Make it: coffee-cinnamon bath salts!
December 2, 2006 at 2:13 pm | In I love to make things..., projects to do | 20 CommentsI’ve been meaning to put up some how-to projects over here, and now that it’s December, well, there’s no time like the present! I originally posted this on craftster back in 2003 but I just made a batch and packaged it up differently so I thought I’d bring it back, new and improved…
Infused Bath Salts or Salt Scrub
Original how-to: I’ve made bath salts and used essential oils to scent them before, but I thought I’d try using kitchen stuff instead! It works really well, and it’s easy and pretty cheap to make a big batch. You can adjust the oil-salts ratio to your liking — use more oil to make an exfoliating salt scrub, less to make more traditional bath salts.
You’ll need:
1/2 – 1 cup extra-light olive oil
1/3 cup ground coffee
6 Tbsp cinnamon (or more if you really like cinnamon, mmm)
reusable coffee filter, or several paper filters, in a coffeemaker basket
3 lb. container of Epsom salts
1 cup baking soda (optional)
2 – 4 cup Pyrex measuring cup
large flat saucepan
mixing bowl
1. Warm the olive oil in the Pyrex container in a saucepan of boiling water. Mix in the coffee first, then the cinnamon, stirring to blend as the mixture heats. Continue to infuse for 20 minutes on the stove, stirring from time to time.
2. Pour the coffee-cinnamon-oil mixture through the coffee filter into the large mixing bowl, one-third at a time. Careful not to burn yourself here! Discard the grounds and keep the oil. Let it cool to room temperature.
3. Mix the infused oil with the salts (and baking soda if you’re using it). You’re done!
Update: Stacy mentioned that she infused her olive oil in her crockpot for two hours on high instead of on the stove, and it turned out really well — so you might want to try that. Great idea.
Variation: green tea-ginger. Substitute 1/3 cup green tea and 1/4 cup powdered ginger (cheaper if you buy it in bulk) for the coffee and cinnamon.
Packaging Ideas
I like to use recycled jars or flat plastic bags (very cheap at craft/scrapbooking stores) to package them for gifts. New idea for 2006: the button extravaganza you see here!
Just fill a Mason jar with your salt scrub and paint the lid a cool color (I used hot-pink enamel paint, but acrylic is fine too). When the paint is dry, hot-glue assorted buttons over it and on the sides of the jar. Add a piece of rick-rack around the side of the lid if you like, too. (I used my current favorites, glitter hot-glue for the buttons and Aleene’s Tacky Glue for the rick-rack.)
Of course, you could glue on rhinestones, game pieces, or any flat-backed bits and pieces, too. Or make a personalized label: draw or print out something you like on colored paper, and then apply it to the jar with a glue stick. You can seal it with Delta Ceramcoat Gloss.
If you want to ornament a plain plastic bag, just cut a simple flower shape out in two colors of felt — one 1.5 inches across with pinking shears, one 1 inch across with scissors. Glue them down as shown (Aleene’s again) and let them dry completely. Tie it with a ribbon (I wish I could reach into that picture and re-tie that one… it looks awful, sorry about that) and voila!
I’ll be publishing my December getcrafty column on Monday with tons more how-to projects, so stay tuned if you’re looking for ideas on gifts to make this year…
Update: here it is!
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what a terrific idea! and the button decorations are SO cute.
Comment by Nancy — December 3, 2006 #
I love this idea! One question – what purpose does the baking soda serve?
Comment by Sarah — December 8, 2006 #
I’m so glad you both like it!
And Sarah, the baking soda is just a soothing extra–it’s a skin softener in general, so it can be nice as a bath salts ingredient. But you can make the salts without it, too.
Comment by Susan — December 8, 2006 #
Hi Susan. Thanks for the bath salts idea. I made a batch of each yesterday afternoon, and they turned out great. I think the recipients will really enjoy them. Hope to see you soon!
Brenda
Comment by Brenda — December 11, 2006 #
Cute!!
Comment by Natalie — December 12, 2006 #
This is an incredible and easy item to make! I was looking over the ingredients and I have everything already, which I thought was very cool. Going to make some of each in the next few days, birthdays coming up in the next couple months, and now I know what to give them..hehe
Comment by Gina — December 24, 2006 #
I made this for a friend of mine as a Christmas gift, and I had lots left over.
I did not have a pyrex dish, so I used my crock-pot instead. I put in the oil, coffee, and cinnamon, and set it on high for 2 hours. My entire house smelled of coffee and cinnamon! I loved it. I had never made anything like this before, and your instructions were very helpful.
Comment by Stacy — December 28, 2006 #
Coffee cinnamon bath salts? Now thats odd.
Comment by Coffee News — January 9, 2007 #
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[...] Padded Headboard, Pine-Needle Baskets, Rock Luminarias, Latch-Hook Rug, Painted Indoor/Outdoor Rug, Bath Salts, Jewel Case Wall Art, Moss Graffiti, Collage Wallet, Martha Stewart Pom-Pom, Pom-Pom [...]
Pingback by Tutorial Round-up « Fat Hippy — November 5, 2007 #
Adding coffee is a great idea. The detoxifying property of coffee certainly blends well with the benefits of Epsom salts. I certainly would like to try it. Nice packaging
Comment by brylle — November 14, 2007 #
/Hi, the blog is very informative and useful for all..
Comment by Toon — December 1, 2007 #
I love the idea it is so cool AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am 11 yers old and I love crafts. thart idea is so cute I gave some to my friend she loved it she loved the pink buttons
Comment by penguinlover — February 14, 2008 #
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Pingback by Donut Shops » Make it: coffee-cinnamon bath salts! West Coast Crafty — March 22, 2008 #
[...] See the complete instructions here. [...]
Pingback by Coffee cinnamon bath salts tutorial · Bath and Body @ CraftGossip — September 10, 2008 #
Hello–
I’m trying to reach you to request permission to link to your tutorial/recipe (and share a photo) for our upcoming Handmade Holidays on the Sew,Mama,Sew! blog. I couldn’t find your contact information (though it is late!). Would you mind emailing so I can give you the details? We love your project and would like to share it with our readers.
Thank you!
Beth
Comment by Beth — October 26, 2008 #
Mmmm that sounds like the perfect way to wake up in the shower. I’ve included a link to this in an article homemade bath projects (linked from name). Thanks for sharing!
Comment by Caley — November 28, 2008 #
You got to check this video out I found on Youtube. Its badass.
Let me know what you guys think.
youtube video
Comment by GosimiWobiomo — December 3, 2008 #
Thanks! I love this project and I’m featuring it on my blog tomorrow. Thank you!
Comment by Shannon — December 15, 2009 #
[...] West Coast Crafty has a tutorial for making cinnamon-coffee bath salts. [...]
Pingback by One evening home spa gifts FasterCraft — — December 16, 2009 #