I thought I’d do a short weekly series on easy, natural handmade gifts. So each Thursday as we near Christmas check back for some new ideas. Good for our health. Good for the Earth. Today’s post is on bath products and is taking part in The Nourishing Gourmet’s Handmade Gift Carnival.
I have spent many Christmases, usually as a single, working, childless university student, making instead of buying gifts. And while I still love handmade gifts over store bought ones, I’ve recently taken to buying other people’s handmade gifts and giving them instead. My reasons: I got tired of making the same things every other year, I assume the recipients did too, and the quality is higher when you buy from a professional.
However, if you’d like to see what I’ve made in the past and duplicate these easy and (somewhat) inexpensive gifts, these can get you started. The following gifts are most frugal for people who already keep some essential oils on hand because essential oils can be very expensive! Or, of course, you can opt out of using them and go scent-free. If you do this from scratch and plan on using essential oils, ask an aromatherapist for some good oil combinations or read the bottom of this post for some ideas. Many if not all of these ingredients can be found in specialty health food stores and/or vitamin shops. Expiry dates depend on the shelf life of the oils you are using so check the label and make sure to include this information on a label of your own for the recipient.
Bath Oil
1/2 cup almond oil
1/2 cup castor oil
Oil from 6-8 vitamin E capsules
1 cup sunflower OR safflower oil
20-30 drops essential oil
dried herbs or flowers (optional)
Blend all oils together. Place in a glass container with a tight fitting lid and shake or stir every day for a week. Before bottling, add dried herbs or flowers.
Makes 2 cups.
Massage Oil
1 cup sweet almond oil
Oil from 6-8 vitamin E capsules
20 drops essential oil of your choice
Combine all ingredients, place in a jar, stir or shake every day for a week.
Bath Salts
1 cup epsom salts
1 cup sea salt (coarse, if possible)
10-20 drops essential oil
5-10 drops food colouring (optional)
Place salts in a bowl and mix well. Remove 1/2 cup and add drops of essential oils and food colouring (if using) to the small batch of salts and mix well. Add blended mixture to the large bowl a little at a time until you are satisfied with the colour. Pour salts into a jar with a tight fitting lid and shake every day for one week before re-packaging or giving as gift.
Makes 2 cups.
To use: Ad 1/4 cup salts to warm running bath water.
Essential oil combination ideas:
a. 10 drops peppermint oil, 5 drops eucalyptus oil
b. 10 drops camomile, 5 drops ylang-ylang, 3 drops clary sage
c. 10 drops rose, 3 drops lavender, 2 drops clove
d. 10 drops bergamot, 5 drops jasmin, 5 drops rose
e. 10 drops lavender, 10 drops peppermint
Now if only I could learn how to make soap!
What bath products have you made? Which ones would you like to learn how to make?
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Oh, nice! I love almond oil. I never would have thought of using castor oil for anything except, well, as a digestive therapy shall we say…
CaroLyn´s last blog ..What I Love About Pumping
These are great gift ideas and it’s always nice to give and receive something homemade. I’ll have to give these a try. Last weekend my husband was wondering how he could make shampoo and I think he was looking at a few recipes online…
Mummy Zen´s last blog ..Unexpected Creative Cooking
oh, this is great! We’ve got lots of “little people” handmade crafting done, but this is just the kind of thing I’d love to complete for some extended family members..thanks:)
I love the idea for this series. I still have grand plans to do a lot of sewing, but I can pretty much guarantee you that in another week I’ll be using all your ideas. Easy is probably more my speed, if I’m being honest.
Amber´s last blog ..Stories We Tell Ourselves
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