How to Make Bath Salts
Salt
Every bath salt mixture starts with the most important ingredient: salt. You may think there is only one choice for salt, but there are many different options for you to choose from. Some people like to make their salts using just one salt, but most like to mix and match salts to give their mixture a variety of textures. You can choose from Epsom salt, sea salt, Dead Sea salt, Solar Salt. Many of these salts are known to have medicinal properties. However, do use use regular table salt as it is drying to the skin.
DIRECTIONS:
In a large glass or metal bowl, stir together…
2 cups Epsom Salt or Dead Sea Salt – or 1 cup of each
1-2 teaspoons of baking soda, if desired (often used as a skin softener.)
10-12 drops of essential oil or fragrance oil (if using mint essential oils, use only 5 – 8 drops)
You can also add a few drops of food coloring and mix well to incorporate the color. Keep the colors light to avoid discoloration of the tub and white wash cloths.
Next…
After you have stirred the salt really well, allow to sit for about 20 minutes (it allows to moisture to settle out) then pour into glass jars and attach lids.
Additional Ingredients
Bath Salts are easy and flexible. For a bath oil type bath salt, add 5 to 10 drops of carrier oil (such as sweet almond oil, olive oil, macadamia nut oil, etc.) to the salt mixture and stir well. To add shea butter to bath salts, melt first and pour a small amount into a finer ground salt such as Epsom and stir well. Add other salts, stir again, then add scent and stir.
Botanicals such as lavender buds, rose petals or calendula petals can also be added to bath salts for their properties and to create a more attractive blend. Just be sure to use a strainer when draining the bath tub to avoid clogging the drain.
Popular types of salts for making bath salt
Dead Sea Salt
Dead Sea salts differ from other sea salts in mineral content and is probably the most popular ingredient used by bath salt makers. Dead Sea Salts are known to reduce pain and inflammation from arthritis and rheumatism. The high mineral count is credited with cleansing and detoxification of the skin.
Epsom Salt
Other Names: Magnesium Sulfate
Epsom Salt isn’t actually salt. It Epsom salt is a pure mineral compound of magnesium sulfate in crystal form, so it has the appearance of salt. But it has no sodium chloride. Often used because it sooths aches and pains.