Yes, you can make your own herbal bath right from your own garden. Growing herbs for bath soaks is easier than you might imagine.
Herbal Baths
Herbal bath soaks are a great way to soothe the senses and the skin all while bathing. There are many great herbs for baths that you can grow right in your garden. Utilizing these fresh herbs for bath soaks can improve the condition of your skin, or soothe it if suffering from rashes, burns or a lack of moisture. Herbal baths are also widely used because of their cosmetic purposes. Herbal bath soaks can improve the look of your skin and provide pleasant and long lasting fragrance, naturally.
If the idea of soothing herbal baths sounds like heaven, start growing these fresh herbs for baths in your garden this year. You will soon have a seemingly endless supply of herbs for baths to enjoy.
No room for a garden… then check out my article on Potted Herbs for Making Soaps, most can be used in baths as well.
Herbs for Baths
Below are some of the benefits of each of these herb for baths along with a short snippet on growing the plants successfully.
Chamomile for a Calming Herbal Bath
Chamomile is one of my favorite herbs for bath soaks. It is great for the skin and the hair. The flowers of this fragrant herb can be easily added to the bath to provide you with a scent that soothes away stress. The gentle flowers are also a great bath addition for children right before bedtime, having a calming effect much in the same way chamomile tea does. The plant is best grown outdoors in the garden, chamomile needs plenty of room to spread out in loose, sandy soil that is able to drain quickly.
Roses for Skin Toning Bath Soaks
Rose Petals are a fragrant herbal bath addition that softens skin and also acts as a toner. Skin that has dulled over the winter months benefits from a long rose bath soak. Because rose petals are so large they can be added directly to the bath water while you soak in it. Rose plants require careful care, pruning and healthy soil with proper pH levels for their roots to survive. Old fashioned or English varieties tend to be easier to grow.
Rosemary Herbal Bath Benefits
Rosemary is an herb that is popular with chefs, but it makes a great herbal bath ingredient. The deep cleansing properties of rosemary clear and cleanse pores that are clogged with dirt, oil, and other products that you regularly use. The light fragrance that is added to the bath is soothing without being overly flowery. Grow rosemary in pots that are placed in full sun,or in the garden, using loose, well drained soil.
Lavender for a Fragrant Herbal Bath Soak
Similar to rosemary in appearance, lavender is a great plant to use to aid in stress relief and to bring on sleep, making it one of the best herbs for baths. Due to the herb’s strong scent, you do not need a lot of lavender buds or leaves in a herbal bath tea sachet. Because of how finicky lavender is, wherever you plant it in the garden is where its home will be for the duration of its life. It often does not handle moves well. A raised garden bed or large pot is ideal for this plant. It loves loose soil that is nutrient poor and intermittent waterings when the soil has completely dried out.
Lemon Balm a Soothing Herb for the Bath
Lemon balm is a bright, citrusy herb that provides you with benefits similar to lavender, but without the floral aroma. Feeling agitated and need help calming your nerves? Add this fragrant herb in your baths to help sooth that stress away. One of the benefits for your skin is that it is naturally antioxidant rich. Components of the plant are often used in natural sun protection products. Lemon balm is a highly productive plant. It prefers rich, loamy soil and frequent watering. Full sun is best for this herb, but I have grown it successfully in partial sun. Pinched off leaves regrow from May to September. Harvested and dry them to build a supply to use throughout the winter.
These are just some of my favorite fresh herbs for bath soaks. There are many more to suit each of are preferences and needs. Pretty much any herb you see frequently added to bath products is worth a try.