Updated October 2026
To make a lemon essential oil sugar scrub, stir 1/2 cup of white sugar, 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil and 12 drops of lemon essential oil together, then massage it onto damp skin in the shower and rinse. It smells bright and fresh and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth. Below you'll find that easy recipe plus a fresh lemon version made with real juice and zest, and the safety tips to know before using lemon on your skin. Jump to the recipes.
Lemon is one of my favorite oils, and if you love it as much as I do, see my full lemon essential oil guide and diffuser blends.
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Why I Love a Lemon Sugar Scrub
A sugar scrub is one of the easiest skin care recipes to make at home. The ingredients are affordable, it only takes a few minutes to mix, and you can change it up to suit your skin.
The sugar gently buffs away dry, flaky skin, and the oil leaves a soft, moisturized feel behind. Lemon essential oil adds a clean, cheerful scent that wakes me right up in a morning shower. Traditionally, lemon is used in aromatherapy to lift the mood and help you feel refreshed and energized.
These scrubs are made for the body: arms, legs, elbows, knees and feet. Sugar crystals can be too rough for the thin skin on your face, and lemon oil is best kept off the face anyway. For a gentler option, try my homemade sugar scrub for face.
Lemon and Sun Sensitivity
Before you use a lemon scrub
- Cold-pressed lemon essential oil, fresh lemon juice and lemon zest can all make skin more sensitive to sunlight.
- Keep scrubbed skin out of the sun and tanning beds for 12 hours, or use the scrub in the evening.
- Steam-distilled lemon essential oil isn't sun-sensitizing, so it's a good choice for the essential oil recipe if you'll be outdoors.
- Skip the scrub on freshly shaved, sunburned, broken or irritated skin.
- Do a skin patch test first if you have sensitive skin.
Learn more about photosensitive essential oils.
Easy Lemon Essential Oil Sugar Scrub
This is my everyday recipe. It uses lemon essential oil only, with no fresh fruit, so you can make a jar and keep it in the bathroom.
Lemon Essential Oil Sugar Scrub (keeps well)
For: Adults and teens 12+, body only
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons jojoba oil (or another carrier oil you like)
- 12 drops lemon essential oil (Citrus limon)
- A small glass jar with a tight lid
Method: Stir the jojoba oil and lemon essential oil together in a bowl first so the oil is evenly mixed, then stir in the sugar until it looks like wet sand. Spoon it into your jar. To use, wet your skin, scoop out a small amount with a clean, dry spoon and massage it onto your body in gentle circles for a minute or two. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.
This works out to about a 2% dilution in the oil, which is a comfortable level for a rinse-off body product. Keep water out of the jar, and toss the scrub if it ever smells off or looks different.
Fresh Lemon Sugar Scrub with Juice and Zest
This version uses a real lemon along with lemon essential oil. It smells amazing and feels like a little spa treat, but because fresh juice adds water and fruit, it doesn't keep. Make one batch, use it the same day, and throw out anything left over.
Fresh Lemon Sugar Scrub (single use)
For: Adults and teens 12+, body only
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil (affiliate link)
- 1 teaspoon olive oil (affiliate link)
- About 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (about 1/4 lemon)
- 1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
- 3 drops lemon essential oil (Citrus limon)
Step 1. In a glass measuring cup (affiliate link), gently melt the coconut oil in the microwave for about 15 to 30 seconds, or in a small pan set over gently simmering water.
Step 2. Stir in the olive oil and the lemon essential oil, then mix in the sugar.
Step 3. Use a microplane (affiliate link) or the fine side of a cheese grater to zest about 1/2 teaspoon of lemon peel into the bowl.
Step 4. Squeeze in about 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and stir everything together.
Step 5. Use it right away. Massage a scoop onto damp skin in gentle circles, rinse with warm water and pat dry. Discard any leftovers.
Lemon juice can sting on small nicks or dry, cracked skin, so if you feel any burning, rinse it off right away.
Tips for Using a Sugar Scrub
- Watch your step. Oil-based scrubs make the shower or tub floor slippery. Rinse the floor when you're done and step out carefully.
- Go easy. Use light pressure. Scrubbing harder doesn't work better and can leave skin red and irritated.
- Don't overdo it. Once or twice a week is plenty for most people. Here's more on how often to use a body scrub.
- Moisturize after. Skin is ready to soak up moisture right after you exfoliate.
- Keep it out of the drain. Run hot water down the drain afterward so coconut oil doesn't build up in your pipes.
Essential Oil Safety Reminders
- Always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before they touch your skin, like in these recipes.
- Never ingest essential oils.
- If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, check with your doctor before using essential oils.
- Store essential oils somewhere cool and dark, out of reach of children and pets.
More in my essential oil safety tips.
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More Scrub and Lemon Recipes
- How to Make an Exfoliating Sugar Scrub with Essential Oils
- Honey Sugar Scrub Recipes
- What Essential Oils Are Good for Body Scrubs?
- Exfoliating Foot Scrub with Essential Oils
- Lemon Essential Oil Recipes and Uses
- Lemon Diffuser Blends
Want to make more of your own skin care? My Aromatherapy Supply Kits have the jars and supplies you need, and my free essential oil guides are full of recipe ideas.
