A hot bath can be so delightful.
When the wind howls, the rain blows, and cold weather blusters, your tub can become a sacred retreat. Steel yourself against the chill by soaking in a bath of warm, scented water. A plain, hot bath can be wonderful, but why not enhance the experience with some natural ingredients.
Bath Oil
Dilute a therapeutic Essential Oil, such as Ylang Ylang, Mandarin, Chamomile, or Lavender in your favorite Carrier Oil. Add 5 – 8 drops of essential oil (total) to 1 – 2 tablespoons of Carrier Oil. (Try Organic Fractionated Coconut Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, or Watermelon Seed Oil.) Mix, then add the oil to warm bath water. If you'd like the bath oil to be water dispersible, you can blend it with an equal portion of a synthetic emulsifier, like Polysorbate 20. To learn how to make a naturally water-dispersible bath oil, check out our post, Creating All Natural Bath Oils.
Bath Salt
Bath Salts can help relax sore muscles by increasing circulation and inflammation. Epsom Salt is a great choice for circulation, but a mineral-rich salt, like Sea Salt, Dead Sea Salt, or Himalayan Pink Salt, is a great choice to. Add up to one cup of salt per bath. If you'd like, you can add 5 – 8 drops of essential oil, or 1 batch of the bath oil described above to your bath salts. Check out our post, How to Make Bath Salts, to find our more.
Milk Bath
Natural Milk Powders contain luscious nutrients, skin conditioning enzymes, and exfoliating lactic acid. Try adding up to 1/2 cup of milk powder to your next bath to enjoy an extra luxurious soak. To help make sure the powder dissolves without clumps, try mixing the powder with a small amount of hot water before adding it to your bath. Check out our article on Making Powdered Milk Baths for more ideas.
Bath Bombs
If you have time to plan your bath ahead of time, try making a batch of fizzy bath bombs. Our Guide to Making Bath Bombs can help you get started on this fun project.
Essential Oil Safety
Before choosing an Essential Oil for your bath, make sure that it is skin-safe, appropriate for the bath, and for your specific health. Check out our page on Essential Oil Safety for more information.
That’s what I certainly need right now… This weather makes my skin dry, and with all the upcoming holidays I need to look my best
Thanks for visiting The Natural Beauty Workshop, Dan! I hope you find the time for a nice, relaxing trip to the tub!
Great information. My skin is extremely dry this time of year. I tried the clearly natural glycerin soaps, it was ok. Will try the milk bath.
Hi Felicia. You might enjoy cold processed or hand milled soaps more. Definitely check them out!
Hi there, I’m starting to think about holiday gifts and I am wondering if there is a way to make dispersible bath oil with out using a polysorbate? Thank you in advance for your help. I LOVE your blog and shop!
Turkey Red Oil, a sulphonated castor oil, can be used to create water dispersible bath oils. This oil is extremely thick and greasy, so it’s best to blend the oil with something much lighter and more pleasant, like Almond Oil or Peach Kernel Oil. To create a water-dispersible oil using Turkey Red, start off with a ratio of 90% Turkey Red, and 10% of a lighter Carrier Oil. See how that blend does in warm water, then try increasing the ratio of lighter Carrier Oil little by little until you get to the point where the oil no longer disperses. This process requires a little bit of experimentation because the ratio will vary depending on which Carrier Oil you use.
For more information on making all natural bath oils, check out this post from our blog: https://naturalbeautyworkshop.com/my_weblog/2008/09/creating-all-na.html
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