Bath TeasUpdated 4 months ago
What is a Bath Tea?
Bath teas are botanical based mixtures that you toss into the bathtub. The herbs hit the warm water to release natural oils, aromas and extracts. Since bath teas largely consist of dried herbs, they can leave a messy herbal residue and particles on the skin and bathtub if not properly
packaged. Just like beverage teas, tub teas are usually contained in cloth or a paper tea bag, or in a mesh tea ball, to minimize the mess. You may find this is a perfect way to recycle old stockings or single socks or cheese cloth or muslin squares that you can tie off into sachet type bundles for infusing.
What are some herbs I can put in my bath teas and their properties?
Many herbs have a long history of usage in certain ways and for certain conditions. Here are some herbs and their traditional uses:
Calendula: Bright yellow to dark orange flower. Thought to help with skin inflammation and a common ingredient in skin and hair care products.
Chamomile: White and yellow chamomile flowers are beautiful, mild and sweet-smelling, and the scent blends well with others. "Chamomile" is in fact named for its apple-like scent (Chamomile means "earth apple" or "ground apple" in Greek). Thought to help create a soothing and relaxing experience. Flower heads are usually dried and kept whole, not crushed, as the crushed herb is very fine and can make the bathwater "muddy".
Eucalyptus Leaf: Highly scented medicinal aroma. Thought to help create a relaxing experience for those experiencing head colds and muscle stress.
Jasmine: Jasmine is a common flower in Japan and China. Jasmine has a beautiful, relaxing scent. Thought to help create a balanced feeling.
Lavender: Lavender flowers are highly-scented tiny purple-blue buds. Lavender is the #1 scent thought to help create feelings of relaxation. Lavender's name is derived from the latin verb "to wash". It was valued by ancient Romans and Greeks for its fresh smell. Nonetheless, some people don't like it, and it's best used in moderation, as the scent is strong. Different varieties have somewhat different scents. So, finding the one you like most might require some experimentation.
Lemon Verbena: Actually a deciduous shrub, lemon verbena is a sweet lemon-scented herb. Thought to help create a refreshing and cleansing experience.
Mint: Scents range from peppermint and spearmint, to orange, apple, pineapple and chocolate mint. Thought to help create an invigorating and “feel good” bath experience. Try mixing with nettle for an awakening experience.
Nettle Leaf: A bath-type pick me up. Thought to help create an invigorating experience. Often used in hair products.
Oats: Ground oatmeal is thought to help create a wonderful skin softening experience. Many people find it to be especially helpful for soothing itchy skin.
Rose buds and petals: Thought to help create a soothing and romantic experience.
Baking Soda - Natural alkaline that neutralizes acids and washes away oils/dirt while leaving skin soft, silky & smooth. Dissolves in water.
Milk Powders - Milk powders add moisturizing properties to your baths. Milk powders available include soy milk, coconut milk, goat’s milk and buttermilk. You can mix or match to make a decadent bath tea.
Colloidal Oatmeal - Oatmeal binds to the skin and creates a barrier that is thought to protect the skin. The hydrated granules of oatmeal adhere to the surface of the skin and provide a protective film attracting humidity and reducing friction. It has been used in Egypt since 2,000 BC for its beautifying effects. It is used for natural moisturizing properties and to alleviate itching. All Natural.
Salts - Bath salts are a great addition to bath teas. You can use any type of bath salts that you want but finer grain salts seem to work best.
*You can even combine finished bath salts that you’ve made with bath teas.
*Bath teas have their own aroma that comes from herbs and botanicals. It is best not to add wet or oily ingredients, as this can cause the botanicals to mold. If you’ve added fragrance to salts, let them dry before adding to your bath tea.
Can I add fragrance and essential oil to my bath tea?
Sure! Most of the herbs in your bath tea already contain aromatic components which will be released into the air when the bath tea is used. So, be careful not to add so much additional fragrance/essential oil that the scent is overwhelming when combined with the natural scent of the steeping herbs. Once you’ve determined the best amount of fragrance/essential oil to add, you can drizzle it lightly over the bath tea mixture, spread the mixture out on a baking sheet, and let it dry overnight before packaging.
Bath Tea Bags - These heat-sealable bags come with one side open for easy filling. Once filled, you simply seal the open side with an iron. To use, you just drop into the tub and let the bath tea do its work.
Muslin Bags - Muslin bags work great for tea because they are refillable. You can sell a larger bag or jar of tea and provide a muslin bag for the customer to refill when they take a bath.
Mesh Bath Tea Ball - The Mesh Bath Tea Ball is perfect because it allows you to completely submerge your bath tea for long periods of time. It securely holds the herbs thus preventing them from floating in your bath water.
Salt Tubes - Salt tubes allow you to show off your beautiful bath teas and the intricate colors and textures of the botanicals, salts and other ingredients.
Jars - Jars are great for packaging bath teas. Stick to plastic jars, as you don’t want glass breaking in the bathroom. Jars range in sizes and colors.
Zip Pouches - These are a great way to package and showcase bath teas. They come in varying sizes.
Plastic Soap Clamshells - These containers are an adorable solution for packaging bath teas. Slap a label on it and your teas are ready for sale.