Orange Creamsicle Milk Bath Recipe

This orange creamsicle milk bath recipe is a citrusy and uplifting twist on a traditional milk bath. Creamy vanilla and milk combine with sweet orange for an energizing, sweet-smelling bath soak that will brighten your spirits while it moisturizes your skin.

Naturally fragranced with vanilla oleoresin and sweet orange essential oil, this milk bath’s nostalgic scent might just remind you of sweet ice cream desserts on warm summer days. But you can certainly enjoy this orange milk bath recipe any time of year.

Full-fat milk powder is chock full of natural saturated fatty acids, so it makes this bath soak deeply nourishing for dry skin. (Coconut milk powder can be substituted for a dairy-free or vegan option.)

Epsom salts add a dose of calming magnesium, and optional honey powder provides extra sweetness while giving your bathwater a silky, luxurious texture.

For color, you can use a light sprinkle of orange mica or natural orange peel powder, which will give your  bath soak a beautiful creamy orange tone. Alternatively, you can use mica to color only the Epsom salts. Finally, you can choose to combine all bath ingredients together and put them in a jar, or prepare the milk and salts separately to layer into bath tubes.

Simply follow the simple steps below to make a refreshing citrus milk bath perfect for relaxation, gentle exfoliation, and self-care. 

If you want to learn more about the benefits of a milk bath for your skin, we covered that topic in-depth in this article. 

So let’s get right into the special ingredients you will need to make this easy homemade orange milk bath, or feel free to skip straight to the recipe below.

Orange Creamsicle Milk Bath Ingredients

Full-Fat Milk Powder

The natural saturated fatty acids in milk add moisture to your bath. For the most moisturizing benefits, use full-fat organic milk powder or goat’s milk powder. That high fat content is what makes this soak so wonderfully skin-softening.

• Can I use skim milk powder? Yes. Skimmed milk powder works if it is what you have on hand, but it will not be as moisturizing.
• Vegan/Dairy-Free Alternative: Substitute the dairy powder for coconut milk powder to make this a vegan-friendly bath soak recipe.

Honey Powder

Honey powder will add a luxurious, skin-softening boost to this recipe, plus a naturally sweet scent that complements the orange creamsicle essential oil blend.

Since honey is a natural humectant which attracts and binds moisture, it gives the bathwater a very smooth and silky feel.

Thanks to its low pH, antimicrobial properties, and natural enzymes, honey can also help soothe dry, red or irritated skin, leaving it softer, smoother, and more radiant.

Natrasorb Bath (Bath Soak Emulsifier)

If you haven’t used an emulsifier in your bath recipes before, it’s important to note that using one in recipes containing essential oils is absolutely essential. Since undiluted essential oils can pool on the surface of bathwater, they can cause skin rashes or even minor burns. Don’t skip the natural emulsifier in your bath recipes!

We recommend Natrasorb Bath starch as it’s comprised of modified natural tapioca starch that absorbs and disperses essential oils. We find this ingredient works beautifully in our bath bomb recipes as well.

Essential Oils, Orange Peel Powder, & Ethical Mica

Essential oils are a more natural way to scent a bath recipe and we prefer them over fragrance oils. For this recipe, we created a mouth-watering orange creamsicle essential oil blend for this soak which you will find below.

We also added orange peel powder which boosts the refreshing citrus scent of this bath soak. If you want to add color, using ethical mica will give your homemade soak a beautiful warm orange tone. Ethical mica, while not completely natural, is manufactured to completely avoid the exploitative practices of traditional mining.

Creamsicle Milk Bath Recipe

Creamy vanilla and milk combine with sweet orange oil for an energizing orange creamsicle milk bath that will brighten your spirits and uplift your mood.

• 3 cups full-fat milk powder (goat’s milk powder or coconut milk powder for a vegan option)
• 1 cup Epsom salts
• ½ cup Natrasorb Bath starch
• ½ cup honey powder
• ½ cup dried orange peel powder or dried orange slices
• ½ teaspoon ethical orange mica

Orange Creamsicle Essential Oil Blend

• 30 drops sweet orange oil or orange essence
• 40 drops vanilla essential oil or vanilla botanical extract

Supplies

• Large mixing bowl (glass or ceramic)
• Smaller mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Sieve (sifter)
• Funnel
• Storage containers (such as large mason jars, milk bottles, or bath tubes)

Directions

1. Sift the Powders: Using a sieve, sift the milk powder and honey powder into a large bowl. Mix well with a wooden spoon.
2. Emulsify the Oils: Place the Natrasorb Bath starch into a separate, smaller bowl. Sprinkle your essential oils over the starch, then mix well until the oils are completely absorbed and enveloped by the starch. 
3. Combine: Pour this emulsified essential oil starch blend into your large bowl with the milk powder mixture. Mix thoroughly to incorporate the ingredients evenly.
4. Add Botanicals: Add the dried orange peel to the milk mixture. (Note: If you plan to layer your milk bath in jars later, set the orange peel aside instead).
5. Color the Salts: Place the Epsom salts into a separate bowl and add the ethical orange mica. Stir well until the salts are evenly colored. 
6. Package Your Milk Bath: Transfer your ingredients into airtight containers, such as a large mason jar, milk bottles, or bath tubes.
   
   Tip – How to Layer: You can either stir the colored Epsom salts directly into the milk mixture for a uniform look, or layer them separately for a beautiful gift-ready presentation. To layer, start with a base of the white milk bath mixture, add a layer of colored Epsom salts, follow with a layer of dried orange peel, and repeat!

How to Package a DIY Creamsicle Milk Bath

• Best Bath Salt Packaging Options: You can use spring-top glass jars, traditional bath salt jars, or bath salt tubes, like the ones shown in our recipe photos. Reused mason jars are also a great eco-friendly option for storing homemade bath products.
• Why You Should Choose Glass Over Plastic: Always opt for glass packaging if possible. Over time, the essential oils in this DIY orange milk bath can degrade plastic containers, which can cause harmful chemicals to leak into your soak.
• How to Prevent Drain Clogs: If you are worried about cleanup or clogged pipes from the orange peel powder, simply scoop your milk bath into a reusable muslin bag. Let the bag float in your running bathwater to cleanly disperse the ingredients.
• Easy DIY Gifting Idea: If you are making this as a gift, adding a homemade tag with the recipe name or the recipient’s name adds a lovely personal touch. Check out an example of our favorite gift tags in this post.

How to Use an Orange Milk Bath

• How Much to Use: To enjoy your DIY creamsicle milk bath, pour 1 to 2 cups of the mixture directly into warm running bathwater. Tip: Cooler water is perfect for a refreshing summer soak! 
• Mix and Soak: Gently swirl the water with your hand to help the milk powder, Epsom salt, and essential oils dissolve and disperse into your bath. Sit back, relax, and enjoy a long, moisturizing bath soak for 20 to 30 minutes to allow the milk to deeply soften your skin. 
• Post-Bath Skin Care: After your soak, gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel. To lock in moisture, immediately apply your favorite body butter or lotion. 
• Scent Layering Tips: If you enjoy citrus scents, we highly recommend pairing this with our homemade Lemon Body Butter recipe. Alternatively, if you are looking for a more restful sleep, follow up this bath soak with our calming Magnesium Lotion recipe.

More Bath and Body Recipes

If you enjoyed this creamsicle milk bath recipe, you may also want to try these homemade bath recipes:

• Himalayan Salt Bath
• DIY Green Tea Bath 
• Milk and Honey Bath Recipe
• DIY Pink Lemonade Tub Tea 
• Rose Petal Milk Bath Recipe

For even more natural bath and body recipes, follow us on Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter.

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