Make Holiday Bath Salts with a Hint of Spice

There's something irresistibly soothing about warm, spicy aromas that waft through our homes during the holiday season.

Their captivating allure seems to dance against the backdrop of chilly, snow-laden landscapes, enveloping us in a comforting embrace. Traditional fragrances like the inviting aroma of clove, the invigorating scent of cinnamon, and the exotic whisper of cardamom take center stage in festive Aromatherapy blends and our holiday cooking recipes.

Incorporating these tantalizing oils into Aromatherapy body care recipes is a personal favorite of mine. These oils are not just enchanting with their warm aromas but possess warming properties that can stimulate healthy circulation, adding another layer of indulgence to their use.

But worry not, as the festive period brings a host of other popular essential oils known for their remarkable skin-nourishing properties. They make perfect partners to these spicier oils, ensuring your holiday body care regimen is both fragrant and nourishing!

While the allure of warm, spicy essential oils can be pretty captivating in body care routines, it's crucial to balance them with skin-nurturing carriers and other essential oils. This is because these exotic, spicier oils can sometimes lead to skin irritation if used undiluted or incorporated in everyday products over an extended period.

The good news is the holiday season isn't only about the spicy fragrances. It also brings us a variety of popular essential oils renowned for their incredibly nourishing properties for the skin. These oils serve as an excellent complement to the spicier ones, creating blends that invigorate your senses with their appealing scents and take excellent care of your skin. It's the perfect marriage of sensory delight and skin nourishment! Here's a luxurious recipe for holiday bath salts that does just that:

Holiday Bath Salts Recipe

• 4 oz (112 gm) Himalayan pink salt

• 2 Tbsp (30 ml) Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)

• 8 drops Frankincense essential oil (Boswellia carterii)

• 8 drops Myrrh essential oil (Commiphora myrrha)

• 4 drops Cardamom essential oil (Ellettaria cardamomum)

Create these bath salts in any 4 oz (120 ml) container or a gift jar. Add salt to your jar, mix essential oils into the jojoba, and gently incorporate this mixture into the salt using a glass stir rod or stainless steel spoon handle for even distribution.

Note: Carrier oils can make the bathtub slippery. Another option is to use Castile soap to disperse the essential oils in the bath water. If you prefer Castile soap, add the essential oils to 1 Tbsp (30 ml) of Castile soap. Castile soap can sometimes cause the salt to harden, so we recommend adding the salt directly to the bath water.

Use about 1 oz (28 gm) in your bath. (You'll get four baths out of this recipe.)

Since you only use 1 oz of this blend per bath, your blend will have just one drop of Cardamon (balanced by 2 drops each of the skin-nourishing Frankincense and Myrrh essential oils).

I like to use Frankincense and Myrrh in holiday bath salts for several reasons.

• They are amazing aromas that are often associated with the season. Many people get contemplative at this time of year, reflecting on the past 12 months and planning for the next 12. Some also take part in rituals or celebrations. Frankincense and Myrrh are excellent resin oils for meditation and practice.
  

• They're also incredibly skin-friendly. They encourage cells to regenerate, reduce inflammation, nourish mature skin, and even help scars soften and heal. These protective, resinous oils are the perfect balance for warming, spicy cardamom.
  

• These three oils are great for respiratory support. Another reason this is an excellent recipe for the holidays when you might be around many people