by Leslie Haasch

Created on: August 14, 2008

Aromatherapy bath salts are key to truly relaxing "me time". The different scents that can be created will trigger certain emotional responses, so it is important to choose the right ones when you're looking to lay back and enjoy a nice, soothing bath. Instead of going to the store and purchasing bath salts that may contain chemicals that can be harmful to the skin, save money and make your own.

The process of creating your own aromatherapy bath salts isn't difficult, but it does require a little creativity. You'll want to start with a base that you can add scents to later. Simply mix 3 parts Epsom salts, 2 parts baking soda and 1 part sea salt in a large mixing bowl. I say "parts" because you can make as little or as much as you want just make sure you keep the proportions the same. You can use a large mixing spoon or your hands to mix the ingredients. If you plan on making a batch all of the same scent, you can start adding the scents and colors directly to the same mixing bowl. You can also divide your base recipe into different bowls to create different scents.

Next, you'll want to begin mixing fragrance oils with your salts. Add them a couple drops at a time, mix them in, and then add a few more. You want to make sure that when they're mixed well they still retain a strong scent remember that you'll be adding these with your bath water which will dilute the scent quite a bit. The more popular scents include lavender and vanilla, but you can use whatever you want. For a little burst of energy, try orange and lemon oils together. If you're looking to relax, mix a little lavender with sage. Chamomile is known for its healing powers. The options are endless, just do a Google search and you're sure to come up with tons of different recipes.

The next bit of this concoction is optional adding colors. If you're using the salts for yourself and don't care what they look like, then you just need to store them and you're done! But for those of you that want to use the salts as display pieces when not in use, you can add a little bit of color drop by drop to your salts. Try to avoid using food dyes as they tend to stain surfaces and opt for cosmetic grade coloring. This is the same kind of coloring used in your favored soaps, so chances are you can find them in your local craft store. Now you can store your salts in whatever you want mason jars, decorative tins, anything with a large opening and a lid that can be sealed tightly. You'll want to measure out your salts for baths (about cup per bath), so if you use a container that is too small it may prove to be difficult.

Now that you've done the hard part, you get to enjoy them. They make great gifts, bath dcor and they're obviously perfect for a relaxing night with lit candles and your favorite music. Do with your salts what you will, just make sure someone gets to take pleasure in them!

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