Baths are great for treating sore and aching muscles. But how can a bath be good for your mind?

It’s thought that essential oils may help you feel more relaxed or more energised and may even help to improve your mood when you use them in your bath.

Essential oils can be found in lots of bath products such as bath oils, bath bombs and soap, but you can also mix your own.

To use essential oil in your bath, follow these steps:

1. Choose an essential oil. Try lavender for a better night’s sleep, lemon to lift your mood or eucalyptus to refresh and invigorate.

2. Dilute it in a carrier oil such as grapeseed, jojoba, almond or argan oil. Add 5 to 20 drops of essential oil to 1 tablespoon of carrier oil and mix well. Don’t add essential oil directly to your bathwater without first diluting it in a carrier oil. Undiluted essential oils can cause skin irritation.

3. Add the essential oil mix to your bath just before you get in so that the oils don’t evaporate too quickly.

4. Sink in and inhale the scent coming from the warm water. You can also massage the oil droplets in the water into your skin.

You should avoid using essential oils if you:

• are pregnant
• are breastfeeding
• have any cuts or broken skin
• have previously had a reaction or allergy

You should always do a patch test before using any new product to see how your skin reacts. Apply a few drops of your diluted essential oil to a small area of skin on your forearm and cover with a plaster or bandage for 24 hours. Do not use the product again if you notice any kind of irritation.