Do-it-yourself recipes for homemade body products are often very easy to find and to follow, and certainly making bath salts with essential oils falls into this category. If not for one’s own relaxation and pleasure, they make great gifts for all occasions. They are also a way of enjoying the benefits of a salt bathing session while also reaping the rewards of soothing aromatherapy.
The first step in the process is choosing the preferred type of salt. And yes, there are many different kinds that can be used for bathing and even cleansing purposes. Dead sea salt comes highly recommendable for their content of magnesium and potassium, which are often used to treat dry skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis, although its use for this purpose requires the direction of qualified medical professionals. Ordinary sea salt and Epsom salts are also common varieties used for therapeutic bathing.
There is also a number of types that are more exotic and less commonly used - though they will make for a wonderful addition to your preparation. These include the reddish colored Hawaiian or “alaea” salt, named after the sea-beds of that part of the ocean. Traditionally, it was and is still used in religious observances to cleanse and bless canoes and homes, and is known to reduce muscle aches and sprains and healing wounds.
Essential oils are Mother Nature’s way of meeting personal needs through our olfactory sense, along with a great many directly medicinal applications for which they are used. As natural as they are though, not all types are suitable for use in the bath or safe enough to come into direct contact with the skin. While most types of pure essential oils will be fine in the concentrations used in bath salts, do check if you’re unsure about any particular one.
Different ones perform different functions, such as lavender and chamomile - both of which promote a sense of soothing relaxation. Energizing and invigorating scents include lemon and rosemary. Natural aphrodisiacs which have been tried and tested through the centuries include ylang ylang, patchouli and sandalwood, which can set the mood for a lovely evening. The kinds which are usually advised against are nutmeg, cinnamon and clove; generally the spicy or “hot” oils may cause skin irritation. They can be used as a very small fraction of your overall formula, but do be sure to take their irritating potential into account.
The creation and blending process is simple: Mix two or three different types of salt together, using different size grains for aesthetic appeal. After mixing them together, add 15 to 20 drops of the chosen essential oil per one cup total of salts, and blend it all together with a wooden spoon and allow to settle. If preferred, a natural moisturizing agent like sweet almond or olive oil will enhance the effectiveness of the bath salts. You can add the essential oils to one or or two teaspoons of almond oil, then add this to your salt mixture. One or two scoops of your final formula in the bath should give just the desired effect.
For something really unique and special, add a ground dry botanical to the mixture, such as lavender or chamomile leaves. Even a few drops of aloe vera extract will create an enhanced effect on the skin. Upon completion, they should be kept in air-tight containers, preferably of glass.
Making bath salts with essential oils can be a rewarding and fruitful exercise - setting the tone for a few months of blissful relaxation. Making a great big batch and giving them away to friends will certainly be welcome. Who doesn’t love a good soak in a bath of flowered and aromatic water?
Interested in learning further? See more about several single note therapeutic oils like amber and sweet basil at www.AnandaApothecary.com.
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