It doesn't have to be Mother's Day for us to schedule time to soak in lavender or rose scented bath oils, but it sure is a good excuse! True, the concept of bath salts as a Mother's Day gift is as cliched as a bouquet of flowers. However, bath salts and other spa-like bath treatments have advanced greatly since the 1980's and Jean Nate's heyday. Today, high-end luxury stores offer many quality bath salts, bath oils, and other more recent innovations. The gift of time alone, and the quiet sense of peace gained from bathing in what feels like a home spa, would surely be appreciated long after flowers have withered and been tossed out.
Many of us, mothers of young children or not, don't often find the time to indulge in the things we really love. Time off from "real life," for many busy people, is truly the ultimate luxury. If we can't, or don't want to, take a day or a weekend away at a spa, there is always the potential of peace and tranquility in our own baths. I love the escape of a long soak. Door shut, quiet music on, lights dimmed, and soaking in an understated lavender scent in the bath, add up to give me a sensation of peace and serenity that lasts long after the water's cooled. There are always at least four jars of bath treatments lining my bath that help it feel like a home spa. While I like to try new oils, salts and soaps, there are several that I find to be superlative in their ability to soften my skin and my mood. Any one of these would make for a special gift, Mother's Day or otherwise.
Some of my favorites are here:
- L'Occitane Lavender Harvest bath salts. This is ultimately relaxing. It emits a subtle fragrance and can be enhanced by L'Occitaine's long-lasting lavender candle.
- Vanilla Shimmering Bath, also from L'Occitaine. As with their Lavender Harvest collection, this bath product is not overpowering, and the bubbles make a smooth foam. Your skin will be lightly perfumed for hours after your bath ends.
- Crabtree and Evelyn's "La Source" Spa Box with moisturizing soap, body wash, body lotion, shampoo and a nail buffer. The bathing products smell lovely, like lavender and peppermint. This is a great gift idea, since it comes in an attractive blue keepsake box.
- Sephora has several items in its Creme Brulee Body & Bath Collection, by make-up artist Laura Mercier. These include the amazing Souffle body creme, and exfoliating Sugar Scrub. Used together, these products make you smell absolutely edible!
- Another bit of luxury from Sephora is the Fresh product Rice Sake Bath, intended for using in very hot baths. It really makes me feel like I'm at a Japanese style day spa, with the extra heat, and subtle scent of sake sweetened by peach. Because the smell is so authentic, you may end this bath experience with a distinct craving for sushi. Consider yourself warned.
- I also really like the Soothing Sea Salts, from Origins. As the name implies, stirring a teaspoonful of these sea salts into your bath water will relax your senses. The scent is much more potent than those at L'Occitane, so be careful not to put too much into your bath. The aroma of these sea salts comes from a blend of orange, tangerine, vanilla, and cardemom.
These are my current preferred luxury bath treatments, but they are always subject to change! If you have a favorite you'd like to share, please feel free to join in the discussion below.
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Jennifer W. Miner - Jennifer has years of travel writing experience, spoken at several national conferences, and more. See Jendeavor.com for more details.
