Homemade Bath Salts

At the end of the day, relaxation can take all sorts of forms. A hot yoga class, a long bike ride, or how about a hot bath with soothing bath salts! Making your own bath salts is easy and fun.

Best Salts for Soaking

* Epsom salt – it is no secret that Epsom salt is the most common choice for soothing sore and tense muscles. Use extra fine for best homemade bath salt results.

* Use a combination of pink Himalayan sea salt, gray sea salt and white sea salt – for color and soothing qualities

* Get creative and add a hint of black sea salt on occasion

Note: There is no “wrong” blend of sea salts. Epsom salt is the “base” and all the others add to the color and texture of the finished product.

Extras for Ultimate Relaxation

* Consider adding a few drops of essential oil – faves include: lavender, rose, nutmeg, and chamomile

* Dried herbs such as lavender, rosemary, passionflower, and chamomile

* Dried flowers such as rose, clematis, chives, chrysanthemum, gerbera, and violet

Extras for Calming Energy

Calming energy may sound like an oxymoron but it is far from it. Citrus flavors and scents calm the senses and provide a simplistic energy boost at the same time.

* Citrus Add-ins
~ Grapefruit
~ Lemon
~ Orange
~ Lime
~ and a hint of not-so-citrus peppermint

RECIPE

1 quart-size canning jar
2 1/2 cups Epsom salt, extra fine
1/4 cup sea salt variety such as pink Himalayan or white sea salt
1/4 cup sea salt variety such as gray sea salt or other combination

Relaxation add-in:
about 30 drops of essential oil
3 Tablespoons dried herbs
3 Tablespoons dried flowers

Energizing add-in:
about 30 drops essential oil
Citrus zest from grapefruit, lemon, orange, lime or a combination thereof
2 Tablespoons dried herbs (see notes above)

Gift Idea made simple! Make a large batch of Homemade Bath Salts and place in smaller 4-ounce jars, decorate the jar with ribbon and other accents. Give as a housewarming gift, bridal or baby shower gift, or have a girls night and make a batch for each person to take home.

Homemade Bath Salts are the perfect end to a relaxing dinner party or brunch. Check out this delicious brunch recipe found in Susan’s book, Substitute Yourself Skinny ! << Recipe, Slimming Eggs Benedict Photo one courtesy of Florencia Potter
Photo two courtesy of Sarah Gualtieri