Leslie Massey
Taking a bath is one of life's simple pleasures. Salt baths are a great way to combine the therapeutic benefits of bathing with the mineral-balancing effects of salts such as Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate). Making your own bath salts is easy, cost-effective, and allows for customisation with essential oils, fragrances, and botanicals. This guide will explore the basic process of making bath salts, as well as the various ingredients and customisation options available in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To create a therapeutic bath experience with mineral-rich salts that promote good health and beautiful skin. |
| Benefits | Relaxing, soothing, moisturising, detoxifying, improving skin hydration and circulation, relieving muscle tension and pain, enhancing sleep, and reducing stress. |
| Main Ingredients | Epsom salt, sea salt, Himalayan salt, Dead Sea salt, baking soda, essential oils, fragrances, botanicals, and dried herbs. |
| Equipment | Mixing bowls, measuring cups, spoons, airtight containers, jars, and sealed glass containers. |
| Process | Combine salts, add essential oils and fragrances, mix, add colour (optional), stir, and package or store in airtight containers. |
| Usage | Add 1/2-1 cup of bath salts to a warm bath, soak for at least 20 minutes for detoxifying effects. |
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What You'll Learn
Basic ingredients: Epsom salts, baking soda, sea salt, essential oils
Making bath salts is easy, fun, and can be customised in many ways. Epsom salts are widely used in bath preparations for their detoxifying properties and ability to soften water. Sea salt is also added for its exfoliating and therapeutic benefits. Baking soda is added for its hydrophilic properties, helping to absorb essential oils and keeping the mixture smelling great for longer. It also helps to prevent clumping. Finally, essential oils are added for their therapeutic benefits and fragrance.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of Epsom salts
- 1/4 cup of baking soda
- 1/8 cup of sea salt
- 8-10 drops of essential oil (e.g. lemon, grapefruit, juniper, lavender, frankincense, tea tree)
Method
- Combine the Epsom salts, sea salt, and baking soda in a bowl and stir.
- Add the essential oils and mix well to break up any clumps.
- Store the mixture in an airtight container or jar.
- Add 1/2-1 cup of bath salts to your bath just before getting in.
Tips
- If you are using dried herbs, it is recommended to pulse them in a blender first to break them down and make clean-up easier.
- If you are using colour, add it to the salt in a separate bowl and stir to combine before adding to the rest of the mixture.
- To prevent clumping, add a small amount of Natrasorb Bath to the mixture.
- Be aware that some essential oils cannot be applied directly to the skin and may cause skin irritation. Combining them with a carrier oil will help protect the skin.
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Add-ins: Botanicals, citrus zest, dried herbs, flowers, milk
Adding botanicals, citrus zest, dried herbs, flowers, and milk to your bath salts can enhance your bathing experience and provide additional therapeutic benefits. Here are some ideas for each of these add-ins:
Botanicals and Dried Herbs
Herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and tulsi basil can be added to your bath salts. Lavender is calming and relaxing, helping to rid you of anxiety. Rosemary has immune-boosting and detoxifying properties, and tulsi basil is a natural anti-inflammatory that helps the body reduce stress. You can also add herbal teas to your bath for a similar effect.
Citrus Zest
Citrus zest, such as orange and lemon zest, can be added to your bath salts to infuse them with a refreshing citrus scent. The zest will also naturally colour the bath salts, giving them a bright yellow hue.
Flowers
Dried flowers such as rose, jasmine, and lavender buds can be added to your bath salts. Roses are believed to aid in healing the heart and finding joy in everyday life. Jasmine, along with rose, can help you relax and support healthy skin. Lavender, as mentioned earlier, has calming properties.
Milk
Milk baths are a great way to soothe and moisturize your skin, especially during the chilly winter months. Milk helps to meet many skincare needs and can be a relaxing addition to your bath salts.
When using add-ins, it is important to note that some, such as herbs and flowers, may leave residue in your bathtub, requiring more clean-up. To avoid this, you can blend or process the herbs before adding them to your bath salts, or use a tea bag, cheesecloth, or bath strainer to contain the herbs and flowers during your bath.
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Natrasorb: Using it, mixing it, and adding colour
Natrasorb is a versatile ingredient that can be used in bath bombs, bath salts, and body powders. It is a modified tapioca starch that can absorb and carry large amounts of carrier oils, oil mixtures, and essential oils. This allows your bath products to maintain their aroma for longer and mix better with other dry ingredients. Natrasorb also helps to prevent oils from separating and creating blobs on the water's surface by instantly dissolving upon contact with water and releasing the oils.
To use Natrasorb, simply blend it with your desired oils and fragrances. The general rule is to use 2-5% of Natrasorb in your total formulation, but for bath salts, you can use up to 10% of Natrasorb in your recipe. For example, for 1kg of bath salts, use 50-100g of Natrasorb. It is important to mix your oils with Natrasorb first until the starch absorbs them completely and the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Then, add this mixture to your other ingredients.
If you want to add colour to your bath salts, it is recommended to do so in a separate bowl or Ziplock bag. Add the salts and stir to combine and coat the salts in colour. Then, add your fragranced Natrasorb mixture to this coloured salt mixture and combine well.
Natrasorb is a great way to create luxurious, aromatic bath salts that provide a soft and silky feel to your bath water. It helps to disperse oils evenly and prevents them from sitting on the surface, ensuring a pleasant and enjoyable bathing experience.
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Storage: Airtight containers, glass, jars, pouches
Homemade bath salts should be stored in an airtight container, glass jar, or sealed pouch. Mason jars are a great option for storing your bath salts, as are other glass containers. Glass containers are ideal because they are less likely to retain stains or odours from the bath salt mixture.
If you are using a glass jar, make sure it has a tight-fitting lid to ensure the container is fully airtight. This will help to keep the bath salts fresh and prevent moisture from entering the jar, which could cause the salts to dissolve or clump together.
Airtight containers are important for preserving the quality of your bath salts. Exposure to moisture or air can cause the salts to dissolve or become less effective over time. Keeping the container sealed will also help retain the scent of the bath salts, as essential oils can evaporate and lose their potency if exposed to air.
Stand-up pouches and sealed pouches are also suitable for storing bath salts. These are often made of plastic or foil, so be mindful that certain colours in your bath salt mixture may stain the pouch.
It is also important to store your bath salts in a cool, dry place. Bath salts are generally best stored in a location that is not exposed to direct sunlight or heat sources, as this can affect the consistency and quality of the salts over time.
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Benefits: Muscle aches, skin hydration, detox, relaxation
While there is limited scientific evidence to support the health benefits of bath salts, they have been used for hundreds of years to ease aches, pains, and skin troubles. Bath salts are easily dissolved in warm bath water and are commonly made from magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) or sea salt.
Muscle Aches
The minerals in bath salts are believed to help relax tense muscles and reduce inflammation, thereby helping to ease muscle pain. A 2016 study showed that ginger essential oil has anti-arthritic and joint-protective effects, and adding a few drops of this oil to your bath salts may offer additional benefits. Cinnamon bark oil has a warming effect on the skin that some find soothing on sore muscles.
Skin Hydration
A bath can help your skin in many ways. It hydrates your skin, which is good for conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. It also helps remove excess skin, such as scales that form when you have psoriasis. A bath in bath salts will also help to relieve dryness and itchiness.
Detox
A detox bath is generally made of Epsom salt. The minerals in a detox bath are believed to help remove toxins from the body to improve your health.
Relaxation
Soaking in a bath can lower stress, and adding bath salts creates a potent de-stressing mix. The improved circulation helps you relax your body inside and out. Your mind and body benefit from a salt bath, and the warm water just adds to the effect.
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Frequently asked questions
Bath salts are mineral-rich and help promote good health and beautiful skin. They can help stimulate circulation, hydrate and increase skin moisture retention, and soothe irritated skin.
You will need Epsom salts, sea salt (such as Himalayan salt or Dead Sea Salt), essential oils, and dried herbs. You can also add Natrasorb Bath to keep the mixture dry, and colourants to make your bath salts look pretty.
Essential oils like lavender, chamomile, wild orange, spearmint, rosemary, lemon, grapefruit, and juniper are great for relaxation and soothing sore muscles.
Mix your chosen essential oils with Natrasorb Bath or Epsom salts until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. In a separate bowl, combine the salt with your chosen colourant, if using. Then, add the fragrance mixture to the coloured salt and mix well. Store your bath salts in an airtight container.
