Smells have such an amazing way of evoking emotions, memories and feelings. Each season has it’s own smell to me. Fall is all cinnamon. Winter is all peppermint. Maybe it’s the candy canes and hot chocolate, but winter is definitely about the peppermint. A close second is cranberry and apple. The apple inspired me last month with my cinnamon pear applesauce, so I thought I would try something different. There was a recipe for a vanilla latte inspired sugar scrub, but I had peppermint on the brain, so when I looked at it, it screamed chocolate peppermint sugars scrub, and so it was born!
It was handy, too because I had all of the ingredients on hand; cocoa powder, oil (I had grape seed, you could use fractionated coconut oil, almond oil or even olive oil), sugar, and peppermint essential oil.
It’s easy to make, smells amazing, leaves your skin soft and moisturized and makes a great holiday gift. I packed up the first batch into leftover baby food jars (don’t worry, they were cleaned), put a label and ribbon on them and gave them to E’s preschool teachers.
The chocolate peppermint sugar scrub leaves you smelling pepperminty, with a hint of chocolate, but if you don’t want to wear your favorite holiday smell, you can use Febreze Home for the Holidays Collection to help get your home refreshed for the holidays.
Chocolate Peppermint Sugar Scrub inspired by Home for the Holidays Collection
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup grape seed/almond/fractionated coconut/ olive oil
- 1 cup sugar
- 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- 11 drops peppermint essential oil
Instructions
- Measure all ingredients
- Mix ingredients well in a non-plastic container
- Store in a non-plastic container
- *Note as this contains essential oil, test on skin before use.
What favorite holiday smells do you have around your home? Which of the Febreze Home for the Holidays Collection do you think would make a great sugar scrub?
Curious to learn more about essential oils? I’ve got a great starter kit for you to check out.
Krystyn has been blogging since 2005. She is a sarcasm-loving, straight-shooting, jeans and t-shirts wearing, wife and mom of four girls (ages 14, 12, 9 and 7). She blogs about life as a mom and wife and includes funny stories, family travel, fitness, recipes, STEM and more. She currently resides in the Atlanta, Georgia suburbs.
BalancingMama (Julie) says
Great idea with the baby food jars! I love the shape of the new Beech-Nut varieties. Now I can make my coffee scrub and this one too! Yummy smells galore.
Krystyn says
I have *ahem* a box of the jars I’ve been saving for various projects, so this totally fit the bill.
I was almost going to do a coffee one..almost!
Leticia- Tech Savvy Mama says
Wow! This sounds amazing! I’ve never made my own scrubs before but love buying them! I’m going to give this a try thanks to your how-to and maybe even give it as holiday gifts this year!
Krystyn says
They are so very easy to make….the last one my kids did. And, they end up being way cheaper. Of course, putting them in a mason jar with a fancy ribbon and label makes them a perfect DIY gift!
Leticia- Tech Savvy Mama says
I love packaging things in Mason Jars as gifts! Everything always looks better in a Mason Jar and yay for reusable packaging too! 🙂
Lori Popkewitz Alper says
I love the smell of peppermint in the winter too! Nothing like a simple body scrub to kick off the cold weather. Thanks.
Krystyn says
It’s just the perfect smell!
Melissa {All Things Chic} says
OMG! That looks amazing! (And those are my two very favorite flavors for the holidays)
Krystyn says
They really scream winter to me!
Meghan @JaMonkey says
I think I’m going to make this for our teacher for Christmas this year! It looks great!
Krystyn says
E’s teachers were pretty appreciative this morning! I think it makes a very nice gift! I gave N’s teacher a different scrub last year and she asked me to make her more!
Lindsey @ Redhead Baby Mama says
I desperately need to exfoliate more… this is a perfect solution.
Krystyn says
I think this might be the first time I’ve heard somebody say “I desperately need to exfoliate!”
Emily says
Such a yummy gift idea!
Jodi @ Mom's Favorite Stuff says
What a great idea! Peppermint and chocolate is such a fab combination too!
Krystyn says
It has me wanting all of the chocolate and peppermint these days!
Annie {Stowed Stuff} says
That Home for the Holidays collection sounds lovely! I love, love, love a good smelling house and even better – I love it when someone walks in my front door and says, “Oh, it smells so good in here!” Good job on the scrub – totally impressive! My boys would go to town on that one! 😉
Krystyn says
Oh, I totally agree! I love it when people come in and tell me it smells good!
kimberly @ red shutters says
What a great idea! I never ever would have thought to add chocolate to a body scrub! Now, the challenge of course is not eating the chocolate peppermint sugars scrub… I bet it tastes good, right?!
Krystyn says
Since everything was good grade, and my oldest was bugging me, I let her try it! She said it was delicious!
Lauryn says
I love the idea of having a collection of seasonal scents! And there is nothing better than really getting in the spirit of things. This Chocolate Peppermint Sugar Scrub sounds like the perfect way to do that!
Melanie says
I adore everything about this. SO perfect for holiday gift giving. I make baskets for gift giving and this would be a perfect addition!
Katherine G says
This is a great idea! I may have to try this. I loved the sugar scrub we made a few months back. I can definitely see me making this.
Caroline Murphy says
That must smell INCREDIBLE and must stir up an appetite!
LOVE homemade ANYTHING! Will try this recipe! This looks like a fun one to do with my older daughter!
Stephanie Larison says
Yum, I’m going to have try this, it looks amazing!
Pilar says
This sounds delicious even though I realize it’s not edible. LOL…
I’d love to sniff a sugared cranberry scrub or even spritz the fragrance counterpart all around the house. It would definitely mix things up – I’m a standard frosted pine and apple tart kind of girl.
Jessica Simms says
I almost thought this was edible because it looked to good to use as a scrub lol.
Krystyn says
I suppose if you really wanted to, you could eat this! Although, I’m not sure how it would taste:)
Tressie Dawson says
Nice! I am definitely going to make this scrub for me. Thanks for sharing.
Puji mayanda says
How abou shelf life ?
Krystyn says
Hi Puji-
They never last very long here (as in they get used up), but we’ve had them in the shower for over a month with no issues.
Olivia says
Oh my goodness! this is amazing! i love how the way its smells, and it is getting cold here, so i will use it often! i used 6 drops of calmer oil, which smells like peppermint and 6 drops of peppermint extract. haven’t used it, but will tonight! hope the extract doesn’t effect it, lol. looks yummy enough to eat!
Krystyn says
So glad you love the way it smells! I think you’ll be fine with the extract! You’ll have to let us know how you enjoyed it.
olivia says
Ok i just used it. i’m in LOVE. smells amazing, looks amazing and feels amazing! it feels like i’m freshly shaved, and to all of the people who are not sure about this, don’t be worried! i love it, and i highly recommend it. going to share with all of my mint- chocolate lover friends! thank you so much!!
Krystyn says
I’m so very happy to hear this! Happy scrubbing!