Though the holidays are supposed to be a relaxing, fun time, for many of us they end up being stress-fests. Between shopping for gifts, preparing holiday meals and treats, and managing family interactions, it can be too easy to end the year feeling worn-out and frazzled. But that’s where self-care comes in. Taking the time to give yourself a break can make a huge difference, and if that break takes the form of a hot bath for you, you can incorporate the rejuvenating scent of evergreens via these Christmas tree bath salts. Or package these bath salts up with some other bath luxuries, and give them as a gift!
Don’t worry, this DIY won’t add any extra stress to your life. It takes about 5 minutes to put together. It can even help you dispose of any needles that your Christmas tree has been dropping.
Materials
- Epsom salts
- Evergreen needles from a pine, fir, or spruce tree (dried or fresh)
- Jar or other container
- Spice grinder, coffee grinder, food processor, or cutting board and knife
- Measuring cups
- Spoon
Step
Strip the evergreen needles from the branch, then grind or chop them up with a coffee grinder, spice grinder, food processor, or knife and cutting board. You’ll need about 1/2 cup chopped needles per 3 cups of Epsom salts. Fresh needles will have more scent, but dried needles will still work fine.
Step
Add the ground-up needles and Epsom salts to a bowl in about a 1:6 ratio of ground-up needles to salt. I used 1/2 cup needles per 3 cups of Epsom salts. Stir to combine.
Step
Spoon the bath salts into jars.
Add a cup or two to a hot bath, and relax!
If you don’t need them before Christmas, you can always wait until after the holidays, when you take down your tree, to harvest the needles to turn into bath salts. Or collect them from Christmas tree or wreath offcuts, or even your yard.
Looking for more DIY holiday projects? Try making your own mini concrete Christmas trees.
