Peppermint Candy Sticks Foot Soaks 4

Collect needed supplies:
Salt of your choice (I’m using Epsom Salt)
Bath Salt Tubes (I’m using the Bath Salt Tubes with Chrome Caps)
Purple Raspberry Color in dropper bottle from the January 12, 2009 post
Large Plastic Bags (gallon zipper style work well)
3 sheets of 8.5″ by 11″ paper (I’m just using plain copier paper)
Tape
Fragrance or Essential Oil of your choice (I’m using Peppermint Essential Oil)
Transfer Pipettes
Scale
Measuring Spoon (Tablespoon size)

Each bath salt tube will hold about 4 oz of Epsom Salt. I am making 50 tubes, so I will need 200 ounces or 12.5 pounds of Epsom Salt. I have divided this amount by two because we are trying to make red and white striped bath salts. This mean each bag will contain 12 – 1/4 cups, 6.25 pounds, or 100 ounces of salt. Each amount of salt will be scented and colored on its own.

Prepare both bags of salt and then set one aside while coloring and scenting the first bag. Add 15 drops of Purple Raspberry Color and 16.5 mL of Peppermint Essential Oil. Zip the bag closed and knead well. Repeat adding color until you have reached the desired color of red. I used 70 drops of color. Set the bag aside while mixing the second bag. Open the second bag of salt and add 16.5 mL of Peppermint Essential Oil. Zip the bag closed and knead well. Once both bags of Epsom Salts have been mixed thoroughly, set aside while you prepare your filling tubes.

To get a continuous swirl around the tube, I needed to find a way to do that without making a complicated mess. At first, I tried making two long thin paper funnel tubes. It worked, but not as well as I desired. I couldn’t control an even flow of salt from both funnels and it made patches of color. This method wasn’t giving me the desired swirl. In frustration, I tried to use two drinking straws and I discovered those didn’t work well either! Then I realized that the straw idea was almost to the point I wanted, I just needed the “straws” to be on a larger scale! I grabbed another paper and rolled it into a long tube approximately 3/4 inch in diameter. I had to tape the paper so the tube didn’t spring open. I made a second tube and stuffed both paper tubes into the bath salt tube. I tried again, this time I made a beautiful swirl!

After you have created two paper tubes, you will need to create a paper funnel that will fit the tubes. Now you can stick the paper tubes into the bath salt tube and add 3 rounded tablespoons of salt to each tube. Twist the bath salt tube as you lift the paper tubes and this will create swirls of color. This looks so complicated, but it is actually very easy. Don’t forget to tap the tube on the counter to settle the salt. If you are shipping these, you can stuff a cotton ball in the top to help prevent shifting of the salt in transit. Cap the tube.

Once all the tubes are filled, label, tag, shrink wrap or tie ribbon around the tube. Now you can give away this bath salt alone or pair it with a peppermint foot cream. Yummy!

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