Learn how to Safely Use Important Oils in a Bathtub for a Stress-free Soak

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Self-care still has a moment – and adding essential oils to your Sunday night bath has become the adult version of a bubble bath. The reason for this is not difficult to understand: the scents, from lavender to eucalyptus, can have a calming effect and ultimately make you feel like you are in the spa.

But you shouldn’t just stir in a few drops of your favorite oil and jump right in. Just as careful consideration should be given to choosing your daily fragrance, the same amount of time should be devoted to adding potent oils to your bathroom. This will ensure that you are getting the most of all of its benefits (and avoiding skin irritation).

Ahead, Ginger Ravencroft, aromatherapy expert and owner of Ravenscroft Escentials, shares her top tips for using essential oils while soaking in the tub, from choosing the right scent to getting the perfect mix in the bathtub.

Mix, then drip.

Never just shake a few drops of oil straight from the bottle into the tub. The oil and water don’t mix (think how hard it is to clean a greasy pan!) So the droplets of oil can peel off and draw onto your skin, leaving you prone to irritation and even a burning sensation.

Instead, mix your essential oil with a carrier oil first. Carrier oils are gentler on the skin, and some of the most popular are coconut, olive, sunflower oils, and Ravencroft’s go-to jojoba. “Jojoba oil is a wonderful carrier oil for use with essential oils, whether we apply it directly to the body or drip it into the tub. It’s very similar to the natural sebum in our skin, so it penetrates the skin quickly and doesn’t leave a greasy film, ”says Ravencroft.

Use this formula: mix up to 25 drops of essential oil per 15 ml of carrier oil, depending on the strength of the scent, says Ravencroft. Or you can find oil blends that have already been combined with carriers and often created specifically for a specific benefit. (Ravencroft points out their own Good Nite relaxation mix.) Before you get in, give the bath water a nice vortex to let the oil circulate and stimulate the aroma.

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Add the oils while running your water.

“This helps distribute the oils and causes them to release their fragrance so that the whole bathroom smells nice,” says Ravencroft. You can also add a few drops of your mixed oil (essential oil + carrier) to Epsom salt or Himalayan sea salt, then pour into a filled tub and stir. “This makes for a very balanced bath that is ready to use,” says Ravenscroft.

Try applying the oil mixture to your skin.

If you’re not wasting oil or want a more immersive aromatherapy experience, try bare bath water and apply the oils directly to yourself. “This not only allows you to breathe in the fragrances more deeply, but it also helps you preserve some of these precious oils as they penetrate your skin and don’t linger,” says Ravencroft. “It can be a really delicious experience.”

The day before your self-care session, test a patch of your favorite oil blend on your skin (say, a dime-sized stain on the inside of your arm) to see if a reaction develops first. If you don’t notice any signs of irritation, you can dab a few drops behind your ears, on your chest, or under your nose while bathing. You can also apply a few drops to your favorite washcloth or wash mitt and rub them gently all over your body.

Clean the tub when you’re done.

Your tub can become a pretty slippery surface if the bath water drains and the oils stick around. One way to reduce smoothness is to avoid using carrier oils that really stick, like almond or grapeseed oil, says Ravencroft. A simple scrub with sea salt or baking soda followed by a thorough rinse is a simple degreasing trick.

Be careful with certain oils.

Most essential oils are perfectly fine, but one category to look out for is citrus fragrance. “Citrus oils make the skin very sensitive to light, so you should stay out of the sun for 72 hours after using them,” says Ravencroft. Exposing yourself to the sun after topical application of citrus oils – even sunscreen – can increase your risk of severe burns and even dark spots.

How to choose the perfect essential oil for your bathroom

No matter what mood you are aiming for – stress relieving, mood lifting, muscle soothing – there is an essential oil to aid you.

Stress relieving

These oils will help you relax and reset:

    Mood-lifting

    These mind-altering fragrances will lift your spirits:

      Muscle calming

      Target tired, sore muscles with these soothing scents:

        Sinus cleansing

        These refreshing scents will help you breathe a little easier:


          Editor-in-chief
          Alyssa is Senior Editor of the Hearst Lifestyle Group’s Health Newsroom and supports prevention, good housekeeping and Woman’s Day.

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