Best Way to Make Bath Bags and Salts Using Your Favorite Ingredients



The bath is the ultimate place to harness the spirit-lifting benefits of herbs and mineral salts. Follow these instructions to make bath bags and salts using your favorite ingredients.

Herbs, tossed directly into water, make for messy bathing, but you can still experience their benefits by making simple bath bags to contain them.

Bath Bags 2 Best Way to Make Bath Bags and Salts Using Your Favorite Ingredients

Making a bath bag

Take an 8 in- (20 cm-) square of cheesecloth, and pile the herbs in the middle. Make a pouch and tie the neck with a long piece of natural string. Tie the string again, in a loop this time. The bag can be hung over the faucet so that the running water is infused with herbs.

If you put a handful of organic oatmeal in the bags, you can use the wet bag to scrub your body, gently exfoliating the skin.

Once you have mastered the art of making bath bags, you can experiment with different recipes, using either fresh or dried organic herbs in numerous combinations. Here are several suggestions to get your imagination started.

Invigorating bath bag

  • 1 oz (25 g) rosemary
  • 1/2 oz (10 g) peppermint
  • 1/2 cup coarse oatmeal

Summertime bath bag

  • 1 oz (25 g) rose petals
  • 1 oz (25 g) lavender buds
  • 1/2 cup (75 g) coarse oatmeal

Recovery bath bag

  • 2 tbs dried chamomile flowers
  • 2 tbs dried rosebuds
  • 2 tbs dried lavender flowers
  • 2 tbs dried hop flowers (optional)

Ultra-relaxing bath oil

  • 1/4 cup (50 ml) sweet almond oil
  • 10 drops sandalwood oil
  • 5 drops each jasmine oil and orange oil

Bath Bags Best Way to Make Bath Bags and Salts Using Your Favorite Ingredients

Decant the almond oil into a bottle and add the essential oils, drop by drop. Shake well until blended, and swish 1 tablespoon of the blend into a bathtub full of warm water.

Variations of bath oil

This basic bath oil recipe can be adapted, depending on your state of mind. To clear the head use the following oils with an almond oil base (as in the Ultra-Relaxing Bath Oil):

  • 10 drops patchouli
  • 5 drops ylang-ylang
  • 5 drops rosemary

When your nerves are on edge after a stressful day, try:

  • 10 drops rose
  • 5 drops lavender
  • 5 drops chamomile

To wake yourself up, try:

  • 10 drops grapefruit oil
  • 5 drops lemon oil
  • 5 drops juniper oil

Basic bath salts

Among the big perfume houses, there’s a return to once-humble bath salts. They not only neutralize the trace elements that harden water, but also help to remineralize skin; you can make your own, very easily, without any synthetic-fragrances. Any combination of essential oils can be used – provided you don’t exceed the number of drops used here -but this blend will revive and refresh, giving a boost to tired-looking skin.

  • 12 drops cajuput essential oil
  • 12 drops lavender essential oil
  • 12 drops lemongrass essential oil
  • 8 drops eucalyptus essential oil
  • 1 cup (200 g) coarse or fine salt
  • 1 cup (200 g) Epsom salts
  • 1/4 cup (50 ml) glycerin

Combine the oils in a small bowl. In a separate bowl, mix the salts and glycerin until well blended. Stir the essential oil blend into the salt-and-glycerin mixture, and let it stand for 15 minutes. Transfer the salts to a glass container. This recipe makes enough for about four baths.

Bath Bags 1 Best Way to Make Bath Bags and Salts Using Your Favorite Ingredients

  • By varying the temperature of the bathtub water, you can tailor your bath to be more therapeutic than merely luxurious. For a sedative effect, bathtub water should be 99-102″ F (37-39° C) which relaxes and temporarily lowers blood pressure. A bath at 97″ F (36″ C) is stimulating, because it recharges the central nervous system. (Thermometers can be found in some baby-supply stores, or you can use a kitchen thermometer!)





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