How to make your own bathtime bliss balls
Relax and enjoy a blissful soak in the tub with these DIY bath treats. Beautifully simple, plus most of the ingredients can be found in the pantry.
FIZZY BATH BOMBS
Makes three balls
Ingredients:
1 cup bicarbonate of soda
½ cup cornflour
½ cup citric acid
½ cup Epsom salts
2 tsp water
1 tsp essential oil of choice (lavender is very calming)
2 tsp coconut oil
4 drops food colouring
Method:
1. In a bowl, combine the bicarbonate of soda, cornflour, citric acid and Epsom salts.
2. Melt the coconut oil in a pot over a low heat and in a separate bowl mix it with the water, essential oil and food colouring.
3. Very slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry ones, stirring constantly. Add one extra teaspoon of water at a time if needed in order for the mix to start clumping together. Be careful not to add too much water otherwise the mix will start fizzing.
4. Squeeze the mix into moulds (yoghurt pots or any spherical shapes) and let it sit for 30 minutes. Gently unmould the bombs and let them dry overnight before throwing them in a warm bath.
TIP: The ingredients in these recipes are safe for children’s delicate skin (although lavender essential oil is unsuitable for babies under one) and great for hydrating, so the whole family can enjoy some extra pampering at bath time.
CALMING BATH SALTS
Makes one jar
Ingredients:
2 Tbsp coconut oil
2 Tbsp olive oil
2 cups Epsom salts
8 drops lavender essential oil
Method:
1. Melt the coconut oil in a pot over low heat.
2. In a bowl mix together the melted coconut oil, olive oil, lavender essential oil and Epsom salts. Stir well then spread thinly onto a baking tray and let it dry overnight.
CLEOPATRA'S MELTS
Makes about 20
Ingredients:
⅓ cup shea butter (available from health or organic shops or gonative.co.nz)
⅓ cup coconut oil
¼ cup honey
2½ cups milk powder
Method:
1. Melt the coconut oil and shea butter in a pot over a low heat. In a bowl mix the melted oil and shea butter with the honey and add the milk powder.
2. Squeeze the mix into an ice cube tray and let harden in the fridge for a couple of hours.
3. Unmould and keep refrigerated in a container till ready to use in a warm bath.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND STYLING: AUDREY FITZJOHN, audreyfitzjohn.com
