Mocha Spice Sugar Scrub

© 2008 Miri Rotkovitz

The holidays are fast approaching, a fact with which countless stores will bombard us even before our collective Halloween sugar rush wears off. They're hoping, of course, that their festive -- if not yet seasonal -- decor will make us spend lots of money on gifts. But with the economy in crummy shape, this year might just mark a renaissance in homemade gift giving. Lest you confuse "do-it-yourself" with presents of the "thought-that-counts" variety, know that homespun creations can prove quite luxe.

Take, for example, this Mocha Spice Sugar Scrub. Most commercially available sugar scrubs packaged nicely enough for gift giving are priced in the $30 to $65 range. An in-spa sugar scrub treatment can cost well over $100. Yet you can make your own scrub for a small fraction of the cost, and with none of the sketchy chemical ingredients found in most store-bought body products. Pack the scrub in an attractive container, such as this hermetic jar from The Container Store, affix a label and a bow, and you'll have the sort of gift I, for one, would love to receive.