Cosy winter bath DIY: herbal bath salts recipe

Winter can be a magical season, with snow-dusted landscapes (if you’re lucky) and cozy evenings by the fire. But let’s be honest—it’s also the time when our skin tends to feel drier, our muscles tighter, and our spirits in need of a little extra boost.

Not to mention the colds and bugs doing the rounds.

Cosy winter baths are good for the mind, body and soul

That’s where a warm bath, infused with health benefits and essential oil blends comes in. Our Herbal blend, with it’s almost medicinal fragrance, is perfect for winter bathing. It’s a blend of Rosemary, Lavender and Clary Sage essential oils. Lavender calms the mind, Clary Sage is mood-boosting, and Rosemary boosts circulation—a perfect combo for the season.

Not only is a bath drawn with handmade bath salts and essential oil blends a treat for the senses, but it’s also a wonderful way to rejuvenate your body and mind during the colder months. 

DIY bath salts are cost-effective

I’m not a fan of bath salt recipe ingredients bobbing about in the bath with me (nor a fan of cleaning them off the bath afterwards, either). So I prefer to encase my DIY bath salts in a piece of scrap fabric tied with string. Find a clean piece of scrap fabric, preferably a lightweight or loosely woven fabric like cotton or muslin, about the size of a dinner plate. You’ll also need an elastic band and some string.

The ingredients themselves aren't at all expensive: £1 for the salt, 35p for the clay, pennies for the oats (from your cupboard if you have them) and about 90p for the essential oils. 

Here is my simple yet effective DIY winter bath salts recipe.

Ingredients you’ll need:

• Himalayan Pink Salt (2 handfuls or about 100g): This beautiful pink salt is packed with minerals that help detoxify the body, soothe sore muscles, and promote relaxation.
  
• French Green Clay (1 heaped tablespoon, or approx 10g): Known for its gentle detoxifying and skin-soothing properties, French green clay is perfect for purifying and softening dry winter skin.
  
• Oats (1/2 cup): Oats aren’t just for your breakfast! They’re fantastic for calming irritation and adding a dose of hydration to your skin. You can use plain porridge oats, oatmeal or, if you want to be fancy, source some colloidal oatmeal powder online.
  
• Herbal Essential Oil Blend (20-40 drops): Obviously I think my blend of Rosemary, Clary Sage and Lavender is best for this time of year, but you can use any of our other blends, make your own blend or just stick with using your favourite essential oil. Use the amount of drops to suit your taste, up to about 40 (about 2ml).
  

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Our perfect essential oil blend for the cold winter months
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(If Herbal doesn't float your boat, have a look at our other essential oils).

How to make your winter bath salts:

1. Cut out your fabric to the size of a dinner plate if necessary.
2. In the centre of your fabric, place all of the ingredients in a small pile
3. Gather the sides up to create a ball and secure the top with an elastic band.
4. Tie a piece of string firmly around the elastic band and tie a loop at the end (this need to be long enough to hang the ball from the taps into the water).
   
5. How to use your cosy winter bath salts ball:

Dangle your bath salts ball into the warm running water. Swirl the ball in the water and squeeze it a bit to dissolve the salts and disperse the clay, then leave to soak and let the magic happen. For an extra cozy vibe, light a candle or incense and play some soft, chilled music… Bliss!

(And if you're looking for a winter hair care duo to use in your cosy winter bath, look no further than our Herbal shampoo bars and Herbal conditioner bars.)

When you’re done with your bath, open the ball and empty the contents into your bin or compost. Rinse and leave the piece of fabric to dry out for the next use.

Why these ingredients are great in winter:

• Himalayan Pink Salt: Packed with over 80 minerals, it's a great base for DIY bath salts. This salt helps replenish the skin’s natural moisture barrier — a must-have when winter air leaves your skin feeling parched. It also works wonders on achy muscles and revives tired legs after being out in the cold. 
• French Green Clay: Winter often brings dull, tired skin. This clay gently detoxifies and revitalizes, leaving your skin soft and refreshed.
• Oats: These are a miracle worker for dry, itchy skin. They’re soothing, moisturizing, and perfect for anyone dealing with the winter blues of eczema or dryness.
• Lavender: The essential oil is a wonderful sleep promoter and brings very cosy vibes. If you’d prefer not to use essential oils for whatever reason, then dried lavender buds will also infuse nicely in a hot bath for added cosy and calming fragrance.

Once you’ve enjoyed your cosy winter bath and you’re out and dried off, make sure you drink either some water or a herbal tea to hydrate. And follow up with some a carrier oil all over your skin, or a body moisturiser, to seal the moisture and benefits into your skin.

Making your own bath salts is not only simple and very satisfying, but also gives you total control over what goes onto your skin. This DIY bath salts recipe is a simple way to beat the winter chill and just chill out. Let the warmth, relaxation, and skin-loving benefits soak right in.

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