Give that special person in your life something unique yet inexpensive- homemade bath salts! These are great to add to a "Just for You" gift basket. Add a few finds from the dollar store- a loofa or bath puff, some bath beads, and some body lotion. The sky is the limit! Here are a few recipes to get you started:
Fizzing Bath Salts
1/3 cup baking soda
1/4 cup citric acid crystals
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
Mix ingredients and place in an airtight container. Keep salts dry, moisture will cause them to react and fizz. Sprinkle about 1/4 cup of the salts into warm tub of water.
Yield: 1/2 cup. Just as much fun, as taking a bath in a bottle of champagne.
Candy Cane Bath Salts
2 cups Epsom salts
1/2 c. sea salt
4-6 drops peppermint oil
2-3 drops red food coloring.
Place 1 cup Epsom and 1/4 cup sea salt in a bowl. Add 2-3 drops peppermint oil. Place the remaining ingredients in a second bowl. Mix well. Layer the red and white salts in a clear bottle or jar.
Refreshing Bath Salts
1 cup Epsom salts
1/4 cup table salt
1 box baking soda
A few drops of lavender oil
Completely mix dry ingredients. Add lavender oil and blend well. Store salts in an airtight container.
Foaming Bath Salts
1/2 cup liquid soap
1 Tbsp. light oil
Food coloring (not too much)
6 cups rock salt crystals
Mix soap, oil and food coloring. Pour over rock salt. Stir continuously until salt crystals are evenly coated. Thinly spread the salts on a cookie sheet. Covered with wax paper and air dry for 24-hours.
Scented Bath Salts
1 cup Epsom salts
1/4 cup table salt
1 box baking soda
A few drops of your favorite perfume
Completely mix dry ingredients. Add fragrance and blend well. Store salts in an airtight container.
Milk Bath
Mix 1 cup of dry milk with 5-8 drops of perfume oil or essential oil. Mix well. Add more oil for a stronger scent. Place in a container for gift giving. Include a card with directions: To use, add to running bath water. You'll come out soft and smelling good!
Soothing Bath Oils
Recipe #1
1 cup honey
2 cups milk
1 cup salt
1/4 cup baking soda
1/2 cup baby oil
Fragrance oil of desired scent
Combine honey, milk, salt and baking soda in a bowl. Fill your tub and pour the mixture in. Add the baby oil and a few drops of the fragrance.
Recipe #2:
1 whole egg
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup baby or mineral oil
1/4 cup whole fresh milk
2 teaspoons liquid soap or dishwashing liquid
1/4 cup vodka
Fragrant oil (optional)
Mix all ingredients in a blender for 30 seconds. Use only one or two tablespoons of this oil in a bathtub of water.
Instant Bath Salts
1 cup salt
1 cup epsom salt
1 cup baking soda
Add a little of the mixture to your tub for a revitalizing bath. For bubbles, just add 1 cup of shampoo. For a nice scent, add a few drops of fragrance oil.
Earth Bath Salts
1/2 cup epsom salts
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup rock salt
1/2 tsp vitamin E
2 tsp light oil (almond, sunflower...)
20 drops Patchouli essential oil
15 drops Cypress essentail oil
5 drops Vetivert essential oil
Green Food coloring
Mix all salts & baking soda together. Then combine oil, essential oils, vitamin E & a few drops of coloring in a separate bowl. Add liquid to salts and mix thoroughly. You can add more green food-coloring if desired, but I find it nicer when it's a very light green, as it does not look as artificial. To use: Add a few heaping tablespoons to bath.
Bubble Bath
2 cups soap flakes or grated soap
1 gallon water
1/4 - 1/2 cup glycerin
2 cups shampoo or liquid dishwashing detergent
Scented oil of your choice
Mix the soap flakes, water and 2 tbsp glycerin in a pot and set over low heat, stirring occasionally until the soap has dissolved. (This liquid soap can be stored in a covered container and used as an all-purpose soap or hand soap in the kitchen.) In a bowl, add 2 cups of this mixture to the rest of the glycerin, shampoo and add a few drops of your scented oil. Put into a quart container and store covered at room temperature. When you're ready to bathe, add about one cup to your tub as it's filling.
Easy Milk Bath
Just add 1/2 - 1 cup of dried milk to your bath water for a softening and soothing bath.
Milk Bath #2
2 cups dry milk powder
1 cup cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon fragrance oil of your choice
Blend together all ingredients in blender. Add 1/2 cup of mixture to hot bath water
Bath Sachet
1 cup oatmeal (not instant)
1/2 cup rosemary leaves (or substitute lavender, thyme, lemon verbena...or your favorite herb)
1/4 cup rose petals [*not optional*]
Mix the ingredients together and, for each sachet, place a few tablespoons in the center of a six-inch square of lace, cheesecloth or muslin [JJ note: I've used the muslin tea bags that better kitchen stores carry, or make my own using a *firmly woven* muslin/cheesecloth fabric--you don't want the contents of the bag getting down the drain!! If you're using a square of fabric]...bring the four corners together and tie in the middle with a washable ribbon, making sure that the mixture is secure in your bath. Tie the bag to hang sachet mixture in a honey pot in the bathroom and refill sachet as necessary. Each bag can be used several times before it needs refilling. Oatmeal is very good for the skin but by itself is not particularly attractive, which is why I add rose petals. The Rose petals complement the oatmeal and add a little more fragrance to the mix.
Epsom Bath Salts
2 cups Epsom salts
1/2 tsp. food coloring (if you want it)
1/2 to 1 (depending upon your preference) tsp. fragrance oil
1/2 cup dried rose petals crumbled to near powder
Mix all ingredients. Lovely bath salts.
Candy Cane Bath Salts
2 cups Epsom salts
1/2 cup rock salt or sea salt
4-5 drops peppermint oil
2-3 drops red food coloring
Place 1 cup of the Epsom salts and 1/4 cup of rock salt in a mixing
bowl or resealable plastic bag. Add 2-3 drops of peppermint oil and
mix until evenly distributed.
Place the remaining 1 cup Epsom salts and 1/4 cup rock salt in a
separate bowl or bag. Add the food coloring and mix until the color
is evenly distributed and you are pleased with the shade of red. Add
2-3 drops of peppermint oil and stir well.
In a large jar or clear bottle (I like to use spring water bottles)
layer the white salts and red salts. You want to create a striped
effect, like a candy cane. Place the top on your container and tie
with a big bow and a few real candy canes. Makes 20 ounces.
Cleopatra Milk Bath
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried mint
Peel of 1 orange
Peel of l lemon
2 cups boiling water
1 small box (9.6 ounces) dried milk, enough to make 3 quarts. If you
have oily skin, use nonfat milk powder
Combine the herbs and citrus peels in a large ceramic bowl. Pour the boiling water over the herbs and peels and allow to steep for several
hours (even overnight). Strain off the liquid. Remove all solids. Add
the milk powder to this solution. Draw a warm bath (not hot), and
pour the mixture into the bath water. Soak in the tub for at least 20
minutes, or as long as you like. Rinse the milk off your skin with
warm water. You don't want it to sour on your skin, creating an
unpleasant smell. Pat dry and moisturize your body. Makes about 16
ounces, enough for 1 bath.
