A calming and relaxing bath with aromatherapy oils is a welcome break after a stressful day. Always use a bath gel that contains true aromatherapy oils so you get the full benefit of the calming and relaxing properties. Consult a qualified aromatherapist or health care professional before using aromatherapy oils in the bath.
Bath Gels
You can buy basic bath gel bases from most cosmetic suppliers. You can also make your own bath gel from raw ingredients such as shampoo, water and salt if you are experienced in making cosmetics. Mix pure aromatherapy oils to your bath gel base using a dilution of approximately 3 percent. Reduce the quantity of aromatherapy oils in the bath gel if you are pregnant, elderly or using it for a child. Both commercial and homemade aromatherapy bath gels are beneficial to the skin. The warm water in the bath heats up the aromatherapy oils in the bath gel and releases a fragrant aroma that you inhale.
Relaxing and Calming Fragrances
Relaxing and calming fragrances for bath gels include lavender, rose, chamomile, sandalwood and ylang ylang. Rose, lavender and chamomile are some of the traditional fragrances for bath gels because most people can use them. They are also not too heavy in their fragrance. You can use lavender oil if you are pregnant and with most other medical conditions.
Choosing Fragrances
According to Patricia Davis, in "Aromatherapy: An A-Z," lavender oil is calming, relaxing and balancing. There are various types of chamomile oil but Roman chamomile is the most suitable for the bath because it is gentle. According to Julia Lawless, in "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils," Roman chamomile may cause dermatitis in some people, so use it in moderation if you have sensitive skin. Rose oil is one of the most expensive aromatherapy oils to use in the bath. Consequently, it is often adulterated with other aromatherapy oils, so make sure that you buy pure rose oil.
Cautions
You can use aromatherapy bath gels in most situations. Use them with caution if you are pregnant or have a medical condition such as high blood pressure or epilepsy, as this may change your reaction to the aromatherapy oils in the bath gel. Consult a qualified health care professional if you are also taking prescribed medication. Be aware of any contraindications associated with a particular aromatherapy oil in a bath gel before using it.
References
- "Aromatherapy: An A-Z"; Patricia Davis; 1999
- "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils"; Julia Lawless; 1995
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