With cold weather and stress from the holidays, a hot bath is perfect this time of year. Bath salts can turn a simple soak in the tub into a rejuvenating and relaxing experience. Simply add a scoop to your tub and enjoy!
These Minty Layered Bath Salts add a fresh mint scent to the bath, along with soothing properties from pink sea salt. The combination of baking soda and citric acid add a bit of fizziness similar to a bath bomb.
In addition to pink sea salt, this soak is made of epsom salt which is known for its soothing and moisturizing properties. Extremely fine and jewel-like, epsom salt crystals are great for creating scrubs as well!
What You’ll Need:
2 cups Extra Small Pink Sea Salt
1 cup Epsom Salt
1/3 cup Baking Soda
1/3 cup Citric Acid
2 mL Moroccan Mint Fragrance Oil
Tall 8 oz. Plastic Bail Jar
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TWO: In a separate bowl, add 1 cup epsom salt, 1/3 cup citric acid and 1/3 cup baking soda. Stir to combine, and use your hands to break up any clumps.
THREE: Add 1 mL Moroccan Mint Fragrance Oil and stir to thoroughly incorporate.
FOUR: Place a small amount of the white mixture into the glass bail jar. Using a squeeze bottle, press the mixture down to create a flat surface. If you don’t have a squeeze bottle, you can also use a small can or your fingers.
FIVE: Place an equal amount of the pink sea salt on top of the epsom salt mixture, and use the squeeze bottle to flatten.
SIX: Repeat this process, alternating between the pink and white salts until the jar is completely full. Once you are ready to use, scoop out several tablespoons of bath salts into hot bath water and enjoy!
Please Note: We’ve read of incidents of recipes containing salt and baking soda exploding and shattering the glass containers they were packed in. We aren’t sure of the cause and have only been able to find anecdotal evidence. However, we thought we should pass along a warning. To play it safe, it may be best to pack this recipe in a plastic bag.
What is your favorite kind of bath additive? Bath salts are a favorite of mine, but of course bubble bath is fun too! =)
- 2 cups Extra Small Pink Sea Salt
- 1 cup Epsom Salt
- ⅓ cup Baking Soda
- ⅓ cup Citric Acid
- 2 mL Moroccan Mint Fragrance Oil
- Tall 8 oz. Plastic Bail Jar
- In a large bowl, add 2 cups of extra small pink sea salt. Add 1 mL Moroccan Mint Fragrance Oil and stir to thoroughly incorporate.
- In a separate bowl, add 1 cup epsom salt, ⅓ cup citric acid and ⅓ cup baking soda. Stir to combine, and use your hands to break up any clumps.
- Add 1 mL Moroccan Mint Fragrance Oil and stir to thoroughly incorporate.
- Place a small amount of the white mixture into the glass bail jar. Using a squeeze bottle, press the mixture down to create a flat surface. If you don’t have a squeeze bottle, you can also use a small can or your fingers.
- Place an equal amount of the pink sea salt on top of the epsom salt mixture, and use the squeeze bottle to flatten.
- Repeat this process, alternating between the pink and white salts until the jar is completely full. Once you are ready to use, scoop out several tablespoons of bath salts into hot bath water and enjoy!
This blend sounds wonderful! Regarding explosions, if you search the web with “citric acid reacts with sodium bicarbonate” you’ll see why enclosed containers explode. Remember those elementary school science projects to make a volcano erupt? They use baking soda and citric acid or vinegar. Also, any salt bath with essential oils should be stored in glass or a PET plastic bottle (without the baking soda), so the EOs don’t dissolve the plastic. A baggy is not suitable for storing EO bath salts.
Thanks so much for your suggestion Marlene! We haven’t had any problems with this mix in a plastic bag or glass jar, but you can use a plastic jar just to be extra careful. We have plastic bail jars that would work well. 🙂
Tall 8 oz. Plastic Bail Jar: https://www.brambleberry.com/Tall-8-oz-Plastic-Bail-Jar-P5118.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Do you have a recipe for foaming bath salts? Thank you.
Hi Linda!
Are you wanting a bath salt recipe made with Foaming Bath Butter? Or are you wanting bath salts that fizz or bubble in the tub? Let me know and I can link you to some fun recipes. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hello, I’m looking for a foaming bath salt recipe as well any suggestions?
We have a Cucumber Melon Sea Salt Scrub you may like! It’s made with Foaming Bath Whip and jojoba beads. 🙂
Cucumber Melon Sea Salt Scrub: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cucumber-sea-salt-scrub-diy/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Is there no need to let the salts dry before packaging them ?
Hi Amber!
You can package these salts right away! The fragrance oil absorbs fairly quickly into the salt. Also, it can take quite awhile for the oil to evaporate (sometimes years!), so the salts will be a little bit more wet than if there was no fragrance oil. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi there, just wondering are you able to tell me the total percentage of essential oils that is safe to use in bath salts (i.e makes up 3% of total recipe). I can’t find this info anywhere, only drops which makes it hard to scale recipes up or down. :). I realise the amount of each oil that is safe to use does vary. Thanks so much of your help with this one!
Hi Amanda!
Absolutely! The best way to find out exactly how much is safe to add is with our Fragrance Calculator. Just select “Salts” from the drop down menu. 🙂
Fragrance Calculator: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/use-fragrance-calculator/
Typically, you can use up to 3%, but it will vary based on the essential oil. The Fragrance Calculator is really handy for usage rates!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
In general, everywhere I’ve read a 2% dilution of EOs to liquid (oil) or solid (salts) is safe, though some oils require an even smaller dilution (like Lemongrass, which is only safe at a 0.7% dilution). Above the dilution percentage risks sensitization. For 2%, that’s 12 drops to 1oz oil, or for Lemongrass that’s 4 drops in 1 oz of oil. In salts, a 2% dilution equals 15-24 drops in 3 cups of salts. I’m not sure where 3% comes from, I’ve never seen that. Here are several sites that recommend 2% as the maximum usual safe amount:
http://www.aromaweb.com/articles/dilutingessentialoils.asp
http://www.usingeossafely.com/diluting-essential-oils-safely-safe-dilution-guidelines-for-all-ages/
Hi Marlene!
Thanks for your comment! Our usage rates are based on International Fragrance Association guidelines. Those guidelines determine what is the safe usage rate and how much you can use without causing irritation. We do offer those documents upon request! To request those, email MSDS (at) brambleberry (dot) com.
Each essential oil does have a different suggested usage rate, so we definitely recommend checking each one in our Fragrance Calculator. For instance, cinnamon essential oil has a much lower usage rate because it can cause irritation at higher levels.
Everyone’s skin is a bit different. Some people may be sensitive to stronger essential oils. If that’s the case, you can leave your products unscented, or use the “Light” recommendation on our Fragrance Calculator: http://www.brambleberry.com/Pages/Fragrance-Calculator.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi. I’m thinking of trying out this recipe to give as christmas gifts this year. I would like to put a “best before” date on the jars, can you tell me how long it will be ok to use after I make them?
Best regards from Iceland 🙂
These bath salts make amazing Christmas gifts! These salts should last about a year or more. Then, make sure to store them in a cool, dry place in an air tight container (like the jars we used). That way they are protected from any moisture in the air, which can cause clumping. 🙂
Read more about how to store your products here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I am so glad you added the warning note at the end of this recipe. I’ve had the exploding bath salts thing happen to me several years back. I used only epsom salt, baking soda, and essential oil. Luckily I’d packaged them in plastic tubes instead of glass jars like my original plan… so instead of shattered glass I had loud pops as the caps blew off. The tubes were in my office so there was no moisture, plus I live in the desert so humidity wasn’t a factor. My puppy was in the office with me as the pops happened and it sounded like gunfire (three out of the four tubes exploded). Scared us half to death! I wish I knew what caused it.
Anyway… the experience put me off making bath salts for a long time. Nowadays I only whip up a batch right before bath time. No more spontaneous baths lol, but better safe than sorry.
Oh no, I’m sorry about that! I’m glad you and your puppy were OK. The puppy probably needed lots of reassuring pets after that. Plastic is definitely the way to go, and making them right before the bath is a good idea to be on the extra extra safe side. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I made my first batch of bath salts last night:planning on giving as Christmas gifts so this was my experimental batch, using a recipe that used Epsom salt, sea salt and baking soda plus an essential oil. I packaged the bath salt in a Patron bottle(washed and dried weeks ago): pushed the cork down into the neck and added a organza ribbon: looked beautiful and I set it on a shelf in the dining room.
Just before dinner tonight we heard an exaggerated “pop” and discovered that the cork had popped out with enough force to land it on the floor and bath salts were scattered around a 4′ – 6′ area.
To avoid this from happening again, I’ve drilled a small “escape” hole down through the middle of the cork. We’ll see what happens overthenext few days but this should solve the problem by giving an escape route for the gas that builds up in “air tight” containers!
Oh no, I bet that was a little startling! Glad no one got hit by the cork. That’s a great idea to drill a hole to let the pressure escape. Let us know if that helps Dona! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
My niece saw this post and wants to make these for her birthday party with her friends. Is this recipe ok for kids baths? Also we’re thinking of putting them in the stand up plastic pouches, would this work too? Thank you so much!
Absolutely, this would be so much fun for a birthday party! All the ingredients are skin safe and can definitely be used in kids’ baths. Also, the pouches would work just fine. Just make sure everything is fully mixed in and there are no pools of essential oil. Undiluted essential oils (not mixed into the salts) can eat through plastic. Thoroughly mixed salts should be just fine. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Undiluted Aroma Oils + Plastic Don’t Mix: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/undiluted-fragrance-oils-molds/
Thank you so much Kelsey! She’s so keen to start making soap and lip balms like her Aunt, she is excited about having a ‘beauty’ themed party! She’s decided she wants fruity flavours so we’re going for fragrance oils, mainly fairy floss, orange creamsicle and pineapple. I might have to make a packet for myself 🙂
You’re welcome! That sounds like such an amazing party idea, especially because it doubles as a take-home gift! She’s definitely got the crafting bug, and you’re going to be a great teacher. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I’m wondering if this recipe would work in a glass bottle- not the layering part, of course. I’m afraid it might clump too much to come out of a smaller opening. Any thoughts? Thank you!
Hi Franci!
This recipe is fairly loose, so it should pour well! I would recommend mixing up a small amount and adding it to your bottle. If it doesn’t pour out very well, a bigger opening may be better for this recipe. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can you change the salt to, say Dendritic or Fine Grain Dead Sea Salt, and simply mix everything together? I can see that it is a very pretty effect with the Pink Sea Salt, but I have lots of the other two salts. I had thought of perhaps coloring some of the other salt as in the recipe for Baked Dendritic bath salts, but lots of my friends are sensitive to color additives.
I hope you all had a very nice Christmas!
Hi Gloria!
You can absolutely change the salt and mix everything together! It would look great. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Dendritic salt: https://www.brambleberry.com/Dendritic-Salt-P4879.aspx
Fine grained dead sea salt: https://www.brambleberry.com/Fine-Grained-Dead-Sea-Salt-P4085.aspx
Hi! I was wondering if this can be used in bubble baths without being damaging to the “bubble makers”, you know, the metal parts 🙂 my mother specifically wished for bath salts this Christmas, but they need to be gentle. Thanks for yet another great tutorial!
Hi Marte!
Absolutely, these bath salts are very gentle! I’ve used them in my bath at home and haven’t noticed any damage to the metal parts in my bath. Just make sure to wash any undissolved salt off thoroughly. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thanks so much for the quick reply! Now I know what I’m making for Christmas 😀
You’re welcome! The bath salts will make great gifts for your friends and family. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi. This is my first time looking around on Soap Queen. Do I need to use a glass bail jar, or can I use a mason jar?
Hi Amber!
Welcome to the blog! You can definitely use a mason jar. It would look great with this recipe. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can you make this using peppermint essential oil and would the amount be the same as the EO? I’m making it for a gift and my sister prefers EO.
Hi Carey!
You can use Peppermint Essential Oil in this recipe! It is a fairly strong essential oil and can cause a cooling effect if a lot is used. I would recommend starting out with 1 mL and go from there. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Peppermint Essential Oil, 1st Distill: https://www.brambleberry.com/Peppermint-Essential-Oil-1st-Distill-P3828.aspx
2nd Distill: https://www.brambleberry.com/Peppermint-Essential-Oil-2nd-Distill-P3832.aspx
Looks beautiful! Perfect gift for the holiday season.
Hi Monica!
So glad you like it! It would be a great gift for your friends and family. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can you make this omitting the citric acid and also using sea and Epsom salt from the grocery store? What would be the turnout?
Hi Rhonda!
You can leave out the citric acid if you like. We included it because it adds some fizziness in combination with the baking soda. 🙂
Also, we tested this recipe with salt from brambleberry.com, so I’m not exactly sure how it will work with salt from your store. You may want to make a small test batch to be sure. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I have heard that you must dry out products for 24 hours that contain fizzing agents, such as citric acid, otherwise they can cause your container to explode – especially glass ones. Do you have information on this?
Hi Anita!
If baking soda and citric acid come in contact with water, they can start to fizz prematurely and build up pressure. We work with citric acid and baking soda a lot in the soap lab and have never seen any glass exploding because of the citric acid. I’ll include a video with more information about bath fizzies.
To avoid this, make sure your container is dry before you add your ingredients, and put the lid on so it’s protected from any water. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
How to Make Bath Fizzies on Soap Queen TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgODHmkSTqQ
Do you suppose using a plastic bail jar would make any incidence of breakage less hazardous?
Hi Pat!
You can definitely use a plastic bail jar if you like! We’ve never experienced any glass explosions with bath fizzies, and we work with bath fizzies a lot. However, you can definitely use plastic containers if you prefer. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Tall 8 oz. Plastic Bail Jar: https://www.brambleberry.com/Tall-8-oz-Plastic-Bail-Jar-P5118.aspx
I own a bottle of Moroccan Mint fragrance oil! I wasn’t sure what to expect put its super refreshing! Everyone in my family loves it!
Hi Leanna!
I love it too! I like the blend of several different mints, like peppermint and spearmint. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Moroccan Mint Fragrance Oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Moroccan-Mint-Fragrance-Oil-P3925.aspx
Love the little scoop used in the final product picture. Where can I get those?
Hi Ronnie!
We found that scoop at a local kitchen supply store! You may also be able to find it online. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Recipe says 1/3 cup Epsom salt but instructions say 1 cup. Which is correct?
Hi Anntoinette!
This recipe calls for 1 cup of epsom salt. Sorry for any confusion! We’ve updated the blog with the correct amount. Thanks for catching that!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry