Bath salts are a great addition to your relaxation regime. They are wonderful for getting rid of dead skin and moisturizing. Even better, they are cheap and easy to make at home for your own use or to give as gifts.

1. Gather supplies. For a basic batch of bath salts, you will need 1 cup of epsom salt, 1 cup of baking soda, 2 tablespoons liquid glycerin, food coloring and essential oils. You will also need a mixing bowl, spoon and decorative jar.

2. Measure the epsom salt and baking soda. Mix well. Add glycerin, about four drops of food coloring and three drops of essential oil. A little color and fragrance go a long way, and you can always add more but you can't take it out once it's there. Mix well to avoid lumps. Add more color or essential oil if desired.

3. Transfer the salts to a decorative jar. If you plan to give the salts as a gift, you might also want to include a scoop to get the salts out of the jar and a card with the recipe that explains how to use them: Mix two tablespoons in a warm bath.

1. Epsom salt, baking soda and food coloring are available at most grocery or drug stores. You may be able to find glycerin at your local drug store, or look at a natural food store in the natural beauty section. (If you can't find glycerin, it's not vital, but it is good for moisturizing.) You will also be able to find a variety of essential oils here. Some great choices include vanilla, lavender, lemongrass and rosemary.

2. Choose a color for your salts that will coordinate with the bathroom in which the salts will be stored, or a color that goes with the fragrance (pink with rose, green with sage, etc.)

1. In the high humidity of a bathroom, your salts may get lumpy. Use your scoop to break up lumps before using, or shake the jar often.

2. Woman who are pregnant, especially in thir 3rd trimester, should not use bath salt.

3. Also, people with high blood pressure or adema (swelling) should not use bath salts as well.

How to Bathe Like an Ancient King and/or Queen

In the Middle, Near and Far East, baths have always been an important part of beauty culture, (hence the fabulous Turkish towels). Their Queens are legendary. For example, Scheherazade saved her neck by mesmerizing the Sultan Shahryar for 1001 nights and Cleopatra brought the Roman Empire to its knees, twice. Here are a few of their beauty tricks.

1. Imitate Cleopatra and bathe in milk, (a natural exfoliant), and honey, (a great moisturizer). Add 1 cup of milk and 1/2 cup honey to bath water. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.

2. In Asia, tea isn't just for drinking! To quickly soothe chapped lips, take a black or green teabag, wet it with warm water and press it over your lips for five minutes.

3. If your hair is coarse, rinse it with tea to make it soft and flowing.

4. When you get out of Cleopatra's bath, use almond oil to moisturize. Mix 1/8 c almond oil with 1 tsp. of sesame oil and 4 drops of your favorite essential oil

5. Rub the oil into your skin with an orange peel to exfoliate.

6. Massage a little of the oil into your hair for deep conditioning. Then rub it into your nails to give them shine.

7. If your feet need a little extra care, mix a few drops of peppermint oil with almond oil for a refreshing foot massage.

1. Don't know which essential oil to choose? Some of the most popular in Africa and the Middle East since ancient times include: Amber, Cedarwood, Frankincense, Myrrh, Jasmine, Rose and Musk.

2. Plan a romantic ancient evening for two, with dinner made from ancient recopies, (you can find them on the internet), and the bath as an appetizer or desert.

3. Many games have lasted centuries. You could play some of these or rent movies with historical/romantic themes for post-bath r&r.