How to Create Natural Scents for Your Bath or Shower

by Lill Hawkins

Some people love to take long, luxurious baths. Others can't wake up without a shower in the morning. Whichever you prefer, hydrotherapy, in the form of a bath or shower, is something almost everyone enjoys. There's nothing better for waking us up in the morning than a nice, hot shower. And there's nothing better for relaxing our bodies and soothing our minds into restful sleep than a bath before we go to bed. It lowers our body temperature and prepares us for sleep, naturally.

Scented Bath Salts

When I want to relax, I take a bath with these bath salts. I've been making them since the 70's when I sold them at craft fairs. Now I make them for my own enjoyment. They're so simple to make and leave your skin soft and silky. Kids love to watch them color the bath water and they're not irritating like commercial kids' bath products can be.

Ingredients:

2 Cups Sea Salt, Kosher Salt or Rock Salt
20 Drops Essential Oil

Add the essential oil to the salt. Spread it out on a cookie sheet covered with tin foil or parchment paper. (Don't use paper towels, because they'll absorb the scented oil.) When it's dry, which may take as long as 24 hours or as little as 3, pour it into a pretty glass jar with a cover. If you like colored bath salts, use a couple of TBSPS of beet juice, or non-toxic food coloring to the salts with the essential oil. You can find non-toxic food coloring at Health Food Stores. To use, just scoop out about a half-cup and add to running water.

Remember, scent is a very personal thing. It's wonderful to surround yourself with it in your own home. But it's considerate to keep it very light or just not use it in public.

Scented Shower Gel

Ingredients:
1 Cup Water
1 1/2 Cups Liquid Glycerine Soap, Scented (Dr. Bronner's or any natural brand)
2 TBSP Finely Milled Sea Salt
Natural Food Coloring (optional)

Add liquid soap to water. Do not add water to liquid soap, because you'll have a kitchen full of suds. Stir in salt and coloring, if you want it. If it separates, shake gently before using.

Variations: Use unscented liquid soap and add about 20 drops of essential oil to it. Or add a stick of cinnamon, a tsp of ginger, nutmeg, vanilla, coconut or chocolate extract. Store in a shampoo bottle.

Simple Soothing Milk and Honey Bath

Ingredients:
2 Cups of Dry Milk Powder (I use organic)
2 TBSP of Dried Honey Powder (I use HoneySweet Brand)
2 Cups of Finely Processed Oats (I use my food processor)
12-20 drops of essential oil (I use half lavender and half rose)

Mix milk and honey powder in large bowl. I use a whisk. Add essential oil, mix well and put in a plastic bag or tightly covered jar. Let the powder absorb the oil for at least 24 hours. Add 1/2 cup under the tap while you're running your bath. This is a good bath powder for children, although I omit the essential oil for children under 2, just in case it irritates them.