Mercredi: The Art of Beauty

When it gets cold outside, I especially crave a warm, relaxing bath now and again.  Given that it is currently 7 degrees on my porch, I’d say it has official gotten cold around here.

Nothing goes better with a bath than aromatherapy.  Whether it is in the form of an herbal tea or sachet added to the bath, scented bath salts or a decadent bath oil, the warm, steamy environment helps one appreciate the scents more than usual.  Today’s recipe is for bath oil, which can be added to the bathwater, used to moisturize post-bath or both.  I generally use oils for moisturizing because I don’t like to have to scrub out the tub when I’m done with a bath (that kind of impairs the “relaxation” part for me) but to each his or her own.

This oil incorporates the warm scents of vanilla and rose and includes oils that will hydrate your dry, winter skin. 

½ cup almond oil

½ cup olive oil

1 tbsp jojoba oil

4 vanilla beans (or 15 drops of vanilla essential oil)

20 drops of rose essential oil

2 500 IU capsules of vitamin E oil

If you are using whole vanilla beans (which will give your bath oil a richer, denser scent) slit the beans lengthwise and scrape out the tiny seeds.  Put this in a glass jar that will hold all of the above ingredients.  Now cut the pods down into pieces that will also fit in the jar and pop them in.  Add the almond and olive oil, jojoba oil, vitamin E oil and essential oil(s). 

Cap the jar tightly and swirl gently to mix.  Place your bath oil in a cool, dry and preferably dark place such as your kitchen pantry for at least 30 days.

If you have used whole vanilla beans, strain the oil through cheesecloth or a coffee filter.  Pour the resulting mixture into a glass bottle with a secure stopper.

To use, either add about two tablespoons to a bath full of warm water or use as a moisturizer on still-wet skin when you emerge.  Either way, this luxurious oil is delightful.  A votre santé ~

Header:  Madame Adeline Baltard and her daughter, Paule; pen and ink by Ingres