Sugar Cookie Scrub

Treat yourself to a pampering experience with this DIY sugar cookie scrub recipe! Formulated with nourishing ingredients, the easy body scrub gently exfoliates, leaving your skin soft and supple. It has an indulgent, sweet scent and a luxurious cookie-dough like texture.

DIY sugar cookie body scrub

The holiday season is coming early with this sugar cookie scrub! The body scrub contains shea butter and coconut oil to help soften, hydrate, and replenish your skin. And the decadent sugar cookie scent will bring the holiday spirit to your skin care.

This combination of oils and essential oils doesn’t just smell amazing, but offers so many benefits. Unlike the store-bought products, this DIY sugar scrub has no synthetic ingredients. So you can feel good about using it in your routine.

If you enjoy the smell of cookies as much as we do, try our sugar cookie lotion, sugar cookie perfume, and cookie-scented candles. They will fill you with festive cheer!

Benefits of frosted sugar cookie scrub

• Gentle exfoliation: The scrub’s small particles gently remove old, dead cells off your skin, helping keep it soft and glowing.
• Moisturizing boost: The scrub is infused with softening plant oils and butters that result in smooth and hydrated skin.
• Incredible cookie dough texture: The texture and skin feel of this scrub are exactly like cookie dough. It’s so realistic that you’ll almost be tempted to eat the scrub.
• Divine sugar cookie scent: You’ll love the sweet aroma, which is all-natural and created with essential oils. You can feel good knowing that no synthetic fragrances or perfumes will seep into your skin.
• Natural ingredients: Aside from essential oils, this frosted cookie sugar scrub is made with natural, nutrient-rich materials that nourish and feed your skin.
• Cute gift idea: The scrub makes a thoughtful gift. Double or triple the recipe to jar for friends, family, neighbors, and teachers! Body scrubs are also a lovely addition to a self-care package with other homemade body products.

Ingredients

Let’s zoom in on the materials you need to make this sugar cookie scrub recipe at home. It’s really simple! Measurements in grams and ounces are included in the recipe card at the end of the post.

• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tbsp shea butter
• 3 tbsp fractionated coconut oil
• 3 tbsp Olivem 1000
• 3 tbsp cornstarch
• 1/8 tsp gold mica powder
• 30 drops botanical vanilla extract (or vanilla absolute)
• 15 drops tonka bean absolute
• 6 drops copaiba oleoresin
• 4 drops butter CO2 extract (optional)
• 3 drops Peru balsam essential oil

Before heading on with the recipe, let’s have a closer look at the key players in this cookie-scented scrub.  

Exfoliant: sugar

As the name implies, sugar is the main exfoliator in this easy body scrub recipe. As a humectant, sugar not only exfoliates but also helps draw and bind moisture into your skin. You’ll love the hydration boost!

I opted for white/granulated sugar because the granule size is relatively small. You could also use brown sugar if you’d prefer slightly stronger exfoliation. Brown sugar contains molasses and will add a light caramel note to the scent.

Moisturizers: shea butter & coconut oil

Shea butter is an all-around perfect skincare ingredient. The butter’s anti-inflammatory qualities can reduce redness and soothe your skin. It is rich in vitamins and essential fatty acids that deeply moisturize and nourish.

I used deodorized/refined shea butter, so the smell of the shea butter doesn’t overpower the cookie fragrance. You can use raw shea butter as long as you’re fine with the slightly nutty scent.

In addition to a solid plant butter, fractionated (liquid) coconut oil protects the scrub from drying out and provides a moisture boost to your skin. Feel free to swap in another liquid oil (e.g., jojoba oil, squalane) if preferred.

Emulsifier: Olivem 1000

Olivem 1000 is a natural, PEG-free emulsifying agent and emollient. The white flakes are made from fatty acids of olive oil. It gives the scrub a silky-soft skin feel and further reduces the oiliness of this scrub.

As an emulsifier, Olivem also ensures that the essential oils are properly mixed into the scrub. It also helps wash the shea butter and coconut oil off your skin.

Texture adjuster: cornstarch

Cornstarch cuts down the greasiness and helps to create an incredible cookie dough-like texture. The ingredient also prevents the scrub from separating. Arrowroot powder and tapioca starch are possible alternatives for cornstarch.

Cornstarch is a popular ingredient in many sugar scrub recipes, so I can’t take credit for coming up with this idea.

Colorant: gold mica

A sprinkle of gold mica powder gives the scrub a cookie-dough like color. The pigment is optional, and you could skip it for a white/ivory-colored body scrub.

Sugar cookie scent

The wonderful thing about this sugar cookie scrub is that it smells just like frosted sugar cookies. A blend of vanilla, Peru balsam, and copaiba smells like oven-fresh cookies. Real butter essential oil and tonka bean absolute put the icing on the cookies and round out the delicious gourmand scent.

The blend is based on my sugar cookie essential oil recipe. Before publishing my post, we had never seen a sugar cookie essential oil blend made with tonka bean and butter CO2 extract. You will not believe how realistic and delicious this scent smells!

• Botanical vanilla extract is the main component and dominant scent in this natural sugar cookie blend. Alternately, use vanilla absolute or vanilla oleoresin.
• Copaiba oleoresin lightens up the scent and balances the sweetness with a woodsy, slightly spicy aroma.
• Tonka bean absolute provides a decadent, caramel-like note. It accents the scent and gives the striking aroma of baked goods.
• Butter CO2 extract has a buttery scent reminiscent of classic sugar cookies. It’s the best oil to replicate the aroma of buttery cookie dough. The fatty acids further moisture and replenish the skin. Butter CO2 is animal-derived, not made from plant materials, unlike all other oils in this list.
• Peru balsam essential oil lingers on the skin with a sweet, vanillic note. Peru balsam is a fixative and increases the scent’s tenacity, making it long-lasting.

How to make sugar cookie scrub

If you are looking for a luxurious holiday scrub, then you have found one! Whipping up this cookie dough body scrub is so easy and takes only a few minutes. Here is what to do:

Step 1: Melt shea butter and Olivem

Put the shea butter and Olivem 1000 in a heat-proof measuring cup and melt in a warm water bath until liquid. Protect your hands when handling hot tools.

Step 2: Stir in liquid ingredients

Add the fractionated coconut oil, essential oils, and gold mica powder (if using). Mix until well-combined.

Step 3: Add sugar

Fill the sugar and cornstarch into a large mixing bowl. Whisk to break up any clumps.

Step 4: Mix scrub

Pour the oil base over the sugar-cornstarch mixture and stir until well combined.

Step 5: Adjust the consistency (optional)

If the scrub seems too dry, gradually increase the amount of coconut oil. And if you find it too greasy, increase the cornstarch.

Step 6: Package

Transfer the body scrub recipe into an airtight jar or storage container. Optionally, decorate the top of the scrub with sprinkles or jojoba beads.

Helpful tips

• Mix the scrub in a blender or food processor: Optionally, run the mixture through a food processor to create a smooth, fine texture that resembles cookie dough.
• No water: Water dissolves sugar, so ensure that no water enters the scrub while you make and use it. Microbes and bacteria thrive in an aqueous environment – another reason to protect the product from water exposure.
• Preservative: If you want to take extra precautions or plan to sell this scrub, consider adding a preservative. I recommend Geogard ECT (Preservative ECO), Opitphen Plus, VegeCide, or another oil-soluble preservative.

Variations & mix-ins

The best part of making your own frosted sugar cookie scrub is that you can fully customize the recipe. Here are a few variation ideas that you can implement if desired.

• Jojoba beads are tiny exfoliating beads made from jojoba wax. They come in an array of colors and resemble nonpareils (hundreds and thousands). Sprinkle 1 teaspoon on top of your scrub to create the effect of sprinkles.
• Sprinkles: In case jojoba beads aren’t accessible, feel free to use actual sprinkles. If the sprinkles are very coarse or have rough edges, be sure to remove them before using the scrub.
• Spices: Amp up the holiday flair by stirring 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon into the scrub. Cinnamon adds the delicious aroma of spiced cookies and tints the scrub in a mellow brown color.
• Cocoa: For a chocolate cookie scrub, add 1 teaspoon cocoa powder to the scrub. Raw cocoa powder is rich in antioxidants and is said to increase the elasticity of your skin.
• Citrus: To make a scrub that smells like lemon cookies, add a few drops of steam-distilled lemon essential oil and 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest. Alternately, use oranges, limes, or tangerines.

How to use sugar cookie scrub

This luxurious and beautifully rich sugar cookie body scrub feels like a spa treatment and will fill your bathroom with the sweet smell of baked goods. Here are some tips for using the scrub:

• How to use: Using a spoon or clean fingertips, apply scrub to wet skin. Massage the scrub over your body in gentle, circular motions. Then rinse away and towel dry. I recommend using the scrub during a shower or a bath.
• Where to use: Rub the product on your hands, legs, elbows, feet, and upper body. You can use the scrub 2 to 3 times per week. If you have sensitive skin, limit yourself to one weekly treatment.
• Cautions: Sugar scrub is meant for the body only. It’s great to exfoliate legs, arms, and the upper body, but the product is too coarse for the face. Avoid using the scrub on skin with open sores/cuts/ wounds. Be careful in the shower/bathtub, as the oils can make the floor slippery.

Packaging & label

Packaging ideas for sugar cookie scrub

You can pack your pretty cookie scrub in all sorts of containers with a tight lid. As a general rule, you want to pick glass containers that can be sealed airtight to keep the scrub fresh. For gifting, I love these adorable 4-oz mason jars and these hinged flip-top containers.

Storage & shelf life

How to store sugar cookie body scrub

This body scrub recipe stores very well and can be kept for a year. If the scent lessens before then, top it up with essential oils.

For the best results, store the scrub in a cool, dark location that isn’t exposed to sunlight and doesn’t experience moisture. A cupboard or lidded box is a good place for storing sugar scrubs.

How long does homemade sugar scrub last?

The cookie sugar scrub should be good for about 12 months. The ingredient with the shortest best-before date will determine the exact shelf life.

More body scrub recipes

If you are looking for a few more sugar scrub recipes to celebrate the holidays, look no further! I’ve rounded up a bunch more festive ideas that smell so good. Make one or try them all – either way, you will enjoy them!

• 6 Sugar Scrub Recipes
• Christmas Body Scrubs
• Candy Sugar Scrub
• Gingerbread Exfoliating Cubes
• Pumpkin Spice Scrub
• Himalayan Salt Scrub
• Sugar Scrub Bars
• Sea Salt Scrub