Making Bath Baskets:

I have enjoyed making bath salts for many years, for myself and as gifts. I generally will add a jar of homemade bath oil, a bar of homemade soap and a hand-knit soap bag. I also find adding a knitted washcloth in the same gift basket a nice touch. As this makes it a more complete gift for the recipient. It is especially great to receive for birthdays, Mother's day, Valentine's day, Christmas, Bridal or Baby Showers (for the expectant Mom not the baby - as essential oils can react to sensitive skins), even a hostess or a thank-you gift. Any reason actually is a good reason to give a gift basket to someone that has the essentials of bath time. Even men benefit from them, in that case though remember to go with the more manly essential oil scents such as pine or musk.

My Bath Salt Recipe:

Epsom Salts
Glycerin
Soap coloring
Essential oil (in the preferred scent)

In a bowl I pour my Epsom salt, adding the soap coloring in a very small amount (it really doesn't take very much - so little it is often less then your little fingernail), a little glycerin for moisture (I start with about a teaspoon - increasing it as needed depending on the amount of salts I am making), I then add five drops (increasing up to fifteen drops if needed) of essential oil. Essential oil is very potent and can be overpowering, you want the fragrance to just lightly waft through the bathroom not overpower the room leaving the person with a headache. I stir everything well. I then place the finished bath salts in decorated (or small fruit jars) and put on the lids tightly. I make a nice label on the jar identifying the fragrance of the bath salts within (i.e. Rose Scented Bath Salt).

My Bath Oil Recipe:

Mineral/Jojoba/Almond Oils
Essential oil (in the preferred scent)

In a decorative tall bottle,using a funnel, add your oil mixture to about one half inch from the top. Then add your essential oil by first adding three to five drops (if the bottle is three ounces or less) and up to ten drops per ounce if it is a fairly large bottle. Cork and seal with wax. Unless your bottle is a screw-top (those aren't near as decorative though). Make a nice label on your bottle identifying the fragrance of the bath oil (i.e. Rose Scented Bath Oil).

Soap:

Melt, pour and mold is the easiest way to create your soap. You will find either glycerin or a lanolin soap base at your craft store. You also need to buy or find unique molds. Your molds can be those that are actually meant for soap or they can be ones you use for candy or jello even. You can even use other items to mold your soap creation in too, just keep in mind it needs to be flexible so you can pop the soap out when it is set up. A flexible plastic mold is always the best choice. Melt your soap base in the microwave according to the the directions on the label. I generally melt it in increments of 30-45 seconds, this prevents scorching, as microwaves vary. If you are adding a color to your soap please buy the soap coloring, do not add food coloring to your soap base. Add your soap coloring to your heated soap base and any essential oil (scent) and stir till the coloring is dissolved. You may need 15 seconds in the microwave to help dissolve the coloring. You can also add the coloring a bit earlier too. Pour into molds, set up, unmold. If you want to add dried flowers of herbs on top of the soap for a pretty arrangement. First you will need to pour a thin clear layer of soap then place your arrangement, then allow it to set up. Then follow with the rest of your soap, allowing it to set. There are many other ways to make soap. If you enjoy making it this simple melt and pour way, why not check your local library for a book on soap-making and try one of the other techniques.

When you make your homemade soap for your basket, please remember to wrap it in a nice piece of decorated cheesecloth, fabric soap bag or a knit/crochet soap bag as I do. If you knit or crochet a soap bag you can then wrap your soap in a piece of cellophane. Either way you wrap it, cellophane or cheesecloth you need to also label it as to the soap's scent (i.e. Rose).

Don't forget the knit or crocheted bath washcloth or bath mitt. It completes the ensemble. You can also find a pattern that may reflect your scent like a rose design for the rose scented basket. A pine cone or Christmas pine tree for the pine scented one. Or go with a color to represent the scent like brown for musk scent or lavender (light purple) for lavender scent. It completes the ensemble. In the event of doing a complete basket ensemble it is always best to stay with the same scent of essential oil throughout (i.e. Rose for the salts, oil and soap). Have fun creating as much as I did.