Have you ever ridden a roller coaster? If so you are familiar with the sensation of pulling out of the loading dock, giddy with excitement and nerves of what you know will soon be a thrill ride bordering on terror. Usually the first part is a slow pulling of the cars upward, often exposing a lovely view and chance to nervously chatter with your seat mate. The car eases to the crest of the first hill in a deceptively gentle feeling of being elevated; quickly converting into a stomach-dropping plunge downward into full chaos as the herky-jerky track twists and turns (sometimes even upside down) before it slams to a stop at the loading platform leaving riders dazed, excited, confused and coursing with adrenaline.
That, my friends, is not all that dissimilar to the ride between now and the end of the year! Thanksgiving preparations will take the bulk of next week and will abruptly turn into excitement and panic of Christmas or Hanukkah coming mere weeks following. Cards to be mailed. Gifts to be bought or made; and possibly shipped. It can feel crazy. But doesn’t have to!
I know readers have been scouring Boulder Locavore for over a month now with eyes on blog posts fit for gifts ideas. DIY/Homemade beauty products, infusions and liqueurs perfect for giving and homemade spice blends have been top viewed posts. I definitely have more to share this gift giving season and am getting an early start with some fun swirled homemade Bath Salts.
I have been using Epsom salts in my baths for years. It can be found in pharmacies in large bags intended for many uses included soaking out muscle aches and pains. They are affordable and may be easily infused with essential oils to add an aromatherapy effect to your soaking. Essential oils are pure plant oils extracted through a number of ways to preserve the truest plant essence with no artificial additives. Each scent has an effect such as being energizing or relaxing, as well as a medicinal effect when used in a more concentrated form. This descriptive essential oils chart highlights the qualities of most well-known, available essential oils.
These Bath Salt recipes also contain Sea Salt which balances moisture in the skin, can help improve skin tone as well as relieve some pain from arthritis. Soaking in a bath is relaxing and with the addition of the salts can help with insomnia and stress too. Combining the salts with some energizing scents of Peppermint or Lime make for a cute gift but are also perfect to stay relaxed through the holiday season!
Any containers may be used for the swirled bath salts. I picked up the bottles in the photos at a craft store where many options are available. I’m partial to traditional Mason Jars too. To make your gift-giving complete I’m sharing some free printable labels (link in bath salts instructions) for your personal use which are 2 ½ inches in diameter, perfect for a tag or to fit the top of a regular mouth Mason jar lid!
Candy Cane and Lime Swirl Bath Salts
Ingredients
Ingredients and Supplies:
- 2 cups Epsom Salts
- 2 cups Sea Salt
- {Candy Cane} Red Food Coloring (regular food coloring may be used or if preferring natural vegetable dyes I suggest India Tree Dyes available at Whole Foods or similar stores) for Candy Cane
- {Lime Swirl} Yellow and Green Food Coloring for Lime Swirl (see note about coloring above)
- {Candy Cane} All Natural Peppermint Essential Oil*
- {Lime Swirl} All Natural Lime Essential Oil*
- Two mixing bowls (for each recipe type)
- Whisk
- Two plastic zipper bags to store salts if not combining into bottles immediately
- Jars or containers
- Measuring cups or spoons
- White cardstock for printing labels
- Candy Cane Bath Salts Labels
- Lime Swirl Bath Salts labels
- Twine or ribbon to attach labels as applicable
Instructions
Instructions for Bath Salts:
- Combine the Epsom salt and sea salt into one mixing bowl. Whisk or stir to fully combine them.
- Scoop 2 cups of the salts into the second mixing bowl. Add 5-10 drops of peppermint essential oil OR lime essential oil (depending on which recipe is being made) to the salts and whisk to combine.
- Next add 5-10 drops of red coloring to the mixture for Candy Cane Bath Salts, OR 3 drops green coloring and 9 drops yellow coloring for Lime Swirl,and whisk vigorously to fully combine. Additional coloring may be added if desired. Note: for the Lime Swirl bath salts, color should be 1 drop green to 3 drops yellow to maintain a lime green color.
- To Layer Salts in a Jar horizontally: Measure white salt into the jar using a measuring spoon or small measuring cup. Pay attention to the amount used to make the first layer the thickness you prefer. Carefully add the same amount of the either red (for Candy Cane) or green (for Lime Swirl) on top of the first layer, smoothing it on the top with a dining spoon if your jar allows access to do so. Repeat layering until the jar is full.
- To Layer Salts in Jar on the diagonal: Either with the help of a friend or in some way supporting your jar (I filled an extra small mixing bowl with salt and seated the jar on an angle into it) measure out the first layer of either white or red salt. Smooth the top if needed with the back of a dining spoon. Gently spoon the next layer on top of the first, smoothing it if needed to achieve a uniform thickness. Repeat, smoothing out each layer as needed, until the jar is full.
- Free form Layering: Life isn’t perfect and layered bath salts don’t have to be either! I love a free, organic look and think making the layers different thicknesses and slightly imperfect is a cool look too!
- Affix a label with decorative twine or ribbon, or if using a Mason jar on the top underneath the lid ring.
Mandy Gillis says
I can’t seem to find a link for the labels in the instructions. what am missing?
Toni Dash says
Well you actually weren’t missing anything Mandy! It seems the links had dropped out of the instructions. The format was updated earlier this year and the links unlinked it seems but have been relinked. You can access the labels from the link in the instructions. So sorry for the inconvenience and thanks for letting us know!
Pamela Morse says
My mother an I made these in the 1950’s but never tried the swirl..we just mixed some of the colored in with white…very cool!!!
Toni Dash says
Really Pam?! I love that. Epsom salts have been around for a long time but more used for medicinal purposes I think (you would know too I’m sure). The fact she was making this blend in the 1950’s goes to show some remedies get passed along even if people don’t realize it!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective says
Very fun Toni!!!
Toni Dash says
Thanks Sommer! It’s so fun to make them during the holidays.
Shanna @ pineapple and coconut says
So festive!
Toni Dash says
Thanks Shanna! They are fun to make too.
Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! On a Diet says
You could have the kids help you make these for teacher gift. Such a cute idea, Toni!
Toni Dash says
Absolutely you could! We’ve made the Candy Bath Salts for teachers in the past and they loved them.
marla says
Toni! These bath salts are just gorgeous & such a brilliant idea for holiday gifts. Pinned! Have a great weekend š
Toni Dash says
Thank you Marla! They were really fun to make. Enjoy your weekend too!