I’ve been making my own DIY sugar scrub for years, and it started for a pretty specific reason: I have PCOS, and one of the ways I manage it is by reducing my exposure to fake fragrances and unnecessary beauty product ingredients.
Turns out, many of the popular body scrubs on the market are loaded with synthetic fragrance compounds. I love a sweet-smelling candle, but fake scents can act as endocrine disruptors and interfere with your hormone function. For anyone managing a hormonal condition like PCOS or endometriosis scents are definitely something to consider.
The good news? Making your own homemade sugar body scrub is genuinely easy, takes about five minutes, and costs a fraction of the store-bought stuff.
Below are five of my favorite DIY sugar scrub recipes, all sourced from talented creators in the homemade body care space on TikTok — with full credit and links to each video.
Why Make Your Own DIY Sugar Scrub?
A sugar scrub is exactly what it sounds like: a mixture of sugar (a natural exfoliant) and a moisturizing base. This is usually an oil, honey, or butter that you use in the bath or shower to slough off dead cells and rehydrate your skin.
The reason to make your own comes down to one principle: fewer ingredients is almost always better for your skin.
Commercial scrubs, even “natural” ones, frequently contain:
- Synthetic fragrance — a catch-all term that can contain dozens of undisclosed chemicals, including phthalates, which are known endocrine disruptors linked to hormone disruption
- Artificial dyes — unnecessary for function, added purely for aesthetics
- Preservatives and stabilizers — needed for long shelf life, but not for fresh homemade product that’ll be gone in a few weeks
- Mineral oil — a petroleum byproduct with no nutritional value for the skin
When you make sugar scrub at home with three to five whole ingredients, you eliminate all of that. Your skin absorbs everything it touches, especially right after it’s been exfoliated. So the ingredients you expose your skin to absolutely matter.
A note on fragrance and hormones: Research (like this study) has established links between phthalates — commonly found in synthetic fragrances — and endocrine disruption. For people managing hormone-sensitive conditions, reducing synthetic fragrance exposure is a practical, evidence-supported step. All five recipes below use only natural ingredients. Where a recipe in the original video includes optional essential oils or fragrance, I’ve noted it.
What You Need to Get Started
Before we get into the recipes, here’s what you’ll use across all five:
- A mixing bowl (glass or stainless steel)
- A spoon or spatula
- Airtight storage jars (wide-mouth mason jars work perfectly — keep them dry and away from water in the shower)
- Sugar
- Skin-safe oil (coconut oil is my personal favorite)
A quick note on sugar types:
- White granulated sugar — the most common choice; coarse enough to exfoliate without being abrasive
- Brown sugar — finer-grained and gentler; great for sensitive skin or anywhere you want a milder scrub
- Raw/cane sugar — a less refined option with trace minerals intact; a good middle ground
5 DIY Sugar Scrub Recipes 🧽
1 – Classic Nourishing Sugar Scrub
This is the one that started it for a lot of people — Cara’s Christmas gift series video racked up nearly 300,000 likes for good reason. It’s a larger-batch recipe, perfect for making in bulk and gifting in small jars. The combination of castor oil and Vitamin E gives it real staying power as a moisturizer.
📺 Watch Cara make it on TikTok
Ingredients:
- 48 oz (about 6 cups) granulated white sugar
- 1 bottle Vitamin E oil (approx. 30,000 IU / 2–3 oz)
- 6 oz pure castor oil
- 2–4 tablespoons coconut oil (add to preferred consistency)
- Optional: a few drops lavender essential oil
Instructions:
- Add sugar and castor oil to a large mixing bowl. Stir to combine.
- Add Vitamin E oil and mix thoroughly.
- Add coconut oil one tablespoon at a time and mix until you reach your preferred consistency. The more coconut oil you ad, the creamier and softer the scrub will be.
- If using, add a few drops of lavender essential oil and stir through.
- Divide into airtight jars. Store at room temperature for up to 4–6 weeks. Keep water out of the jar.
Makes: Approximately 6–7 cups of scrub (great for gifting in 8 oz jars)
Why it works: Castor oil is a thick, deeply moisturizing oil with ricinoleic acid, which has documented anti-inflammatory properties. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that supports skin barrier function. Coconut oil adds creaminess and a light antimicrobial effect.
Hormone note: If you’d like a fragrance-free version, simply leave out the lavender essential oil. The scrub works beautifully without it.
2 – The Non-Toxic Tree Hut Sugar Body Scrub Dupe
Morgan’s video went viral in the clean beauty space for a simple reason: she made the case plainly and without drama. Synthetic dyes and fragrances are harmful for our hormones — so why not make a homemade sugar scrub that isn’t? This is her go-to, and it’s become mine, as well.
📺 Watch Morgan make it on TikTok
Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar (white or raw cane)
- 2–3 tablespoons coconut oil (start with 2; add more for a softer scrub)
- Optional: a few drops of an essential oil of your choice
Instructions:
- Combine sugar and coconut oil in a bowl. Mix until the sugar is evenly coated — it should hold together but still feel grainy, not wet.
- Add essential oil if using, and stir through.
- Transfer to an airtight jar. Store in a cool, dry place for up to 4 weeks.
Makes: About 1 cup (one good-sized jar)
Why it works: This is the stripped-back version — the baseline that proves you don’t need much. Coconut oil will melt on contact, making it easy to rinse while leaving a light moisturizing residue. The sugar does the exfoliating work. That’s it.
Hormone note: This recipe is completely fragrance-free as written. If you add essential oils, choose single-ingredient pure oils (e.g., lavender, frankincense). Blended fragrance oils often contain synthetic carriers.
3 – Honey & Brown Sugar Body Scrub
Alexia’s honey and brown sugar scrub is one of the most-shared in this space, and for good reason — it’s genuinely gentle, smells incredible without any added fragrance, and the combination of raw honey and brown sugar makes it suitable for more sensitive skin. Brown sugar is finer-grained than white, giving a softer exfoliation; honey is naturally antimicrobial and a humectant, meaning it draws moisture into the skin.
📺 Watch Alexia make it on TikTok
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup raw honey (local raw honey preferred)
- 1 tablespoon jojoba oil or sweet almond oil
Instructions:
- Combine brown sugar and honey in a bowl. The mixture will be thicker than an oil-based scrub — that’s correct.
- Add jojoba or sweet almond oil and mix until well incorporated.
- Transfer to a clean jar. Because this recipe contains honey (a natural preservative), it keeps well at room temperature for up to 3–4 weeks. As always, keep water out of the jar.
Makes: About 1¼ cups
Why it works: Raw honey contains hydrogen peroxide-producing enzymes. This gives it natural antimicrobial properties, making it a particularly good choice for anyone prone to body acne. Jojoba oil is technically a liquid wax, not an oil, and closely mimics the skin’s natural sebum. It’s non-comedogenic and suitable for most skin types.
Hormone note: This recipe contains zero synthetic ingredients as written. The natural scent comes from the honey itself. No fragrance required.
4 – Body Wash DIY Body Scrub Combo
In my opinion, this one is the most accessible of the five DIY sugar scrub recipes. Likely, you almost certainly have the ingredients already. It uses a small amount of body wash as the emulsifier, which means the scrub rinses off more cleanly than pure oil-based versions and doesn’t leave the shower floor slippery. If you’re new to making scrubs, this is a great starting point.
Ingredients:
- Sugar
- Zest of lime
- 1-2 green tea bags (cut open)
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- 2 tablespoons body wash (choose a fragrance-free or naturally scented option)
Instructions:
- Add all three ingredients to a bowl and mix. The body wash helps to bind the ingredients and makes the scrub emulsify on your skin.
- Store in an airtight container. Use within 2–3 weeks.
Why it works: The addition of body wash means this scrub blends with water as you rinse, leaving no oily residue. It’s also the most budget-friendly recipe on this list.
Hormone note: The body wash you choose matters here. Look for options labeled fragrance-free (not “unscented” — those can still contain masking fragrances) or scented with natural essential oils. Brands like Dr. Bronner’s, Everyone, and Babo Botanicals are great options.
5 – Aphrodite Rose Sugar Scrub
This is the most luxurious of the five — whipped, light, and scented naturally with peach extract rather than synthetic fragrance. It takes a few extra minutes because you’re whipping the oils before adding the sugar, but the result is a completely different texture: airy, cloud-like, and skin-sinkingly soft.
Ingredients:
- Coconut oil
- Sugar
- Rosehip oil or rose essential oil
- Rose petals (fresh or dried, but not wilted)
- Optional: peach extracts and shea butter
Instructions:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the solid coconut oil and shea butter. Using a hand mixer or stand mixer, whip on medium speed for 3–4 minutes until the mixture is light, fluffy, and has roughly doubled in volume.
- Add sugar and mix on low until just combined — don’t over-mix or the sugar will start to dissolve.
- Add rosehip oil, petals, and/or peach extract and stir with a spoon.
- Spoon into an airtight jar. Store at room temperature (below 75°F / 24°C) for up to 3 weeks. Note: coconut oil melts at 76°F, so in warmer climates you may want to store in the fridge.
Why it works: Whipping the oils introduces air, giving the scrub its signature fluffy texture. Shea butter is rich in fatty acids and vitamins A and E, making it deeply moisturizing without feeling heavy. Peach extract provides natural fragrance without the hormone-disrupting compounds found in synthetic fragrance oils.
Hormone note: Peach extract and other food-based natural extracts are a great way to get a pleasant scent without synthetic fragrance. Look for pure extracts — check the label for alcohol-based vs. glycerin-based options depending on your preference.
How to Use Homemade Sugar Scrub (The Right Way!)
Start in the shower on damp skin. Wet skin helps the scrub glide without being too abrasive.
Scoop a small amount — about a tablespoon — and massage in circular motions over the area you’re exfoliating.
Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
Follow with a moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp — your skin absorbs it better immediately after exfoliating.
Use 1–2 times per week for most skin types. More frequent use can over-exfoliate and disrupt your skin barrier, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Don’t use on your face unless the recipe specifically says it’s facial-safe. The skin on your face is much more delicate than body skin, and most body scrubs are too abrasive for regular facial use.
Storage Tips
Always use a clean, dry spoon to scoop from your jar. Water introduced into the scrub will cause it to spoil faster.
Store in a cool, dark place — a bathroom cabinet rather than a wet shower shelf.
Label your jars with the date you made them. Most oil-based scrubs last 4–6 weeks; honey-based scrubs can last a little longer due to honey’s natural preservative properties.
If it smells off or changes color significantly, discard it. Homemade products without preservatives have a shorter shelf life than commercial ones.
DIY Sugar Scrub FAQs
How do you make DIY sugar scrub?
Combine sugar with a carrier oil (like coconut oil or jojoba oil), honey, or another moisturizing base, and mix until incorporated. The basic ratio is roughly 2 parts sugar to 1 part oil or honey, but you can adjust to your preferred texture. Most sugar scrub recipes take under 5 minutes to make.
How often should you use sugar scrubs?
Most people do well with 1–2 times per week. Over-exfoliating can strip the skin’s natural barrier and cause irritation, dryness, or sensitivity. If your skin feels tight or raw after using a scrub, reduce frequency and try a finer-grained sugar like brown sugar.
IS DIY sugar scrub safe for sensitive skin?
Yes, with the right recipe. Brown sugar is finer-grained than white sugar and gentler on delicate skin. Honey-based scrubs are also generally well-tolerated. Avoid scrubs with coarse salts or large-crystal sugars if you have sensitive or reactive skin.
How do synthetic fragrances affect body scrubs?
Synthetic fragrance is a blanket term that can legally cover dozens of individual chemicals, some of which — particularly phthalates — are classified as endocrine disruptors. Your skin absorbs what you apply to it, especially right after exfoliating. For people managing hormone-sensitive conditions like PCOS, reducing synthetic fragrance exposure is one practical way to lower overall endocrine disruptor load.
Can you use a sugar scrub on your face?
Body scrubs are generally too abrasive for facial skin. If you want a facial scrub, use brown sugar rather than white, keep the scrub very fine, and apply with minimal pressure. When in doubt, stick to using your body scrub below the neck.
Final Thoughts
Making your own sugar scrub is one of the easiest swaps you can make toward a lower-toxin personal care routine. The recipes above range from a two-ingredient weeknight scrub to a luxurious whipped version worth making for gifts — and all of them skip the synthetic fragrance, unnecessary additives, and mystery ingredient lists of most store-bought options.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body. It deserves to know what you’re putting on it.
