Making Candles and Soaps For Dummies
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You can make gift baskets filled with scented bath items to give as gifts to family and friends at Christmas time. Consider making bath salts and massage oils; both are great gift ideas. Simple instructions are included here:

  • Bath salts: You have two options:

    You can purchase the bath salts in your local craft store and add your personal touch by scenting with essential oils.

    To make your own bath salts from scratch, combine a variety of salts, such as Epsom salt, rock salt, and sea salt. Add some glycerin, essential oils, and colorants and you’re good to go. Finally, place your mixture in a decorative jar or quaint see-through bath bag for storage.

  • Bath Bags: Decorative bath bags not only look sophisticated, but they also feel nice. Whether you’re creating them at home for personal use or giving them away as gifts, bath bags are a classy touch.

    Although you can include plain bath salts inside the bags, why not make your own special body scrub? To do so, combine your melt-and-pour soap, available at craft stores, with dried herbs and a coarse item, such as grated almonds, oatmeal, or cornmeal. You can even add your favorite flowers, if you like, and of course, the finishing touch can be a few drops of your favorite essential oil or blend.

  • Shower Gel: You no longer have to buy whatever scent the store offers in shower gel ¯ no more rain-fresh shower gel, faux citrus fragrances, and the like. Now, you can create your own shower gel with a scent that doesn’t clash with your everyday fragrance ¯ or your nose’s sensibilities!

    All you need to do is add a few drops of essential oil to a plain shower gel base, available at your local craft store or online. Then store your gel in a bottle and use as desired.

  • Massage Oil: To create massage oil choose an oil with skin-softening abilities, add a preservative, such as liquid Vitamin E from a gel tablet, and then add essential oils. Sweet almond, apricot kernel, and grapeseed oils are good for massage because they’re so light. Mix well and place in a bottle.

After you make these items, buy a basket, ¯ the Salvation Army or Goodwill almost always has baskets for next to nothing. Spray paint it for a fresh look and to customize the color. Fill it with your jars of homemade goodies, and top it off with a bow.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book author:

Kelly Ewing is a writer and editor who lives in the wonderful community of Fishers, Indiana, with her husband Mark, her daughter Katie, her son Carter, and furry canine friend Cheyenne. She has coauthored several books, including The Internet All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies, PCs All-in-One Desk Reference For Dummies, and Direct Mail For Dummies. She has ghostwritten several books and edited more than 75 books on a variety of topics. She also writes articles on sports, travel, and human interest for several newspapers. In her spare time — when she can find it! — she enjoys spending time with her kids, reading, walking, writing, scrapbooking, cooking, and doing crafts.

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