Step by step
- Run the bath warm, not hot. Very hot water strips skin oils faster than any bath oil can replace them. Aim for comfortably warm, roughly body temperature to a little above.
- Add the oil near the end of filling. Pour it under the running tap so the water stream breaks it up. Added too early, a lot of the scent evaporates before you get in.
- Use one to two tablespoons. That's one or two capfuls on most bottles. Concentrated aromatherapy oils (the small 55 ml bottles) often want a teaspoon or less.
- Swish. Move the water with your hand so the oil isn't sitting in one slick.
- Soak 10 to 20 minutes. Long enough to relax, short enough not to dry your skin out.
- Pat dry. Rubbing with a towel takes the oil off. Pat, then moisturise any spots that still feel tight.
- Get out carefully. Drain some water first, hold the side, and stand slowly.
The dry-skin trick: oil on, then bath
For very dry skin, some people massage a little oil onto damp skin before getting in, then add the rest to the water. The oil is in direct contact with the driest patches (shins, elbows, heels) rather than relying on what clings to you on the way out. It's what many luxury brands recommend for their concentrated oils.
How to use a shower oil in the bath
Cleansing shower oils, the ones that turn milky when wet, can go in a bath too. Use a capful under the running tap. Because they contain cleansers, they rinse away more of the oil than a true bath oil. You may want a body oil or lotion afterwards if your skin is dry.
Using essential oils
Don't drip neat essential oils into the water. Oil and water don't mix, so undiluted drops float and land on your skin at full strength, which can sting or irritate. Mix them into a tablespoon of carrier oil or an unscented bath base first. The essential oils in the bath guide covers how many drops to use and which oils to avoid.
Staying safe in an oily tub
- Slips are the real risk. Floating oils coat the tub. Use a non-slip bath mat and grab rail if you have one.
- Jetted and whirlpool tubs: most manufacturers say no oils, beads or salts while the jets run, because oil gums up the pump. Check your manual, or use oil only with the jets off.
- Children and babies: keep their baths plain unless a doctor suggests an emollient, and never leave them with oil in the tub.
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Cleaning the tub afterwards
While the tub is still warm, wipe it with a little washing-up liquid on a soft sponge and rinse. Dish soap is made to lift oil. For ring marks, a paste of baking soda and water works without scratching acrylic. Run hot water down the drain for a minute to keep oil from building up in the pipes.
Which bath oil to buy
For most people a dispersing oil is the easiest to live with: soft skin, little greasiness and a less slippery tub. If your skin is very dry, a floating oil does more. See the best luxury bath oils or bath oils for dry skin.