by: Abigail Beal

Indulge yourself and make your own bubble bath. Wouldn’t it be nice to relax into a bubble bath that you’d created? Making bubble bath is simple & fun. They can also make wonderful gifts for friends and loved ones for the holidays or other special occasions.

The ingredients used to make bubble bath can be found in most large grocery stores or health food stores. You can also find all of the ingredients online. They are inexpensive.

One of the benefits of making your own bubble bath is that you know exactly what is in it. If you are allergic to anything, you can be certain it is not in your bubble bath.

Another benefit to making your own bubble bath is that you know all of the ingredients are fresh and natural. There is no concern about a product that was left on the shelf for months. Another benefit is that you can be certain that your product is environmentally conscious and that it does not promote animal testing.

Bubble bath is a wonderful inexpensive way to treat yourself. Supplies are easy to find and you can create a bubble bath suited exactly to your personal tastes and needs.

An important ingredient in bubble bath is essential oil. Essential oils add the scent to your bubble bath. Use these sparingly, as you only need to use several drops to get a pleasant effect. Many essential oils should not be ingested orally, so be sure to read the directions. There are also some essential oils such as marjoram that should never be used by pregnant women. You can research any essential oil at the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy www.naha.org. Also look in aromatherapy books and ask questions at the health food store when buying essential oils.

Some essential oils are known to be relaxing and soothing. The most popular include lavender, sandalwood, marjoram, frankincense, myrrh, rosewood and chamomile. These essential oils will calm you down, relax you and help you go to sleep.

Other essential oils will uplift and energize you. Peppermint, spearmint, eucalyptus and lemon oil are all oils that will brighten your day and are good to use during the day. Eucalyptus oil is especially good if you have a cold because it will break up your cold’s congestion.

To soften your skin, consider adding either coconut or almond oil to your bubble bath concoctions. Coconut oil has a wonderful nutty and floral fragrance to it. Almond oil is virtually unscented. Adding a half a cup of either almond oil or coconut oil to your bubble bath will soften your skin tremendously. This is a great addition for your bubble baths for the winter months.

Store your bubble baths in a nonbreakable container. The materials you use to make bubble baths can “keep” for awhile. You can store your bubble bath on a shelf in your bathroom or bedroom for easy access.

Personalized bubble baths make an excellent gift. You can find many decorative plastic containers at your local art store. For decorative effect you can add either marbles or seashells to the bottom of the container. If you are giving bubble bath to a child or teenager, consider adding a small amount of glitter. Do not add food coloring because it can stain people temporarily. Tie your container with a pretty bow or even a piece of tulle.

When giving bubble bath as a gift, consider adding some other bath related items. Give bath mitts or a big yellow rubber duck. Your friend or loved one will appreciate such a thoughtful and personalized gift.

Whether you are making your bubble bath for yourself or for someone special – your bubble bath is really a treat to enjoy. Here are some recipes for bubble baths to inspire you and to get your started:

Sweet Dreams Bubble Bath

This bubble bath has lavender and patchouli oils to relax you before bedtime. Use soft music and lighted candles in your bathroom for a soothing effect.

• 6 drops of lavender oil
• 3 drops of patchouli oil
• 1 quart of distilled water
• 1 bar of castille soap. (4 oz. Bar)
• 4 ounces liquid glycerin

Directions: mix the water, soap and glycerin together and stir. Now add your essential oils to the mixture.

Cold Season Bubble Bath

This bubble bath will help you breathe easier, with eucalyptus oil to ease the cold congestion. This is perfect for the cold season.

• 6 drops of eucalyptus oil
• 3 drops of spearmint oil
• 3 drops of peppermint oil
• 1 quart of distilled water
• 1 bar of castille soap. (4 oz. Bar)
• 4 ounces liquid glycerin

Directions: mix the water, soap and glycerin together and stir. Now add your essential oils to the mixture.

Pure Sunshine Bubble Bath

This citrusy bubble bath will cheer you up and energize you. Perfect for a morning bath or use after exercising.

• 6 drops of orange oil
• 4 drops of grapefruit oil
• 3 drops of lemon oil
• 1 quart of distilled water
• 1 bar of castille soap. (4 oz. Bar)
• 4 ounces liquid glycerin

Directions: mix the water, soap and glycerin together and stir. Now add your essential oils to the mixture.

Love Potion Bubble Bath

This bubble bath will put you in a romantic mood. All of the ingredients are considered known aphrodisiac – so look out!

• 6 drops jasmine oil
• 3 drops rose oil
• 3 drops vanilla oil
• 6 drops ylang ylang oil
• 1 quart of distilled water
• 1 bar of castille soap. (4 oz. Bar)
• 4 ounces liquid glycerin

Directions: mix the water, soap and glycerin together and stir. Now add your essential oils to the mixture.

About The Author

Abigail Beal a.k.a. “the Gift-wrap Goddess” teaches gift wrap in suburban New York. She is the author of 2 ezines: GiftWrapGoddessWraps and CreativeCraftsTeachers.

Always consult your physician if you have high blood pressure, are pregnant

or have other medical concerns before using essential oils or herbs.

ROSE LINEN WATER

Add 1 cup fresh rose petals or 1/2 cup dried rose petals to 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Simmer 1 minute, then remove from heat, cover, and let steep for 12 hours. Strain into spray bottles. You may substitute other fragrant flowers, such as lavender, for the rose petals.

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Always consult your physician if you have high blood pressure, are pregnant

or have other medical concerns before using essential oils or herbs.

CREAM OR SOLID PERFUME

2 tablespoons beeswax pellets or grated beeswax
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon sweet almond oil
1/4 teaspoon stearic acid
1/4 teaspoon emulsifying wax
2 tablespoons distilled water
1 to 2 teaspoons EO or FO

I used a 1-cup Pyrex measuring cup, put beeswax in, and set in a simmering pan of water. When beeswax is melted, add water, almond oil, stearic acid, and emulsifying wax and melt. Stir until completely blended. Add EO’s or FO’s, stir till blended, and pour into small jars. If using the small lip balm pots, you can get 6 per recipe. Makes 1/3 cup of perfume. Do not try to use microwave with this recipe.

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• 2 cups coarse sea salt
• 1/2 cup ground apricot kernel oil

Make a paste out of the sea salt and apricot kernel oil. Using your hands, a loofah or a washcloth, gently rub mixture into skin, then rinse.

Always consult your physician if you have high blood pressure, are pregnant

or have other medical concerns before using essential oils or herbs.

ECZEMA/HEAT RASH OIL

1/2 oz. Wheatgerm Oil
1/2 oz. Calendula-Infused Oil
1 oz. Sweet Almond Oil
6 drops Clary Sage EO
6 drops Chamomile EO
15 drops Lavender EO
8 drops Sandalwood EO

CALENDULA OINTMENT

In a stainless steel or other non-reactive double boiler (or crockpot) pour:

250 ml of pure cold-pressed olive oil
Calendula Flowers - Enough to cover completely the olive oil if they are fresh flowers and enough to immerse them in the oil if they are dried. They should be lightly covered with olive oil.

Warm the oil with the flowers and keep at around 100F for at least 3 hours. Strain the calendula flowers from the oil in a cheesecloth, being sure to wring out all the oil that should by now have acquired a yellow gleam.
Put the oil back in the pan and incorporate 100 grams of pure Beeswax, until the wax melts. Add 10 drops of Lavender EO.
You can adjust the amount of beeswax if you want a more solid or lotion-like ointment.

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• Basics for Making Herbal Tinctures, Salves and Oils
• How to Make Herbal Oils & Ointments
• How-To: Ointments & Salves
• Kalyx: About Our Herbs - How to make an infusion, decoction, water-based extract, alcohol-based extract (tincture), and salve.
• Making Ointments
• Making Ointments at Home
• Ointments/Salves
• Ointments & Salves
• Plantain Ointment
• Reconstituting Ointment
• Skin balms, salves and ointments

Always consult your physician if you have high blood pressure, are pregnant

or have other medical concerns before using essential oils or herbs.

MAKE YOUR OWN COLLOIDAL OATMEAL BATH

1 cup oatmeal (quick or slow-cooking)

Blend or process the oatmeal in your blender or food processor until you have a very fine powder (pulverized). This helps the oatmeal absorb liquid.

To test the colloid property of your oatmeal, gently stir 1 tablespoon into a glass of warm water. If the oatmeal readily absorbs the water and give it a milky look and a silky feel, you’ve processed it enough. If the oatmeal simply sinks to the bottom of the glass, it needs to be processed further.

Sprinkle the oats into a tub of running water and stir the water with your hand several times to ensure even distribution. For babies, use 1/3 cup.

OATMEAL MILK BATH

3 cups dried milk
1 cup cornstarch
1 cup ground oatmeal
EO or FO

Use 1/2 cup in your tub or tie in muslin.

OATMEAL SOAK

In blender, mix: 3/4 cup oats
1/2 cup Lavender Buds
1/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup powdered milk
1/4 cup Sea Salt
EO or FO

Always consult your physician if you have high blood pressure, are pregnant

or have other medical concerns before using essential oils or herbs.

MOISTURIZING BUBBLE BATH

1/2 cup soap flakes

1 cup boiling water

3 tablespoons Sweet Almond Oil

A few drops of EO (optional)

Dissolve the soap flakes in the boiling water, stirring gently. Immediately add almond oil, then essential oil (optional). Stir constantly while you add 4-5 tablespoons to running bath water. The rest can be used later, but you will need to stir prior to using again.

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*BIG BUBBLE* BUBBLE BATH

1 cup soap flakes

1 cup water

2-3 tablespoons Vegetable Glycerine

A few drops EO, if desired

Mix all ingredients together and store in container or glass bottle. Add 1-2 tablespoons under rapidly running water to create large bubbles. This mixture can also be used as a shower gel. Shake before using.