Rose Petal Milk Bath Recipe

Full Fat Milk Powder

Bathing in milk has connotations of luxury and decadence, but there are also well-documented benefits to putting milk in your bath water.

The saturated fatty acids in whole milk powder (or goats milk powder) are incredibly nourishing to dry skin, and its high fat content is extra moisturizing.

As well, the lactic acid in milk powder is a natural humectant that helps attract and bind moisture to skin, offering even more hydrating benefits.

Skimmed milk powder won’t have all the same benefits in comparison, but it’s still rich in skin-softening amino acids and milk proteins, so nonfat milk powder still works if it’s all you have on hand.

If you’re allergic to dairy or vegan, you can also substitute coconut milk powder. Coconut fat is also comprised of saturated fats to help nourish and moisturize the skin.

Epsom Salts

Taking a warm bath with Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) can help alleviate achy muscles, and it may also help contribute to your daily magnesium requirements.

Magnesium deficiency is known to exacerbate conditions such as migraines, anxiety, and muscle cramps, so it can’t hurt to add an extra dose to your rose-infused bathwater.

While studies aren’t definitive when it comes to absorbing magnesium through the skin, it’s likely there may be some benefits since your skin does absorb whatever is applied topically^3,4.

But I do know that a warm bath in Epsom salts helps me feel more relaxed, and it’s something I like to do at least weekly.

Colloidal Oatmeal

Colloidal oatmeal is another ingredient that I like to add to my homemade bath recipes. It possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and it also helps bind moisture to the skin, perfectly complementing a moisturizing homemade milk bath.

Numerous studies have shown that colloidal oatmeal can calm dry, itchy skin, which is why it’s also commonly used as a natural remedy for atopic dermatitis⁵.

However, even if you don’t have a skin condition, colloidal oatmeal has also been shown to provide extra skin hydration, making it a great addition to a moisturizing milk bath⁶.

If you don’t have colloidal oatmeal on hand, you can make your own by using a food processor to blend organic whole oats into a fine powder.

Natrasorb Bath (natural bath soak emulsifier)

Comprised of modified natural tapioca starch, Natrasorb Bath starch helps absorb and disperse essential oils in bath recipes.

Because undiluted essential oils can pool on the surface of your bath, which can cause skin rashes or even minor burns when they contact your skin, it’s important to include an emulsifier when using essential oils in the bath.

Natural Pink Bath Colorant

If you’d like to add a natural rose pink color to your bath soak, you have a couple options: ethically sourced pink mica or beetroot powder.

Ethical mica, while not an entirely natural product, is completely cruelty-free, so I prefer it over natural mica.

Alternatively, you can also use natural beetroot powder, but keep in mind that the resulting pink tone might be slightly more reddish-brown rather than a milky pink.

Finally, another option is to use pink beetroot extract powder for cosmetics, which has been specially processed to be pink. You can also use natural pink food coloring powder, which we also used in our chocolate rose bath bomb recipe.

Rose Bath Benefits

We’ve definitely touted the benefits of taking a warm bath in many of our bath and body recipes, including our recent milk bath article.

To summarize, bathing in roses can also include benefits such as:

Promoting Relaxation

A warm bath contributes to feelings of ease, calmness, peacefulness and encourages a more restful sleep.

Plus, intentionally creating a beautiful space by adding roses to your bath, and taking some extra time out of your day to enjoy self-care, is a form of self-love.

Bathing can also be a lovely way to unwind after a stressful day, and I find taking a warm bath definitely helps me sleep better.

Aromatherapy Benefits

By taking a bath with flowers and essential oils, you can experience spa-like aromatherapeutic benefits from the comfort of your bathroom⁷. The steam from the bath releases and circulates the vapour of both the essential oils and rose petals into the air. (Shower steamers offer similar benefits.)

Using essential oils for fragrance is also preferable over chemically scented bath recipes, especially if you’re sensitive to synthetic fragrances. I know I am, as they trigger a migraine.

Using an essential blend with rose and lavender may also you sleep more soundly, as lavender is also well-known for promoting relaxation. For this reason, I also included an essential oil blend with lavender below.

Moisturizing Dry Skin

Aside from soothing the senses, this rose bath soak contains many natural ingredients that help calm dry, sensitive skin while providing an extra boost of moisture and hydration.

Rose Milk Bath Recipe

• 3 1/4 cups full-fat milk powder, goat’s milk powder, or coconut milk powder (vegan option)
• 1 cup Epsom salts
• 3/4 cup colloidal oatmeal
• 1/2 cup Natrasorb Bath powder
• 1/2 cup dried rose petals or rose buds (more as desired)
• 1/2 teaspoon beetroot powder, ethical pink mica, or natural pink food coloring powder

Rose Bath Essential Oil Blends

Rose Vanilla

30 drops rose absolute, rose otto, or rose geranium essential oil*
45 drops vanilla oleoresin, Vanilla Woods, or vanilla botanical extract

*If using pure rose otto, use only 15 drops, as it’s highly concentrated.

Lavender Rose

45 drops rose essential oil or rose geranium essential oil
30 drops lavender 40/42 or Bulgarian lavender essential oil

Citrus Rose

45 drops sweet orange essential oil, blood orange essential oil, or orange essence
30 drops rose absolute, rose oil, or rose geranium essential oil

Supplies + Equipment

• Large mixing bowl
• Small mixing bowl
• Wooden spoon or spatula
• Sieve for a smooth texture
• Storage containers, such as mason jars, milk bottles or bath salt jars

How to make rose petal bath

1. Sift dry ingredients. Using a sieve, sift milk powder, colloidal oatmeal, and your natural bath soak colorant of choice (pink mica or pink beet powder) into a large bowl. Mix well with a wooden spoon to combine.
   
2. Mix essential oils. Place Natrasorb Bath starch into a separate, smaller bowl. Sprinkle the rose essential oil blend over the starch, then mix well until the oils are completely absorbed.
   
3. Add essential oils. Pour the emulsified essential oils and starch blend into the rest of your rose milk bath ingredients, then mix well to incorporate.
   
4. Add Epsom salts + roses. Lastly, add Epsom salt, rose petals, or other decorative flower petals of your choice.
   
   
5. Package rose bath. Transfer all ingredients into airtight containers with lids, such as a few mason jars, bath soak jars, or small milk bottles. This recipe makes 6 cups, or enough for 3-6 baths.

How to use homemade rose milk bath

Pour 1-2 cups of your rose bath mixture into warm bath water and swirl with your hands to dissolve.
Now, sit back and take time to smell the roses, allowing the fragrant natural ingredients to soften your skin and calm your senses. Bathe for approximately 20-30 mins or however long you desire.

After exiting the tub, gently pat your skin dry, and then apply a moisturizing body butter or rich lotion to lock in all the milk bath’s moisture.

Note on cleanup: while rose petals look beautiful floating in the tub and make this recipe more luxurious, remember to scoop the flowers out after your bath to prevent clogging the drain.

A simple strainer works well. If you want to skip the cleanup, you can also enjoy this bath soak by placing it in a small cotton muslin bag such as the one used in our chocolate and roses tub tea.

But personally, I think this defeats the purpose of taking a bath with roses and enjoying their natural beauty, so the few minutes it takes to scoop up the petals is well worth the time.

Rose Petal Bath as a Foot Soak

If you’re not a bath person, try using this recipe as a homemade foot soak to help soften feet and minimize foot odor.

To make a rose petal bath for feet, dissolve half a cup of the mixture in a small basin of warm water. Relax for about 15-20 minutes and let the ingredients soften your feet.

Pat your feet dry and then immediately apply a nourishing lotion or body butter. Bonus: put on a cozy pair of merino wool socks or 100% organic cotton socks to lock in moisture.

DIY Rose Bath Soak Packaging

Mason jars are ideal for packaging homemade bath soaks because they are cheap, reusable and easy to find. You can also repurpose small milk bottles, which perfectly complement a milk bath.

For even more storage ideas, we also have an article on packaging for homemade bath and body products that you might find helpful.

And if you want to gift this recipe to a special someone, simply add a bow and a homemade gift tag such as the ones we used to label our rose petal bath bombs.

Finally, be sure to store your DIY rose milk bath away from heat, moisture, and humidity, such as in a dark, cool and dry cupboard or drawer.

How long will this bath recipe last?

As with all homemade bath recipes, the shelf-life will depend on the expiry date of your perishable ingredients, so it’s a good idea to check your ingredients labels for the date.

If the ingredients are fairly fresh and if you store your rose bath under proper conditions, you can expect it to last approximately 4-6 months. Just keep in mind that milk powder easily absorbs moisture which will cause it to spoil.

You may also want to label homemade products using a sticker with the creation date so that you remember when they were made.

Homemade Bath Soak Safety

This rose milk bath recipe is crafted with natural ingredients which are likely safe for most people. However, it’s always recommended that you consult with your health care provider if you have any allergies or health conditions, as using essential oils in the bath may not be suitable for those with very sensitive skin.

When in doubt, do a patch test. You can fill a small basin with 1/2 cup bath mixture and submerge a part of your hand or foot. If you experience any irritation, do not use this recipe.

More bath and body recipes

If you liked this bath soak, you may also enjoy our other bath recipes:

• Milk and Honey Bath Soak Recipe
• 4 Milk Bath Recipes for Soft Skin
• Chocolate and Roses Bath Soak
• Himalayan Salt Bath Recipe
• DIY Green Tea Bath + Benefits
• DIY Pink Lemonade Tub Tea
• Homemade Floral Bath Salts

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