What is a Bubble Bath?

Bubble baths have always been popular, right since the times of the most ancient of civilizations, where princesses and queens used to indulge in this relaxing experience. Even the most beautiful of them have used bubble baths, and even to this day, when movie directors have to show an opulent palace setup fit for a queen, the bubble bath in it is mandatory.

Though the essential composition of the bath remains unchanged from that era to this, mechanical changes have definitely occurred. Today, we also have baths that are mechanized, produce bubbles themselves, and even generate a good amount of foam at the top. Also, they can do a lot more than they used to do earlier.

What most people don't know is that there are actually two different types of bubble baths, depending on the manner in which the bubbles are produced.

As the name suggests, these are baths in which bubbles are present throughout the water. These baths are not do-it-yourself ones, meaning, they cannot be made at home. The bubbles in these baths are produced by means of special apparatus which could be connected temporarily or permanently to the bathtub.

Nowadays, there are also some trendy apparatuses with nozzles that keep producing the bubbles in the water in different directions. Baths with bubbles in the water are generally used for health reasons. The bubbles throughout the surface of the water allow the essential oils in the bath to permeate through the skin, and cause a healing effect where needed.

These are the most common types of bubble baths used in American households. Using special solutions, powders, or solid pellets, a soapy foam is produced on top of the water surface, where the inside of the water is without any bubbles. This type of bath is thus a clear solution at the bottom, with foam at the top.

The rich foamy layer on the top definitely looks very inviting, and people use this type more for relaxing and cosmetic purposes. There is a whole range of bubble bath products out there that are designed to affect the skin in several cosmetically enhancing ways, making this a really big industry.

The oils used are important if you want a specific benefit to be obtained.

This can be a single oil (rarely) or a mixture of several oils (almost always) that have a relaxing effect on the body, but no known health or cosmetic benefits. But most importantly, these oils are meant to relax to the skin.

The oils can be marjoram, rosewood, frankincense, lavender, myrrh, sandalwood, chamomile, etc. Just a few drops of each of the essential oils are used to make the mixture of the bath.

These oils are used, not for their relaxing effect, but because they have a specific beneficial action on the body. The best examples are coconut and almond oil that are used to make the skin softer. Oils like spearmint, peppermint, and lemongrass are good for making the person feel fresh throughout the day.

Nowadays, there is a whole industry spawning around bubble baths with health benefits. The real fact though is that, herbal supplements have always been used in bubble baths for giving some kinds of health benefits to the users. For example, the oil of the Indian margosa (neem, Azadirachtha indica) is used to combat infections, and the oil of eucalyptus is used to fight common colds.

There are many benefits of using bubble baths vis-à-vis the normal baths.

• Bubble baths are very good for their relaxing and comforting effect. After a hard day's work, set up a bubble bath, light some aromatherapy candles, put on some soothing music, and step in. Half an hour in the bath can easily remove all the weariness of the day and make you feel fresh.

• As already mentioned, bubble baths have cosmetic and health benefits. It is better though to make them at home, because that way, you will be protecting yourself from some oils that you might be allergic to.
• Kids simply love bubble baths. Most parents use them as a kind of temptation for kids to get into the bath.