Putting a personal touch on your gift-giving is a sure-fire way to make your favorite people feel special. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced DIYer, we’ve got recipes for handmade bath and body gifts that feature fragrant essential oils and other ingredients you can find in our stores. We recommend spending a little time making several batches at once so that you’ll have plenty of gifts on hand.
Bedtime Bath Melts
A calming blend of lavender, chamomile and sweet orange essential oils infuse these luscious bath melts with the perfect aroma for a nighttime bath. Moisturizing virgin coconut oil and shea butter help to condition the skin while mineral-rich Dead Sea salt promotes relaxation and encourages blood circulation. Please note that these bath melts may soften or melt during hot weather, so store in a cool, dry place.
Makes about 20 (.6 ounce [18 g]) bath melts
Ingredients
4 ounces (113 g) cocoa butter
4 ounces (113 g) shea butter
1 teaspoon (5 ml) Roman chamomile essential oil in jojoba
¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) lavender essential oil
¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) sweet orange essential oil
½ cup (4g) Dead Sea salt
1 tablespoon (2 g) dried chamomile
Instructions
1. Melt cocoa and shea butters on the stovetop in a pan on low heat or in the microwave using a heat-safe container. Add essential oils and stir well.
2. Line a mini-muffin pan with 24 mini foil baking cups. Fill each cup with ½ teaspoon Dead Sea salt. Divide melted mixture among cups, filling each ¾ full and sprinkle chamomile over the tops.
3. Carefully transfer the mini-muffin pan to the refrigerator and chill bath melts at least 30 minutes. Store melts in glass jars or plastic bags.
4. To use, drop 1 or 2 unwrapped bath melts into warm bath water. The melt will slowly dissolve into the water, leaving a layer of aromatic oil at the top.
5. These bath melts will keep at least 3 months when stored in a cool, dark place in airtight packaging. They can be stored up to 1 year in the freezer or refrigerator.
Enjoy this recipe, but remember that essential oils can irritate sensitive skin, mucous membranes and eyes. Use wisely and keep out of reach of children. For external use only.
Eucalyptus Peppermint Shower Steamers
These tablets melt quickly in hot showers, releasing aromatic, invigorating steam scented with peppermint and eucalyptus. The refreshing vapors can help ease discomfort caused by minor colds or congestion.
Makes about 24 (.3 ounce [10 g]) pieces
Ingredients
16 ounces (454 g) baking soda
4 tablespoons (60 ml) witch hazel
Eucalyptus essential oil
Peppermint essential oil
Instructions
1. Combine baking soda and witch hazel in a mixing bowl and stir well. Make sure the liquid is distributed evenly throughout the powder by breaking up any clumps.
2. Spoon mixture into small silicone ice cube trays or candy molds, pressing firmly to form solid shapes.
3. Allow to dry and harden in the molds at least 24 hours. Once dry, gently remove and immediately package in glass jars or plastic bags.
4. To use, add 2 drops eucalyptus essential oil and 2 drops peppermint essential oil to each piece just before showering. Drop 1 onto the shower floor while hot water is running. The steamer will melt as you shower, releasing aromatic steam.
5. Steamers can be stored in airtight packaging up to 6 months.
Enjoy this recipe, but remember that essential oils can irritate sensitive skin, mucous membranes and eyes. Use wisely and keep out of reach of children. For external use only.
Vanilla Bean Lip Balms
The aroma of vanilla bean is infused into each lip balm, making a delicious treat for dry lips. Rich moisturizing butters and light apricot oil combine for a smooth and creamy texture that glides on easily.
Makes about 5 (.35-ounce [10 g]) lip balms
Ingredients
1 ounce (28 g) shea butter
2 tablespoons (30 ml) apricot kernel oil
½ vanilla bean
¼ ounce (7 g) beeswax
¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml) peppermint, ginger or sweet orange essential oil (optional)
Instructions
1. Melt shea butter, apricot kernel oil, vanilla bean and beeswax on low heat in a pan or in the microwave using a heat-safe container until fully melted.
2. Remove from heat, discard vanilla bean and allow to cool 2 minutes. Add essential oil, if using, and stir well.
3. Carefully pour melted lip balm into small lip balm jars or tins. The lip balm will shrink as it cools, so reserve a small amount of melted balm to top off the jars after allowing them to cool 30 to 60 seconds.
4. Allow lip balms to cool and harden about 30 minutes before handling. Lip balms should stay fresh up to six months when stored in a cool, dry place.
Enjoy this recipe, but remember that essential oils can irritate sensitive skin, mucous membranes and eyes. Use wisely and keep out of reach of children. For external use only.
Layered Milk Bath
Double or triple this easy-to-assemble gift idea for your spa pals or anybody who could use some extra moments of serenity in their lives. Rich and creamy powdered goat milk and mineral-rich Dead Sea salt make the perfect base for these deep cleansing milk baths.
Makes 1 (16-ounce) bath soak
Ingredients
1 cup (209 g) Dead Sea salt
1 cup (137 g) powdered goat’s milk
Essential oils and/or optional additions (see below)
Add Calming Scents and Lovely Layers
Essential Oil Options (choose one)
6 drops lavender essential oil
6 drops sweet orange essential oil
1 teaspoon (5 ml) rose essential oil in jojoba
1 teaspoon (5 ml) Roman chamomile essential oil in jojoba
Optional Additions
1 tablespoon (15 ml) unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons (5 g) dried chamomile
¼ cup (20 g) cocoa butter, grated
¼ cup (8 g) dried lavender buds
½ cup (30 ml) dried rose petals
Instructions
1. Combine Dead Sea salt with essential oil, if using, and mix well.
2. In a second bowl, combine powdered milk and any powdered ingredients (such as cocoa powder or dried chamomile), if using.
3. Place ½ cup powdered mixture into a pint-size glass jar, creating an even layer on the bottom. Next, add a ½-cup layer of Dead Sea salt followed by a layer of any optional additions you are using (grated cocoa butter, dried lavender buds or rose petals). Repeat layers of powdered mixture and salt until jar is full. Press ingredients down gently, if needed, then close jar tightly.
4. To use, pour the entire contents of the jar into hot bath water and stir gently to dissolve. Place a strainer over the tub’s drain before draining the water to collect any dried flowers.
5. This milk bath will remain fresh in a sealed jar for up to 3 months and should be stored in a cool, dry place.
Enjoy this recipe, but remember that essential oils can irritate sensitive skin, mucous membranes and eyes. Use wisely and keep out of reach of children. For external use only.
