Homemade Gifts: Lavender Olive Oil Body Scrub

I love making (and receiving!) homemade gifts. There is something truly special about spending time thinking about and crafting something specifically for a certain friend or family member. The gift often carries much more meaning than a store-bought gift, and often costs much less.

Most of the time, my gifts are of the edible variety. What can I say, I love to bake! However, I also appreciate the use of natural body care products. After all, we’re looking to reduce the number of preservatives, chemicals, and other unhealthy things we put in our bodies, so why not take the same concern with what we put on our bodies? So this year, I thought it might be nice to pamper some friends with a homemade body scrub made from natural ingredients.

While sugar isn’t the most beneficial thing to put in our body, it sure can benefit those rougher parts of our skin! This scrub uses cane sugar (you can use everyday sugar, or if you prefer, vegan or organic sugar), olive oil, lavender essential oil, and lavender buds. It only takes a few moments to put together, but once it is stored in a pretty jar and decorated with a festive ribbon, it’s a perfect gift that can certainly be enjoyed for months. So go ahead and make some, and give your special someone(s) the gift of a relaxing spa treatment, made right in your kitchen!

Lavender Olive Oil Sugar Scrub Recipe (gluten-free, vegan)

Makes 2 gifts

• 1 ½ cups sugar
• ¾ cups olive oil
• 6 drops natural lavender essential oil
• 1 tablespoon lavender buds (optional, but pretty)

1. Combine ingredients in a medium bowl and mix together until well-blended. Spoon into 2 4-oz jars. Decorate as desired.

To use: While in the shower or bath, scoop a tablespoon or two into your hand and scrub on desired parts of body. Rinse off. Be sure to wash the bathtub or shower after use, or else it can get slippery!

Alta is the founder of the gluten-free, dairy-free blog, Tasty Eats At Home. Even without gluten and dairy, Alta can show you that meals can be simple and healthy, and treats such as cake, bread, and cookies can be mouth-watering! Her goal is to share with you delicious, gluten-free, dairy-free food that can bring your heart joy and nourish your body, one recipe at a time.