by Michelle Jones
Aromatherapy or scented bath salts from fancy bath stores and spas may be great for the skin, but paying up to $30 or more is not good for most of our budgets! Learn how to make your own bath salts at home and THEN you can also give them as delightful gifts to every stressed out mom you know. These inexpensive gifts are always a big hit.
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A Perfect Gift for Mother's Day!
Though I purchased my supplies for a great deal at our local craft store, there are many stores that carry these items. I've included a couple that you can even order online at Amazon.
Instructions:
In a large glass or metal bowl, stir together the following;
2 cups Epsom Salt or Dead Sea Salt, or 1 cup of each (do not use table salts, they will dry out skin. When using Dead Sea Salt, which I prefer, be sure to remove any dark pieces that may have slipped through processing.)
1-2 teaspoons of baking soda, if desired (softens skin)
10-12 drops of Essential Oil (Lavender is best for a relaxing bath, but Vanilla and Eucalyptus scents are also fabulous!)
You can also add a tiny amount of food coloring paste (the kind used for cake decorating) if desired, but it's not necessary. I prefer NOT to use coloring, but it's up to you. This is your own homemade bath salt so you can make it however you want.
After you have stirred the salt really well (I do this for at least two minutes because it's fun; the more you stir the more the wonderful scent begins to come through), pour the bath salt into pretty glass jars and cover with airtight lids.
For the Glass Jars...
Use clean mason jars, baby food jars, or even spaghetti and jelly jars. They are all perfect for homemade bath salt. Whatever you do, do NOT spend extra money on expensive jars. They are completely unnecessary!
Though our children are all past the baby food stage we asked a friend if we could have some of their empty jars and they were happy to get rid of them. (And a special "Thank You" gift jar is on it's way in return!)
To Finish...
Tie a pretty ribbon around the top of the jar and decorate the lid if you'd like. It really adds a nice touch. In the above picture this recycled spaghetti mason jar is simply gorgeous, but the lid had writing all over it that I didn't want on my gift. So, I painted it!
Lastly, attach a cheerful label, something like... "Spa Treatment Just for Mom!"
And if you'd like to include instructions, write "Add several Tablespoonfuls of Bath Salt to warm water for a relaxing bath (or refreshing bath; depending on which essential oil you used). Enjoy!"
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Copyright © 2004 by Michelle Jones. All rights reserved.
