Take your winter bath routine to the next level
Transform your tub time with some aromatic additions. You won’t regret it, says Katie Wright
Make your bathroom a sanctuary, plus Janet Christie’s Mum’s The World column
The ultimate at- home relaxation ritual, a long, hot bath can work wonders, melting away aches and pains, and calming even the most stressedout mind. When there’s so much uncertainty in the world, shutting the bathroom door and enjoying some uninterrupted ‘ me time’ is a form of self- care that can make all the difference to your mood.
Everyone’s got their favourite bathtime accompaniments, whether it’s a podcast, a playlist or an episode of your favourite sitcom ( be sure to keep your device well away from the tub, of course), but we’re here to suggest some scented products that will make your soak all the more enjoyable.
Here are five ways to elevate your bathing experience…
Soothing salts
While hard evidence to back up any claims about the ‘ detoxifying’ effects of Epsom salts can be hard to find, it can’t be denied that adding a few handfuls to your bath makes the water feel softer and silkier, which is a very pleasant sensation indeed.
Plus, salts infused with fragrance release a wonderful scent, whether it’s calming lavender or invigorating citrus, so take your pick of the perfumed packs, sit back and breathe deeply.
Westlab Sleep Bathing Salts, £ 7.99
Aromatic oils
A generous drizzle of bath oil as you’re filling the tub will disperse throughout the water and leave your skin with a hydrated sheen, as well as scenting your tub with a long- lasting fragrance.
Soak Sunday Cleo’s Paradise Botanical Bath & Body Oil, £ 14
Fun fizzers
The most affordable and, let’s face it, fun way to brighten your bath time, bath bombs and fizzers dissolve in the water, leaving a trail of colourful bubbles.
Lush is the king of the bath bomb and has got some adorable seasonal offerings, like a snowman and a hippopotamus.
Lush Snowman Dreaming Bath Bomb, £ 3.50
Marvellous milk
Legend has it that Cleopatra used to bathe in donkey milk to improve her complexion, but while there’s no proof of this fact, we’re all in favour of a modern milk bath. You don’t actually need to add any dairy products into your tub, simply pour in a slug of ready- made bath milk, to enjoy a creamy, cloudy, skinsoftening soak.
L’occitane Almond Milky Bath, £ 26
Calming candles
Sleep experts say that if you’re struggling to nod off at night, you should try to avoid bright lights and TV screens, so why not wind down with a candlelit bath before bed? Diptyque Baies Candle, £ 47