How to Make a Relaxing Peony Bath Soak at Home

A peony bath soak is a simple and luxurious way to enjoy your garden’s beauty long after the blooms fade. Whether you’re winding down after a long day or looking for a gentle self-care ritual, this floral-infused bath is both soothing and easy to make at home.

Peonies aren’t just beautiful — their soft, fragrant petals offer calming benefits for the skin and senses. Combined with mineral-rich salts, they create a relaxing bath soak that’s perfect for unwinding, softening skin, or gifting to a friend.

In this post, I’ll show you how to dry your own peony petals, blend them with natural salts, and store your bath soak for later use. It’s a great project for spring or summer when your peonies are in full bloom — or anytime you want a calming, garden-inspired treat.

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Quick Summary: DIY Peony Bath Soak

• Step 1: Collect & dry peony petals.
• Step 2: Mix Epsom salt, Himalayan salt, and peonies.
• Step 3: Store in a dry place in a glass jar.
• Step 4: Add peony bath soak to your bath and enjoy!

What Is a Bath Soak?

A bath soak is a blend of herbs, flowers, salts, and sometimes essential oils. It is used as a therapeutic and relaxing self-care practice that has many benefits, depending on the ingredients used. DIY bath soaks are free from harmful ingredients commonly found in store-bought bath bombs or salts.

Benefits of Bath Soaks

• Relaxes muscles and joints – Ingredients like Epsom salt are rich in magnesium, which helps ease soreness and tension.
• Calms the nervous system – Warm water combined with calming botanicals (like peony petals or lavender) encourages deep relaxation.
• Softens and soothes skin – Natural salts and oils help exfoliate, moisturize, and support healthy skin.
• Supports detox – Bath soaks can gently stimulate circulation and promote detoxification through the skin.
• Elevates your self-care routine – A quiet soak can help lower stress and give you a few moments of calm in a busy day.

Benefits of Peony for the Skin

Peony petals are celebrated for their anti-inflammatory and calming properties, making them a gentle yet effective ingredient for skincare. These natural compounds help reduce redness and soothe irritated skin, providing relief for sensitive or inflamed areas. Incorporating peony petals into your routine can promote a balanced, calm complexion.

Traditionally, the peony plant has been used in herbal medicine to support skin health and overall wellness. Beyond its healing benefits, peony petals offer a soothing floral scent that adds a refreshing and luxurious touch to skincare products. This delicate aroma helps create a calming sensory experience, enhancing relaxation and well-being.

Ingredients You’ll Need

With a few simple ingredients, you can put together an easy, luxurious, and nontoxic peony bath soak.

• Fresh or Dried Peony Petals – Naturally calming and fragrant, perfect for a gentle floral bath.
• Epsom Salt – Rich in magnesium to relax muscles and ease tension.
• Coarse Himalayan Pink Salt – Mineral-rich and soothing, adds a beautiful visual touch.
• Essential Oil (optional) – A few drops of lavender or rose oil add a lovely scent.
• Glass Jars or Storage Containers – Keeps your soak dry, fresh, and giftable.
• Tray or cooling rack – For drying your peony petals.

How to Make a Peony Bath Soak

You can dry peonies a few different ways, but for bath use, the best method is to air-dry the petals flat so they retain more of their color and softness.

Step-by-Step Drying Instructions:

1. Choose peony flowers that are fully open and free from damage or moisture.
2. Gently pull the petals from the flower heads and discard the centers (they’re bulkier and take longer to dry).
3. Lay the petals in a single layer on a mesh drying screen, cooling rack, tray, or paper towel. Keep them in a dry, shaded, well-ventilated area.
4. Dry for 3–7 days. Depending on humidity, your petals will be crisp and dry in about a week. Turn them once or twice to prevent curling.
5. Once dry, store petals in a sealed jar away from direct light and moisture until you’re ready to make your bath soak.

DIY Peony Salt Bath Soak Instructions:

This is just about the easiest DIY recipe you’ll ever come by. Makes for a great gift for a friend or for a great self-care day!

1. Combine salts and dried peonies in a bowl and gently stir.
2. Crush the flowers slightly to increase the scent of the petals.
3. Once combined, divide the mixture between two 7-oz glass jars.
4. Store in a cool, dry place until used. Use 1/2 – 1 cup per bath.

Tips for Using Your Floral Bath Soak

Bath soaks are simple to make and easy to store. Once made, store in a glass container in a cool, dry place. Add 1/2 to 1 cup of bath salts to your warm water to enjoy the soothing benefits of your homemade skincare product. Soak for 15-30 minutes to allow your skin to absorb all of the minerals.

Adding the salts to the warm or hot water while it is running will help them dissolve quickly. Use a dry spoon or scoop to get your bath salts out, and avoid dipping a wet utensil back into the jar.

When you get out of your luxurious bath, make sure to apply a moisturizer to help lock in the hydration and minerals that were just added to your skin. A homemade Lavender Tallow Balm is perfect for this.

Variations and Substitutions

Homemade bath soaks can be customized to what you have in your garden and to your personal preferences. Add other dried flowers like lavender, chamomile, or rose. You can add essential oils to your bath soak for extra aromatic benefits. Essential oils like lavender, rose, chamomile, geranium, and jasmine would all pair well with any floral bath soak.

Mix about 5-10 drops of essential oil with 1 tablespoon of carrier oil (like sweet almond, jojoba, or coconut oil). Then add this diluted mixture to your bath soak or directly to the bathwater. The carrier oil also helps the essential oils disperse more evenly in the water. Without dilution, essential oils can cause skin sensitivity or burns, especially in a hot bath.

If you’re using essential oils, always dilute them first and use them sparingly—usually 5-10 drops total per bath is plenty for a safe, soothing experience.

More DIY Skincare using Foraged Flowers and Herbs

• Plantain Salve– Soothe scrapes, bites, and irritated skin naturally with this gentle herbal salve. A must-have for your summer first aid kit.
• Dandelion Tallow Sugar Scrub– Brighten and soften your skin with this exfoliating scrub. Dandelions and tallow combine to nourish while the sugar buffs away dry patches.
• Calendula-Infused Tallow Baby Balm– Deeply moisturizing and calming, this balm is perfect for dry or sensitive skin. Calendula’s skin-loving properties make it a favorite for all ages.
• Lemon Balm Lip Balm– Protect and hydrate your lips with this soothing herbal balm. Lemon balm helps calm irritation and gives a subtle, refreshing scent.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bath Soaks