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Craft your calm: Your spa in a floral jar
- Ann De Corte
- Jan 7
- 6 min read
Switching from teaching French for over 35 years to holding a flower workshop for the very first time is quite a learning curve. But I wouldn't have it any other way since I constantly love to challenge myself, my limits and my strenghts. It's one thing to share this passion of mine with my mom but a whole other level to teach a group (only in my third language, I keep on joking around to excuse myself for terrible mistakes! hmm)
The workshop this morning was an absolute delight, filled with creativity, laughter, and the beautiful scent of salts, herbs and essential oils. Participants gathered around the table, each choosing their favorite combination of dried flowers. The atmosphere felt relaxed and inspired as everyone learned how to blend mineral-rich salts with dried herbs and their choice of essential oils for both skin nourishment and sensory enjoyment. As they mixed the ingredients, the room filled with the relaxing and/or uplifting aroma's of Lavender, Rose, Rosemary, Eucalyptus & Spearmint, evoking a gentle spa-like calm. Many guests shared how soothing is was to connect with natural materials and how rewarding it felt to create something useful and beautiful by hand. The finished jars looked stunning, each one unique, adorned with flowers, ready to gift or enjoy in self-care routines.
The workshop wrapped up with smiles, fragrant hands, and a renewed sense of mindfulness and gratitude, perfectly capturing the spirit of Time4SelfLove and the joy of simple, natural creativity.
PROGRAM:
Part 1: Decorating the glass jars (11:25-12 pm)
Tips and tricks were shared while I gave a little demonstration. I took one of my most challenging flowers to start with to give a little idea how much patience pays off. It is a little harder than it looks but by the time you start on your second jar, you will already feel the difference in flow, in letting go, in accepting the failure, the change in your breathing, your focus and attention. You will forget everything around you like the world stood still for a minute. I promise you this. It has been my healing journey for many years.
Part 2: Making a bath salt (12-1:45 pm)
Although making a bath salt was on the agenda, most of the participants chose to make a body scrub. One of their favorite aroma's was Rose Epsom salt with nourishing milk proteins.
Adding dried herbs/flowers (Lavender, Lavandin, Rosemary, Rose petals, Grapefruit, Sage) and essential oils (presented in 2 ml droppers in jojoba oil) was a pure delight for all senses.
I asked our group to add some thoughts behind the following words:
"Knowing I cannot fail this workshop is' ...
They replied: "rewarding, fulfilling, uplifting, empowering, liberating, reassuring".
They believed doing new things makes life joyful and fun. They also said that sometimes when plan A doesn't work , you just need to adjust the plan and be flexible.
Can you put essential oils directly into the bath water?
If you add essential ols directly to bathwater without proper dilution, the small concentrated essential oil molecules will float on the surface because they are hydrophobic (water repelling) and potentially cause skin irritation or sensitization when you enter the bath.
However, essential oils are lipophilic (fat/lipid loving), that's why we make rollers with a carrier oil base instead of a water base.
So what can you do when you are not used adding essential oils ?
So the key is to always dilute and mix the essential oils into a carrier (like jojoba, sweet almond, or a bath dispersant) before combining with salts; salt alone does not properly dilute oils. Both Himalayan pink salt and Epsom salt are not true carriers or solubilizers, so they do not properly disperse essential oils on their own in the bath.
Because of that, safe essential oil usage is guided by standard bath dilution (about 0.5–2% of the finished product), not by which salt you use.
For most healthy adults, 5-12 drops total per bath is plenty when well dispersed in carrier; more does not mean more benefit and can irritate skin.
Why is exfoliating a critical part of any beauty routine?
It removes dead & dry skin cells, helps unclog pores, and opens ingrown hair follicles and stimulates blood flow to the skin.
With increased blood flow it is easier for cells to regenerate, keeping your glow smooth and healthy. Not to mention salt is known for drawing toxicity out of the body and serves as an anti-inflammatory agent, soothing sore muscles and easing aches and pains.
How can one make a good choice between salt and sugar scrubs?
Salt has been used for skin care and healing for thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians were among the first to recognize its benefits. They used it for exfoliation, wound healing, and purification. Historical records show that Cleopatra’s beauty rituals included bathing in Dead Sea salt to keep her skin soft and youthful.
The Greeks and Romans also adopted salt scrubs in their bathing rituals. They combined sea salt with oils and herbs to cleanse and rejuvenate the skin. Roman bathhouses used salt-based treatments to improve circulation, remove toxins, and maintain healthy skin.
Salt and sugar scrubs are both physical exfoliants, but salt scrubs are coarser and more detoxifying, while sugar scrubs are gentler and more hydrating. Choosing between them mainly depends on skin type, sensitivity, and the area of the body you’re treating.
Texture and exfoliation
Salt crystals tend to be more angular and can be quite coarse, giving a stronger exfoliation that suits thicker skin areas like feet, elbows, and legs.
Sugar crystals are usually smaller and rounder, so they exfoliate more gently and dissolve faster, making them better for sensitive skin and delicate areas, even the face when finely milled.
Skin effects and benefits
Salt scrubs not only remove dead cells but also offer deeper cleansing; salt is often described as detoxifying and can help draw out impurities and excess oil from the skin.
Sugar is a natural humectant, attracting water into the skin, so sugar scrubs tend to leave the skin feeling more hydrated and soft after rinsing.
Suitability for skin types
Salt scrubs are typically recommended for normal to oily or thicker, less sensitive skin, and for those wanting invigorating, circulation-boosting treatment or help with body congestion.
Sugar scrubs are usually better for dry, sensitive, or reactive skin types, and are often preferred in colder months or dry climates where maintaining moisture is a priority.
Sensation and potential irritation
Salt can sting on freshly shaved skin, cuts, or eczema-prone areas, and may feel too intense if the grains are large or pressure is firm.
Sugar scrubs are less likely to sting and generally feel softer, making them more comfortable for frequent use or for clients new to body scrubs.
When to choose which
Salt scrub is useful when you want a more vigorous polish, detoxifying feel, or recovery-style treatment for tired muscles and rough areas.
Sugar scrub is ideal for regular maintenance, pre-shave or pre-tan smoothing, and any treatment focused on nurturing, glow, and moisture retention.
Self-care rituals
Using bath salts and body scrubs can become simple, grounding rituals that support both skin health and your nervous system. Intention, slowness, and sensory focus are what turn a basic bath or shower into nourishing self‑care.
Grounding bath salt ritual
Set the scene: Dim lights, light a candle, and silence notifications so you have 30–60 minutes without interruption.
Prepare the bath: Fill with warm (not overly hot) water and dissolve 1–2 handfuls of salts; soak about 15–20 minutes for relaxation and muscle ease.
Add aromatherapy: Blend your essential oils into a dispersing medium or pre‑blended salts, then focus on the scent and your breath as you enter the water.
Mindful soaking ritual
Engage your senses: Notice the sound of the water, how the salts dissolve, the aroma, and the feel of warmth on your skin as a cue to slow down.
Breath practice: Once settled, close your eyes and inhale slowly through the nose, exhale longer through the mouth, letting tension “drain” into the water.
Gentle reflection: After the bath, wrap up in a warm towel and spend a few minutes journaling or simply sitting quietly, noticing any shift in mood or tension.
Shower scrub reset ritual
Warm‑up phase: Stand under warm water for a few minutes to soften the skin and let your body register that you are changing gears from “doing” to “resting.”
Slow exfoliation: Turn the water down or off, then apply scrub in circular motions toward the heart, focusing on areas that feel heavy (neck, shoulders, thighs) while breathing steadily.
Rinse and seal: Rinse thoroughly, then apply a simple body oil or lotion to still‑damp skin, treating it like a mini massage rather than a rushed step.
Quick rituals for busy days
Foot soak: Dissolve 1/2 cup bath salts in a basin, soak feet 10–15 minutes, then gently exfoliate rough spots and apply a nourishing balm before bed.
Hand or forearm scrub: At the sink or in the shower, briefly exfoliate hands and forearms when you feel “wired,” rinsing slowly and noticing the texture and scent to bring attention back into the body.
Aromatic shower steam: Place a small amount of aromatic salts in a muslin bag or shower corner so the steam releases scent while you breathe deeply for a few minutes.
Looking back at the many wonderful photos and videos Lilly took, I can't tell enough how proud I am of all the beautiful aromatic products our group has made.
Look for yourself... now isn't that something you might want to do in the future? When was the last time you created something for yourself? I guess you really have to think hard now...
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