Taking a long, hot soak in a bathtub provides a common way for many people to relax and relieve stress, cleansing their bodies while reinvigorating their minds. Used alone or coupled with candlelight and soft music, essential oils may enhance your bathing experience.
Lavender
The gentle, soothing aroma of this essential oil makes it a common bath oil used for both adults and children, especially right before bedtime. The University of Maryland Medical Center acknowledges that research indicates the inhalation of lavender acts as a mild sedative. As an added bonus, lavender works well with all skin types. Disperse the oil by diluting it before adding it to your bath water. As a general rule of thumb, utilize only two to three drops of pure lavender essential oil for children or six to eight drops for adults in a teaspoon of a base oil, such as almond oil. Use it by itself or combine it with chamomile, an essential oil with similar properties.
Geranium
According to Victoria H. Edwards, author of "The Aromatherapy Companion," geranium possesses antioxidant, astringent and antiseptic properties that help to treat and soothe a variety of skin conditions and wounds. Use this essential oil alone in your bath or mix it with rose essential oil---no more than eight or nine drops total---for a particularly aromatic bathing experience, especially if you have extra dry or oily skin.
Sandalwood
According to Briggite Mars, herbalist and author of the book "Beauty by Nature," this essential oil helps to soothe itchy skin from various causes, including chicken pox, insect bites and poison ivy. Sandalwood generally works best on individuals with normal skin; dilute up to 10 drops of it in a carrier oil or add it directly to your bath water to speed up the rate that it absorbs into your itchy skin, if desired.
Ylang-Ylang
Ylang-ylang acts as both a sedative and a euphoric, according to Edwards, calming feelings of irritability while heightening senses. Use this exotic flower alone or in combination with lavender, adding seven to eight drops of the essential oil to a carrier oil before dispersing it into your bath water.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Lavender
- "The Aromatherapy Companion"; Victoria H. Edwards; 1999
- "Beauty by Nature"; Brigitte Mars; 2006
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