by Texas Homesteader ~
I make my own natural lavender-scented hand scrub using just Epsom salts, coconut oil, liquid soap and lavender essential oil. It works wonderfully to scrub the dirt from my hands after a hard day of gardening while still being gentle on my hands. And it makes a perfect gift for a gardener as well.
Looking For Homemade Christmas Gift Ideas
RancherMan & I like to make Homemade Christmas Gifts to give to loved ones. There’s a list at the bottom of this post of gift ideas. Be sure to check it out if you’re looking to make homemade gifts as well.
One year we’d been working HARD for several months making different flavors of homemade cheese for our gifts.
But my aunt has special dietary needs. So cheese, homemade or not, 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 beautiful flowers in her amazing garden. (Let me tell ya, her landscape is breath-taking!) I’ll make a homemade, natural 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 using lavender.
And I know it will add extra meaning to my aunt to know 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 small glass flip-top bale jar.
Mama Always Says: “Presentation Is Half The Gift”
I’ll also make a personalized label for the glass jar using my laser printer and regular 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!
Earth-Friendly Gift
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
This homemade gardener's hand scrub is simple to make using only Epsom salt, coconut oil, liquid soap and essential oils. Tough enough to scrub away dirt but gentle on hands. #TexasHomesteader
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
-
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.
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
A full recipe for six jars of natural lavender-scented hand scrub. Simple recipe uses Epsom salt, coconut oil, liquid soap and essential oils. Makes a great gift idea for Christmas. #TexasHomesteader
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~
My Favorite Garden Hacks
- Easy Garden Planning Spreadsheet
- Getting A Jump: Planting An Indoor Greenhouse
- Repurposed Cardboard Seed-Starting Pots
- 3-Sister’s Garden – The Original Companion Planting
- Low-Cost Vegetable Gardening
- Planting A Large Galvanized Trough
- Using Cheap Biodegradable Weed Block
- Tricking Birds AWAY From Your Strawberry Plants
- Easy Compost For A Healthy Garden
- Propping Tender Seedlings
- Cheap (or FREE) Wood Mulch For The Garden
- Homestead Hack: Remember Where You Planted Seeds
- How Vegetable Gardening Can Change Your Life!
- Easy Deep-Soak Watering
- Planting Potatoes In Galvanized Trough
- Planting A Blueberry Bush In Galvanized Tub
- Stevia – Growing Your Own Sweetener!
- How I Use EcoBricks In The Garden
- Making An Inexpensive Temporary Cold Frame
- Easily Disposing Of Old Confidential Documents
- Repurposing A Coffee Can For Deep-Soak Watering
MORE Gardening Posts
Gift Ideas
- Homemade Gifts We’ve Given
- Gift Ideas For Mom
- Gift Ideas For Dad
- Must-Haves For Any Home Cook
- Christmas Gift-Idea Roundup
- Repurposed Denim Hand Warmers
- 8 Eco-Friendly Gifts Your Friends Will LOVE!
- Low-Waste Christmas Gifts We’ve Received
- Cute Santa Sleigh Made With Candy
- MYO Snowman Treat Jar Gift
- Keeping Track Of Gift-Card Balances
- Experience Gift Ideas
- Easy Homemade Jerky
- Candy Snowman With Gloves (optional CASH!)
Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas:
- Gift Ideas For The Eco-Friendly Mom
- Homemade Gift Ideas
- Homemade Chai Tea Mix
- Gardener’s Hand Scrub
- 3-Ingredient Beeswax Lip Balm
- Repurposed Denim Pocket-Sized Hand Warmers
- Rustic Repurposed-Denim Baskets
- Cedar Solar-Light Garden Feature
- Rustic Bois d’Arc Solar Light
- Photo Wall Hanging Using Reclaimed Barn Wood
- Making A Small Gift Box With A Greeting Card
- Make a Customized Label With Plain Ole Shipping Tape
- 8 Environmentally Friendly Gifts For Your Friends
- Low-Waste Gifts We’ve Rec’d & Loved
- Environmentally-Friendly Gifts Can Be Fun
See All Our Eco-Friendly Posts
Low-Waste Gift Wrapping & Presentation
- Reusable Gift Wrap Ideas
- Low-Waste Gift Baskets
- Make A Cute Gift Box Using A Christmas Card!
- No Wrapping Needed: Experience Gifts!
- Wrapping Gifts In Seconds Using Cloth
All Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’
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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~