to melt. To soften your coconut oil, place in a glass bowl and microwave for 5 second increments checking on it every single time.
Once the coconut oil is soft, you will whisk the 1/4 cup coconut oil for 30 seconds to 1 minute. This adds a lightness the coconut oil and also gets out any lumps.
Next, add in the 3/4 cup raw sugar and 1/4 cup fractionated coconut oil to the whipped coconut oil. Fold gently to combine the ingredients.
Add in the 3 drops ginger, 3 drops vanilla, 2 drops cinnamon bark and 2 drops clove essential oils to the raw sugar and coconut oils mixture. Stir to combine.
Finally, store the gingerbread raw sugar body scrub in a glass jar with a tight fitting lid. Add label, card or decorative ribbon or twine if gifting to someone during the holiday season.

Notes

If you happen to melt your coconut oil, you can put it into the fridge for 5-10 minutes (checking on it again) until it starts to solidify again.

gingerbread raw sugar body scrub free printable tags

This raw sugar body scrub makes such a great gift for the holiday season. You can make it a few weeks ahead of time, which helps the essential oils can truly meld together. You can easily add a few touches to make this homemade gift special. In fact, I made these free printable tags for the gingerbread raw sugar body scrub. They look so adorable simply tied with some ribbon or twine! Download the free tags here!

homemade gingerbread raw sugar scrub recipe with free printable label

using your raw sugar body scrub

Apply to sugar body scrub to external parts of body. You may need to rub several times to the area. Be mindful of certain areas that tend to have more dead skin buildup, specifically the elbows, knees and bottoms of feet.

Once the homemade scrub is applies, let sit for 1-3 minutes to let it soak into the skin as it can be hydrating for the skin. After the scrub as soaked, rinse the areas where you used the body scrub and wash with a body soap.

Looking to make your own body bar soap, check out my Melt and Pour Homemade Soap Step-by-Step Guide and Vanilla Honey Coffee Car Soap.

what type of sugar can you use in a homemade body scrub?

The best types of sugar to use in a homemade sugar body scrub are the ones with larger granules. These are going to include raw sugar, turbinado sugar and coconut sugar. Finer, granulated sugars might be too abrasive to your skin.

how often can you use a sugar body scrub?

You can use a sugar body scrub several times a week, up to 3 times. Since it a more gentle exfoliator, it will only take off the dead layer of skin and leave the healthy skin. Homemade sugar body scrubs make a great addition to your skin care, as they are hydrating and great for creating dewy, glowing skin.

are sugar scrubs better than salt scrubs?

Yes and no. It depends on what you want for your body scrub. Homemade sugar body scrubs tend to be gentler since the granules are a larger texture, as long as you are using raw sugar, turbinado or coconut sugar. Salts scrubs made with pink himalayan salt have their own benefits, such as evening skin tone and softening skin. Pink himalayan body salt scrubs may also benefit those with itchy or irritated skin due to the minerals in that salt. Personally, I like using both sugar and salt scrubs! I highly recommend taking a look at my Homemade Pink Himalayan Salt Body Scrub recipe if you’re interested in salt scrubs.

raw sugar scrub in glass jar, pink himalayan salt and raw sugar and sugar in bowls

how long will my sugar scrub last before going bad?

This recipe can last up to six months, as long as the lid is screwed on tight to an air tight container such as a glass mason jar. Also, it is best to store the sugar body scrub at room temperature or cooler. Now, if you added fresh or dried fruit or herbs the sugar scrub may start to mold before then. However, this recipe doesn’t have any of those additives so no need to worry about that.