Soaking in a long, hot bath is our favorite way to unwind after a full day. But did you know that taking a bath actually has natural medicinal benefits, too? Baths are known to help you sleep better, relieve muscle pain, soothe irritated skin, and help ease cold and flu symptoms. And that’s just to name a few!

Bath salt blends are super simple and inexpensive to make at home, and you can choose your ingredients mindfully to tailor the benefits to your specific needs. Whether you’re feeling under the weather or simply want to relax, there’s a bath salt recipe guaranteed to provide a bit of relief.

A great all-purpose bath is made with 2 parts Epsom salt, 2 parts kosher salt, and 1 part baking soda. The salts contain minerals that are absorbed through the skin to ease soreness and relieve tension, while the baking soda soothes irritated skin and provides detoxifying benefits.

Infusing essential oils into your bath salts adds aromatherapy benefits, too. Depending on the blend, essential oils can help with relaxation, better sleep, clearing the mind, and even relief for stuffy noses.

Bathing with Essential Oils: What You Need to Know

First, avoid using essential oils that are known to cause skin irritation. For example, oils such as cinnamon, clove, and oregano can cause itching and redness. For a more comprehensive list of oils to avoid while bathing, check out AromaWeb’s Essential Oil Safety Guide.

Second, in order to use essential oils safely, it’s very important to dilute them first. The Tisserand Institute, the experts in using essential oils safely, recommend mixing 5-20 drops (1-4% dilution) of essential oil into 1 tablespoon of a carrier oil like apricot kernel, grapeseed, jojoba or sweet almond. Then stir that into your salt concoction. As the salt dissolves in the water, your essential oils will dissolve into the water instead of floating around on the surface.

Aromatherapy Blend Ideas

Ready to make your own bath salts? Here are four essential oil blends and their therapeutic benefits that will help soothe your mind and body:

Stress Relief Rose Blend: 10 drops rose + 5 drops chamomile + 5 drops lavender

Energizing Citrus Blend: 5 drops lemon + 5 drops orange + 10 drops rosemary

Clear Breathing Blend: 10 drops eucalyptus + 10 drops peppermint

Sore Muscle Relief Blend: 5 drops juniper + 10 drops lavender + 5 drops marjoram

You can also add dried flower petals (dried rose petals or dried lavender buds work well!), ground dried citrus peel, cocoa butter, or bentonite clay to any of these blends for additional aromatherapeutic and skincare benefits.

Materials:

Mixing bowl
Spoon
Jar with lid
1 cup Epsom salt
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup baking soda
2 tablespoons carrier oil
20 drops essential oil
Add-ons like flower petals, clay, or dried citrus peel

Instructions:

Combine salts and baking soda in a jar.
In a separate bowl, combine the essential oils and carrier oil.
Add oil mixture to the salts and stir until fully incorporated, breaking up any clumps.
Stir in any flower petals, clays, or additional ingredients you may want to add.
Store in a lidded container in a cool, dark place. Use about 1/2-1 cup per bath.

Which essential oil blend would you add to your next bath? Let us know in the comments below!

DIY Aromatherapy Bath Salts