Bath Oils are a simple way to add moisturizing and aromatic benefits to the bath. While plain oils can be added to bath water, water dispersible oils create a less messy, and more pleasant bathing experience. By dispersing the oil into the water, the oil can improve the feel of the water, and evenly disperse aromatic Essential Oils or Extracts throughout the tub.
The easiest way to create a water dispersible bath oil is to cut your Carrier Oil with 50% Polysorbate 20. Polysorbate 20 behaves fairly consistently with most light oils, making it extremely easy to use, however, Polysorbate 20 is a synthetic product so it wouldn’t be suitable for all natural formultions.
Making an all natural water dispersible bath oil can be a little bit trickier. Turkey Red Oil, a sulfated Castor Oil is miscible in water, and has the ability to help disperse small amounts of other Carrier Oils into water. You’ll need to experiment with Turkey Red Oil and your chosen Carrier Oil to see exactly what ratio will be needed to disperse your oil. Choose a light Carrier Oil such as Peach Kernal Oil, Watermelon Seed Oil, or Macadamia Nut Oil to make the dispersal easier. I would recommend starting out with a ratio of 90% Turkey Red to 10% Carrier Oil. Test a few drops in water, then add more Turkey Red Oil until the final mixture becomes dispersible.
You can use any skin safe Essential Oil, Absolute, Attar, or CO2 Extract to scent your natural bath oil. Make sure that you consider how much bath oil is likely to be added to each bath when deciding upon the dilution of the Essential Oils in your mixture. Most skin safe Essential Oils should be used at a rate of about 5 – 8 drops per bath. Also, consider the properties of each Essential Oil you are using. Certain Essential Oils should be diluted at lower doses than others. To learn more about proper Essential Oil dilution, check out one of the following books:
- Essential Aromatherapy by Susan Worwood & Valerie Ann Worwood
- The Essential Oils Book by Colleen K. Dodt
These look like so much fun. Thanks for sharing and giving so many people the information they need to make such wonderful handmade products!
Hi Donna Maria,
Thanks for stopping by the blog! Bath Oils are delightful to make. Were happy to share them!
hi, i’m working for water based perfume, is it possible to use TURKEY RED OIL for my perfume to eliminate the separation?
thank you.
Hello Rhea! Yes, our Turkey Red Oil is a great idea in a perfume formulation, as it is blends well with both oil AND water. Please keep in mind, however, that Turkey Red Oil can separate in colder weather. We hope that helps!