I love baths, but in the winter my skin gets so dry that I tend to take quick showers and then cover myself with lotions and creams. But when I get the chance, I love to make my own bath oils. And this one, infused with chai tea and vanilla, has a perfect wintery scent to help me feel better and more invigorated, especially after weeks of illness. If you prefer, you can heat the oil before using it, especially on days when it’s brutally cold outside.
For those of you new to this series, Sarah Munro, the heroine in ONE DARK WISH, the second book in the Deadly Force series, is an 18th century historian who inherited a collection of colonial-era herbal and homeopathic remedies. And, in this blog space, I’ve been sharing her recipes with you all. I’m adding this recipe to this collection because the scent of vanilla is considered (by perfumers) to be round, warm and sweet which can help you relax, even after the most stressful of days. And chai is made up of cloves, cinnamon, ginger, anise, and cardamom, all of which have warming properties and can help fight inflammation. I hope you enjoy this recipe and that it helps ease you through these last weeks of winter.
Ingredients:
- 16 oz sesame oil
- 4 oz sweet almond oil
- 1/2 cup of dried chai tea leaves
- vanilla bean powder
- glass jar with a tight-fitting lid
Directions for Chai Vanilla Bath Oil
- Using a food processor, blend down the dried chai tea leaves until the pieces are tiny, but not pulverized. A few bursts should do it.
- In the top of a double boiler on the stove, stir together the sesame oil, almond oil, and dried chai leaves. Then stir in the Vanilla Bean Powder.
- For about THREE HOURS, heat the oil on a low temperature so it infuses with the tea leaves. Don’t let it boil or simmer or get too hot, and monitor it frequently so that the water in the bottom of the double boiler doesn’t evaporate away. Add more water as necessary.
- Stir the oil frequently, while always checking the water levels, for these three hours. Yes, it’s a pain. But it’s the only way to get a good infusion.
- Strain the oil using cheesecloth and store in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- USAGE: Apply to your entire body after a shower or bath.
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER ABOUT WILD PLANTS, FORAGING, AND MAKING HERBAL REMEDIES:
I am not a medical professional and nothing written on this blog is medical advice. None of my statements have been evaluated by the FDA (I am legally required to give you this disclaimer).
It is important to do your due diligence before foraging, harvesting, and/or consuming any type of medicinal plant.
- If you are taking any medications, talk to your doctor about any potential drug interactions.
- If you are allergic to anything, make sure whatever you are foraging is not in the same family. Example: While dandelions are typically considered safe, those who are allergic to ragweed, latex, daisies, or any other plants in the same or similar families, may not be able to consume dandelion.
Always research potential side effects, dosage recommendations, and how to properly prepare and consume each medicinal plant.
Always make sure you are foraging what you believe to be. Fully prepare and study the anatomy before harvesting wild plants.
Always make sure your kitchen/work area is clean and that all materials are sterilized.
Do not forage plants from areas that have been sprayed within the past 2 years at the very least.
I am not legally or morally responsible for the health of any of my readers. Please do your own research!
