LuAnn asked for some help to create a good sugar scrub recipe that is put into bottles instead of jars. LuAnn says: I always have loved it when you guys do this! You have made 2 awesome recipes for me before, so if you don’t have time for mine, I totally understand! If you you can, I am looking for a good sugar scrub recipe! I have a recipe for a whipped sugar scrub, that I really like, but only right when I make it. The next day, it is no longer fluffy, and is really thick and stiff. I could put it into jars, but I REALLY would like to have it in tottles, so people don’t have to dig fingers into it! And I would like it to be more creamy, like when I first make it. Sorry, it’s a tall order! I have all the usual soaping and lotion making oils, plus lots of extras, such as pumpkin seed oil, black cumin, hemp, etc. There isn’t much that I don’t have! I’ll wait to see if you have any ideas! Thanks!
Yes, LuAnn you do have a tall order! Let me tell you what you are up against and how to solve this issue. Sugar has a higher specific density that makes it want to settle to the bottom, either the bottom of the jar or the cap of the tottle (a tottle is a bottle that is able to stand on the cap). In order to keep this scrub mixture from settling the scrubbing grains must be of the same specific gravity as the fluid. At the same time you desire a whipped product. Whipping can be adjusted and with the right ingredients the mixture can stay whipped. Whipping and supporting scrubbing grains is a tough job that requires a lot of testing for specific density.
To find a scrubbing grain material that is compatible with your mixture look for something that has a specific density near or lower than one, this means it will nearly float in water. Look for something that does not dissolve in water easily and is stable for long term storage. Try seeds, ground nuts, etc.
You might try a few of these recipes for quick gifts. The testing for your scrub recipe is going to take a good long while. I also suggest placing a small spoon next to your scrubs if possible, then hopeful people will use the spoon instead of digging in with the fingers.
Raspberry Sugar Scrub inspired by Raspberry Salt Scrub Blog
Collect Needed Item:
Raspberry Seed Oil
Grapeseed Oil
Polysorbate 20
Squalane
Vitamin E Acetate
Sugar
Green Mango Fragrance Oil
Liquid Germall Plus
This is a 100 gram batch.
Recipe In Percentages
8% Raspberry Seed Oil
17% Grapeseed Oil
3% Polysorbate 20
1% Squalane
1% Vitamin E Acetate
70% Sugar, (white or brown)
.25% Green Melon
.2% Liquid Germall Plus
Recipe In Grams
8 grams Raspberry Seed Oil
17 grams Grapeseed Oil
3 grams Polysorbate 20
1 grams Squalane
1 grams Vitamin E Acetate
70 grams Salt, Either Dead Sea or Medium Bath (I used Dead Sea Salt, Fine)
.25 grams Green Melon
.2 grams Liquid Germall Plus
Mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Add the fragrance and Liquid Germall Plus last. Stir well. Once the ingredients have been blended well, scoop into containers for use. Enjoy this fabulous scrub!
Shea Butter Sugar Scrub inspired by Shea Butter Lip Scrub blog
Collect Needed Items
Sugar
Shea Butter
Peach Kernel Oil
Vitamin E Acetate
Natural Vanilla Oil
Sugar Baby Flavor Oil
This is a 100 gram batch.
Recipe in Percentages
65% Sugar
20% Shea Butter
10% Peach Kernel Oil
1% Vitamin E Acetate
2% Natural Vanilla Oil
2% Sugar Baby Flavor Oil
Recipe in Grams
65 grams Sugar
20 grams Shea Butter
10 grams Peach Kernel Oil
1 grams Vitamin E Acetate
2 grams Natural Vanilla Oil
2 grams Sugar Baby Flavor Oil
Weigh all of the ingredients into the food processor bowl. Gently pulse the ingredients together until thoroughly mixed. Once the scrub is mixed together, fill the jars and cap.
Take each recipe and adjust as needed to achieve your dream scrub. Try more oil less sugar for a more fluid scrub. Take notes along the way and I hope you enjoy testing some of these recipes!
Weigh all oils.
Fully mixed scrub.
Mix salt into oil mixture.
Finished scrub comparison.
Finished scrubs in jars.
These recipes look nice, especially the shea butter one (love me some shea butter!). I was curious as to why the first recipe included a preservative, whereas the second did not. (I know preservatives are typically added to scrubs, as water can enter the mixture via it’s presence in the shower and/or wet fingers.) Would appreciate your insight!
Carrie, the reason is the emulsifier. The Polysorbate will allow the fats with the shower water to combine so we add a preservative to prevent growth. The second recipe does not have an emulsifier. Good eye and good question!
Tina
LuAnn: Great minds think a like, I was thinking of trying to make a scrub that could be put in a tottle bottle also. 😉
Have you made this with the tottle bottle yet? Would love to know your results.