The Hungry Canary

From Mother’s notebook · A personal favorite

Mother’s Bath Salts

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Ingredients

  • 1 cup Epsom salts
  • 1/2 cup natural sea salt
  • 20–30 drops essential oil (original handwritten amount; see safety notes)
  • Dried herbs, optional, such as rosemary (no quantity given)

Directions

  1. Combine the Epsom salts and natural sea salt in a dry mixing bowl.
  2. Add optional dried herbs, such as rosemary, and mix. The original notebook includes 20–30 drops of essential oil, although this amount is not recommended without a proper bath-safe dispersing system.
  3. Store the dry mixture in a clean, moisture-resistant container.
  4. The original instructions appear to call for adding 1/2 cup of the salt mixture to warm bathwater in a clean tub. Allow the salts to dissolve and enjoy the soak.

Family notebook note

This bath salt recipe was a favorite of Mother’s. She frequently encouraged her daughter to try it, although her daughter generally preferred not to take baths. The original recipe is not crossed out.

Notebook amounts: 1 cup Epsom salts, 1/2 cup natural sea salt, 20–30 drops essential oil, optional dried herbs such as rosemary. Mix, add approximately 1/2 cup to warm water, and soak in a clean tub.

Practical care notes

Essential oils do not dissolve in bathwater or disperse safely simply by mixing them into salts; concentrated droplets can contact skin and cause irritation. The handwritten essential-oil amount is preserved for historical accuracy, not recommended as a safe-use instruction. A modern scented formulation would need an appropriate bath-safe solubilizer and independently checked dilution. For a straightforward version, omit essential oils altogether. Avoid irritating herbs on sensitive skin, keep the tub free of slippery residue, and store dry salts away from moisture.