by Texas Homesteader ~
RancherMan & I like to make our Christmas gifts ourselves to give to loved ones. This year we’d been working HARD for several months making different flavors of homemade cheese for our gifts. But my aunt is on a special diet, so cheese wouldn’t be a thoughtful gift for her at all. Hummm…
I know – she loves to garden and she’s always planting and tending to the flowers in her amazing garden. (Let me tell ya, her landscape is breath-taking!) I’ll make a hand scrub for her!
I did some research and read that lavender is an herb that’s kind to your skin. So I immediately decided to make her hand scrub with lavender. And I know it will be meaningful to my aunt that even the lavender flowers were grown and harvested right here at home.
So I first pulled some lavender blossoms and allowed them to dry. When they were completely dry I crushed them with my fingers to prepare them to be added to the hand scrub. When all was ready, I put together my aunt’s special gift.
Mixing Up The Lavender Hand Scrub
First I added some Epsom salts into a bowl. Then I stirred in melted coconut oil, a small amount of body wash, my crushed dried lavender blossoms and a few drops of lavender essential oil. You can use whatever scent you like.
But be careful when using citrus essential oils, I’ve been told it greatly increases your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Since this was purposely meant to be used during gardening season I shied away from any citrus influence in this hand scrub.
When it was all combined I stirred it all together and used a funnel to place it all into a glass flip-top bale jar.
Mama Always Says: “Presentation Is Half The Gift”
I’ll make a personalized label for the glass jar using my laser printer and shipping tape to further personalize it specially for my aunt. Then I’ll present it in a small basket that also contains a nail brush, some garden gloves and maybe scented hand cream. I know she’s gonna love it!
This gift costs very little, both environmentally as well as financially. Yet it will be the PERFECT gift for my aunt! Plus it’s a very personal gift, lovingly handmade specially for her. Now that’s right down my ally!
The glass bale-top jar was picked up months ago at a garage sale for pennies. And of course I always have lavender essential oil for use in my homemade soaps. The lavender blooms were harvested from plants grown right here on the homestead. And the Epsom salts are always in my pantry, a vital ingredient in my less toxic Grass Killer.
So by putting on my thinking cap I was able to make a thoughtful, personal gift for a loved one that stayed in our budget and was still kind to Mother Earth. And isn’t that combination the greatest kind of gift of all??
All-Natural Lavender Gardener's Hand Scrub, Small 1/2-cup batch
Ingredients
- 1 tsp crushed dried lavender blossoms
- 1/2 cup Epsom Salts (can substitute up to half this measure with Kosher Salt)
- 2 tsp Melted Coconut Oil
- 2 tsp Liquid Soap (I like to use shower gel)
- 5 drops Essential Oil scent of choice *caution, citrus essential oils can cause sunburns!
Instructions
-
Combine melted coconut oil & salt in a bowl. Mix until smooth
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Add the liquid soap and crushed lavender blossoms (and essential oil, if using). Stir gently to combine
-
Place mixture in small glass swing-top bale jar & label. Enjoy!
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To use, wet hands & scoop out about a couple of tablespoons of scrub. Rub hands together until all dirt has been removed. Rinse & towel dry.
And in case you wanted to make several of these at one time to give as gifts to several people, here’s the full-sized batch:
All-Natural Lavender Scented Gardener's Hand Scrub
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons crushed dried lavender blossoms
- 3 cups Epsom Salts
- ¼ cup Coconut Oil
- 1/4 cup Liquid Soap (I like to use shower gel)
- 20 drops Essential Oil scent of choice (caution, citrus essential oils can cause sunburns!)
Instructions
-
Combine melted coconut oil & salt in a bowl. Mix until smooth
-
Add the liquid soap and crushed lavender blossoms (and essential oil, if using). Stir gently to combine
-
Place mixture in small glass swing-top bale jar & label. Enjoy!
-
To use, wet hands & scoop out about a couple of tablespoons of scrub. Rub hands together until all dirt has been removed. Rinse & towel dry.
~TxH~
Other Christmas Posts You Might Like:
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- A Small Christmas Tree Can Be BEAUTIFUL!
- Keeping The JOY In The Christmas Season
- ‘Merry Christmas’ or ‘Happy Holidays’?
- Want To Keep Christ In Christmas?
- The Truth Behind Perfect Facebook Posts
- Don’t Judge The Need Of Others
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- Christmas Gift-Idea Roundup
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- Santa Sleigh Made With Candybars
- 8 Eco-Friendly Gifts Your Friends Will LOVE!
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All Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’
C’mon by & sit a spell! Come hang out at our Facebook Page . It’s like sitting in a front porch rocker with a glass of cold iced tea. There are lots of good folks sharing! And you can also follow along on Pinterest, & Twitter
This looks like a great gift idea, but I am going to make it for myself as well. I love gardening but it can be hard on the hands. I’m also growing lavender in my garden, so if all works out well, I will be able to dry my own flowers to use in this.
It really is a great gift Sarah. And it’s decadent on your hands. I always have a hard time getting the garden dirt from around my fingernails/cuticles. But this garden scrub does a fantastic job and leaves my hands soft. ~TxH~