How to Make Scented Bath Oils

Scented bath oils are an important tenant of aromatherapy. Adding scented bath oils to bath water can sooth skin, lift mood, ease a cough, help congestion or just help you relax. There a literally hundreds of essential oils, all with different scents and healing properties that you can use to customize a bath oil that is perfect for you. You can chose one oil or dozens, creating a combination of healing and scent that makes for the perfect bath time retreat.

Things You'll Need

• Clean glass bottle or jar
• Carrier oil
• Essential oils
• Fragrance oil (optional)

Instructions

1. Chose an essential oil or mix or blend. Lavender oil is a popular choice for relaxation, while chamomile sooths the skin. Orange blossom or neroli oil lifts moods and is good for depression. Try a mint or sage oil to help the respiratory system. See the resources section for a chart containing information on the healing properties of essential oils.

2. Choose a carrier oil based. Carrier oils are the oils that make up the majority of your blend. Essential oils are very concentrated and strong, so including a carrier oil helps dilute them. Chose an oil like almond oil to sooth itchy skin. Flax seed oil is rich in vitamin E. Avocado oil has a lot of vitamin A. Jojoba oil is most easily absorbed into the skin. There are many carrier oils with different benifits. See the resources section for a guide to choosing a carrier oil.

3. Fill a clean glass bottle or glass jar 3/4 full with your carrier oil. Add 5 to 10 drops of each essential oil into the jar. Add 5 drops if you are using several oils and 10 drops if you are only using a few. Add more of the oils whose properties you value most.

4. Add fragrance oil. Essential oils work largely through aromatherapy, so many of their benefits come from inhaling. If you are using oils simply as skin treatments, you can chose to add additional fragrance oil. Fragrance oils are sold where essential oils are sold, and they are similar, except they are formulated for their smell and not their healing properties. They are often lower quality than essential oils and can contain additives.

5. Fill your container the rest of the way with your carrier oil. Attach the lid tightly and invert the container several times to blend the mixture. Do not shake the bottle. It will not take much effort to combine the ingredients.

6. Add about 1 to 2 tablespoons to a tub of warm water, breathe in the aroma and enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• Try purchasing an essential oil blend, which consists of several oils chosen for a particular healing property.

• Test each oil on a small, hidden parch of skin to check for reactions or allergies.

Resources

• Chart of essential oil properties
• Guide to chosing a carrier oil