Creating your own homemade cinnamon spice body scrub is a simple way to upgrade your shower routine with a warm, cosy scent and a satisfying exfoliation. The mix of cinnamon and sugar helps buff away dull, flaky skin so your body feels smoother and more refreshed. This easy-to-make scrub uses everyday kitchen ingredients and can be adjusted to suit your preferred texture—fine and gentle or more scrubby and invigorating.
To craft this body scrub, you only need a few basics: sugar for exfoliation, ground cinnamon for that spicy aroma, and a simple oil to help the scrub glide across the skin without feeling harsh. Brown sugar offers a softer, gentler scrub, while white sugar adds a slightly stronger polish—so combining both can create the perfect balance.
If you love turning an ordinary shower into a spa-like moment, this is a lovely one to keep on hand—especially during autumn and winter when your skin can feel a bit drier. With just a few minutes of prep, you’ll have a scrub that smells amazing and leaves your skin feeling soft and pampered.
Ingredients and Benefits
A Homemade Cinnamon Spice Body Scrub is made with simple ingredients that work together to exfoliate and soften the skin. The sugar gently buffs the surface, the oil helps moisturise, and the cinnamon adds a warm scent that makes your routine feel a little more luxurious.
Cinnamon: Warm, Spicy Scent
Cinnamon is mainly used in this scrub for its cosy aroma and spa-like feel. A small amount adds a warm scent that pairs beautifully with brown sugar and coconut oil. Because cinnamon is strong, it’s best used sparingly—just enough for fragrance without overpowering the blend.
Tip: Cinnamon can feel intense on very sensitive skin, so keep the amount low and always patch test first (especially if you’ve never used cinnamon on your skin before).
For most batches, ½ to 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon is plenty. If you want more scent, add vanilla extract or a drop of skin-safe fragrance oil rather than adding lots of cinnamon.
Sugar: Simple Exfoliation
Sugar is an easy, effective exfoliant. It helps polish away dry, rough areas so your skin feels smoother after rinsing. Using two types of sugar gives you more control over the texture:
- Brown sugar is softer and feels gentler on the skin.
- White sugar has a slightly stronger scrub feel.
A good starting point is 2 cups total sugar (1 cup brown + 1 cup white). You can also reduce the white sugar if you want a gentler scrub.
Oil Blend: Slip + Softness
Adding oil helps the scrub glide smoothly, making it feel more comfortable on the skin and leaving a soft finish after rinsing. Coconut oil is a popular choice for its rich texture, but you can also use olive oil, sweet almond oil, or grapeseed oil depending on what you have at home.
Start with ¼ cup oil and adjust from there. If you prefer a drier, more “scrubby” texture, use less oil. If you want a softer, more moisturising scrub, add a little more oil until it feels right.
Optional: A small spoonful of honey can add a richer feel, but it may shorten shelf life (see storage notes below).
Step-by-Step Preparation
This cinnamon scrub comes together in minutes. The key is mixing thoroughly so the cinnamon distributes evenly and the oils coat the sugar without turning the scrub overly runny.
Blending the Ingredients
Here’s a simple, reliable recipe you can make right away:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup white sugar
- ¼ cup coconut oil (or preferred carrier oil)
- ½–1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Optional: 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Optional: 1 teaspoon honey (best for small batches)
Add the sugars and cinnamon to a mixing bowl and stir well first. Then drizzle in the oil and mix until the texture looks like wet sand. If you’re using vanilla extract, stir it in at the end. If your coconut oil is solid, let it soften slightly so it mixes evenly (avoid heating it too much or the scrub may become runny).
Customising Scent and Texture
This is the fun part. You can easily make this scrub feel more “dessert-like” or more “spa-like” depending on what you add:
- For a softer scrub: use more brown sugar and slightly less white sugar.
- For a stronger scrub: use more white sugar or add a spoon of fine sea salt.
- For a warmer scent: add vanilla extract, or a tiny pinch of nutmeg.
- For a lighter feel: swap coconut oil for grapeseed oil or sweet almond oil.
Important: If you choose to add cinnamon essential oil, use it very sparingly and only if it’s labelled for skin use. For most people, ground cinnamon plus vanilla is more than enough scent.
Storage and Shelf Life
Scoop your scrub into a clean, dry airtight jar (glass works best). Store it in a cool, dry cupboard away from direct heat. Keep water out of the jar to help the scrub stay fresh—use a clean spoon or dry hands when scooping.
Shelf life guide:
- Without honey: usually lasts 3–6 months when kept dry.
- With honey or other fresh ingredients: make smaller batches and aim to use within 2–4 weeks.
If the texture separates, simply stir before use. If the scrub looks or smells “off,” discard it and make a fresh batch.
