Easy DIY Holiday Gifts: Lavender and Neem Bath Bombs
‘Tis the season for joy and peace, giving and goodnes—and also scrambling and stress, plus panic over presents. We may find that fixation on presents detracts from our ability to be present. Everything adds up, and can easily amount to feelings of being drained, financially and emotionally. If that all sounds too Scrooge for comfort, rest assured I’m listning to Calming and Relaxing Christmas Music as I type, and in fact the reason for this post is all about tapping into the genuine spirit of the season through the joys of play and paring back.
Making homemade holiday gifts in theory can take too much time, but in reality may save you on shopping headaches and brings back the genuine warmth and meaning of the season. Before making this project in particular, I wondered, who actually takes baths these days? Outside of Britain, I mean. Well, these bath bombs will make you want to take one again, and I’m pretty sure that would do any soul some good. This simple recipe harnesses the beautiful benefits of Neem, used extensively in Eastern traditions to support immunity, bacterial balance, oral health, and inflammatory responses, but best known for its nourishing properties for healthy nails and skin. Not only is making these fragrant bath fizzies easy, it’s fun and maybe even therapeutic, too.
Last weekend, I took a whirwind trip by myself to visit my parents and my baby sister and her family in Connecticut. It was my first trip solo without Felix since he was born, believe it or not (ten years ago now), with the exception of one overnight two hours away for a race this past September. It felt a little surreal going, as if I were missing a key appendage, but it was a gift too. My sister’s third child is just over a month old now, and with just two fleeting days to spend together, in going alone I was able to be full-on devoted aunt and supportive sister—I had the chance to snuggle my new nephew, and most of all to be wholly FUN aunt with undivided attention to lavish on my young, darling nieces.
It was a blitz of a trip—what else could one expect from literally two full days and no more? It was also a mix of everything: festive warmth and glow, Christmassy chaos, joy witnessing new beginnings, merriment and light…and couched in all that was plenty of poignance and just a sprinkling of… disappointment. That last word seems unfair. No person was disappointing, and the trip was absolutely fulfilling. But I think deep down—or not so buried even—I had this quiet expectation that in traveling alone I’d be returning home like a kid at Christmas. And while I hope I will always be a kid at Christmas, truly in my heart, I am also a middle-aged mom and vulnerable human prone to overthinking, noticing all the chiseled changes time makes with near Buddha awareness and none of the zen. It’s no wonder the quick visit ignited a little bit of melancholy alongside the gladness. But it’s OK, and even a good thing that it was so.
Mindfulness is key to gratitude and presence, and equally significant is play. Observing and reflecting ushered in mindful appreciation, but the absolute clincher of that appreciation was play. My nieces and I packed just about everything we could into those two 12-ish hour stretches of play. Cookie baking, chase, salt dough ornaments, chase, hide-and-seek, chase, puzzles, chase…you get the gist. And when I returned I found myself requiring a little more play myself, albeit of a quieter ilk (plus some daily chase, as Felix and I run circles after Bentley). This project is a little manageably messy like playdough, and soothingly satisfying. Quick, fragrant, and easy to vary, the bath bombs make for a beautiful, loving holiday or anytime gift.
The trickiest part of this delightful project is removing the bath bombs from the molds. Be sure to allow your bath bombs to fully dry before attempting to take them out. While we prefer using metal bath bomb molds, silicone will peel back much more easily. For metal, we recommend coating the bolds with a little bit of mineral oil before packing with the mixture. You can also run a nail file gently along the edge of the bottom mold before tipping out. Once that’s done, all that’s left is pure enjoyment--a nurturing, thoughtful gift for your loved ones, and yourself!
Happy holidays!
Bath Bombs with Neem
Makes 5 bath bombs
1 Cup baking soda
½ Cup citric acid
½ Cup Epsom salt
½ Cup cornstarch
1-2 Tablespoons lavender buds
½ Tablespoon ORGANIC INDIA Neem powder
2 Tablespoons melted coconut oil
1 Teaspoon lavender essential oil or essential oil blend such as lavender and lemon
1 Tablespoon water, more as needed
Purple soap coloring, optional
Add all the dry ingredients, baking soda through ORGANIC INDIA Neem powder, to a medium sized bowl. Whisk to combine, removing any lumps.
In a glass measuring cup or bowl, stir the melted coconut oil, essential oil, and 1 Tablespoon water. Add drops of coloring (about 5-6 or to taste) if using, too.
Gradually pour the wet mixture in with the dry mixture, whisking as you go. It will likely fizz a little bit–don’t panic, but slow down. Use your hands, the whisk, or a spoon to mix until the mixture resembles damp sand. If needed, add a little bit of extra water to reach this consistency, ideally spraying it in.
Add a few dried lavender buds to the bottom of your halved molds if desired for decoration, then tightly pack each half of a 2-sided mold with the mixture, heaping a little on top. Press the mold pieces together, then gently remove one side. Place the bomb on a tray, remaining mold side down and dry overnight. Once dry, carefully remove from the molds. Store in a sealed container or tightly wrapped.