Detox Bath With Essential Oils: Easy DIY Recipe

QUICK SUMMARY

A detox bath with essential oils is a warm soak with 1 cup of Epsom salts, ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar, and 1 to 2 drops of lemon and 6 to 8 drops of lavender essential oil mixed first into 1 tablespoon of carrier oil or liquid Castile soap. Soak your whole body, then rise slowly.

The warm water makes you sweat, one of the ways your body clears toxins, and a warm bath an hour or two before bed helps you fall asleep faster. Children have their own smaller recipes below. (1, 2)

Toxins are everywhere, and unless you live in a bubble, you can’t avoid them! God designed our bodies with systems that process and eliminate waste every day. We can still support them by learning how to detox with essential oils and other natural remedies.

If you’re looking for a simple way to detox, start with my Detox Bath with Essential Oils! It’s one of my favorite ways to slow down, soothe a tired body, and make room for prayer and emotional renewal.

How Do I Take a Detox Bath?

While this bath is safe, there are a few precautions you need to follow. I recommend doing these steps to achieve maximum results!

The Best Essential Oils for Detox Bath and Emotional Detox

Author Mama Z

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Quantity

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Ingredients

• 1 cup pure, fragrance-free Epsom salts
• ¼ cup organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon (15ml.) liquid carrier oil OR organic unscented liquid castile soap*
• 1-2 drops lemon essential oil
• 6-8 drops lavender essential oil

Supplies

• Glass jar

Instructions

 

• Mix essential oils and carrier oil (or liquid castile soap) before adding to the empty tub.
• Pour in Epsom salts.
• Fill your bathtub with as warm of water as you can stand.
• Slowly pour the apple cider vinegar into the running water.
• Soak your whole body for 30-45 minutes.
• During the last five minutes, first, sit up, then kneel, and last stand.

Notes

*No matter what allergies you may have, there’s a carrier oil that’s right for you. You can use any or a combination of these: Avocado, Fractionated Coconut, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Sweet Almond. These are our favorite carrier oils; to see a full list of options, click here. Your carrier oil needs to stay liquid no matter the temperature, so it doesn’t clog drain pipes. Organic extra-virgin and unrefined coconut oil is not an option.

Step One: Mix the Essential Oils and Carrier Oil

Mix the essential oils of choice and carrier oil before adding them to an empty tub. Using carrier oil isn’t optional! Oil and water do not mix, so a drop added straight to the tub stays undiluted on your skin.

Step Two: Draw Your Bath

Pour in your Epsom salts. Then, fill your bathtub with as warm of water as you can stand. Doing this will help your body sweat out toxins! In a 2022 study from Taiwan, researchers collected sweat from 12 healthy university students after 20 minutes of steady sweating and measured nickel, lead, copper, arsenic, and mercury in it. In their words, “Physiologists have long regarded sweating as an effective and safe means of detoxification, and heavy metals are excreted through sweat to reduce the levels of such metals in the body.” (1)

That same study found sweat from running carried more of most of these metals than sweat from sitting in the heat, so a brisk walk earlier in the day makes a great partner for your soak. (1) The landmark 2012 review of 24 studies reached the same conclusion about sweat itself: sweating “deserves consideration for toxic element detoxification.” (3)

Last, slowly pour the apple cider vinegar into the running water. Follow the soak time in the recipe card. During the last few minutes, slowly (emphasis on slow!) sit up, kneel, and finally, stand. Exiting the tub slowly ensures you don’t get dizzy.

If you’re pregnant, especially in the first trimester, keep the water warm rather than hot. A 2024 umbrella review of the published meta-analyses ranked overheating among the best-supported risk factors for neural tube defects, with nearly double the odds. (4) A 2026 review in Birth Defects Research adds that the greatest vulnerability is during the first trimester. (5)

A warm bath is also one of the best things you can do for sleep. A 2021 Japanese study followed 1,094 older adults and found that those who took a hot bath one to three hours before bedtime fell asleep significantly faster than on nights without one. (2) In a 2023 study, 23 adults bathed at home 1.5 to 2 hours before bed; a longer soak in the tub helped them fall asleep faster than a shower did, and they rated their sleep better too. (6)

The 5 Ingredients You Need for a Detox Bath

To create your detox bath, you need just five ingredients. You probably have some in your home already! Here’s what you need to get started.

Pure, Fragrance-Free Epsom Salts: Epsom salt contains a hefty dose of magnesium. Sometimes, your body needs a signal that it’s okay to relax, and this bath gets the message across! In a 2021 trial, adults with low magnesium and high stress took 300 mg of magnesium by mouth a day, and their anxiety scores dropped significantly over eight weeks, with most of the improvement in the first four. (7) Learn the signs of magnesium deficiency here. When purchasing Epsom salts, be sure to get the plain, unscented kind.

Organic Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar: I recommend using an organic brand that has the “mother,” where most of the benefits are! In a 2024 lab study, apple cider vinegar stopped the growth of Candida albicans, the yeast behind many fungal infections, along with two common bacteria. (8) Don’t worry about the smell. Essential oils mask any vinegar scent!

Liquid Carrier Oil: Sweet almond, fractionated coconut, avocado, grapeseed, and jojoba oil are heavenly in this recipe! Be sure to use a carrier oil that remains liquid in all temperatures so your pipes don’t clog; regular coconut oil is not an option. If you want your essential oils spread through the water, mix them with organic, unscented liquid castile soap instead of carrier oil.

Lemon Essential Oil: It’s one of the best essential oils for a detox bath! It has a clean, uplifting smell, and it’s great for emotional detoxing because it helps relieve anxiety in stressful situations. In a 2022 Turkish study, nursing students who smelled lemon essential oil for 15 minutes before an exam had lower test anxiety than students who did not. (9) It’s one of our favorite EOs for detox.

Lavender Essential Oil: Lavender is an essential oil that calms your mind and eases stress. In a 2023 review of 11 clinical trials with 972 people, 10 found lower anxiety after lavender inhalation. (10) A 2026 analysis of 11 randomized trials with 628 adults found that lavender oil also improves sleep quality. (11) This light floral scent pairs wonderfully with lemon to create the ultimate spa experience.

Supplies: To make this recipe, you’ll need a glass jar to mix the ingredients.

How to Give a Child a Detox Bath

Here’s how you adjust this recipe for little ones.

Detox Bath Recipe - Children (Babies) Under The Age of 2

Author Mama Z

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Quantity

2x4x6x

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup pure, fragrance-free Epsom salts
• 1 tablespoon organic unfiltered apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon liquid carrier oil*
• 1 drop lemon essential oil (optional)
• 2-3 drops lavender essential oil

Instructions

 

• Mix all ingredients first, then place in a baby tub or bath tub. To keep kids sitting in the tub, I’ll let them have a special treat or tub toy.

Notes

*No matter what allergies you may have, there’s a carrier oil that’s right for you. You can use any or a combination of these: Avocado, Fractionated Coconut, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Sweet Almond. These are our favorite carrier oils; to see a full list of options, click here. Your carrier oil needs to stay liquid no matter the temperature so it doesn't clog pipes. Raw organic coconut oil is not an option. 

Supervise children the whole time, and stop if a child develops irritation, coughing, or wheezing. A soak is never the answer for trouble breathing, a swollen face or throat, or severe hives; get help right away.

Try using this essential oil blend in our DIY bath bombs and add some fun relaxation to your detox bath. Follow up your emotional detox bath with this emotional detox inhaler blend for aromatherapy support.

The Importance of Detoxing Your Emotions

Emotional detox isn’t widely spoken about, though it should be! God created us with emotions, and they are not bad. But the rollercoaster of emotions we feel as humans can quickly crash when those emotions get out of control. This can severely impact every part of our lives: spiritual, mental, financial, and physical.

Everyone needs to have a de-stress routine! Taking regular emotional detox breaks can help you better handle your emotions. Many members of our Natural Living Family regularly use this bath to find relief from daily stressors.

Read This Before You Begin…

Sometimes, the word detox can make people squirm. This is a safe process when done correctly, I assure you! Using essential oils in a detox bath can rejuvenate your body like nothing else!

This detox bath is so gentle I use it during my pregnancies. Both the adult and kid-friendly versions use the same ingredients but differ in quantities. No harsh chemicals are needed!

How to End Your Bathtime Routine

My bathtime routine is pretty extensive, so I consider myself an expert in pampering! Once you finish your relaxing bath, use my coconut oil-based moisturizing oil base. If you’ve experienced emotional detox, this will only boost your results. Add essential oils to your moisturizer to make it even more fabulous with my joyful recipe.

If treating sore muscles with your DIY detox bath, I recommend following up with my DIY Fibromyalgia Massage Oil Blend. This blend of oils can relax muscles even further.

For skin that needs extra care, replenish it with my soothing skin healing serum. The aloe vera has a cooling effect on the skin.

Detox Bath FAQs

Do detox baths really remove toxins?

A warm soak makes you sweat, and sweat is one of the ways your body clears toxic metals. In a 2022 study, researchers measured nickel, lead, copper, arsenic, and mercury in the sweat of healthy young adults after just 20 minutes of sweating. (1)

Does Epsom salt absorb through the skin?

That one is still unproven. In a 2026 lab study on skin samples, very little magnesium from an Epsom salt solution crossed healthy, intact skin in 24 hours, though far more passed through skin whose outer layer was damaged. (12) Magnesium taken by mouth is the well-documented route.

Can I put essential oils directly in bathwater?

No. Oil and water don’t mix, so the drops stay undiluted. Always mix them into the carrier oil or Castile soap first.

Can I take a detox bath before bed?

Yes. A warm bath one to three hours before bedtime helps you fall asleep faster. (2) A landmark 2019 analysis of 13 studies put the sweet spot at 104 to 108.5°F, one to two hours before bed, for as little as 10 minutes. (13)

Can children use this detox bath?

Yes, with the child recipes above, never the adult formula.

Keep reading: Essential Oil Detox Water Recipe for Daily Hydration · Whipped Body Butter: Nourishing DIY for Soft Smooth Skin · Homemade Muscle Rub With Essential Oils for Sore Muscles