Or in this case, bath-salts, because I don't have to calculate the quantities, whereas with the other things I make, I have to get round to making them whilst writing down the exact amounts and time and so on...
Fancy bath stuff is always useful as a present for people, even for men if you tell 'em it's a muscle-soak. It's also lovely for yourself when you feel tired, blue, ill, have period-pains, there's a 'y' in the day...
But the stuff tends to be pricey. And full of chemicals you don't need and don't want. Especially if you have asthma, eczema or a liking for not polluting the planet.
So here's the How To for home-made ones which are exactly the same only cheaper and without the chemicals. Why do they put 'em in... these work fine without the parabens and nasty synthetic scents...
INGREDIENTS:
Coarse crystal Sea-Salt
essential oils of your choice
food-colouring of your choice
METHOD
Put salt in a large non-plastic bowl (because plastic can take on the smells, making your next batch of cakes a bit weird).
For 250g of salt, I use a total of 25 drops of oils. This is on the strong side, so if you like only the faintest scent, use less.
Add two to three drops ONLY of food-colouring if you want a pastel tint.
Stir for longer than you think it needs.
Put in glass jars or bottles. I use old wide-mouthed glass 1950s milk-bottles, with a scrap of silk over the top held by a ribbon tied in a bow.
Don't store them in the bathroom as the salt will take on the steam and set into a concrete lump.
I use about 50g for a bath.
I use cochineal for a pretty rose-pink, along with 10 drops lavender, 10 drops rose-geranium and 5 drops bergamot: that makes a relaxing soothing anti-anxiety bath, according to aromatherapy guides. According to me it makes a bath that smells lovely and that relaxes me because I associate the scent with spending time away from the world, and with chocolate and a favourite book to follow...
CAVEATS
I don't know anyone who has reacted adversely to these but if you have any medical conditions that may react with essential oils then check with your GP; if you are pregnant then avoid most essential oils.
Be stingy with the food-colouring - I'm not responsible if you overdo it and end up with blue skin or a green bath!
