Sore Muscle Bath Soak + Reusing Tequila Bottles
After our 10-day trip back home on the East Coast, spending the majority of our time in two of our favorite walking cities — Boston and New York — and logging an average of about 5 miles a day on the pedometer, my dogs are barking. All I want is a nice, hot, long soak in the tub, full of my favorite home remedy for sore muscles & aching feet.
This recipe of lavender, lemon and eucalyptus is pretty much identical to my carpet powder (and very similar to my linen spray), only it swaps out regular salt for Epsom salt, which is full of organic magnesium. Magnesium is super helpful as a natural anti-inflammatory, absorbed through your skin and then used by your body to flush out lactic acid buildup in your muscles among other awesome benefits, like regulating nerve and muscle function (including helping to prevent migraines, which I also suffer from on the regular).
To inspire me (and my house guests) to enjoy more health-boosting baths, I like to package my homemade sore muscle soak in pretty containers just like I would if I were gifting them. My favorite (FREE) container of all is an empty Patron tequila bottle, perhaps left over from a batch of spicy watermelon margaritas. Just peel off the sticker labels, run the (handcrafted! post-consumer recycled!) glass bottle through the dishwasher and allow to dry completely, and you have packaging worth displaying prominently without spending a cent.
SORE MUSCLE BATH SOAK
- 3 cups Epsom salt
- 8 drops each: lemon essential oil, lavender essential oil, eucalyptus essential oil
- 1/2 cup dried lavender, crushed (optional)
- 1/2 cup dried eucalyptus leaves, finely chopped (optional)
- ¼ cup dried lemon zest (optional)
Measure the salt in a glass or metal bowl, add your essential oils, and mix thoroughly. Let sit for at least an hour, or while you prepare the other dry ingredients (optional). Remove lavender buds from stems and crush with a mortar & pestle to release their natural oils. Remove eucalyptus leaves from stems and chop finely with a knife, or run through a small food processor. Zest at least two lemons and let dry. Give your salt & essential oil mixture a good stir and then add your lavender, eucalyptus, and lemon zest. Mix well to combine. Spoon or pour into your empty tequila bottle using a funnel, replace the cork stopper, and affix your customized label to the front. Voila! You’re ready to go take a nice rejuvenating bath, or ready to gift to someone who might need it more.
Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks that dumping a pretty Patron bottle in the recycling bin is a downright travesty. Recognizing the growing popularity of repurposing their tequila bottles, Patron launched a competition that encouraged fans across the country to use their creative vision for Patron’s signature tequila bottles in a project for a chance to win $10,000.
I was psyched when Patron invited me to take part in the Art of Patron competition, but just looking at some of last year’s finalists, and staring my 10-day vacation in the face, I knew there was no way I’d have a chance in hell of winning. (Just look at this chess table!) But after watching this video showing how the artisans in Jalisco, Mexico make Patron bottles, I was inspired to share this simple little DIY project all the same. It’s an everyday winner in my book, don’t you think?
Anyway, to see what more talented and less time-strapped DIY-ers made from their Patron bottles, check out the Art of Patron website to view all the 2015 finalists and vote for your favorites starting on August 10th. And definitely share a photo with me on Instagram or Twitter if you make my sore muscle soak and bottle it up in an old tequila bottle!
Photos taken and styled by Chelsea Francis. Tequila & bottles c/o Patron.