Building a Better Bubble Bath: How To Have a Perfect Soak Sesh

updated May 3, 2019
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A white antique chair is placed next to a clawfoot tub for extra storage.

Nothing beats coming home after a long day and soaking away your troubles in a warm bath. Whether you prefer bath bombs, salts or bubbles, a bath can help you relax and unwind when you need it most. Want to make the most of your soak sesh? Try these tips to enjoy your most relaxing bath ever.

Set (Waterproof) Mood Lighting

Bright, overhead bathroom lights might be great for getting ready in the morning, but they aren’t exactly ideal for a relaxing bath. Candles can set the mood well, but they’re a fire hazard, and if they get wet, they’ll go out. Rather than risk it, you can invest in some inexpensive—but totally effective—waterproof flameless candles to perfect your bath experience. You can get a pack of 10 for $12 at Walmart, and they’re totally submersible.

Use a Caddy for Books and Beverages

An easy way to up your bath time relaxation factor? Bring a cup of tea or a glass of wine to the tub with you. If you don’t have an easy place to put your beverage of choice within reach, invest in a caddy that can hold all your bath accessories. The below caddy from Pottery Barn also features an adjustable book rack for those of you who like to get lost in a good read during bath time, but if you’d rather DIY it, you can also make a bath tray or caddy yourself with this tutorial from TFD Style.

(Image credit: Pottery Barn)

Incorporate Essential Oils

Bubble baths are great already, but you can easily turn your soak time into an aromatherapy session to really help you de-stress and unwind by incorporating essential oils. The American College of Healthcare Sciences suggests mixing 5 drops of lavender oil, 3 drops of ylang-ylang oil, and two drops of bergamot oil, then adding 3 drops of that mixture to a full bath to help you relax.

Create a Bath-Time Playlist

Before your next bubble bath, take some time to create the perfect relaxation playlist, so you can soak to your favorite tunes. Your playlist should be long enough to get you through an entire bath, and whatever your preferred genre is, make sure it includes songs that will soothe you and help you unwind. If you’d rather someone else do the work, there are tons of already made chill-out playlists on Spotify to choose from.

Buy a Bath Pillow

Unless you’re lucky enough to have a super cozy bathtub, you may find it difficult—I definitely do—to get comfortable, especially when you try to lay back and your neck hits the edge of the tub. A bath pillow (be it inflatable or foam) that attaches to your tub can ease that discomfort so you can lay back and relax without any neck pain. You can find in most stores and online, and there are plenty of styles and designs to choose from so you can find one that works well for you and matches your bathroom decor.