We’ve talked about how good baths are for stress, muscle aches – pretty much whatever ails you. Now it’s time to think about giving the gift of a great bath to your friends, family or favorite teacher. A few bath salt test tubes caught my eye at Anthropologie ages ago, and I finally found a few test tubes so I could try them out with homemade bath salt.
Salt baths can easily irritate and dry out your skin, but these salts are pre-combined with two super moisturizers – cocoa butter and sweet almond oil. Follow the recipe below to learn how to make bath salts of your own!
Supplies needed
- Cocoa butter
- Almond oil
- Sea salt (Epsom would also work)
- Test tubes (I found mine in a specialty cooking store but you can find them online here or here. I’ve also seen plastic ones in the dollar section of Michaels.)
Instructions
Step 1
Melt 2 tablespoons of cocoa butter in a medium glass bowl. I use a makeshift double boiler approach with the bowl sitting on top of a saucepan with a couple of inches of boiling water. You could also use a couple of quick bursts in the microwave. Remove from heat and add 2 tablespoons of almond oil.
Step 2
Pour in two cups of sea salt and stir until butter and oil are evenly distributed. Spread the salt out on a cookie sheet and let it air dry. This will take about a day.
Step 3
Pour salt into test tubes with desired ingredients. Here are three variations I came up with, but anything goes!
3 Moisturizing Bath Salt Recipe Variations
Soothing Rose
Crumble in few rose petals + rose essential oil if you have it
French Lavender
Add a few dried lavender buds + a teaspoon of French green clay + a few drops of lavender essential oil
Grapefruit Detox
Add a teaspoon of citrus zest or ground dried citrus peel + 10 drops of grapefruit essential oil
My test tubes each held between 1/8 and 1/4 cup of salt so you can make several gift sets at once. Tie the tubes together with a bit of twine and you’re all set!
How To Make Bath Salts - 3 Ways
Equipment
- Test tubes*
- Small mixing bowl
Materials
- 2 tablespoons cocoa butter
- 2 tablespoons almond oil
- 2 cups sea salt Epsom would also work
Instructions
- Melt 2 tablespoons of cocoa butter in a medium heat-proof glass bowl. Remove from heat and add 2ย tablespoons of almond oil.
- Pour in twoย cups of sea salt and stir until butter and oil are evenly distributed. Spread the salt out on cookie sheet and let it air dry.
- Add any desired ingredients, like dried flowers or essential oils. Pour into test tubes or store in a lidded container.
Notes
Soothing Rose
Crumble in fewย rose petalsย +ย rose essential oilย if you have itFrench Lavender
Add a fewย dried lavender budsย + a teaspoon ofย French green clayย + a few drops ofย lavender essential oilGrapefruit Detox
Add a teaspoon of citrus zest or ground dried citrus peel + 10 drops ofย grapefruitย essential oilThis post was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in medical, cosmetic and surgical dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glowโs medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
182
Can we use any other essential oil instead of almond oil?
What is the shelf life on these with the zest?
Do you need to let the salt dry again after adding the essential oils? Or can I package right away? I’m planning to do these as my mom’s group Christmas party and I’m hoping to let them take them package and take home after making. Thanks! These are lovely.
This is a great idea. I’m going to link to it in my weekly newsletter. What a perfect Xmas gift to make. Thanks for the beautiful photos too.
I did something similar last year as Christmas gifts but used mason jars. The tubes are way cuter. Love this idea.
Fantastic idea! I ‘ll pin it to make them and maybe give them as party favors!