Sugar scrub cubes are a fun and easy project for beginner and advanced crafters alike. They are made with a combination of Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base, oil and sugar. The ingredients are quickly mixed together and poured into the mold. The soap base creates a texture that can be cut into small cubes. They’re soft enough to break apart with your hands and apply. The cubes exfoliate, cleanse and hydrate the skin.
This sugar scrub project is made with ingredients in the Sugar Scrub Cube Kit, which includes finished labels and printed instructions. It also ships free to the lower 48 United States! There are enough ingredients to make multiple batches of sugar scrub cubes. The kit also includes two shades of Color Blocks to create pink and yellow cubes. You can also mix the colors together to create orange.
The key to this project is prepping the ingredients beforehand. Once the melted soap, liquid oil and sugar are mixed together, the mixture begins to thicken very quickly. You have about 10 seconds to stir before the mixture becomes “gloopy” and more difficult to pour into the molds. If it becomes too thick to pour, don’t fret. You can pop the mixture back into the microwave for about 5-10 seconds to melt the mixture and loosen it back up. Just be careful to not microwave it too much, or the sugar can start to melt!
What’s Included in the Sugar Scrub Cube Kit:
6 Rectangle Molds with Lids
16 oz. Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base
16 oz. Sweet Almond Oil
2 oz. Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil
1 Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant
1 Fizzy Lemonade Colorant
1 Dropper
Finished Labels and Instructions
Click here to add the Sugar Scrub Cube Kit to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!
Recipe:
2 Rectangle Molds with Lids
2 oz. Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base
2 oz. Sweet Almond Oil
2 mL Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil
6 oz. White Granulated Sugar
Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant
Fizzy Lemonade Colorant
DIY Sugar Scrub Cubes
Ingredients
- 2 Rectangle Molds with Lids
- 2 oz. Clear Melt & Pour Soap Base
- 2 oz. Sweet Almond Oil
- 2 mL Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil
- 6 oz. White Granulated Sugar
- Fired Up Fuchsia Colorant
- Fizzy Lemonade Colorant
Instructions
- Chop 2 ounces of Clear Melt and Pour Soap into small, even pieces. Place into a heat safe container. Add 2 ounces of sweet almond oil. Measure 6 ounces of granulated sugar into a separate container. Have two Rectangle Molds with Lids ready to go, with the lids off.
- Chop off a hunk of the Fizzy Lemonade Color Block or Fired Up Fuchsia Color Block (depending on what color you'd like to make) and place it into the container with the melt and pour soap. Add 2 mL of Fresh Bamboo Fragrance Oil.
- Place the container in the microwave for about 35 seconds, or until the soap is completely melted but not boiling. Remove from the microwave and stir to thoroughly mix together the soap, colorant and fragrance oil.
- Pour the sugar into the mixture and stir very quickly and rigorously for about 10 seconds. Quickly pour the mixture into the 2 molds. If it becomes too thick to pour, place the mixture into the microwave using 5-10 seconds to loosen the mixture. Don't microwave for too long, or the sugar can melt.
- Allow the cubes to harden in the mold for several hours until completely cool and firm. Release from the mold and cut into 6 cubes. Store the cubes in an airtight package to prevent glycerin dew.
- To use, break up the scrub slightly with your hand along with warm water, and apply to skin. These scrubs are great for the body, but may be a little harsh on the face. Enjoy!
Hi! I made this from your recipe, minus the colorant (coz I don’t have access to the one used in the recipe). The end product turned out quite greasy/oily. I tried to use it and it has a bit of an oily residue after, not sure if it is normal. But it really is nice to use with the sugar scrub on my hands and arms.
I was wondering if I should increase the M&P since I did not any of the colorant? What do you suggest I adjust for this?
BTW, I live in a tropical climate and it can get really humid most of the time. However, our climate now is a bit on the cold /not so humid side when I did on the recipe.
I really want to give this out as gifts but I am not sure how to adjust it.
Thanks! 🙂
Melt and pour soaps are known to sweat in humid climates, which may be account for that greasiness you’re encountering. Try using a little less fixed oil with your project and see if they hold up better. You may also want to seal them up airtight after you’re finished so they can’t absorb extra moisture.
I reduced the amount of oil and it turned out much better. Thank you! 🙂
Sorry it posted twice ????
No worries Linda.
You can give that a try though it may end up crumbling when you cut it because of the sugar content and how hard the cubes are.
Could I use the 4” silicone mold and then slice or chop it up how I like? Just trying to use what I already have on hand ????
We haven’t tried it that way – it may smush a little bit if you’re trying to cut it, but try out a small test batch and see what you think.
I want to make a solid sugar scrub cube without using MP. I cannot seem to find any answers 🙁 would i be able to make this same concept with a cold process and add sugar at the end, like soap? Thank you! All of your recipes are amazing!
If I used your exact recipe, can you please tell me how I would list the ingredients on a label? Thank you!
You would start with Sugar, then Sweet Almond Oil, then liste all of the ingredients for the Melt and Pour separately, finishing your label with fragrance and color.
Hello,
I was thinking of making this as an lemon poppyseed scrub. Would the lemon peel powder and poppyseeds would be ok to add to melt and pour? And would the lemon peel hold up scent pretty good?
Thank you
You can add both the Lemon Peel Powder and Poppyseeds to melt and pour soap as well as this recipe. Just keep in mind that would change the scrub cubes’ consistency a bit so you may want to try a small test batch to make sure you like the results.
The Lemon Peel Powder won’t smell very strong in the finished product. If you want your cubes to have a nice lemony smell you may want to add in a lemon fragrance like Lemon Verbena Yankee Type Fragrance Oil:
https://www.brambleberry.com/Lemon-Verbena-Yankee-Type-Fragrance-Oil-P3344.aspx
Can I use goat milk soap instead?
You can, but you will end up with a more pastel color with your sugar scrub cubes.
could you tell me please proportional of ingredients for basic body scrub?
thank you so much
It depends on what kind of scrub you are making. They can vary quite a bit depending on what ingredients you are using. There are tons of great recipes under the Soaks and Scrubs section. You might like this scrub: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/raspberry-jam-scrub-diy-kit/
I mean if I can use same amount of oils and fragrances to any exfoliate (sugar,sea salt,…)
Thank you
Sorry for my English ????????
I just try to make my own recipe for body scrub and face scrub
Generally you can switch out the exfoliants without having to change the entire recipe.
Can you use salt instead of sugar? Would I need to use anything different like fractionated CO instead of almond oil?
Thanks,
Maria
Yes, you can use salt in this recipe. Fine Epsom or Dead Sea salt work well because they’re a similar size to the sugar. You can use sweet almond oil with the salt, but if you prefer fractionated coconut oil use that at the same amount (2 ounces).
Extra Fine Epsom Salt: https://www.brambleberry.com/Epsom-Salt-Extra-Fine-P5120.aspx
Fine Grain Dead Sea Salt: https://www.brambleberry.com/Fine-Grained-Dead-Sea-Salt-P4085.aspx
Fractionated coconut oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/CaprylicCapric-Triglycerides-Fractionated-Coconut-Oil-P4957.aspx
Great! Thank you for your help. 🙂
Maria @
Salty Crab Soap
Hi,can I use food color in this recipe?
We recommend color blocks. You can use liquid colorants as well. Add a few drops to the melted soap and oil and mix well. We used liquid colorants in this sugar scrub cube tutorial: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/violet-solid-sugar-scrub-cubes/
Get liquid colorants here: https://www.brambleberry.com/Glycerin-Colors-C44.aspx
You can also use micas to color these cubes. For those, we recommend about 1/2 tsp. per pound of soap to start with. You can add the mica to the melted soap and oil and mix well: https://www.brambleberry.com/Micas-C46.aspx
Can i use butters in this recipe?
We’ve made salt scrub cubes with butter you may like, find that recipe here: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/diy-salt-scrub-cubes/
They’re softer and less cleansing than this recipe, but they still feel great on the skin.
Could I substitute half the oil for liquid Castile soap? Or more? I’m trying to avoid Slippery Shower Syndrome since the textured floor is so hard to clean. 🙂
We haven’t tried this recipe with liquid soap, so I would recommend a small test batch to see what you think.
if i use more soap base & lesser oil (half the amount), will the cubes be a little harder?
Yes, they will be harder. It may also be more difficult to get them mixed up and poured before they harden. I would recommend making a small test batch to see how it goes. If it’s hardening too quickly, you’ll want to add more oil.
Hello there!
How many cubes would you suggest selling in one package? Thank you for your help 🙂
I think 6 cubes would be a good amount – that’s about 1 bar of soap. You can add more or fewer depending on your packaging, marketing, etc.
Thank you for the advice! 🙂
My cubes are breaking apart too easily, did I add too much oil?
Did you add more oil that the recipe calls for?
what is the shelf life for the scrub cubes ? do I need to freeze them ?
These scrubs will last about a year. They store best at room temperature in a cool, dry place like a basement or garage. We also recommend wrapping them tightly with plastic wrap to prevent glycerin dew. Learn more in this post: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
What is the shelf life for these?
6 months to 1 year mainly due to the Sweet Almond oil. Be sure to keep them sealed up so they don’t attract moisture form the air.
I will love to make a coffee version of this, should i use coffee grounds in place of sugar as the exfoliant? 🙂
We haven’t used coffee grounds in this recipe, so I’m not entirely sure how that would work. Keep in mind coffee grounds are larger grained than sugar, so they will be more exfoliating if you use the same amount. You may want to make a small test batch with coffee grounds to see how it works.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I did but not in little squares and it worked perfectly. the goat’s milk doesn’t react to well here in Africa where I live, so I used a remainder with the coffee and made another layer oh the honey MP Base. it works perfectly.
That’s awesome, glad they turned out well.
Honey Melt and Pour Base: https://www.brambleberry.com/sfic-honey-melt-and-pour-soap-base-p3186.aspx
It was so easy and fun! I love that I can buy all the ingredients and packaging through you (Brambleberry) My friends love the homemade gifts and think I’m a genius! ???? lol. Thank you.
Ha, that’s awesome! Handmade gifts are definitely best, especially in cute packaging. 😉
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi may I ask if you used coarse sugar with this recipe? I tried it with fine castor sugar and I could barely feel the grains. Thanks!
We used white granulated sugar, which has larger grains that castor sugar I believe. I would recommend trying the white granulated sugar to see what you think. You can also use larger grains for more scrub.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I’d love to try this recipe, but I have a few questions. Could I use a different MP base? Such as shea or goat’s milk? Also, could I pour these into a silicone mold instead of the plastic lidded molds? And last question, I promise, is the Sweet Almond Oil a necessity in this recipe or would the cubes hold together without it? Thanks so much for every tutorial and bit of information you post, it’s been a huge help and inspiration!
You can use another melt and pour base, any one of ours will work really well. Silicone molds will work well too. As for the oil, it helps make the cubes softer and easier to break apart. You may find the soap with sugar is a bit too firm. I would recommend a small test batch to see what you think.
Melt and Pour Bases: https://www.brambleberry.com/SFIC-Soap-C647.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Instead of sugar, can I use epsom salt? What would be the ratio? If I use virgin olive oil, and an essence oil for scent would that be okay? Can i melt the soap via a stove instead of a microwave? Thank you so much!
We haven’t tried these with Epsom salt so I’m not entirely sure. The olive oil and peppermint essential oil should be just fine though. I would recommend making a small test batch to see how it works. Also, you can melt the soap on the stove, but I would recommend a double boiler otherwise it can burn. If you don’t have a double boiler you can make one with this tool: https://www.brambleberry.com/Double-Boiler-Maker-Double-Boiler-Maker-P3796.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Is glycerin the only melt and pour soap you could use? How about other melt and pour soaps?
You can use another base, like shea or olive oil, if you like. Find options here: https://www.brambleberry.com/SFIC-Soap-C647.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hello Ann Marie, I tried this recipe with sweet almond oil, white sugar, clear glycerin but the fragrance was coconut, so when I made it it was white the soap now it turned light brown what may have caused this??
Fragrances that contain vanilla will discolor the soap brown, so the coconut scent likely had vanilla. You can still use the cubes, the discoloration is only aesthetic. For your next batch, use Vanilla Color Stabilizer at a 1:1 ratio with the fragrance to prevent the cubes from turning brown: https://www.brambleberry.com/Vanilla-Color-Stabilizer-P4156.aspx
Learn more about discoloration here: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/why-did-my-soap-turn-brown/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Is there anything that prevents using the fractionated coconut oil for applications like this? I know regular coconut oil has a solid state until 76 degrees but fractionated is liquid regardless. Is this one I could try to use in soap recipes if I wasn’t using almond or grapeseed?
Fractionated coconut oil will work in this recipe. It has a different consistency than sweet almond oil, so you may want to make a small test batch to see what you think.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Fractionated coconut oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/CaprylicCapric-Triglycerides-Fractionated-Coconut-Oil-P4957.aspx
Just received my kit and can’t wait to make my cubes! If I make 2 different scents, do you think they can be packaged together in a gift bag? Or will the scents transfer to one another?
That will be just fine. The scents may mingle a bit in the bag, but once they’re separated you’ll be able to smell the scent in the cubes more clearly. Have fun Connie. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Do these dissolve when you use them like regular sugar scrubs of do they act like soap?
They’re a soap/scrub hybrid, so they are solid but as you use them the sugar and oil do transfer to your body. That means they will dissolve more quickly than regular soap.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I made these a few days ago. I absolutely love these! They turned out beautifully! They smell divine and break down easily in the shower. I can’t wait to make more and share them with my friends and families.
Glad you’re loving these Ana. I think your friends and family are going to love them too.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi how many cubes would I get out that recipe? And can I use other melt n pour base like goats milk? I need to make quite a bit of these and wonder how I could increase the recipe without spoiling it.. or would it be raised to just make regular sugar scrub that can be scooped?
This recipe makes 24 cubes. You can use another melt and pour base and you can double or triple the recipe if you like, just be prepared to move quickly to get it into the molds.
Goat Milk Melt and Pour Base: https://www.brambleberry.com/SFIC-Goat-Milk-Melt-And-Pour-Soap-Base-P3184.aspx
If you prefer regular sugar scrubs, we have recipe inspiration here: https://soapqueen.com/category/bath-and-body-tutorials/soaks-and-scrubs/
I love this recipe but I was wondering if you could substitute Coconut Oil for the Almond Oil? Would you have to use less?
Because coconut oil is solid at room temperature, it will change the consistency of these cubes. It may make them firmer and a bit more tricky to use on the skin. I would recommend a small test batch with the coconut oil to see what you think. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Coconut oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Coconut-Oil-P3196.aspx
Thank you! I did try it and it was definitely too hard. It hurt my hands to try to crush. What about using white soap base instead of clear?
White Melt and Pour Base will work in this recipe as well! However, it won’t make the cubes softer. To do that, you’ll want to use a liquid oil like sweet almond or avocado. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Avocado oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Avocado-Oil-P3198.aspx
Gotcha 🙂 I’ll stick with sweet almond. Thank you!
Can any other colorant be used in this recipe or does it have to be the blocks?
You can use liquid colorants as well! Add a few drops to the melted soap and oil and mix well. If you want the soap darker, you can add more from there. 🙂
Liquid colorants: https://www.brambleberry.com/Glycerin-Colors-C44.aspx
We used liquid colorants in this sugar scrub cube tutorial: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/violet-solid-sugar-scrub-cubes/
You can also use micas to color these cubes. For those, we recommend about 1/2 tsp. per pound of soap to start with. You can add the mica to the melted soap and oil and mix well: https://www.brambleberry.com/Micas-C46.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I just made these and for some reason the oil does not mix with my melt and pour. i followed the directions exactly and when i pour it into the mold i just have a layer of oil sitting on the top
Within the first couple days, there can be some oil that pools on top of the bars. I’ve had that happen with mine before! It usually reabsorbs in a few days. How long has it been since you’ve made the bars? Let me know. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thanks Kelsey! I just made these and that is exactly what I noticed – oil pooling on the top. I’ll give it a couple of days and see what I’ve got!
i did not find the fresh bamboo oil , is it ok if i do not use it?
or can i use coconut oil ?
thanks
The Fresh Bamboo is a fragrance oil that scents the cubes, so if you can find it you can use another fragrance or essential oil! Anything that’s skin safe will work just fine. 🙂
Find skin-safe fragrances here: https://www.brambleberry.com/Fragrance-Oils-C161.aspx
And essential oils here: https://www.brambleberry.com/Essential-Oils-C157.aspx
You can use the Fragrance Calculator to find out how much to add to your batch: https://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
These look incredible. I don’t have any melt and pour soap bases. Can I use my own cold pressed soap bars instead?
We haven’t tried this recipe with cold process so I’m not entirely sure! When you rebatch the soap, it melts but doesn’t fully liquefy. That can make it tricky to incorporate the oil and sugar. You may want to make a small test batch to see how it works. 🙂
Learn more about rebatching soap here: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/soap-queen-tv-presents-how-to-make-rebatch-soap-2/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Is there a way we can make our own color blocks at home with oxides? Thank you!
Our color blocks are made by mixing the color into glycerin and alcohol at a really concentrated rate. Then, they’re added to melt and pour and poured into small block molds. You can give that a try for a home color block. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Do these need a preservative if they will be sold? If so, which preservative would you recommend and how much for this recipe?
They don’t need a preservative! Soap has a pH level that doesn’t allow mold to grow. The recipe also doesn’t contain any water, so it will be just fine. 🙂
Learn more about preservatives here: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Is it Ok to use the LCP melt and pour for these? Thank You
I’m not entirely sure! LCP has less glycerin, so it tends to harden a bit more quickly. I would recommend a small test batch to see how it does. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
LCP Clear Melt and Pour: https://www.brambleberry.com/SFIC-LCP-Clear-Melt-And-Pour-Soap-Base-P4383.aspx
LCP White Melt and Pour: https://www.brambleberry.com/SFIC-LCP-White-Melt-And-Pour-Soap-Base-P3190.aspx
I have issues with oil seeping out of sugar scrub cubes when there is a lot like this recipe (defiantly beads of oil not glycerin dew). Is there any way to prevent that? I normally use sweet almond oil.
In our tests we found the oil may seep out the first few days, but after that it should reabsorb in the bars! How many days has it been since you made your bars?
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Since it takes a few days for the oil to reabsorb that might puddle on top, is it necessary to let them cure, so to speak, for several days before they are ready to be cut and used?
Thank you so much
Yes, you can let them sit out for a few days just in case there is any oil. Keep them in a cool, dry place like a cabinet or basement. If you have a fan or a dehumidifier you can run that over them as they dry.
Can this be made as a full bar instead of cubes?
They can be full bars! These molds make a really nice bar shape. You can pop them out and use them as is. You can also use our other molds to create fun designs. 🙂
Molds: https://www.brambleberry.com/Molds-C184.aspx
We used a cute heart mold for these Sugar Scrub Cubes: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sample-Idea-Sheet-for-February-2016.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
If you have a nut allergy could the almond oil affect you?
If you have a nut allergy, almond oil can irritate the skin. It’s best to use a non-nut oil just to be safe! Some good replacements are avocado, grapeseed and hemp seed oil. 🙂
Learn more in this post: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/soaping-with-allergies-nuts-gluten-more/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Avocado oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Avocado-Oil-P3198.aspx
Grapeseed oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Grapeseed-Oil-P6029.aspx
Hemp seed oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Hemp-Seed-Oil-Refined-P3209.aspx
Avocado butter makes the tub incredibly slick will the liquid oil do the same?
Oil can make the tub slippery, so make sure to use caution when exiting. The soap does help wash away some of that oil though.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I hate to be that person but if someone has a medical condition its best to ALWAYS refer them to speak to their doctor, no?
Absolutely, we do recommend talking to your doctor with any skin or medical concerns you may have.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I made these from the kit last year and I have to say I liked using them. But I had to cut them down into smaller pieces. They are pretty hard until you get them wet enough, and I found I was wasting a lot of it trying to use a whole cube in one session – they go a long way!
Glad you liked using them Michael!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Although the video tells when to add the almond oil, the directions (to print out for later) are missing that step. I LOVE these – so nice and scrubby but also cleansing.
So glad you’re loving these Lisa! We got the sweet almond oil directions added. Sorry about any confusion.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can I use any type of mold or does it need to be plastic?
You can use silicone molds if you like! You can also use wood or stainless steel molds lined with freezer paper. Anything that is flexible enough for the cubes to unmold easily, or something where the freezer paper can be lifted out of the mold. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you!