Mental Health: How to Make Your Bathroom a Self-Care Space
The UK is in need of some self-care, as “51% of adults who felt stressed reported feeling depressed, and 61% reported feeling anxious.” (mentalhealth.org) Self care is simply “taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health.” (National Institute of Mental Health) All of which can help you navigate stressors in a more effective way.
Spas, massages, saunas and thermal pools are good for relaxing and resetting, however they are not always accessible or affordable. So the next best option is to create self-care spaces at home, which can help manage stress, lower risk of illness and raise energy levels.
Transforming your bathroom into a self-care space is a good place to start, as our days tend to start in the bathroom, getting ready for the day ahead. So the quickest way is by injecting a signature scent. All of which can reconnect us with ourselves, nature and to create a serene space to help meditate and unwind.
8 Bathroom Scents For Wellness
From fresh plants and herbs to essential oils, there’s many ways to refresh and invigorate your bathroom. Natural fragrances can add a luxurious touch to your daily bath or shower, reduce nasty toxins and maintain freshness no matter the season. Therefore, the experts from Premier Care in Bathing have recommended these eight scents to get you started:
1. Tea tree and Mint
Good for → Freshness and versatility. Tea tree is an antibacterial and antimicrobial multi-purpose hero. It’s even better when paired with some freshly picked mint.
How to → 200 ml of distilled water, drops of tea tree oil and mint leaves. Shake and spritz in the room, toilet bowl, shower head, bathroom shelf, shower curtains to help to eliminate bathroom odours before they begin.
2. Rosemary and Eucalyptus
Good for → Stress relief and relaxing. Eucalyptus is renowned for easing respiratory issues and rosemary is known for its therapeutic qualities, which help to boost the immune system and blood circulation. The steam and heat from your daily shower can help to release the aromatherapy powers of the plants, ensuring your mind and body is fully relaxed.
How to → 250ml water, 8 drops of rosemary and eucalyptus essential oils. For an extra treat, you could even bunch together fresh sprigs of rosemary and eucalyptus and hang a bundle from your shower head.
3. Lemon and Bergamot
Good for → Bergamot is known for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which blends beautifully together with lemon to provide a pure, clean and all-natural fragrance. You could even add a few drops of lemongrass to make things extra zingy.
How to → 200 ml distilled water and a few drops of lemon and bergamot essential oil. A couple of spritzes is all that’s required, then all you need to do is run a luxurious bubble bath, sit back, relax and rehydrate.
4. Cotton and Linen
Good for → If you prefer a more neutral scent for your bathroom, you can’t go wrong with a simple homemade solution. Just a few drops of cotton or linen essential oil dotted onto cotton balls will have your bathroom or wet room smelling as fresh as your weekly washing.
How to → A few drops of cotton essential oil, 150 ml distilled water and 100 ml vodka.
5. Lavender
Good for → Calming, relaxing and a better night’s sleep. There’s a reason why lavender oil is used consistently in bathroom products. Whether you want to gently wake up from a night’s sleep or unwind after a long day in a soothing bath, lavender will help to provide a comforting space.
How to → 8-10 drops of lavender essential oil and 200 ml distilled water, Mix your natural ingredients together and voila, you have a lasting homemade bathroom scent.
6. Mixed Spice
Good for → You can also give your bathroom suite a few seasonal touches with a homemade mixed spice scent. With plenty of different scents to choose from, it’s easy enough to whip up your own fragrance. And even if it’s not the festive season, there’s no reason your bathroom can’t smell of Christmas all year round.
How to → Try one of our favourite combinations, all you need is one orange, a handful of cloves and ½ tsp of cinnamon. Cover the entire orange with the cloves and sprinkle some cinnamon – or nutmeg – on top. For an additional sweet aroma, spritz your orange with a few drops of vanilla essential oil. Pop your fruit on a suitable dish and leave in a place where you can really benefit from the spicy scent.
7. Tropical
Good for → Packed with health benefits galore, pineapple is every bit as pleasing to your sense of smell as it is to other parts of your body. Helping to boost blood flow and keep illnesses at bay, pineapple essential oil is also an uplifting scent, which makes it ideal to brighten any bathroom.
How to → Choose from mango, guava and papaya or try our personal favourite scent – pineapple and coconut. Mix 150 ml distilled water with a few drops of both pineapple and coconut essential oils together in a spray bottle.
8. Floral
Good for → For those who enjoy a fragrance that’s powered a little more by flowers than fruit, look no further than a homemade floral bathroom scent. Each essential oil provides various benefits, from decreasing anxiety to enhanced mental focus and natural anti-inflammatory properties, this harmonious scent will do more than just make your bathroom smell of pretty petals.
How to → With endless options depending on your aromatic preference, we like to mix a little of each of the following essential oils: 10 drops rosewater, 15 drops geranium and 5 drops grapefruit. Then add 150ml of distilled water and ½ tsp of baking powder to a spray bottle and give the whole thing a hefty shake before you go to spray your bathroom.
