Galactic Grunt Aromatherapy Bath Powder (Easy DIY)
While I still have every intention of doing a tutorial on a full bath bomb recipe this weekend, I wanted to make something a bit easier for first-timers. This blend was modeled after the Team Galactic Grunts and the end result will leave you with a powder roughly the same color as their hair. It’s a clean, happy smell that is equal parts minty and fruity.
I’ve made this blend in the past and dubbed it the “Bergamojito” on account of what’s inside it. This combination of oils never fails to put a smile on my face. So, in short, here’s what you’ll need to create it:
1 cup Baking Soda
½ cup Citric Acid
¼ cup Epsom Salt (fine grain, unscented)
¼ cup Corn Starch
Gel Food Coloring (I used Leaf Green since it turns the powder the same color as a Galactic Grunt’s hair)
Lime Essential Oil
Bergamot Mint Essential Oil (this may also be called Wild Bergamot, Bee Balm, or Monarda depending on the vendor)
Spearmint Essential Oil
1 large mixing bowl
1 small Tupperware container (with lid)
Ziploc Bags or Mason Jars (for storage)
Measuring cups and spoons
Instructions and safety precautions are listed below!
Dry Ingredients
Pour your dry ingredients together into your mixing bowl and stir aggressively. You want to make sure all wads of baking soda, citric acid, and epsom salt are broken up, otherwise you’ll have discoloration and uneven coloring in your final product.
Once it’s good and mixed together, pour everything into your Tupperware container, seal the lid, and shake it like it’s personally wronged you.
Wet Ingredients
Pour a total of 1 tbsp essential oil blend into the spoon. The ratios for the Galactic Grunt blend are as follows:
50% Lime
30% Bergamot Mint
20% Spearmint
The easiest way to make sure you do the ratios properly is to count how many drops (I do intervals of 10) it takes to fill half the spoon with Lime Essential Oil. From there, estimate half of that and go 15 drops beyond it with the Bergamot Mint. The rest will be Spearmint.
You can also do these ratios to turn this into a body spray...which I can do in another tutorial later, if you want!
Once your wet ingredients are together, dump them into a container with a huge squirt of the gel food coloring. Stir aggressively until the scents and colorant blend.
Mixing Wet and Dry Ingredients
Once the wet ingredients are properly mixed, dump the dry ingredients on top and be sure to act quickly. Citric acid is incredibly absorbent and will start to react almost immediately. If you hear it fizzing, stir as fast as you can!
For the love of Palkia, Dialga, and all you hold dear...keep stirring! You’ll know your aromatherapy powder is properly blended when:
It has the consistency of slightly damp sand
It has no trouble clumping when you pinch it, but will fall apart if you poke it a little too hard
You don’t hear any fizzing
You’ve stirred and stirred (and stirred) until the color is consistent and can’t possibly get any more vibrant
Your Galactic Grunt bath powder is now ready! Pour it into a mini mason jar for single-serving sizes, a large jar if you want to only use a spoonful or two per bath, or stick it in Ziploc bags. It’s your prerogative!
Now for the health and safety notes on the essential oils within the blend, as well as their aromatherapeutic properties:
Lime Essential Oil (50% of Galactic Grunt blend)
Pros: Lime can be used to help with gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea. Other people apply it neat (directly to the skin) as a stimulant or to treat nausea. The very smell of Lime can boost your appetite and promotes extra saliva in your mouth. More than this, lime can give your immune system a boost: warding off common colds and winter bugs before they even hit you!
It’s also great for keeping a youthful complexion and reducing the appearance of wrinkles, age spots, and varicose veins.
Cons:
Lime Essential Oil increases your photosensitivity, which increases your risk for sunburn. Please avoid being in the sun for too long if you’ve applied Lime Essential Oil to your skin in the past 12 to 36 hours.
Some liver medications may take longer for the liver to break down if Lime Essential Oil is being used:
Lovastatin (Mevacor)
Ketoconazole (Nizoral)
Itraconazole (Sporanox)
Fexofenadine (Allegra)
Triazolam (Halcion)
Some medications that react to sunlight may increase your photosensitivity while Lime Essential Oil is being used. Please use sunscreen, sunglasses, and protective garments if outdoors if you’re using these medications and use Lime on the regular:
Amitriptyline (Elavil)
Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
Norfloxacin (Noroxin)
Lomefloxacin (Maxaquin)
Ofloxacin (Floxin)
Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
Sparfloxacin (Zagam)
Gatifloxacin (Tequin)
Moxifloxacin (Avelox)
Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (Septra)
Tetracycline
Methoxsalen (8-methoxypsoralen, 8-MOP, Oxsoralen)
Trioxsalen (Trisoralen)
Bergamot Mint Essential Oil (30% of Galactic Grunt blend)
This plant goes by many names: Wild Bergamot, Bergamot Mint, Monarda, Bee Balm--just to name a few. It smells reminiscent of the bergamot citrus fruit (which is what gives Earl Grey tea its distinct flavor and smell)
Pros:
It’s a liquid happy pill! Bergamot Mint (like one of my other favorite essential oils: Ho Wood) has an insanely high linalool content. When inhaled, linalool can boost your mood and put you into a happier mindset. It’s a quick, near-immediate pick-me-up. And what makes Bergamot Mint so awesome is that (unlike Ho Wood, Basil, and other linalool rich oils) it doesn’t have a sedative effect. You get the joy without any lethargy! This oil is a must for people who are under chronic stress, have bouts with depression, or suffer from anxiety.
It’s a strong deodorizer! Everything about this scent is clean, clean, clean. You can diffuse it in your room to cover up a stinky lingering smell, or just spritz it around the bathroom to put a bit more pep into your step.
It’s an effective antiviral/antifungal/antimicrobial agent. Paired with a carrier oil, you can use this oil on cuts, scrapes, or bruises. Not only does it clean the wound, but its anti-inflammatory properties make it a 1-2 for minor injuries. The chemical in this oil responsible for this is thymol.
It’s great for your skin! Bergamot Mint can reduce the frequency of pimples, blackheads, and whiteheads because it fights bacteria hiding in your face.
Detoxify your body! Bergamot Mint is a mild diuretic, meaning it can stimulate your kidneys to flush out excess urea, salt, fat, water, and uric acid from your body.
Cons:
If you are allergic to menthol, methyl salicylate, wintergreen, or anything in the aspirin family, you will not want to make this blend or use this oil. Talk to your pharmacist for more details about potential allergenic hazards.
If you have asthma, are prone to nasal polyps, or very sensitive skin, you will not want to make this blend or use this oil.
This oil should not be used if you are pregnant, attempting to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
This oil should not be used on children under the age of 5, and never undiluted.
Other than the above precautions, Bergamot Mint is considered to be universally safe.
Spearmint Essential Oil (20% of Galactic Grunt blend)
Spearmint brings to mind Wrigley’s chewing gum (particularly the DoubleMint variety), those little white-and-green discs you get instead of peppermint, and Altoids. It’s a slightly sweeter smell than Peppermint Essential Oil, but carries a bit more bite and blends with some really fascinating things that Peppermint typically won’t.
Pros:
Reduce healing time for scrapes and cuts! Spearmint is a good antiseptic. The myrcene, caryophyllene, and menthol help reduce the risk of a wound becoming infected, which (in turn) speeds up the healing process. The Ancient Greeks used it to treat all kinds of crazy things (like scabies, dermatitis, and many infectious diseases).
Relieve aches and spasms! Menthol (one component of Spearmint) has a cooling effect on the body and relaxes overactive nerves and muscles. Contractions loosen up, overexerted muscles ease up, and it’s a wonder for cramps.
Help your digestive tract! Spearmint's properties can do good things for your digestive tract when inhaled. Gas can slip out more easily. Queasiness, indigestion, and stomachache ease up.
Regulate your monthly cycle! Spearmint has emmenagogue properties, meaning it can stimulate your period. If you suffer from early menopause or irregular periods, Spearmint Essential Oil may help. Sometimes I use it with Clary Sage and Juniper Berry to speed mine up just before a convention so I won’t have to pack pads. Spearmint promotes the secretion of many female hormones, like estrogen.
Ward off pesky bugs! Bugs hate menthol. If you have a bug problem in your room, consider diffusing Spearmint or Peppermint to keep those creepy crawlies away.
Reduce your stress levels! Spearmint has a calming, cooling effect on the brain. It makes it easier to concentrate and focus. I’ll use it on hangover days to get rid of my headache.
Cons:
Excessive use of Spearmint Essential Oil may cause damage to the uterine lining. It’s probably a good idea not to use this oil while pregnant, attempting to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.
Excessive use of Spearmint Essential Oil may increase your risk for kidney damage. If you already have a kidney disorder or your family has a history of kidney disorders, you might not want to use this oil (and, as a result, attempt to make this blend).
Excessive use of Spearmint Essential Oil may increase your risk for liver damage. If you already have a liver disorder or your family has a history of liver disorders, you might not want to use this oil (and, as a result, attempt to make this blend).