Last Updated on August 5, 2024

This DIY bath salts recipe smells amazing and is incredibly easy to make! With just 2 simple ingredients, you can learn how to make homemade bath salts in minutes.

Lavender bath salts can be added to your tub to aid in relaxation, improve sleep quality, and pamper yourself. These soothing salts are also a great homemade gift idea. Follow my easy lavender bath salt recipe for a foolproof and eco friendly way to unwind. Learn the benefits of using lavender and Epsom salts, as well as how to use them for the best results!

homemade bath salts

There are few things I love more than a nice steamy bath. In fact, I’m pretty positive most bad days can be solved by eating a big delicious meal, taking a hot bath, and getting a good night’s sleep. 

Growing up, I would always give my friends “spa” kits. My mom and I would make them together. We’d get a little basket and add bath salts or bath bombs, lotion, and a face mask or sugar scrub — everything you’d need to give yourself a little pampering. 

At the time, I had no idea how beneficial Epsom salts could be. I had no idea they could soothe achy muscles, reduce inflammation, improve skin health, and detox the body. I just knew I liked them!

As I got older and learned the benefits, I was thrilled that I had an excuse to keep using them and couldn’t wait to share my favorite lavender bath salts recipe with my readers.

why make DIY bath salts

What I love about my lavender bath salts recipe is the ingredients. They’re eco friendly, economical, and aren’t filled with harsh chemicals.

The bath salts I used to keep by the tub were an unnatural shade of purple. I just looked up their ingredients and yikes — low-quality salt with synthetic fragrances and dyes.

In contrast, this lavender bath salt recipe is so easy to make zero waste! There’s no need for those unnecessary, potentially harmful ingredients. 

Making my own bath salts allows me to control the ingredients and gives me ownership of what I put in and on my body! Epsom salt can be found in bulk at Rainbow or many health food stores. (You can find premade bath salts there too if you don’t want to DIY bath salts.)

benefits of epsom salt: 

It’s not actually salt. It’s a mineral compound made of magnesium and sulfate. It was originally discovered around the natural healing baths in Epsom, England. 

Epsom salts help to ease achy muscles and relieve stress. When we’re stressed or anxious, our bodies pump out adrenaline. That adrenaline depletes the body of magnesium. But, we need magnesium to raise our serotonin, which helps us relax. 

In other words, we need magnesium to help us chill, and Americans, on average, aren’t eating enough magnesium rich foods. So, eat some brown rice, avocado, cashews, and spinach, and jump in a nice minerally magnesium rich bath. 

Researchers are divided over whether magnesium can actually enter your bloodstream this way…. but it couldn’t hurt, right? At least that’s what I tell myself every time I make DIY bath salts.

To make this extra relaxing, I add lavender. 

benefits of using lavender: 

Lavender helps reduce stress and anxiety. It also helps with headaches and menstrual cramps. I used to make a lavender sheet spray and I’d spray it on the sheets before going to bed. The aroma can help with stress and insomnia.

But most importantly, lavender has always been my favorite scent. For Christmas, I was sent a jar of dried lavender from The Growing Club. As soon as I got it, I knew exactly how I would use it. Half for making these sachets and half for making this dreamy lavender bath salt recipe.

how to make this lavender bath salt recipe

• Dried Lavender (can be found in the bulk herb or tea section at Rainbow and IntegriTea)
• Epsom Salt (can be found in the beauty section of Rainbow)

step one: combine salts and lavender

Place 1 part dried lavender and 2 parts Epsom salt in a small jar. 

step two: shake to combine

Seal and shake the jar vigorously to fully incorporate the ingredients.

IT’S THAT SIMPLE. You could also add some lavender essential oil to bump up the scent, but I don’t have any and don’t feel the need to buy some.

how to use a lavender bath salts recipe

These DIY bath salts can be used in the bath, in the shower, or in a foot soak. All you need is your jar and some water, but the amounts for each method will vary.

bath

Pour 1/2 – 1 cup of the lavender bath salts into a tub with warm water. Climb in and soak for 20-25 minutes.

shower

Sprinkle the homemade bath salts on the floor of the shower. As the hot water hits them you’ll get some relaxing aromatherapy! It’s like a sauna in your bathroom.

foot soak

Pour 1/4 cup of the bath salts into a foot soak tub or container. Add warm water and stir around until dissolved. Place your feet in the water and soak for 15-20 minutes. Because you won’t need a lot of water, you could do this daily as a way to relax without a lot of waste.

faqs about diy bath salts

how often can you bathe with lavender bath salts?

While there is no hard and fast rule, the main thing you need to consider is your water usage. I used to take a bath with my DIY bath salts every night to relax, but that isn’t the best use of our water… especially in drought-stricken California. It’s important not to be wasteful of one of our most valuable resources.

Instead, I take a bath around once a month as a treat. I enjoy it so much more. I typically do a face mask and sprinkle in some bath salts for optimal relaxation. 

Sprinkling some into the bottom of a quick shower is an easy way to make a quick hygiene chore feel more luxurious too!

do bath salts make good gifts?

Yes! Giving homemade bath salts has a total WOW factor. Put these in a little jar, attach a tiny wooden spice spoon, and they make a great gift for Galentine’s, Christmas, or Mother’s Day!  They would also be cute to hand out as party favors for bridal or baby showers.

can you use essential oil instead of dried herbs?

Absolutely! I love the aesthetic of the cute floating flowers and it makes it feel more luxurious to me. However, you can absolutely add a few drops of essential oil to make these lavender bath salts more convenient for those who can’t get their hands on dried lavender.

My best tip is to start with just a couple of drops then do a smell test to make sure you don’t make it too strong. While lavender can relieve headaches, any strong scent can add to the tension.

what’s the best time of day to take a lavender epsom bath?

Because of the relaxing, soothing nature of these DIY lavender salts, I would recommend using them at night rather than in the morning. I find that they help me get a restful night’s sleep, which isn’t necessarily the space I want to be in before work or going to the gym.

However, if you’re feeling stressed about a certain upcoming event, maybe a quick lavender shower or morning bath will help get you in the right mindset!

How do you like to unwind?