Aromatherapy Bath Salts: DIY Recipes & Benefits

Depending on the essential oils you use, aromatherapy bath salts can help you relax and sleep better, soothe sore muscles, decrease congestion, soothe irritated skin or skin conditions, or just be a pleasant way to get away from your day.

The best essential oils for bath salts depend on your personal preference and the effects you want. For example, to nourish skin, you might choose oils like lavender, frankincense, roman chamomile, rose, sandalwood, and ylang ylang. For congestion relief, you might want tea tree or eucalyptus—when using stronger oils, use less.

Make sure to avoid skin-irritating essential oils and ones you are sensitive to.

You can add solubilizer to any of the salt recipes to help better disperse the essential oils.

Relaxing Aromatherapy Bath Salts

Make four baths.

• 4 ounces (1/2 cup) Himalayan salts
• 10 drops elemi essential oil
• 6 drops frankincense essential oil
• 2 drops vetiver essential oil
• 2 drops myrrh essential oil
  

1. Place the salts in a wide-mouth 4-ounce (120-ml) jar.
2. Drop the essential oils into the salt as you stir gently.
3. Use about 2 tablespoons in each bath.
4. Optional: For sore muscles, add a half-cup Epsom salt to the bath water.
   

Source: Aromahead

Sore Muscle Soak

Soothe sore muscles with this salt blend.

• 1/4 cup Epsom salt
• 1/4 cup pink Himalayan salt
• 1/4 cup sea salt
• 2 teaspoons solubilizer
• 10 drops copaiba balsam essential oil
• 10 drops lavender essential oil

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl. Store salts in an airtight container. Use 1/4 cup for one bath.

Source: Cheryl Murphy, Certified Aromatherapist, "Balsam Essential Oils for Aromatherapy," NAHA Aromatherapy Journal, Winter 2019.4, p. 11.

Palo Santo Purification Bath Salts

Use this blend to attract positive energy.

• 2 drops palo santo essential oil
• 2 drops grapefruit essential oil
• 2 drops cypress essential oil
• 2 drops palmarosa essential oil
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil
  
• 1 cup Dead Sea salt or Epsom salt

Blend essential oils and carrier oil in a small glass or ceramic bowl. Add salt and stir to coat evenly. Use for one bath.

Adapted from Floracopeia

Spirit Soothing Bath Salts

• 3 drops palo santo
• 3 drops rose geranium
• 1 drop roman chamomile
• 1 teaspoon carrier oil
• 1 cup Epsom salt

Blend essential oils and carrier oil in a small glass or ceramic bowl. Add salt and stir to coat evenly. Add to the bath after you're in the water. Swish to dissolve and enjoy.

Source: Nature's Essential Oils: Aromatic Alchemy for Well-Being

More Bath Salts With Essential Oils

In the following aromatherapy bath salts you can use a single essential oil or a blend. Good essential oil choices include lavender, clary sage, ylang ylang, and roman chamomile. Avoid "hot" and potentially skin-irritating oils, such as oregano.

Here are some suggested essential oil blends:

• To soften skin: 6 drops geranium, 6 drops frankincense, 3 drops myrrh
• To soothe anxiety: 10 drops lavender, 6 drops ylang ylang, 4 drops bergamot
• To relieve arthritis stiffness: 8 drops juniper, 8 drops lavender, 4 drops cypress, 3 drops rosemary
• To calm down: 3 drops geranium, 3 drops lavender, 2 drops lemon, 2 drops sandalwood
• To wake up: 5 drops rosemary, 4 drops peppermint, 3 drops bay laurel, 2 drops ginger
• To relieve winter blahs: 6 drops grapefruit, 6 drops elemi, 4 drops ginger, 2 drops sandalwood

Blend #1:

• 1 cup Epsom salt or sea salt
• 5 to 10 drops essential oil 
• Dark jar or container with lid

1. Place salt and essential oil into the jar. 
2. Put on the lid, and shake vigorously until essential oil is evenly dispersed. 
3. Use 1/4 to 1/3 cup for each bath.
   

Blend #2:

• 1 cup Epsom salt
• 1/2 cup sea or mineral salt
• 1/8 cup white clay
• 10 to 18 drops essential oil(s)

Combine all ingredients in bowl and sift. Store in airtight container. Use 4 tablespoons in one full bath.

Source: ACHS

Blend #3:

• 50 drops (1/2 teaspoon) essential oil(s) of choice
  
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup sea salt

1. Blend all ingredients in a glass container that has a lid. 
2. Use one-fourth to one-half cup of salts for each bath.

Adapted from Aromatherapy: A Complete Guide to the Healing Art

Aromatherapy Bubble Bath Salts

• 1/2 cup liquid soap
• 1 tablespoon almond oil
• 30 to 60 drops essential oil(s) of your choice
• 6 cups rock salt or kosher salt

1. Stir the soap, oil, and essential oil together.
2. Pour the mixture over the salt and stir to evenly coat the salt crystals.
3. Cover a cookie sheet with waxed paper.
4. Place the salt on the sheet in a thin layer.
5. Let the salt dry until all the moisture has evaporated (drying can take up to a day).
6. Store the salts in a covered jar.
7. To use, pour 1/4 cup of the salts under running water while drawing a bath.

Source: EcoBeauty: Scrubs, Rubs, Masks, and Bath Bombs

Also see DIY bath bombs and other aromatherapy bath blends.

Buy Rocky Mountain Essential Oils

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