How To Create The Ultimate ‘Everything’ Bath

A giant heap of bubbles is a non-negotiable for me – a bath feels naked without it and if someone walks in, I want them to mistake me for Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. I’ll pour bubble bath in the second I get the water running to achieve the best lather, and have always found that Radox builds up quickly – plus, it’s so affordable you can go big on the dosage. Another old favourite is from L’Occitane, which surrounds you with the soothing scent of lavender. Two newer discoveries are from Neal’s Yard and The Body Shop – and both give you so much bang for your buck, with a small dribble producing mountains of foam. 

I almost always add bath salts to my tub (near the start, so they can dissolve well) but the brand and scent depend on my mood and needs. Epsom salts, for example, are amazing for easing muscle aches, while magnesium flakes can help with relaxation and sleep (and they absorb more easily into the body). I really rate BetterYou or Westlab for functional salts. However, if you’re using them more to create a mood or to really scent your bath, I’d suggest splurging a little. 

British brand Commune’s gorgeous tin houses a blend of three salts which have restorative properties (Celtic grey sea to support circulation, pink Himalayan for soothing muscles and black Hawaiian lava to detoxify) and eight essential oils including lavender, clary sage and grapefruit. The Santa Maria Novella salts just pip Commune to the post as my favourite – strong with a sweet and spicy scent of bergamot, pomegranate, rose, musk, patchouli and more. The old-fashioned apothecary feel is so comforting. The box they come in is beautiful too and it holds onto the scent, so you could refill it with your bargain Epsom salts to give them a little lift.

A bath oil might seem like an unnecessary indulgence but they can actually be beneficial to your skin, sleep and mood. The fragrance-free E45 one, for example, comes with (clinically proven) moisturising properties, and is especially good if you have sensitive skin that usually feels dry or itchy after a bath. Laura Mercier’s seed oil-packed formula is really moisturising too but with an added almond and coconut scent. Speaking of fragrance, Jo Malone London's bath oil comes with fewer clinical claims but the scent fills the entire room. It makes a brilliant gift. 

Finally, for morning bathers – myself included when I make the time – adding Aromatherapy Associate’s energising and uplifting ‘Revive’ oil into the mix can really set you up for the day. A note with this one though: it’s designed to be warmed in your hands and massaged onto your body, not poured into the water. With that in mind, it’s best to use it to hydrate your skin and release the oils before submerging yourself, where it will then fill the tub with a vibrant scent.

If you like to use your bath as a gateway to a good night’s sleep, adding CBD (cannabidiol, a cannabis extract that doesn’t cause a ‘high’ but instead aids relaxation and soothes inflammation) can set you up for success. Lush’s fun bath bomb has a good dose of CBD, as well as Epsom salts to double-up on the drowsiness. Kloris’ magnesium salts are a triple-threat: CBD, salts and a calming lavender and relaxing ylang-ylang scent all working together to encourage a peaceful sleep. Two great oil-based options come from Sanctuary – if you’re looking for something affordable – or, if you really want to treat yourself, CBD brand Dreem Distillery’s botanical, high-grade option turns your bath into a soothing spa.

Creating a calm and serene atmosphere is not just about what’s in your bath but what surrounds it too. I need low lighting, classical music and a scented candle. I’ve recently discovered St Eval’s scented sticks and lighting one in the matching candle holder feels so comforting. It looks quite chic too. If I’m having a morning bath, I love the Clean House scent by Beauty Pie, which is fresh and calming – or, to add an extra snooze-inducing factor to a CBD-filled bath, I’ll light Neom’s Perfect Night’s Sleep. Day to day, I’ll go for something strong, warming and cosy – Diptyque’s Feu de Bois for example, which translates as ‘Wood Fire’ and gives off all those smoky, woody notes that help quiet a busy mind.