Being healthy isn’t just about eating well; it’s also about taking time to nourish your body and soul. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking a few minutes for yourself after a busy day, and there are few better ways to enjoy those minutes than luxuriating in a warm bath, gently fragranced with soothing bath salts (especially during these cold winter months).
You only need five simple ingredients (which you probably already have) to make bath salts at home: coarse sea salt, Epsom salts, baking soda, , an essential oil source and perhaps some flower petals or herbs for an extra fragrance boost.
Where the essential oils are concerned, you can use pure essential oils for all indications if you like (the essential oils are what make skin soft after your bath) such as mint, rose, lemon, orange — really any oil can become a bath salt. Likewise, you can use the zest of oranges, lemons, grapefruits or limes to create the salts; just be sure to rub and twist the rind into the salt to release the essential oils.
This recipe can be made in bulk in quantities ample enough to stock up. Here’s our basic recipe, plus a few lovely twists to get you started. When it comes to the twists, add according to your preferences. If you like more heavily scented salts, add more essential oil ingredients. For more gently scented salts, add less.
HOMEMADE BATH SALTS
INGREDIENTS
Coarse pink sea salt
Epsom salts
Baking soda
Rind from grapefruits, limes, lemons or oranges
Pretty flower petals, herbs or tea
DIRECTIONS
In a large bowl, mix to combine 6 parts coarse sea salt; 3 parts Epsom salt(to soothe tired muscles and reduce inflammation); and 1 part baking soda (to soften waters and alleviate skin irritation).
Add the finely grated zest of 1–4 citrus fruits (depending on preference), using your fingers to rub the zest into the salts, releasing the essential oils. Add 1 part dried rose petals, bluet flowers, thyme, rosemary, chamomile flowers or tea.
If you intend to present the bath salts as gifts, store them in a labeled container with a stopper to keep out moisture.
Here are some of our favorite combinations:
GRAPEFRUIT + ROSE
Add zest of 1–4 grapefruits to the salt and baking soda mix. Add 1 part dried rose petals and mix to combine.
ORANGE + VANILLA
Add zest of 1–4 oranges to the salt and baking soda mix. Split and scrape 1–2 vanilla beans (depending on preference) and add the seeds and pods to the salt mixture. Leave the pod in the salt for visual effect.
LEMON + THYME + ROSEMARY
Add zest of 1–4 lemons to the salt and baking soda mix. Add 1 part dried thyme and whole rosemary sprigs to the salt.
