Soap Queen

Tutorials on soapmaking, bath fizzies, lotions and more

Tutorials by difficulty level:

Emulsified Scrub (from Scratch) on Soap Queen TV

Filed Under: Soaks & Scrubs

It’s another throw-back Thursday #tbt video from the unpublished archives of Soap Queen TV! This was originally filmed in 2010 – check out my bangs!

Emulsified Scrub video

In this video, learn to make a unique emulsified scrub that is both cleansing and moisturizing. It’s a little more complicated to make than a traditional oil and salt (or sugar) scrub. But the benefits make it well worth the effort. This scrub is easier to use, doesn’t feel greasy or leave a slippery mess in the shower and it won’t leak if you ship it or it falls sideways.

You will need:

Packaging & Tools:

Click Here to have all the ingredients added to your Bramble Berry shopping cart.

Like it? Share it!

You may also like these

Watch Love Letter Soap Tutorial HereMake Perfect Lines + Learn to Embed: Love Letter SoapLemonPoppySeedCP1_700pxLemon Poppy Seed Hot Process SoapClassicHeartMPSoap1_700pxClassic Heart Melt & Pour SoapPatchouliBentoniteClaySoap4_700pxPatchouli & Bentonite Clay SoapUpliftingOrangeSoap3_700pxUplifting Orange Soap

Become an email subscriber

Enter your email address below and you will receive all our new posts directly in your email inbox.

Previous Post:
Next Post:

116 Comments

  1. Hi, I’m wondering how to choose colors, in Australia, for adding to these scrubs please? I would like to make a shower scrub and this formula sounds like it’s the right mix of cleansing and scrubbing without slipping all over the place, but I’m very confused about the type of colors to look for as most retailers do not refer to oil based scrubs in the suitability lists. Thanks

  3. Hey!! I was just wondering could I replace the mango butter with coconut oil and replace the sweet almond oil with avacado oil or olive oil??!!

  4. I plan on making this in the morning (so excited). I don’t have Stearic acid but I do have cetyle
    alcochol and sodium lactate. Which do you think would work better?
    I’m going to use Dr. Bronner’s castille soap. I’ll let you know if it works. Fingers crossed.

    • The cetyl alcohol will work in place of stearic acid! Like stearic acid, it is a co-emulsifier so it will help the scrub stay mixed. You can use it at the same amount as the stearic acid. Have fun making this recipe Liz! 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

      • That’s awesome! I love the feeling of emulsified scrub, it’s nice and moisturizing. 🙂

        -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  5. Hi,

    Can I replace the natural liquid soap with potassium cocoate in this recipe? Or replace it with water if I want a non-lathering scrub? Thanks

  6. If I want to make a small batch what do you reccomend to use instead of a stick blender? Because there won’t be enough lotion to immerse the stick blender completely.

    • Hi Anne-Marie!

      Stick blenders are the best tools when it comes to lotion! Other mixers (like hand mixers) can take hours to get the lotion fully emulsified. I would recommend using a long skinny container for smaller batches of lotion. That way you can fit the stick blender in there and get everything emulsified quickly. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  7. Morning Kelsey.
    – Do i need take shower after using emulsified salt scrub, cause i feel sticky on my skin. ( Im living in Vietnam, tropical area, hight humidity).?
    – I finished Emulsified scrub, however, after let it stand about 30 minutes , I saw a slight separate , with a thin liquid film on the surface, so how do i reduce that seperation.
    Thanks you.

    • Hi Hang!

      With the emulsified scrub, we do recommend rinsing with water afterward. Because it’s a mix of lotion, soap and scrub, it leaves the skin feeling clean and moisturized. If you have more dry skin, you can also apply moisturizer after rinsing the scrub off. 🙂

      For the separation, how long did you stick blend your mixture? Let me know and I’ll help you troubleshoot!

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

    • Hi Lena!

      The percentages in this scrub are:

      Sweet almond oil: 5.8%
      Stearic acid: 1.8%
      Emulsifying wax: 3.7%
      Beeswax: 2.1%
      Mango butter: 3%
      Distilled water: 9.2%
      Natural liquid soap: 9.2%
      Phenonip: .3%
      Fragrance oil: .3%
      Sea salt (I used 21 ounces): 64.4%

      To find those percentages out, I added all the amounts up and got 32.6 ounces. Then, I divided each amount by 32.6. So, 1.9 ounces of sweet almond oil divided by 32.6 is 5.8%. 🙂

      This post on soapy math is really helpful: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/math-soapers/

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  10. Hello!
    I was wondering how I could tweak this recipe to make it a creamy body wash instead… Would I just add more water? If so would I then have to increase the emulsifiers? Use more Castile? Could I use foaming bath whip instead of Castile?
    Thanks,
    Stephanie

    • Hey Helen!

      We haven’t done a lot of testing with that preservative, so I’m not entirely sure! With preservatives, you want to make sure they protect against a wide variety of nasties, like yeast, bacteria and mold. Also, you want to make sure they’re safe to use in skin products. Then, I would recommend making a small test batch to see how it works. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  12. Hello, I tried to make your recipe but substituted your sweet almond oil with sunflower oil. I followed all your instructions including temperatures but after stick blending a few times, it has become so thick! My scrub also had lumps or solid stuff when I tried to apply on my skin. I cannot figure out what happened. I’m used to making lotions so I pretty much have an idea about emulsification but this might have been a fail?

    • Hi Annabelle!

      I’m wondering if it may be a temperature issue. If the water and soap mixture is cool when it’s added to the oil and wax mixture, it can start to solidify the oils and waxes and thicken very quickly. It can also create solid bits of butter or wax in the finished scrub. To prevent that, we recommend popping the water and soap mixture in the microwave for about 1 minute to warm it. If it’s still cooler, you can pop it back in the microwave on 30 second bursts until it’s warm. 🙂

      As for the scrub now, it is totally fine to use! My worry is that if you try to warm it and stick blend it, it may melt the sugar or salt and do some odd things. I would recommend using the scrub as is. It will still exfoliate nicely!

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  13. Help!!
    i just realized that a batch I made last night has no Shea Butter in it! Anything I can do to fix it or do I have to remake the batch?

    • Hi Dee!

      Because the butter amount is fairly small in this recipe, I think your scrub should be just fine! I would recommend testing some on your skin to see what you think. It should still scrub really nicely. The shea butter does add moisturizing properties, so if it makes your skin feel a bit dry, you can use lotion afterward. The sweet almond oil will help moisturize the skin as well. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

      • Thanks Susan! Sadly, and I should have mentioned, I didn’t use the almond oil as I normally do because I was making a batch for someone who has tree nut allergies but she’s cool with coconut oil and olive oil and shea butter. I used coconut oil and found the scrub to be not very moisturizing and rather abrasive (used same amount of sugar I always do) and couldn’t figure out why then I literally woke up in the middle of the night and realized I forgot the shea. Such a ridiculous mistake. I literally exclaimed an expletive out loud which woke my husband…lol. Gonna test it again today since it’s set to see if it still has too little slip and pray.

          • I would definitely recommend giving it another try and seeing what you think! I have forgot many ingredients in my DIY adventures, and often find people don’t notice unless I tell them!

            The scrub will be more on the cleansing side, but some people really love scrubs like that. They work really well to exfoliate the skin, leaving it fresh and clean. Maybe you could also include a little lotion with the scrub? That way it could be like a little spa kit, and would help moisturize after exfoliating. 🙂

            -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  14. i have tried this recipe, however the scrub seems to harden, is it supposed to be like that? or is supposed to be like liquid based? by the way i am using electric mixture instead of stick blend. Need your comment please.

    • Hi Zayna!

      The texture of this scrub is a bit unique! It’s a cross between a scrub, lotion and soap. With the higher end of salt or sugar, it will be more solid and a bit more firm. On the lower end, the scrub will have a more liquid texture.

      For your scrub, do you notice any separation? For instance, are there bits of wax that hardened in the scrub? Thanks so much. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

      • Hi Kelsey, the texture its not waxy, its just a bit firm, its nothing to do with the tool that i am using right? coz i am using electric mixture instead of stick blend.

        • Hi Zayna!

          We do recommend using a stick blender for this tutorial. A hand mixer can take several hours to emulsify the base, while a stick blender can take just a couple minutes! The reason I asked about the bits of wax was to see if the scrub is separating. However, as long as there are no bits of wax or oil, the should be just fine to use. 🙂

          For next time, I would recommend a stick blender! Also, if you want the scrub a bit thinner, you can start off with 21 ounces of sugar or salt. If you want it a bit thicker, you can add more in ounce quantities.

          Perfect Pink Stick Blender: https://www.brambleberry.com/Perfect-Pink-Stick-Blender-P5245.aspx

          -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  15. I have plenty of beeswax and stearic acid but no e-wax. I was wondering if I could leave the e-wax out and level up the beeswax or/and stearic acid instead. Which one will do better and how much of which do recommend to use?

    • Hi Svetlana!

      I would recommend starting off with about 1/2 teaspoon of mica to this recipe. If you’d like more, you can go up from there! I would recommend mixing that mica in with your salt or sugar and then adding that. You can also mix it with the fragrance oil before adding it. 🙂

      Micas: https://www.brambleberry.com/Micas-C46.aspx

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

    • Hi Crystal!

      To make this recipe vegan, you can substitute the beeswax for another wax! Candelilla wax is a vegetable based wax and can be used in this recipe. 🙂

      Candelilla wax: https://www.brambleberry.com/Candelilla-Wax-P4207.aspx

      Keep in mind, candelilla wax is a bit softer than beeswax, so it will make the scrub a bit softer overall. I would recommend making a small test batch to check the consistency with candelilla wax.

      Besides the beeswax, everything else used in the scrub is vegan. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  18. HI there.

    Can someone please tell me what the shelf life of this scrub is with the added preservative? And would the addition of vitamin E help give it a longer shelf life?

    Thanks

  19. Hi Anne Marie. Would I be able to add any other ingredients such as silken tofu? Also could I substitute a fruit infused alcohol for the Castile soap? Finally, could glycerine be added for extra softness? If so how much?

    Thank you so much,
    Chantelle

    • Hi Chantelle!

      We didn’t try adding those ingredients, so I’m not entirely sure! If you do add the tofu and glycerin, I would recommend starting out with about 1 teaspoon per pound of scrub. Then, you can add from there.

      The castile soap in this recipe is used to adding cleansing and slight lathering properties to the soap. I don’t believe the alcohol would have the same effect as the soap.

      I would recommend making a small test batch with those additions and seeing what you think. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  20. I made the recipe along with the video. I used the stick blender and pulsed a few times and the mixture turned really thick like frosting. I was unable to pour it into my sugar. Is there anything I did wrong. I do live in CO where it’s pretty dry if that at all factors into anything.

    • Hi Lisa!

      Hmm, I’m wondering if the butters and waxes started to harden. If that happens, it can cause the mixture to get really thick and unworkable. Do you know what temperature your water and soap mixture was? It helps to microwave the water and soap for about 1 minute before pouring it into the wax and oil mixture. Let me know and I’ll help you troubleshoot!

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  21. Hi!

    I am experimenting with an Orange Peel Powder Emulsified Scrub. Can you suggest how much peel powder should I add to a 100 gms jar of scrub? The orange peel powder turns my scrub dark brownish when I add 5 gms to 100 gms jar.

    Thanks!

  22. Could I use Dr. Bronners Liquid soap since it’s in a small quantity than you sell on the website.

    • Hi Lisa!

      We didn’t try that in this recipe, so I’m not entirely sure! I would recommend making a small test batch to see how it acts in this scrub. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  23. Hello! Help me please, I did this scrub today, just put liquid shower gel base instead soap.. When I tried it, it was feels like wax on the skin, is it ok? Or maybe I did something wrong?

    • Hi Anastasia!

      Hmm, I’m not sure why that’s happening! When we tested the scrub, it felt like a combination scrub and lotion. I’m wondering if maybe the waxes and shower gel may be separating slightly, giving that waxy feeling.

      It may also be temperature. If the soap and water mixture was cooler, it can start to solidify the oils and waxes, causing them to harden up and not mix in fully. How long did you stick blend the mixture for? What were your temperatures at?

      Let me know and we’ll get this figured out! 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

      • Hello, Kelsey! Thank you very much for your reply. The temperature of the gel and the water was very warm and the wax started to cool down a bit when I messed up. Weight immediately began to thicken and the texture was not the same as on the video, looked like a thick cream. In this cream, I added some more water and salt. Without adding water, it was hard to stir. do you think the feeling of wax on the skin because the wax was not hot enough when mixing? Can this be undone? Thank you.

        • Hi Anastasia!

          I think that may be the case! It sounds like the wax may have started to harden up during the process, giving the mixture that waxy feeling.

          You may try heating the mixture again to see if that helps! I would recommend heating it on very short bursts in the microwave – 15 seconds or less – and stirring well with a spoon. Don’t let the mixture get hotter than 130F. If it gets hotter than that, the preservative can degrade. Once it’s warm, you’ll want to stir really well with a spoon to try and incorporate everything. A stick blender may pulverize the salt, so if you give it a try only pulse once to see what happens.

          We haven’t tried heating this whoole mixture up, so I would recommend heating a small amount in the microwave and seeing what happens. If it does weird things, you may just want to use the scrub as is. Although it may feel a bit waxy, it will still scrub your skin well. 🙂

          -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

          • Hi, Kelsey! Thanks, I’ll try!) And thank you for your awesome recipes! Every day I do something new! You really inspire me!

          • You’re very welcome Anastasia! So glad we could help inspire you. 🙂

            -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  24. HI,

    If I wanted to make this into a coffee anti-celulite scrub. could I just take out some of the sugar/salt and add coffee? Will the preservative still work the same with coffee.

    Regards

    • Hi Tennille!

      You can definitely add coffee grounds if you like! They’re an awesome exfoliator. Coffee grounds are larger than sugar and some salts, so they will be a bit more scrubby. You may want to make a small test batch to see how it feels on your skin. Also, Phenonip is used at .5-1% in your recipe. You’ll want to adjust that amount if you’re adding less of your exfoliant. 🙂

      Read more in the All About Exfoliants post: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/all-about-exfoliants/

      And the Talk It Out Tuesday: Preservatives post: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/

      While coffee grounds are great for exfoliating your skin, they have not been tested and approved as a treatment for cellulite. The FDA considers that a drug, and it must be tested and regulated by them. Read more in the Etsy Updates Policies on Cosmetic Making Claims post: http://www.soapqueen.com/business/etsy-updates-policies-on-cosmetics-making-drug-claims/

      You can also learn more at fda.gov. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

      • If the recipe calls for 21 ounces of sugar and I wanted to add coffee grounds also…how much sugar would I omit and how much would I replace with coffee grounds?
        Also, if adding the coffee grounds would I leave out the fragrance since there is the scent of the coffee?

        • Hi Monique!

          How much sugar and coffee grounds you add to the recipe is personal preference! Sugar is fine grained, so it offers gentle exfoliation, while coffee grounds are larger so they offer more intense exfoliation. If you prefer more gentle exfoliation, you can add mostly sugar or vice versa. I would recommend mixing equal parts of the exfoliants and testing them on your skin. Then, you can add more from there. 🙂

          Also, coffee grounds will add a very subtle scent. If you like, you can leave it as is. You can also add a fragrance to bump up the coffee scent, like Turkish Mocha or Espresso Fragrance Oil. They would smell amazing!

          Turkish Mocha Fragrance Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Turkish-Mocha-Fragrance-Oil-P3353.aspx

          Espresso Fragrance Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Espresso-Fragrance-Oil-P5889.aspx

          -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  25. Can I use Bio-Mulsion wax for this recipe and do you have a suggested usage rate? Also can I use Germall Plus liquid in place of the phenonip? Thanks!

    • Hi Thomas!

      You can definitely use Bio-Mulsion Wax if you like! We recommend using that at 4-5% for this recipe. That usage rate is used for lotion, which is what the scrub essentially is before the salt is added. 🙂

      Bio-Mulsion Wax: https://www.brambleberry.com/naturalemulsifyingwax.aspx

      As for Germall Plus, we haven’t worked with that one a lot so I’m not entirely sure! You may want to make a small test batch to ensure it works well. You can learn more about the preservatives we carry and how to use them here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

      • Thanks Kelsey. I wanted to use germall plus because it’s paraban free. It’s also water soluble so I thought that it might be a good substitute for this recipe.

          • Would i be able to use Optiphen ND with this recipe and replace the almond oil with safflower or sunflower oil? and can i use emulsifying wax NF instead and if i make it with candelilla wax would i be able to add .5oz instead or a smaller amount? thanks!

          • Hi Vanessa!

            For this recipe, I would recommend Optiphen or Phenonip. They both prevent mold and bacteria growth in products! Optiphen ND does as well, but it’s intended for use in water-based products like toners. Read more about preservatives here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/talk-it-out-tuesday-preservatives/

            You can use safflower or sunflower oil in this recipe if you like! They will feel nice in this scrub. 🙂

            You can also use Emulsifying Wax NF! That is the name brand version of emulsifying wax and should work well in the recipe. As for the candelilla wax, we haven’t tested that in this recipe. Are you wanting to add it for firmness? Thanks!

            -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  26. Hello,

    I have a few questions:

    1) Could I use a bit more e-wax or beeswax in place of stearic acid, or what would be the consequence of leaving it out?

    2) I see many anhydrous scrub recipes calling for e-wax. I thought e-wax was meant to bind water and oils, so what would be the point of using it in a waterless formula?

    Thanks for the recipe!

    PC

    • Hi pC!

      Stearic acid helps thicken the mixture, and also helps make it nice and fluffy! You can leave it out, just know that the mixture won’t be as thick or fluffy.

      Also, you are correct – e-wax helps emulsify oil and water! In this recipe, it helps emulsify the oil and water so the mixture forms a lotion-like consistency. As for using it in a formula without water, I’m not entirely sure! We typically use it for lotions or emulsified scrubs. You may want to contact the recipe creator to find out more. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  27. Hi, I was wondering I don’t have a stick blender is there anything I can use to mix it besides a stick blender? Thanks!

    • Hi Jasmyn!

      You can use a handheld blender, but it will take a long time to emulsify the lotion – up to a couple of hours! It can also whip a lot of extra air into your lotion, creating a foamy or fluffy consistency.

      We definitely recommend using a stick blender. It helps your recipe emulsify in just a couple of minutes or so. 🙂

      Perfect Pink Stick Blender: https://www.brambleberry.com/Perfect-Pink-Stick-Blender-P5245.aspx

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  28. Hi, I was wondering…. can this recipe be made without adding in the soap part of it? If so how can I tweak it to reflect that ? I just want it to be an emulsified sugar scrub without the cleaning portion of it. Thanks! Ashley

    • Hi Ashley!

      We didn’t try this recipe without the soap, but I believe that would be OK! It would be a combination of lotion and scrub. 🙂

      You may need to do a bit of testing with the amount of water you use to find the perfect consistency. I would recommend making a small test batch with 3 ounces of water. If that lotion is too thick, you can add more.

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  29. Thanks for the great tutorial. Can you tell me what colorants work best for this recipe?

  30. This scrub is perfect! I’ve made 4 batches to distribute among family members and they love it! However, I tweaked the recipe according to whatever oil and butter that I have in my ‘lab’ and it turns out beautiful each and every time. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I hope more awesome recipes will be published from the Soap Queen TV unpublished archives 😉

    • Hi Ira!

      That’s awesome, so glad you and your family members love the scrub! You’re very welcome, we love sharing recipes with everyone. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  31. Hi there! Love this site. I have a few questions about emulsified scrub. Can I add a few different carrier oils as well as do mango/shea butter long as I stay within the weight measurements given for oils and butter? Also, does this ship better than a normal oily scrub in warmer temps? And can I swap beeswax for soy wax? Sorry there are so many questions, lol…but I am so hopeful to move on to scrubs as they are being requested by my customers but so afraid of goofing it up.

    • Hi Dee!

      You can definitely add the oils and butters of your choice! You can substitute beeswax as well, but keep in mind beeswax is firmer. That means the scrub itself will be a bit firmer. I would recommend making a small test batch to check the final consistency. 🙂

      Also, this scrub is perfect for shipping! Because it has a more solid texture, it doesn’t leak when it’s shifted during shipping, which is great for the summer months.

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

    • Thank you so much! I was worried about all of the sugar melting during shipping to places like Arizona and such! One more question, if I may…If I’m making a large batch of scrub and need a few different scents, is it ok to separate the finished unscented batch (with sugar added) into smaller parts and scent from there? I’d hate to have to repeat the whole process over and over because I have to make a few different scents…

      • Hi Dee!

        You can definitely separate the batches and add different scents! It may be a bit easier to split the liquid ingredients into separate batches and mix in the fragrance. Then, you can add the salt to each batch of liquid.

        I believe the fragrance would also mix into a batch with sugar in it as well. It just may take a bit of elbow grease to get the fragrance fully mixed in, depending on how thick your scrub is! 🙂

        -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  33. Can I substitute the mango butter for orange butter instead? Would the substitution affect the recipe?

    • Hi Elizabeth!

      We haven’t used orange butter, so I’m not exactly sure! Mango butter has a firm texture that melts when it comes in contact with your skin. We recommend using a butter with a similar texture, like shea butter. It also helps to make a small test batch to see if you like the consistency. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  34. I would like to try this recipe but want to have a whipped look to it. Is it possible to switch the natural liquid soap to foaming bath whip?

  35. I’d like to make this recipe vegan, is it possible to substitute the bees wax and if so what would you recommend?

    Thank you!

    • Hi Adrianna!

      You can substitute the beeswax with candelilla wax, which is a vegetable based wax.

      Candelilla wax: https://www.brambleberry.com/Candelilla-Wax-P4207.aspx

      Candelilla wax is softer than beeswax, meaning your scrub will have a different consistency. I would recommend making a small test batch. If you want your scrub a little firmer, you can increase the mango butter in the recipe. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  36. Can I sub the stearic acid for another item? Say more e wax? Not sure what I could use in place of it.
    Also, would this work if I use melt and pour soap base and mix it with the water or oil phase? Also would Germall plus work as preservative? Sorry lots of questions 🙂 trying to use what I have on hand.

    • Hi Salishas!

      We love the stearic acid in this recipe because it adds some thickness and fluffiness to the scrub. You can use more emulsifying wax, but the texture will change a little.

      I’m not exactly sure how melt and pour and water would work in this recipe! I have a feeling the melt and pour would harden separately from the water, leaving a weird consistency. I would recommend using liquid soap. 🙂

      We didn’t try this recipe with germall plus, so I’m not exactly sure! We had great results using Phenonip.

      A small test batch would be helpful when making any substitutions. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  37. I just made the Emusified Scrub. It’s great and so much better than the excessively oily scrub I’ve made off and on for years. I waited too long to add the Castile soap phase and the Mango butter began to get hard. I attempted to reheat with hot water underneath the mixing bowl, but it didn’t work. I preceded to finish the recipe. I am still happy with the results. What would have been a better fix?

    And once I have perfected the recipe can I put any of the following on the label: No Parabens, no phthalates, no paraffin, no gluten, no propylene glycol, no mineral oil, no synthetic fragrance, no PABA, no synthetic color, no DEA, no sulfates, no animal testing. I am curious about the emulsifying scrub and some of the other ingredients. The only change I made was grape seed oil in place of the almond oil.
    Thank you for the new recipe!

    • Hi Lynne!

      So glad you like this scrub! If that mango butter starts to harden up, you can pop your mixture in the microwave on 5-second bursts. Stir well in between each burst so everything heats evenly and gently. 🙂

      I can say for sure that this recipe does contain parabens. This is because of the Phenonip, which is used to prevent mold and bacteria growth. You can find out more about parabens in the How to Make Lotion from Scratch Video on Soap Queen TV: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/lotion/make-lotion-scratch-soap-queen-tv/

      If you’re concerned about parabens, you can use Optiphen. It’s paraben and formaldehyde free.

      Optiphen: https://www.brambleberry.com/Optiphen-P3682.aspx

      Moroccan Mint Fragrance Oil, which was used in this recipe, is phthalate free! However, it is a synthetic fragrance. If you want to use 100% pure and natural scents, you may like our essential oils: https://www.brambleberry.com/Original-C23.aspx

      Also, there are no colorants used in this recipe, so it is synthetic-colorant free. If you do want to add color, you may like our natural colorants. Learn more in the Sunday Night Spotlight on Natural Colorants: http://www.soapqueen.com/bramble-berry-news/sunday-night-spotlight-natural-colorants/

      You can research each ingredient and what is contained in them on brambleberry.com. It will say what is contained in each ingredient. If you have any questions on the products after checking those out, let me know!

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

    • Hi Lena!

      The percentages are as follows:

      5.8% sweet almond oil
      1.8% stearic acid
      3.6% emulsifying wax
      2.1% beeswax
      3% mango butter
      9.2% distilled water
      9.2% natural liquid soap
      .3% Phenonip
      64.4% fine grain salt (I did 21 oz).

      To find that out, I added all of the amounts up. The total was 32.6. Then, I divided each amount by 32.6, which gave me the percentage of each ingredient. That’s an easy way to figure out percentages in the future. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

        • The liquid soap in this recipe has a pH level that doesn’t allow mold to grow, so we added that preservative at .3%. That accounts for the water in this recipe and keeps the mix preserved! If you like, you can increase the percentage to .5% to be extra careful. 🙂

          -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  39. Thank you for the recipe! I like the music way better in this one, it’s a lot less hectic than the newer tutorials 😉

  40. I made 2 batches this morning had to throw them both out they were not usable , I am so disappointed. The scrub was so waxy I had to use dish soap to wash it off my hands. My scrub was not creamy like yours in the video. I made one batch them watched the video again and went back to make another with the same bad results. My time and money are both at a premium and wasted a lot of both this morning . Any suggestions as to why my scuba was so waxy? I hesitate to try another one .

    • Hi Janet!

      Oh no! I’d be more than happy to help you troubleshoot. Do you mind telling me more about your process? For instance, how hot were your oils and water? How long did you stick blend? Also, did you substitute any ingredients?

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

      • No substitutes temps were below required to add the preservatives, I thought maybe not hot enough so raised temps for second batch ? Really troubled as to what I did wrong , I have used many of your recipes never had a problem.

        • Hi Janet!

          How long did you stick blend for? Also, how long did you heat your water and soap mixture in the microwave? What emulsifying wax did you use?

          We recommend microwaving the water and liquid soap mixture for a minute. If you add cool water to the oils and waxes, it can cause those waxes to start to solidify. This may be what caused the waxy texture.

          Let me know and we’ll figure this out! 🙂

          -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

          • I am going to try again this weekend, what temps do you recommend? How long to mblend? Use the wax you indicated in recipe , I bought all my supplies from bramble berry so confident in the quality, will let you know how it works out

          • Hi Janet!

            To help prevent that waxiness, make sure to heat your water and liquid soap mixture in the microwave for 1 minute right before you add the oils and waxes. That will prevent those waxes from starting to solidify. I believe that should help!

            Also, you’ll want to stick blend for about 30-60 seconds. You want a nice thick texture. It may also help to set it aside for about 5 minutes. If you notice it’s separating after that time, stick blend it a little more.

            Let us know how it goes! 🙂

            -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

        • Just my two cents in the making of lotions.

          I melt my oils in a double boiler (and for 20 minutes if any of the butters are virgin to ensure killing of any microbes), this temp gets to around 170-190 F. I heat my water phase to around 150 F. I mix the two together at these higher temperatures and stick blend until 110 F (the safety zone for most anti-microbe additives like optifen, phenonip or Germall) which is when i add the preservative, exfoliants and fragrances or essential oils. At this temp the lotions are usually still very liquid and you have done a LOT of mixing (around 10 minutes or so) so you can still move them to your containers.

  41. Can I make an emulsified scrub without the soap? I have seen some recipes with Ewax just to keep the oil and sugar/salt together
    Also, can I whip this recipe to get a fluffy texture almost like when the whipped foam is used?

  42. Can I use Optiphen in place of the Phenonip? Is so do I replace at the exact amount? 0.1 oz for 0.1 oz? And what if I use milk in place of the distilled water? Would it still be the same amount of preservative?