Aromatherapy can have amazing benefits. Pair it with a warm bath—aah, a little bit of heaven! Creating an aromatherapy bath is not as simple as adding essential oil to your bath water. Here, I share simple Aromatherapy Bath Recipes and 50 essential oil options to try in your bath, depending on the support you need. 

Plus, you will hear from our readers about their favorite oils for their bathing routine! There are also safety precautions you need to know about before you step into that oily bath. First, let's look at essential oil safety in the bath.

Essential Oil Bath Safety

According to Essential Oil Safety by Tisserand & Young, here is what is mentioned on Baths:

Whenever essential oils are "mixed" with water without dispersing agent, there is a risk of skin irritation, since undiluted droplets of essential oil can attach to the skin, sometimes in sensitive areas. Therefore, essential oils should first be dispersed in a vegetable oil, or emulsified into an aqueous medium by use of emulsifying agent.

4 Simple Aromatherapy Bath Recipes

Here are four recipe options for safely adding essential oils to a bath. Remember that using carrier oil in the bath can make the tub slippery!

Using the carrier oil option, remember that oil and water do not mix, so while your essential oils will be diluted, the oil will still float on top of the water.

1. Using Castile Soap:

Castile soap is a natural vegetable-based soap used for bathing, cleaning, and washing dishes. It's gentle enough for people with sensitive skin and can be used to remove makeup and dirt. Learn more about castile soap benefits.

• 1 tablespoon Castile Soap
• 3-6 drops Essential Oils

2. Using Carrier Oil:

• 1 tablespoon Fractionated Coconut Oil or Jojoba Oil
• 3-6 drops Essential Oils

3. Using Vegetable Glycerin:

Vegetable glycerin is a humectant that can lock in moisture without clogging your pores. It has natural skin healing properties. The cooling effect of glycerin makes it the best choice for use in healing and cooling ointments. Read more about the benefits of glycerin.

• 1 tablespoon Vegetable Glycerin
• 3-6 drops Essential Oils

4. Using Solubol:

Solubol is an all-natural solution for evenly dispersing essential oils into water. It can be difficult to find, but Aromatics carries it.

• 1 teaspoon Solubol
• 3-6 drops Essential Oils

How to Use Essential Oils in the Bath

Step 1: Select one of the options above and mix together using the essential oils of your choice.

Run bath water to a suitable temperature for your skin. While filling your tub, you can add Epsom Salt, Dead Sea Salt, or Himalayan Salt for additional benefits, 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup. It is best to add salt to running bathwater so the salt can dissolve.

Read More: Benefits of Pink Himalayan Salt

Step 2: Once the bathwater is filled, add your essential oil mixture. Swirl the water with your hand to blend. Carefully get into the bath (don't wait; the warm water will cause the essential oils to start evaporating). You may want to close the door to keep the aroma in your bathroom for aromatic pleasure.

Essential Oil Bath Blends and Ideas for Aromatherapy

Do you love taking baths? Not only do they relax and rejuvenate your body, but they can also be a great way to detoxify and de-stress. Adding essential oils to your bath can make it more therapeutic and beneficial.

Here are 12 ways essential oils can support your wellness in a bath and essential oil options for each. If you do not have one oil, no problem; there are always other essential oils to try.

One thing I love about oils is their versatility and ability to aid in so many ways.

Favorite Bath Essential Oil Blends

Are you looking for a little self-care? Why not take a bath? Not only is it relaxing, but baths can also be incredibly therapeutic. If you'd like to enhance your soak, consider adding in some essential oils. Here are some of our favorites!

Essential Oils NOT to Use in Bath

There are many different essential oils out there, and each one has its own unique benefits. However, not all essential oils should be used in the bath. You should avoid using essential oils that are known as skin irritants, mucous membrane irritants, or skin sensitizers.

Here is a list to avoid:

You can read more about dermal safety and essential oils at NAHA (National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy)

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) essential oil is a favorite oil, but in the bath, it may irritate and burn the skin. It's best to use caution or avoid it altogether. Several of our readers choose peppermint oil as a favorite for bathing (read more below).

Phototoxic Essential Oils - Use Caution in Bath

When applied topically, these essential oils pose a risk to the skin, which is then exposed to sunlight or tanning bed rays. You must wait at least 12 hours after application. Since you will be soaking in a bath of essential oils, use caution with these common phototoxic essential oils:

This doesn't mean you cannot use these; it just means to exercise caution when exposed to the sun and pay attention to dilution.

Read More: Phototoxic Essential Oils

Fan Favorites Essential Oils for Bathing Routine

Do you like to relax in a nice, hot bath at the end of a long day? If so, do you include essential oils in your bathing routine? Essential oils can help to improve your mood, relieve stress, and promote relaxation.

We asked our readers an oily question:

What essential oils do you like to use in your bathing routine?

The number one essential oil mentioned....LAVENDER! 

Readers love the smell of this oil, its benefits for the skin, and its soothing, calming, and relaxing properties. Frankincense and peppermint were the next most popular oils mentioned.

Here are some reader responses to this question:

Lavender is my favorite. It is calming and relaxing. I like to use it in soap making, shower balms, and sometimes just a drop or two on the washcloth. Other favorites our Orange and Tea Tree. -Sandy F.

After my shower I like to use on my skin a 1 oz bottle mix of jojoba and lavender oil. I just rub it on like lotion and the smell is so calming. -Liz R.

Lavender because it helps me destress & get ready for bed. -Heather R.

Lavender and chamomile oil are musts when relaxing in a hot bath at the end of the day. It helps bring peace and calmness to my otherwise hectic life. -Patricia M.

Using Tea Tree Oil in the Bath

I like to use lavender because it is a good calming oil before bedtime and tea tree because it is good for your hair and skin clarity! -Dannielle I.

Frankincense, Lavender, Patchouli, Tea Tree. I make my own bath wash and shampoo and include all of these wonderful EOs in them! -Jennifer E.

Lavender and Melaleuca in my soap for their relaxing and cleansing benefits, Rosemary and Peppermint in my shampoo for hair growth and itchy scalp. -Kimberly Z.

After I bathe, I like to put tea tree on my face, to help with blemishes and overall skin health. -Kerry H.

Using Peppermint Oils in the Bath

I prefer showers and I use peppermint drops in the bottom of my bathtub as I shower in the morning. It’s a great wake me up!! -Cheryl A.

Lavender and peppermint added to Himalayan salt to soak away stresses of a long day of medical cases. This is so soothing to the mind and muscles. Rosemary added to my shampoo/conditioner to unwind and relieve senses, along with adding hair growth/thickening benefits to my thin hair. This routine give you back the sense of self. -Jill M.

Lavender or peppermint depending on what's scheduled. -Mary Jo V.

Peppermint - it is energizing and wakes me up. Plus it seems to smell "right" no matter what the season. -Julie D.

Using Citrus Oils in the Bath

Lemon and lime, refreshing and awaken the senses in the morning. -Jennifer H.

Citrus oils for me are uplifting and I love to use them as a body soak with Epsom salts. The salts are great for sore muscles as well. Just add several drops into a container of Epsom salts, mix and use a 1/4 cup in your bath water. -Molly L.

Using Epsom Salt and Lavender Oil in the Bath

I love to take a Epsom salt lavender bath! It's so calming at night right before bed! -Montana D.

Lavender with Epsom salts to relax. Eucalyptus in a shower steamer with I'm feeling congested. -Wanda S.

At night I use Lavender EO with Epsom salts in a bath to wind down and get ready for sleep. I suffer from Adrenal Fatigue and this helps my body and mind calm down and relax. -Wild C.

Using Frankincense in the Bath

I use frankincense, lavender, sandalwood, and sweet orange oils in a salt/sugar scrub with coconut oil. These are among the many skin-loving oils and they make a lovely fragrance together. -Claudia S.

Frankincense is my absolute favorite oil! It's more than just calming or relaxing automatically, it soothes my soul! I especially love it in baths. I use it fairly regularly with about equal parts juniper berry in a mix of olive, almond, avocado, and jojoba oils on my face and body. It helps soothe dry, itchy, angry skin. -Phyllis T.

Essential Oil Combinations for the Bath

Eucalyptus & Peppermint when I'm feeling stuffy or need some extra deep breathing! I put lavender in my lotion after showering if I shower at night. I sometimes use frankincense in my face lotion as well. -Leann P.

I love orange, cardamom, lavender, cedarwood, and jasmine to name a few. I love the relaxation and uplifting calm that these oils give me. Bath time is happy time! -Tanae B.

Eucalyptus and mint gets me picked up and ready to go face the day. It eases stress and clears the sinuses. -Julie D.

I love to use Grapefruit, Peppermint and Lavender. The combination is wonderful in the morning to wake me up and get me going! I made bath salts to use if I have time in the morning. If I have too much to do I followed your recipe for shower melts and use these. -Teresa S.

I use fractionated coconut oil to wash my face. My homemade shampoo bars contain lavender, rosemary, and tea tree essential oils. I add various essential oils to my homemade soap, depending on what properties or scents I want. My face cream has lavender, frankincense, and tea tree to soothe, heal, and protect my sensitive skin. -Connie M.

Bergamot, Lavender, Chamomile with powdered skim milk and baking soda....soft soft and makes whole house smell great. Even my husband asks for it!!! -Nicole K.

Using Floral Essential Oils in the Bath

I use Rose Otto in with Vitamin E oil and FCO after I'm done in the shower. I just let the water bead off or I Pat myself dry. My skin is so soft afterwards. -Diane K.

I LOVE jasmine in grapeseed oil after I get out of the bath!!! It's so uplifting and makes me happy the rest of the day! I also enjoy using lavender, tea tree, calendula, helichrysium & frankincense in marula oil or prickly pear for my face! -Vanessa B.

I put 2-3 drops geranium essential oil in bathtub and soak for 20 min with just peace and quiet. -Cindy E.

I use Geranium oil in my hair conditioner, and after my shower I use a drop each of Rosemary, Grapefruit and Frankincense in a fractionated coconut oil carrier to massage my feet and as a natural deodorant - Happy and energizing and uplifting! -Deb T.

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More DIY Recipes to Try:

• Shea Butter Bath Melts
• Love Potion Essential Oil Roll On Perfume
• Refreshing Eucalyptus Soap Recipe