My next home is going to have a BIG bath. That’s a promise I’ve made to myself.
It’s not as if I don’t already have a bath. I do but it’s a tiny hip-bath. Which is absolutely perfect if you’re a small child – any taller means you get to bathe grasshopper style…’knees-to-ears’.
But I have this dream of a deep tub, candles, oils and salts in the bath, maybe a crystal in the water, music …well you know the scene. Unfortunitely it’s simply not going to happen in my current home. So when I go away I always book a hotel room with a big bath, and I always pack lots of special bath goodies.
I love making bath products. It’s hardly a chore to do as it’s just magical to play with aromatic essential oils, beautiful cold-pressed vegetable oils, Himalayan salts and nut butters. So I’d love to share five delicious, super simple, home-made, bath time recipes that you can make too. As we approach the holiday season I hope you decide to practice a little self-love and steal an hour from your busy life to try them out.
5 Delicious Bath Treats
1 Blissful Bath Oil
Let’s start easy! Bath oils are the easiest bath treat of all to make and are very luxurious.
Use a good quality vegetable oil like Sweet Almond or peach. I always choose cold-pressed oils and also love to use macadamia or avocado oil (from my kitchen). For every tablespoon of vegetable oil add 1-2 drops of a single essential oil or a blend that you love. Float a tablespoon of the mix on the water.
These are some of my favourite blends:
- neroli and lavender with a little honey in avocado oil
- bergamot, cedarwood and basil for a relaxing blend
- sweet orange, lavender and ylang ylang is gorgeously sensual.
If you’re pregnant or have a health condition check with a professional before using any essential oil in your bath as some oils just don’t mix with baby!
2 Renew Detox Blend
This recipe is a great detox-bath, and my guess is you will probably need a couple of these to recover if you’re able to get out to enjoy some partying over the holidays.
I love Himalayan salt as it is has so many health benefits as well as being relaxing and soothing. It contains 84 different minerals which give it the gorgeous pink colour.
For this to be an effective detox though, you have to maintain the right proportion of salt to water. In a tub of 100 litres you would need 1200 grams of Himalayan salt. Don’t use any soap, shampoo or oil with this as the salt cleanses perfectly and thoroughly.
Soak for 30 minutes, towel off and then rinse with clean water. The salt leaves your skin beautifully silky smooth.
3 Heavenly Bath Salts
Bath Salts are really so easy to make at home. Try this one.
Mix together two parts epsom salts, one part sea salt or Himalayan salt and one part bi-carb soda (baking soda). Don’t use that stuff labeled “Lectric Soda” as it is not Epsom salts and you need true Epsom Salts to get the benefits. Add about 2 tablespoons (40mL) of the mix to each bath. Store any leftover in an airtight jar.
Add 3 – 5 drops (0.15 – 0.25 grams) of your favourite essential oil to each 40 ml dose of bath salts. I love Sandalwood mixed with Rose Geranium and Lavender. It smells amazing and all these oils have a great nourishing and moisturising effect for dry skin.
4 Cleopatra’s Anti-Ageing Soak
Cleopatra was spot on when she added sour donkey milk and honey to her baths, because milk is incredibly moisturising for your skin.
I don’t do dairy so I wouldn’t use this but if you are NOT allergic to dairy products milk makes a fantastic mild exfoliant. If you can’t get donkey milk substitute alternatives. Sheep milk is an excellent choice.
For a Cleo style bath warm 250g of honey with 1 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix with one litre of milk and add to warm bath water.
For a holiday season slant on the milk bath, whisk two cups of milk powder with essential oils and pour into the tub before adding water.
A great seasonal essential oil blend is:
- Peppermint essential oil – 4 drops
- Cedarwood essential oil – 4 drops
- Clove essential oil – 3 drops
- Patchouli essential oil – 4 drops
Alternatively you can mix milk with the bath salts recipe above for a modern day version. First add 5 drops of essential oils of your choice to 40 ml of milk – full cream, milk powder, goats or sheep milk. Mix well and then add equal quantities to the salt mix (two tablespoons of the salt mix and two of the milk mix). Add to a warm bath and soak for 20 minutes.
5 Joyous Yule Euphoria
And lastly here is a ridiculously simple Yule recipe that’s perfect for Winter Solstice (whether that’s June or December where you are).
Do yourself a healthy favour and put that glass of red wine or champagne in your bath instead of your mouth. Red wine is full of antioxidants which are great anti-ageing tools. If you feel a little more decadent a glass of champagne in the water helps to reduce skin discolouration as well as fine lines.
The bonus for you is that the champagne needs to be flat! So have a drink or two first and throw the rest into the running water of your bath before soaking for twenty minutes.
For an extra touch of luxury add botanicals to the water for their aromatic bliss and health benefits. But be certain to choose unsprayed flowers. Lavender blossom is a wonderful relaxant. Rose petals have wonderful skin softening properties and their scent is intoxicating, in fact even the water will get softer. Sprinkle a handful in the gushing water and remember to breathe in the aroma as you relax.
Recovery
Choose your favourite recipe, mix yourself up a batch of ‘relaxation’ in your kitchen and schedule a ‘recovery hour’ in your calendar.
Awaken your other senses to activate mind body and spirit by adding these extra touches. Light your favourite scented candle, put on some soothing, relaxing music such as a crystal singing bowl sound bath recording, if you have an amethyst or rose quartz crystal put it in the bottom of the bath (be sure not to sit down on it) and diffuse your favourite essential oil blend (choose a seasonal blend for the Yule bath).
Then lock the bathroom door and relax back for half an hour.
After your bath lavish your favourite moisturiser on your skin and emerge rejuvenated and able to face your next challenge.
Enjoy!
