This post originally appeared on One Mama’s Daily Drama for Handmade Holiday Gift Week.
Homemade bath salt is one of my favorite go-to handmade gifts. With just a few simple ingredients and about five minutes, you can whip up a batch. You can change up the recipe and add your own ingredients too.
And it makes a beautiful gift for teachers, neighbors, friends- anyone, really! The kids love to help make it too. E is helping me out today, so you may see her little hands in some of the photos. Enough talk. Let’s make some bath salts!
how to make bath salts
ingredients:
- 2 cups unscented epsom salt
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1-2 drops food coloring (optional)
- 1 squeeze of vitamin E oil (or coconut oil, jojoba oil, or whatever you like)
- 20-30 drops total essential oils (These are my favorite combos below)
essential oil combos
20 drops peppermint essential oil (This is my favorite inexpensive peppermint oil)
12 drops peppermint + 8 drops eucalyptus essential oil (awesome if you have a cold!)
20-30 drops of lavender essential oil (ultra-relaxing)
15 drops lavender + 15 drops vanilla essential oil or extract (smells soooo good!)
10 drops peppermint + 10 drops orange essential oil
other supplies:
- glass containers with lids (sealing lids are great to prevent bath salts from clumping in humid bathrooms) I got these inexpensive jars at Hobby Lobby on sale.
- wood scoops- I’m loving these inexpensive wood scoops, and I think they’re a nice touch!
- chalkboard sticker labels or other labels (I use these chalkboard sticker labels for everything in my house!
- paint pen (I used white)
- mixing bowl
- measuring cups
- fork or wire whisk
step 1. dry ingredients
Combine epsom salt and baking soda in the mixing bowl.
step 2. oils
Add the vitamin E oil and essential oils and stir well to combine everything.
step 3. food coloring
Finally, add a couple of drops of food coloring if you like.
step 4. fill jars
Spoon the finished bath salt into the jars carefully. Don’t pack it down- I’ve done this and I have a brick of bath salt next to my tub to prove it!
step 6. labels
Finally, label your jars. I like to use a white paint pen on my chalkboard labels.
Now add a bow and a gift tag, and you’ve got some amazing and thoughtful handmade gifts!
More Easy Handmade Gift Ideas…
How to Make Soy Candles: A Beginner’s Guide
WHY DO YOU USE VITAMIN E OIL AND BAKING SODA?
Hi Renee,
I’m no expert, but Vitamin E oil is supposed to be really good for your skin- and it helps your bath not dry out the skin. Baking soda is supposed to help with all sorts of things… here’s more info if you’re interested. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321398#ten-benefits