One of my favorite rituals on a cold winter's night is a warm bath. Depending on the bath ingredients and water temperature, a bath can relax, energize or help soothe the aches and chills of a cold or flu. For the ultimate bathing experience, light a few candles, put on your favorite music, and prepare a mug of herbal tea or hot spiced cider to accompany your bath.

A few drops of fragrant essential oils transform a bath into a spa-like experience. But essential oils are far more than just pleasing aromas. These concentrated plant essences retain the healing properties of the herbs and flowers from which they are distilled. Relief from anxiety and stress, muscle tension and insomnia are just a few of the benefits attributed to aromatherapy.

For best results, add the essential oils to the bath water just before entering the tub and mix the oils into the water with your hand to disperse. Use caution with oils that can cause skin irritation, such as basil, peppermint, lemon and orange. These oils are best used in very small amounts- no more than a couple of drops per bath. To help essential oils disperse more readily, combine them with a tablespoon of whole milk, vodka or Epsom salts before adding them to the bath water.

Adding earth and sea minerals, such as Epsom salts, baking soda and sea salt to a bath replicates the healing effects of natural mineral springs. Baths with mineral salts relax the mind and body, stimulate gentle purification, soothe tired and sore muscles, and soften the skin.

Calming Essential Oils

- Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)
- Clary sage (Salvia sclarea)
- Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
- Jasmine (Jasminum officinale)
- Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
- Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
- Rose (Rosa spp.)
- Rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
- Sandalwood (Santalum album)
- Vetiver (Vetiveria zizaniodes)
- Ylang ylang (Cananga odorata)

Stress-Relieving Aromatherapy Bath

Lavender, clary sage and sandalwood make a deeply relaxing aromatherapy bath.

- 5 drops lavender essential oil
- 3 drops sandalwood essential oil
- 2 drops clary sage essential oil

Add essential oils to the bath water after the tub has filled and mix the oils into the water with your hand.

Restorative Bath Salts

Frankincense, lavender, bergamot and rose geranium help restore a sense of balance - a necessity during the sometimes-hectic holiday season.

- 1/2 cup Epsom salts
- 1/2 cup sea salt
- 1 cup baking soda
- 15 drops frankincense essential oil
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops bergamot essential oil
- 10 drops rose geranium essential oil

Combine the Epsom salts, sea salt and baking soda. Add essential oils, mix well and store in a nonporous covered container. To use, fill the bathtub with warm water and add 4 tablespoons of bath salts after the tub has filled. Mix the salts into the water to dissolve.

Winter's Night Bath Salts

Sandalwood, sweet orange, ginger and patchouli make a body and soul warming bath blend for cold winter nights.

- 1 cup Epsom salts
- 1 cup baking soda
- 30 drops sandalwood essential oil
- 10 drops sweet orange essential oil
- 5 drops ginger essential oil
- 3 drops patchouli essential oil

Combine Epsom salts and baking soda. Add essential oils, mix well and store in a nonporous covered container. To use, fill the bathtub with warm water and add 4 tablespoons of bath salts to the bath water. Mix the salts into the water to dissolve.

Uplifting Essential Oils

- Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
- Bergamot (Citrus bergamia)
- Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
- Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
- Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi)
- Lemon (Citrus limon)
- Lime (Citrus aurantifolia)
- Orange (Citrus sinensis)
- Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
- Spearmint (Mentha spicata)

Muscle-Soothing Bath Salts

Rosemary, lavender, eucalyptus, marjoram and ginger stimulate circulation and ease sore and stiff muscles.

- 1 cup Epsom salts
- 1 cup baking soda
- 15 drops rosemary essential oil
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 10 drops marjoram essential oil
- 10 drops ginger essential oil

Combine Epsom salts and baking soda. Add essential oils, mix well and store in a nonporous covered container. To use, fill the bathtub with warm water and add 4 tablespoons of bath salts after the tub has filled. Mix the salts into the water to dissolve.