Carolyn J. Braden • 3 Minute Read
Get Deliciously Silky Skin with This Easy DIY Caramel Apple Sugar Scrub
Fall in love with this irresistible DIY Caramel Apple Sugar Scrub that smells good enough to eat! This easy, fun, and affordable skincare treat will leave your skin silky smooth and glowing like a caramel-dipped dream. Perfect for self-care Sundays or fall gift ideas, this scrub is a must-try for beauty lovers who adore cozy autumn vibes and sweet skincare recipes.
The Creative Inspiration
When I made my recipe for an easy DIY Country Apple lotion after learning Bath and Body Works discontinued it, I had plenty of the apple oil left over, but shelved it for a while until I figured out a new use for it.
Then, in the late summer months of 2025, I started feeling fall vibes and made a caramel apple chocolate candy dessert and it was delicious. This sparked the memory that I had the apple oil, so I bought a salted caramel oil, combined the two with sugar and oil, and after testing it for several months, it’s a winner ready for publishing!
The most yummy smelling DIY scrub!
More Easy DIY Scrubs
I have made several DIY scrubs over the years and this is, so far, my favorite. From lemon sugar scrub that was inspired by my grandma’s lemon bar love to my super popular beach salt scrub that reminds me of sunscreen and warm sandy days, to this deliciously scented fall scrub. I love them all but this one really stands out.
See my margarita salt scrub recipe here or see it in my 1-minute video below via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
Skin Sensitivity Caused by Hormones and More
When I hit my mid to late 40’s, my leg skin was perturbed with perimenopause symptoms of itchiness caused by hormonal changes. I was able to omit many fragrances from my skincare to resolve this, but if I don’t hydrate, the itchiness returns. The fragrance in this scrub doesn’t bother my skin however, if you have a skin sensitivity to fragrance, you can make the sugar scrub with just the oil and the sugar.
The avocado oil keeps skin hydrated
I also use Jergen’s fragrance free lotion now on a daily basis. This combined with the oil in the scrub keeps my skin very hydrated. Anytime you are experiencing skin irritation, try to omit fragrances and see if that works. If not, then talk to your doctor as it may be a health issue. If my skin didn’t stop itching, I would have talked to my dermatologist or gynecologist.
Can I Scent My Scrub Differently?
Yes, you can use another scented oil, however, make sure it is SKIN SAFE (which means oils that can be used on the skin without causing irritation or adverse reactions). Like in did for my other scrubs, I tested this scrub out on myself for two weeks. I did see an increase in my leg and hand’s moisture. I have extremely dry skin (from age and living in SW Florida) and the oil seemed to help my skin retain moisture better.
I use this on my hands and body
Other Scrubs We Love
Make this scrub for yourself, gift it for a special occasion, for Mother’s Day, or for any skincare lover in your life but if you just simply don’t have the time to make your own scrub, we have tried lots over the years and think you’d like cruelty free versions these too:
1--My niece introduced me to Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrubs years ago, and they are great and well-priced.
2--We love Dr. Teal’s products and their Shea Sugar Body Scrub did not disappoint:
DIY Caramel Apple Sugar Scrub
How to Make DIY Caramel Apple Sugar Scrub
Now for the DIY scrub recipe. It’s only 4 ingredients, and can be made quickly for whenever you need soft and smooth silky skin!
Tools:
Large glass bowl (or any mixing bowl you have on hand)
Spoon or spatula to mix the ingredients
I stored mine in an open bowl (mine is a vintage jadeite leaf shaped bowl, but here’s a cute jadeite bowl you could use) and place it by my kitchen or bathroom sink with the small wooden spoon in it for quick and easy use. The oil keeps it from drying out. If it starts to look dry over time, add a bit more oil.
Check out my 1-minute video tutorial for this project on my TikTok now or coming soon here and to my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden!
If giving as a gift, store it in air tight canisters and glass yogurt containers (which I gift with cute little mini wooden spoons)
If you want labels, I use Avery 5294 round labels and design images for them using Canva (then I use the Avery website to print them at home)
Kitchen Twine (if tying on a gift tag or mini wooden spoon)
My ingredients for the DIY sugar scrub
Time: 5 minutes or less
Amount: Each recipe makes about 6 oz. of product
Ingredients (all items link out to Amazon.com or Walmart)
½ cup (or 4 oz.) sugar (I used a cane sugar as it has larger crystals making it a great scrub and you can get it on Amazon or via Walmart)
1/3 cup avocado oil (you could also use extra virgin olive oil)
15-20 drops salted caramel scented oil (use more or less depending on how strong you want to scent yours and as I stated earlier, you can use a different scented oil as long as it’s skin safe)
15-20 drops country apple oil
I used cane sugar as the crystals are a bit larger than most white sugars
Directions:
1—Place all ingredients in a bowl
Adding the Avocado oil
2—Stir to combine
Adding the skin safe oils
3—Place in a container that seals for gifting or it will last in a bowl or open container for several months.
Stirring the scrub
4—Use on your hands, feet, legs to enjoy softer skin. Overtime, your skin may retain moisture better like I talked about in this article!
The completed DIY scrub
Recipe Notes and Safety Tips:
Sugar and salt scrubs can attract ants, unfortunately in the summer months. I know this due to my own experience. Florida is always buggy in the summer time, and I once had ants find one of my scrubs in the shower area and got all over it. Make sure you SEAL all sugar scrubs and if you see ants marching towards it, you may need to store it away from anywhere that has openings (like away from drains).
Oily scrubs can be dangerous when it comes to slips and falls. If you use this in certain types of showers and baths, the surface can become slippery, so be very careful. If you are prone to falls, sit in a chair over a towel and use the scrub and then use a wet towel to wipe away the excess.
You can use olive oil or avocado oil, but if using coconut oil, please note that it tends to solidify in cold temps, so it may not be your best bet for this DIY.
Don’t like sweet scented things? Try another essential oil that you like best. We like lavender essential oil too. Whatever oils you use, make sure they are SKIN SAFE. We like organic and cruelty free essential oils best.
I encourage you to try the project with your own creative twists and share your creations on your social accounts! If you tag me using @carolynsbloomingcreations or @carolynjbraden, I’ll see it! Or tell me about it in the comments below.
If you loved this article, then we know you’ll love this one too: Easy Simmering Potpourri Recipe and Gift Idea
Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.