This DIY Lemon and Rosemary Gardener's Hand Scrub recipe is perfect for getting all of the dirt from gardening off your hands!
When I get outdoors and garden, I want to garden. By that I mean really digging my hands into that amazing smelling dark soil. No gloves, just me, my spade, and some dirt. I know, I'm weird, right? That comes from only speaking to little people all day long. However, if you are like me you know what that means… dirt-stained hands. So I keep a jar of this Lemon & Rosemary Gardener's Hand Scrub at the sink to help when liquid soap just won't quite do the job.
To begin with, the Lemon and Rosemary Gardener's Hand Scrub smells fabulous, second only to my fresh turned earth. And each ingredient does its own thing to improve your hands. Sugar is a fabulous exfoliate and helps remove stains and rough skin. Olive oil is great for moisturizing, relieving itchy skin, and fights aging- making skin look young and supple. Lemon zest and juice- first you get the energizing aromatherapy benefits while scrubbing and lemon cleanses, brightens, removes dead skin and promotes new skin growth. Finally, Rosemary. Again you are getting wonderful aromatherapy as you scrub while it increases blood flow to the skin and it also has disinfectant and antibiotic properties.
Lemon and Rosemary Gardener's Hand Scrub Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated Sugar
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 sprigs Rosemary
Directions:
Pour sugar into a medium-sized bowl, grate the zest of lemon into sugar.
Pull the rosemary leaves off the stem, rip or chop them into smaller pieces. I normally do them much smaller, as you can see I had little hands “helping” me with the process. One of my favorite things? This rosemary is picked fresh right out of my garden.
Stir in sugar, olive oil, and lemon juice until all ingredients are well combined. Scoop mixture into a jar with a wide opening so your hands will fit in. Store your gardener's hand scrub in a lidded container next to your sink.
Hubby likes to use this on his hands too when he comes in from working on cars or other manly things and the grease is more than the dish soap can handle.
I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!
Theresa Scholtz says
March 27, 2014 at 9:33 amThis looks great, I love the combination of lemon and rosemary. Makes me want to go do something grubby just so I’ll need some today! I bet it would work great for paint or glue on your hands too. I’ll definitely be making this, I like to get my hands dirty with all different kinds of projects.
Jody says
March 27, 2014 at 11:33 amTheresa, it would be great paint or glue as well! It is really strong and effective for a lot of messes on your hands, but the olive oil is so moisturizing its like a mini spa treatment at the same time.
Sandy says
March 16, 2015 at 9:36 amJody, you can find the jars at Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, Big Lots, & Michaels. come grocery stores carry them.
Jennifer C says
August 4, 2017 at 2:06 pmCwn I use coconut oil instead? Can I use raw sugar?
Alea Milham says
August 4, 2017 at 10:43 pmYes, you can substitute coconut oil and raw sugar.
Phyllis says
March 27, 2014 at 5:00 pmWhen do you add the oil?
sharon brentlinger says
December 3, 2016 at 12:44 pmI bet it would make a soothing foot scrub also~
Jody says
March 27, 2014 at 5:03 pmoops, with the sugar and lemon juice! I’ll edit now, thanks!
Rebecca | LettersFromSunnybrook says
March 27, 2014 at 5:34 pmOh, that looks wonderful!! I can imagine the scent! I grow herbs in my garden and am looking forward to making more body products this year while they are fresh. I have jars of dried from the past couple years, but fresh is so much nicer.
Chantal Pearson says
April 3, 2014 at 3:25 pmI can’t wait to try this, How long would this last for in a jar?
Jody says
April 3, 2014 at 5:34 pmTruthfully, I use mine up in a month or two and it has been fine. Refrigerating it will make it last longer, and adding a capsule or two of vitamin E will help preserve the scrub- I would say for 4-6 months tops.
Michelle says
March 8, 2016 at 2:00 pmYou said you add a capsule or two of vitamin to help preserve it…Vitamin what? 🙂 Thanks!!
Janette says
April 24, 2017 at 8:41 amShe said vitamin E x
Darlene says
May 19, 2014 at 2:33 pmWhat vitamin do you put in the scrub to make it last longer?
Christina says
June 2, 2014 at 1:46 pmWonderful! I Will try this. Where did you buy the jar? I can’t find jars like that anywhere.
Jody says
June 2, 2014 at 3:21 pmChristina, this is actually a ball canning jar, I love them for scrubs! http://www.amazon.com/Jarden-Home-Brands-1440061162-Platinum/dp/B000V5KVDU/ref=sr_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1401747547&sr=8-20&keywords=ball+jar
Christina says
June 2, 2014 at 11:15 pmExcellent! Thanks!
Karen P says
June 2, 2014 at 2:49 pmCan it be used as a facial scrub?
Jody says
June 2, 2014 at 3:13 pmYes I believe it can, I would add a little more oil and a little less sugar, then apply gentle pressure. maybe try a small area at first. The skin on our face is much more sensitive than our body.
Annie says
October 24, 2014 at 10:41 pmHow long would this last w/ o spoiling? Thinking of a gift for my son who works on cars?
Smith says
June 23, 2015 at 11:16 amIs this effective for cleaning even though there is no soap in it? Can you explain to me how? This looks great!
Jody says
March 9, 2016 at 12:55 pmLemon and rosemary both have cleansing properties, if you feel like it needs more you can add a bit of castile soap to the mix.
Donna Mack says
December 24, 2015 at 2:44 pmI LOVE this! I needed a quick gift, and luckily this is the first year our tree produced lemons. In Las Vegas, rosemary grows very well, so I can happily give an organic gift that is a fabulous product – better than store bought!! I also added coconut oil too.
Luc says
January 15, 2016 at 1:13 pmI was going to suggest coconut oil, works even better than olive oil
Debbie says
January 28, 2016 at 1:53 pmWhat vitamin do you add?
Jody says
March 9, 2016 at 12:54 pmDebbie I use a Vitamin E capsule!
Candace Bishop says
December 9, 2016 at 10:55 amDo you notice any stinging from the lemon juice if you have cuts on your hand?
Gloria says
May 7, 2017 at 5:33 pmI made this for the nurses I work with for Nurses Week. As much as they wash their hands the moisturing properties will be thoroughly enjoyed as much as the fresh smell. I used coconut oil and it is very nice.
Ella says
January 7, 2018 at 11:31 amMy friends and I go to the nail salon and they have a scrub similar to this, but this one doesn’t have the yucky chemicals!! We will definitely be trying this on one of our girls days! Does coconut oil give the same moisturizing effects? And how would the texture change?
Linda says
August 10, 2018 at 12:21 pmWhat would you use to grow pole beans on. Also my tomatoes are falling over with the cages. Can you make a scrub with out lemon. Everything from garden