Sweet Seniors and Sugar Scrubs

Sugar scrubs. A simple mix of sweet sugar and silky oil. Easy to make. Easy to use. Another simple pleasure to enjoy along with handmade soap. And everybody needs a "little sugar" now and then. Especially seniors who have given so much to others. A lifetime of sugar.

I've watched enough old episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show" and lived in the South long enough to know that to give someone "a little sugar" is to give them an expression of love, usually a kiss. One definition from the Urban Dictionary states that sugar is "a Southern term for kiss. Often pronounced as 'suga' or some variation thereof."  So a Southern senior has most likely given and been given a lot of sugar over the years. And most seniors are plenty sweet!

This week I had the opportunity to demonstrate how to make sugar scrubs at a local assisted living facility, Atria Park of San Pablo. Carrie Walle, the Engage Life Director, had approached me a few months ago at a craft show where I had a booth set up to sell my handmade soaps. She asked if I might be interested in doing a demo at Atria Park, and without hesitation, I agreed. What a wonderful opportunity to give a little suga to some sweet folks!

​I think the smiles on their faces says it all.

At the time, I didn't realize that the director had taken a short video. You can view it on The Lathered Lamb's Facebook page. Carrie also took the photos and brought many of the supplies for the demo. The participants had a good time trying the different types of scrubs that I made and then each made their own. I had brought several different fragrances and additives that they could add to their sugar scrub. Then they scooped their scrub into a mason jar and topped it with raffia ribbon. Pretty sweet.

Below are a couple basic scrub recipes using both oatmeal or sugar. Just mix the ingredients together, adding more or less oil to get a consistency that isn't too oily or stiff. Use caution in the shower or bath as the oil can make things slippery.

Oatmeal Scrub

1 1/2 Cups finely ground oatmeal
  1/2 Cup light oil like sweet almond, olive, or sunflower (I used the calendula infused light olive oil mentioned in the video.)
​a little bit of fragrance or essential oil, maybe 1/2 ounce

Basic Sugar Scrub

1 Cup sugar
1/2 Cup Coconut oil, melted (or whatever oil/s you'd like)
1 Tablespoon dry milk powder, optional
body safe fragrance or essential oil - lavender, tea tree, peppermint, whatever you like

Additives can include ground lavender buds, jojoba beads, coffee, loose leaf tea, spices, pureed strawberries or blueberries, honey, salt. Try different sugars - brown, rapadura, raw cane.

*For personal use only. Avoid getting water in the scrub. The scrub should be used within a couple of months, otherwise, please use a preservative.

The possibilities are endless for customization. The next time you need a gift idea, consider making a sugar scrub and give "a little suga" to someone special.

​~Debbie