Have you noticed when adding essential oils to your diffuser that the essential oils sit on the surface of the water? This is because essential oils to do dilute or combine with water. This is okay when diffusing as it is not coming into contact with the skin however it can be unsafe when using in a bath. We can enhance our bath simply by adding a beautiful aroma to help calm relax us however we need to ensure we are diluting essential oils before adding them into the bath and not using them neat.
What can I use to dilute essential oils for a bath?
To prevent potential irritation or burning from neat essential oil in the bath you can blend them with a dispersant or emulsifier before adding it in. Thankfully, most household kitchens have dispersants. You will need a fatty medium such as:
- Full fat milk
- Coconut milk/cream
- Fractionated coconut oil
- Jojoba oil
- Sweet almond oil
- Honey
Other types of plant-based milk are unsuitable as the fat content is too low in the product.
How to create an Aromatic Bath
- Add 2-5 drops of essential oil to approximately 1 tablespoon of dispersant.
- Add the blend to warm bath water and relax for up to 20minutes.
Best essential oils for the bath
Our favourite essential oils to add into the bath include:
- Lavender - relaxing, great for the skin
- Chamomile 3% - calming, great for the skin
- Rose 3% - sedative, antidepressant
- Clary Sage - help period pain & menopausal symptoms
- Eucalyptus - clearing, skin healing
- Frankincense - soothing, grounding, healing
Essential oils to avoid in the bath
Key essential oils to avoid include; Lemongrass, Lemon Myrtle, Cinnamon, Clove, Wintergreen, Oregano or Thyme. It is best to avoid any essential oil you may have reacted to in the past or contra-indicated essential oils for your age or particular health concerns, including pregnancy.
What do I do if my skin is reacting to essential oils?
A skin reaction can feel like intense burning, tingling, itching and the area may become red and inflamed. Dilute the essential oil that is on your skin by pouring a small amount of plain vegetable oil to the affected area and wipe off with a paper towel or clean cloth. You may need to repeat this step a few times. Avoid washing off water water as this can worsen the reaction. Apply an ice pack to the area for 5 to 10 minutes to reduce inflammation.
