Creating Your Own Aromatic Bath Salts

by Christopher W. Smith

Aromatic bath salts are very popular these days, because they can be used to alleviate stress, raise the spirits, and increase energy levels. You can buy them in numerous different scents, each of which is designed to calm and soothe. You can purchase lots of these salts which have been commercially-produced, but that can run into a lot of money. If you just don't have the extra cash to spend for gifts or for pampering yourself with the economy the way it is right now, you can create your own aromatic bath salts for a fraction of the cost, even if you aren't very craft-oriented.

It only takes a few simple ingredients to create your own aromatic bath salts: baking soda, salt, and a fragrance. By salt it doesn't mean table salt, however, because that is full of so many additives. You can use non-iodized table salt if you like as well as Epsom Salt, Sea Salt, or Rock Salt. The coarser salts that have larger grains are preferable to fine salt.

When it comes to fragrance, you have the options of using scented oils or herbs. Be sure and choose fragranced oils that are intended for use in bath products. Some of the oils you'll find are designed to be used in other types of crafts and are unsafe to put into a bath. Be sure to choose a fragrance that you're still going to enjoy after repeated uses.

For herbal bath salts, you'll want to start by placing a layer of fresh herbs in a glass jar and then covering them with salt. Put plastic wrap over the top of the jar and screw the lid on tightly. Put the mixture somewhere where it can rest for a couple of weeks which will allow the salt to assimilate the scent of the herbs. Once you remove the herbs, you'll have aromatic bath salts that will give you a soothing herbal bath.

The majority of easy aromatic bath salt recipes you'll find will have you add some baking soda to the salts you make. By doing so you'll have nice soft water to bathe in. When you use scented oils in this type of recipe, you don't mix the salts ahead of time. Instead, you'll put salt, baking soda, and fragrance into the water separately. Although this works well for your own personal use, it doesn't allow you to either display your bath salts or give them as gifts. Be very careful to follow instructions when formulating your bath salts, too. Mixing baking soda with certain ingredients can cause a chemical reaction, and you don't want to be responsible for giving explosive bath salts to your friends and relatives.

As you can see, it isn't difficult to make aromatic bath salts, but you do need to exercise a bit of caution. Always be careful when mixing ingredients, because some combinations can cause safety issues. When you look for a recipe, use a source that you trust, or ask someone you know what worked for them. Always test any recipe you concoct at home before giving any of it away, too.

When you need to relax, aromatic bath salts added to a tub of hot water can provide you with a great way to do so. Even if you don't use them, they look lovely when displayed in your bathroom. When you use essential oils, use them sparingly. Only a drop or two will be more than enough for an entire tub of water. If you use too much, it could cause skin irritation. Any essential oils that you purchase will need to be used within 2 years, because their aroma will only last that long, so don't buy too many at once.