Here’s a luxurious gift to make and give someone. Co-workers have questionable dietary needs? Family members eschewing sweets and trying to be healthy? Sometimes it’s nice to make and give something that isn’t food. (Shocking, I know.)
If you’re lucky, you still have mint in your backyard. This year, sadly being without an established herb garden, I picked mine from our school playground. It was still alive and well, as we haven’t had a big freeze yet. About a week before I wanted to make my gifts, I snipped it and hung it upside down in a bunch to dry. You can probably get everything else that you need at the grocery store or drug store. Epsom salts usually come in a bag or in a container that looks like a milk carton. I found my peppermint oil at a health food store (on sale!) but you can find it in most grocery stores too. Look for it in a tiny little bottle, probably shelved near candles or bath items. (Don’t look in the spice aisle – you don’t want peppermint extract.)
You can decide how you want to package and accessorize this present. I like the quilted jars because they’re beautiful and reusable for many purposes. You could add some peppermint tea, a tiny wooden scoop, or anything that might complete a little collection of luxury items. (It’s hard to resist this little cookie.) Here’s a gift tag that you can use, if you like.
Bath salt proportions:
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup epsom salt
1/4 cup baking soda
4-5 drops of peppermint oil
About 1 cup mint, dried and chopped finely
Since the proportions are easy to manage, this recipe is easy to enlarge to suit your needs. I measured the salts using a jar, according to how many gifts I wanted to make. (Get out the big bowl for this one!)
- Assemble and organize your ingredients.
- Mix salts and baking soda together.
- Remove about 1 cup of your mixture to a small bowl and stir in the oil. Mix well. Add this back in to your big mixture.
- Stir in the mint.
- Package and give with love.
Much merriness to you all!
