Relax, Unwind, and De-Stress
Contents at a Glance
The History Of Bathing
Since the beginning of time, the art of bathing in water has been essential to one's good health and peace of mind. As early as the third century, bathing emporiums quickly became the fashion. The Greeks and Romans were the leaders in erecting many elaborate, expensive bathhouses in which they could conduct business, gossip with friends, eat, drink, or arrange social contacts.Although both the Greeks and Romans began to enjoy bathing at around the same time, they did practice it in different ways. The Romans bathed to keep themselves healthy while the Greeks believed only women should immerse their whole body in water. The Greeks viewed bathing as something one simply did to cleanse one's self.
Not only Europeans, but also many other cultures had a passion for the many pleasures bathhouses offered them. The Turks developed very hot baths, which to this day are still known as Turkish Baths, or steam baths.
Bathhouses became so popular in Rome that not long after the third century the government learned to transport water by means of aqueducts. The initial reward was all of Rome was supplied with abundant water for their needs. We truly owe our modern sanitation to the Romans and their passion for bathing!
Once people learned that the large public baths encouraged the spread of major epidemics, they fell out of fashion.
The Roman Baths in the appropriately named town of Bath, England
Bathe Like A Queen
High-born women from all eras have recognized the beneficial properties of bathing in milk. For an indulgent soak add 2 cups of milk to a warm bath and soak for 30 minutes or longer. The lactic acid contained in animal's milk softens and smoothes the skin.
Fizzy Things
Bath "bombs" - also called fizzes, are made from a combination of citric acid and baking soda. When these 2 substances are immersed, they dissolve and release hydrogen dioxide into the water, which bubbles up to the surface. Bombs are usually enhanced with fragrance, oils or butters, salts, herbs, or decorative elements and surprises. Children especially are delighted by the bubbling orbs, especially if there is a surprise waiting to be discovered inside!
Different bombs serve different purposes, although generally just used to condition and scent the water, other ingredients can provide additional properties for the skin and body.
Stress And Health
Dr. Edward Bach was one of the first modern physicians to recognize the intimate relationship between physical health and emotional health. A good soak in a warm bath has proven benefits of lifting the spirits, reducing mental stress, and easing physical pain.The beneficial effects of the simple act of submersing in water to cleanse the body can be enhanced by the addition of water additives (oils, soaps, salts), music or lighting. A bath can be personalized to cater to the bather's preferences, whims, and desires.
The Lure of The Ocean
Salts
Salt, when added to bathwater, soothes and detoxifies the skin. Salts are available in every scent imaginable, from inexpensively fragranced sea salt, to exotic, organic blends of beneficial herbs and different types of salts. The benefits of salts are enhanced by trace minerals present. These minerals vary according to the source of the salt. 
Your Personal Soak
Buy a bag of sea salt, place in a jar with a few drops of your favorite aromatherapy or perfume oil, cover with the lid and let it sit for a couple of weeks. You have your very own personally blended bath salts.
Soothe The Aches
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bathing in natural pools rich in minerals and sulphur became a popular 'cure' for just about every ailment imaginable. These eventually led to our concept of "spas" today. Health spas were especially important to Tuberculosis patients and later during the last Polio outbreak in the United States when bathing in warm water was recognized for its muscle soothing abilities. Around The World and Throughout History
The Muslims also erected bathhouses where one could meditate, pray to the Creator, or think. It was the custom to cleanse at a public bath before going to the mosque to worship and many mosques were therefore conveniently built on the same streets as the bathhouses.
Around this period of time, the Christians started to embrace their dirt because cleanliness was considered to be too sensuous and sexual. Dirt became a symbol of spiritual purity and indicated that the focus was outside one's self, rather than on personal hygiene.
It was also believed that dirt was a protection from germs due to the numerous plagues that had previously killed a large population of England and Europe. Powders, perfumes, wigs, cosmetics, and layers of clothes hid the grime and body scent. If overwhelmed by a particularly potent smell, a bit of snuff to clear one's nostrils was all that was needed.
Today, most societies have adopted the same general attitudes towards bathing, using it to clean, to socialize, and to heal. Spas, saunas, Jacuzzis, birthing pools, hot springs baths, are enjoyed around the world.
Squeeky Clean
Toss the Ivory or Dial and buy yourself some high quality soap. Handmade or premium soaps are worth every dime. They're gentler on your skin, better for the environment, and are just lovely to use.
Sudsy
Soap is an anionic surfactant used in conjunction with water for washing and cleaning, which historically comes either in solid bars or in the form of a viscous liquid.
Soap consists of sodium or potassium salts of fatty acids and is obtained by reacting common oils or fats with a strong alkaline solution (the base, popularly referred to as lye) in a process known as saponification. The fats are hydrolyzed by the base, yielding alkali salts of fatty acids (crude soap) and glycerol.
Today, soap is often replaced by other cleaning agents, such as synthetic detergents.
Premium Soaps
Don't Forget To Get Smooth!
-
The Art of Shaving
-
The removal of hair with a razor, a shaver or any kind of blade is called shaving. Usually shaving is done by men to remove facial hair. A clean-shaven man has his beard part removed.
Bubbles, Bubbles, and MORE Bubbles....
Shower Gels and Body Washes can do double duty as bubble bath! They're basically the same thing anyway, just a crafty marketing ploy.
Communal Bathing In Japan
Sento
is a type of Japanese communal bath house where customers pay for entrance. Traditionally these bath houses have been quite utilitarian, with one large room separating the sexes by a tall barrier, and on both sides, usually a minimum of lined up faucets and a single large bath for the already washed bathers to sit in among others. Since the second half of the 20th century, these communal bath houses have been decreasing in numbers as more and more Japanese residences now have baths. Some Japanese find social importance in going to public baths, out of the theory that physical proximity/intimacy brings emotional intimacy, which is termed skinship in Japanese. Others go to a sent? because they live in a small housing facility without a private bath or to enjoy bathing in a spacious room and to relax in saunas or jet baths that often accompany new or renovated sent?s.
Another type of Japanese public bath is onsen, which uses hot water from a natural hot spring. They are not exclusive: A sent? can be called an onsen if it derives its bath water from naturally heated hot springs. A legal definition exists that can classify a public bathing facility as sent?.
Bath Treats From Japan
Setting The Mood
A truly enriching experience!
Oils, Beads, and Melts
Oils have the longest recorded use of any bath additive. They soften and scent the skin and were once held to have healing and religious significance. BE CAREFUL using any oils (or product containing oils) in your tub. They can make the bath slippery! Enhance Your Bath
-
Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab
-
Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab, affectionately called BPAL by its crazed masses of fans, formulates original, exotic, complex and affordable perfume oil blends with a dark, gothic, neo-Victorian, hip, exotic, mysterious bent. Beth, the mother of BPAL and...
-
Incense - Sacred Smoke
-
For religious observance, for its olfactory delights, or for other purposes, incense has been around for nearly as long as we have. The first incense was most likely discovered accidentally, as early man sat around the fire and noticed that certain s...
-
Lip Scrubs and Exfoliation
-
Many people use sugar or salt scrubs to exfoliate their skin for softness and moisture. Loofas, exfoliating gloves, and scrub sponges are also popular. But what about your lips? Shouldn't they enjoy the same benefits as your arms, legs, and rest of...
-
Wax Tarts, Burners, Melts, and More
-
Tarts, also called wax melts, candle melts, soy melts, wax potpourri, or fragrance melts, are a perfect way to scent your home without chemical sprays or a lot of smoke. With burner choices available to match any decor and any scent that you love eas...
-
Calendula - The wonder flower for first aid and more.
-
Calendula (Calendula officinallis, also called Pot Marigold or English Marigold) is used in both herbal and homeopathic medicine to speed wound healing and relieve skin irritation. It is available today in a myriad of different preparations from home...
For The Littlest Bathers
Quack!!!!
Don't forget the duckie!!
-
Oh Rubber Ducky!
-
What bathroom would be complete without a lovable rubber ducky? Even the Queen of England is rumored to have her very own rubber ducky! Here you'll find pictures of rubber ducks, rubber ducky trivia, rubber duckies for sale, and more.
Share Your Favorite Bath Tips.
pmolinero wrote...
Bathing and shaving go very well together and both can be seen as an art. Fav'd, lensrolled and 5*
Posted November 05, 2008
ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...
there's nothing like a hot bath, glass of wine, and a good book. What better way to unwind?
Great lens
Lizzy
Posted November 01, 2008
blakeandreriley wrote...
This is very unique. Very creative topic.=) I love bathing and i would love to bathe the whole day but I wouldn't want to turn into a prune.
Posted October 27, 2008
Lisa_Jo wrote...
So many bath products to choose from! I don't know which to try first. This is a wonderful lens. I love the rubber ducky down below. :) 5 stars and a Digg!
Posted October 22, 2008
brylle wrote...
wow! saying that this is a great lens is an understatement. I'm one of your fans now.
Posted October 21, 2008
