| Natural Bath Items |
From "DIY Crafts"
episode DIC-104 |
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Decant your natural bath items into attractive bottles to keep or give as gifts.
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Home craft expert Kathi Cardinalli shares her formula for creating a mini-spa at home, using natural ingredients that promote relaxation. Here are instructions for creating bath oils, bath salts and scented water that look as pretty as they smell. Orange-Scented Water Materials:
3 cups distilled water
1/4 cup vodka
10 to 12 tablespoons dried orange-peel slivers
Orange essential oil
Mason jar
Strainer
Funnel
Decorative bottles
Combine distilled water and vodka in a jar with a tight-fitting lid (the vodka acts as a fixative to hold the scent). Add orange essential oil and stir, then add dried orange peel. Set the mixture aside, with the lid on tightly, for four weeks. Using a strainer, decant, and funnel into decorative bottles. Add more dried orange slivers, if desired. You can make lemon water, rosewater, etc., using this same process. Add scented water to your bath to add fragrance without oil, or use as a light cologne. Bath Oil Materials:
Almond or castor oil
Essential oils
Decorative bottles
Dried lavender, orange peel, rosebuds
Homemade or store-bought labels, decorative ribbons and tags
Pour almond or castor oil into bottles, and add your favorite essential oils. Add dried lavender, orange peel or rosebuds -- be generous so the scent will be strong. (Try blending scents to create your own special formula.) Swirl to mix well, and oil is ready to use immediately. Cork or place lids on bottles. To give bottles as gifts, tie on a ribbon and add a tag or label listing the ingredients and explaining how to use the oil. These oils are a fraction of the cost of commercial ones, and they smell and look wonderful. Collect interesting bottles and jars for storing oils when you shop at antiques stores or flea markets. Bath Salts Materials:
4 cups Epsom or sea salts
Essential oils
Dried flowers and petals
Glass canisters or decorative jars with lids
Mix together the salts; about 1/2 cup dried, crushed flowers such as lavender or roses; and a few drops of essential oil. Place the mixture in decorative jars or canisters, and add a tight-fitting lid. Store close to the bathtub, and use 1 to 3 tablespoons of mixture per bath. Give bath salts as holiday gifts. Sachets Materials:
Dried flowers
Cedar bits
Dried herbs and spices
Orange, lemon and lime peel
Small muslin bags (from natural-food stores--or ask for bouquet garni bags from a cook shop)
Fill bags with a mixture of favorite herbs, spices, dried flowers, citrus peels, etc. Pull the drawstrings tightly so the mixture won't spill out, and tie the end in a knot. Add a decorative ribbon or cording, if desired. Place sachets in lingerie and linen drawers.
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