Aromatherapy has been used since the beginning of recorded history, and its relaxing and stimulating benefits continue to be recognized today.
Aromatherapy isn’t just for massages and baths, either; you can also create your own aromatherapy experience right in your hot tub.
These are the two best products for enjoying aromatherapy in your hot tub:
- Essential oils
- Aromatherapy crystals
Here, we’ll explore the products you can use for hot tub aromatherapy, as well as the benefits of various scents.
Essential Oils
Even the most ancient civilizations appreciated the healing and relaxing properties of essential oils: The ancient Egyptians are famous for their use of myrrh and frankincense oils (click here to learn more about ancient Egyptian bathing rituals and other hydrotherapy history).
Today, essential oils are just as useful as they were thousands of years ago, but they’re much more accessible. Essential oils in a wide array of scents are available from grocery stores, health food stores and online retailers alike.
Essential oils are particularly useful for aromatherapy since they contain no artificial fragrances or fillers. The only ingredients are pure oils extracted from traditionally therapeutic plants like lavender and clary sage.
To use essential oils in your hot tub, simply add six-10 drops of undiluted essential oil directly into your hot tub’s water.
Always make sure to start slowly, though — some essential oils like eucalyptus contain high amounts of menthol, which can cause eye and skin irritation. Be especially cautious with children: Some may be tempted to taste the water thanks to its pleasant smell, but many essential oils can be toxic if ingested. Finally, always remember that no children under the age of five should be using a hot tub in the first place.
Don’t worry, essential oils won’t make your hot tub water dirty — in fact, many essential oils have strong antibacterial and antifungal properties.
According to a 1996 study published in the journal Microbios, “Antibacterial and antifungal activity of ten essential oils in vitro,” the following essential oils killed all of the 22 tested strains of bacteria:
- Lemongrass
- Eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Orange
Aromatherapy Crystals
While we don’t recommend adding Epsom salts or other types of bath salts to your hot tub unless you plan on immediately draining and refilling the water to flush out the corrosive salt, plenty of hot tub-safe aromatherapy crystals provide the same aromatherapeutic benefits.
Many are available in one-note scents comparable to those of essential oils, such as lavender and eucalyptus.
You can also purchase aromatherapy crystals with pre-blended scents, such as coconut mango, cucumber melon and apple sandalwood, to name a few.
To use aromatherapy crystals in your hot tub, simply add one-three capfuls of the crystals to your hot tub’s water, or the amount recommended by the aromatherapy crystals’ manufacturer.
Aromatherapy Benefits by Scent
According to various aromatherapy guides and scientific studies, these popular aromatherapy scents have the following benefits:
- Lavender: Relieves stress, promotes relaxation and may be useful in treating anxiety, insomnia and depression. In essential oil form, it is also antiseptic and antifungal.
- Eucalyptus: This scent is renowned for its ability to invigorate the mind and refresh the senses. In essential oil form, it is highly antiseptic and can also help to clear the respiratory system.
- Lemon: The scent of lemon is a well-known mood booster, and may also help treat both stress and depression.
- Chamomile: Not just for tea, chamomile’s gentle scent promotes relaxation, and in essential oil form it may help relieve the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis.
- Thyme: The scent of thyme purportedly reduces nervousness, fatigue and stress. In essential oil form, it is also an effective antiseptic and powerful antioxidant.
These are just some of the hundreds of aromatherapy scents available, all of which have their own unique set of potential benefits.
Next time you get in the hot tub, don’t settle for the smell of chlorine: Instead, use essential oils or aromatherapy crystals to turn your hot tub into a luxurious spa.
Link to History of Hydrotherapy post when live
