A simple fact that fills me with gratitude is that we can look to nature to meet all of our needs. Food, water, sunlight, clothing, medicine, fuel for warmth and transportation; even beauty for inspiration!
When we engage in nature-based crafts we get to hold all these resources in our hands and manipulate them to meet our needs to our particular preferences. Crafting is also an empowering way to save money creating gifts for your loved ones this holiday season!
Especially in a desert state, we get scaly in the wintertime. We need lotions and potions to soften us up around the edges and keep us cuddle-soft! This winter, try your hand at making your own bath salts, massage oil, lip balm, and more! Add essential oils for aromatherapeutic and skin-soothing benefits.
It’s fun and easy! Making your own natural bath products uses inexpensive ingredients easily found in the grocery store. You can make as much or as little as you want at a time. And, if you make them yourself you know exactly what they contain. In preparation for this Wednesday’s Herbal Bath Products class, I am choosing which recipes I want to share this year. I decided to share my excitement about teaching this class again by giving some basics here.
Bath Salts: Combine equal parts sea salt, Epsom salts, and baking soda. Mix until well-blended in a glass bowl with a plastic or wooden spoon. While stirring, add 8 – 10 drops of essential oil per 2 cups of bath salts and blend very well. You may also add lavender petals, rose buds, rolled oats – get creative! Package in a glass jar, a cellophane bag, or recycle an old spice shaker. Packaging must be air-tight to prevent the essential oils from dissipating.
A word of caution: many essential oils are not safe to take internally and are therefore for external use only! The spoon you use for stirring will therefore not be usable with food again, so don’t use your favorite cooking spoon! Also, more is not better! Although we are fond of highly-scented candles and things these days, fragrances can be dangerous! Essential oils are very pure and highly concentrated extracts. You can actually make yourself sick by inhaling too much. So, stick with the proportions above!
If you decide to make bath salts without added petals, etc., you can place the salts directly into the water. If you do add oats or flower petals, you’ll need to include a cotton or muslin bag to place the salts in to keep the plant bits from clogging up the tub drain. Or, include a new washcloth and ribbon with instructions to place salts in the middle and wrap the washcloth around them. Place it in the tub like a giant tea bag and use it to scrub, too!
When selecting scents, think of what you most enjoy smelling. Do you like flowery scents, or do you prefer earthy or woodsy smells? Do you love the smell of fruits? Don’t be afraid to combine scents across categories. For example, orange and mint or orange and eucalyptus are both very clean-smelling, invigorating combinations. If a loved one has been having a hard time getting to sleep, include lavender oil in their bath salts. If your loved one doesn’t like to soak in the tub but could use an energizing foot soak, include rosemary oil. If both relaxation and rejuvenation are needed, blend lavender and rosemary together.
Happy Bathing! If you are interested in attending the Herbal Bath Products crafting class on Wednesday, December 15 at 6 pm at the Ogden Nature Center, please call 801.621.7595 and register. It will be a fun and satisfying time for all.
