9 Of The Best Products For An Utterly Relaxing Bath, According To Experts

Fur’s golden spheres may look playful when hanging out on the ledge of a tub, but these are no bath beads of our youth. Today’s version is encapsulated in vegan seaweed casings and contains a gorgeous blend of oils to create a relaxing bath. Co-founder Lillian Tung crafted these drops to help transport you to a calmer headspace—something everyone could use at this moment in time. “The combination of the soothing lavender, citrus fragrance and skin-softening oils turns an ordinary bath into a relaxing spa ritual,” she says.

Natureofthings co-founder Jamie Pelayo says that once this floral bath is poured into warm water, it should be savored by practically all senses. “It’s all about the blend of potent anti-inflammatory, replenishing and hydrating ingredients punctuated by a transportive aromatherapeutic experience,” she says. Plumeria, jasmine and vetiver create a gorgeous scent that’s blended with nourishing shea butter and green tea oil, with the addition of capsicum pepper to help ease muscle tension—all of which create a transformative mind-body soak.

Bathing Culture became a quiet cult hit during the pandemic, with its signature splashy rainbow jar that appeals to beach-lovers and urban types alike. The brand’s new Big Dipper Mineral Bath uses mineral-rich salts, green clay and jojoba oil infused with hemp-derived CBD to help melt away muscle stress and sore limbs. West Coast sea salts and clay leave a silky finish on skin. Co-founders Tim Hollinger and Spencer Arnold suggest following up your bath with the brand’s body or perfume oil to extend the aromatic experience beyond the soak and into the rest of your evening.

Fashion fixture-turned-entrepreneur Yasmin Sewell’s new vibrational line of scents, Vyrao, has just launched a candle category that is sure to add a new dimension to your bathroom vibe. Each offers something special, like “Cade” for its soothing properties, “Birch Tar” for being restorative and “Elemi,” which is said to help align chakras. A nightly bather, Sewell suggests lighting the beautifully oversized candle as part of your ritual to let go of any unnecessary stress, fear and over-thinking, and as a gentle reminder to get centered. “Our Ember candle is created with ingredients to clear stagnant energy in your space and bring in fresh, new energy,” she says.  

Inspired by the landscape of the Austrian Alps, Susanne Kauffmann’s aromatic bath oil is developed with essential oils derived from pine and spruce needles that help to revive tired muscles when dropped into warm water. Locally sourced oils like pine needle (anti-inflammatory and immune-booting) and spruce needle (cleansing and purifying) help invigorate both the mind and body. Plus it doesn’t hurt that the bottle is simply swoon-worthy.

Kauffmann loves personalizing the bath according to one’s physical and mental needs. “It’s such a brilliant opportunity to give your mind a moment to rest and re-set, and this invigorating bath oil encapsulates everything I love about the Bregenzerwald mountain region—beautiful, local ingredients that deliver powerful results for the skin and body.”

As many know, a bath ritual actually starts before one hits the water. Using circular motions (always toward the heart), use this curved wooden dry brush to buff away dead skin cells for some pre-soak prep. Goop’s G.Tox brush is made with natural, biodegradable sisal fibers from agave plant, and boasts an ergonomic handle to boot. “The main reason to dry brush before a bath is that it can increase blood circulation, which in turn supports lymphatic flow and drainage which can really help with detoxification while you are warm and sweating in the bathtub,” says Bayer.

Necessaire made a splash when it first hit the shelves for a look that we don’t always see in bath aisles—it’s elegant, luxurious and has that Parisian flair when it comes to packaging. But the body wash is a rare blend of form-meets-function: Not only is it aesthetically stunning, but it’s also a daily vitamin-enriched cleanser that’s available fragrance-free for minimalists or infused with essential oil-based scents for those who like to level-up. The star ingredient is niacinimide (vitamin B3) which cleanses, nourishes and balances to seal the deal on the perfect soak.

If you associate bath bombs with toddler time, you haven’t met celebrity stylist Jen Atkin’s version for Ouai. Wryly named “chill pills,” these fizzy tablets—formulated with skin-nourishing oils like jojoba, safflower and hemp—diffuse into hot water to emit a gorgeous jasmine and rose fragrance. And if little hands somehow find their way into the jar, stress not—the brand is known for its clean formulations.

When the refill bag is as chic as the efficacy of the formula, you know you have a winner. Costa Brazil’s bath soak is packed with magnesium-rich mineral sea and epsom salts to help you unwind, ease tension and of course, soften skin. Brazilian white clay detoxifies and sloughs away impurities, while aromatic Breu Branco resin calms. Bayer says it’s important to focus on clean ingredients that suit your mood. “Mineral salts (like Epsom or sea salt) and your favorite essential oils (or no fragrance at all), are all that you really need to have a great bath. Seaweed and clay can also be great additions to aid in soaking in minerals and detoxification.”