Kneipp Dream Away Mineral Bath Salt with Valerian & Hops - Soothing Bedtime Bath Blend - 17.6 oz - Up to 10 Baths

These bath salts are ALWAYS on my wishlists!The scent of lavender is strong, but the hops and other herbs add an ineffable scent that is deeply relaxing and pleasant. Every member of my family above the age of two uses and enjoys this product. It turns the bath water a lovely slightly deeper shade of the blue seen in the photo. I often add Epsom or Magnesium salts if using this for muscle aches, as alone it is not as helpful, perhaps simply because there isn't enough salt in a 'serving,' and for this purpose, it makes a muscle soothing soak much more pleasant (there is evidence in medical studies of high repute that salt baths are very helpful for muscle aches and pains - I will share references on this when I have a bit more time.) The bath also seems to soothe toddler rashes and leaves my adult skin very smooth and soft. Lotion and plain coconut or olive oil twenty minutes after the bath, as directed, seems to extend this softness better than either bath or moisturizer alone.It is expensive stuff - though it can be found for about $13/pound at times, and I personally buy several when there is a good price - for gifts as well was my family. Other plain salts, as mentioned, 'stretch' the product, and adding some of the Valerian and Hops bath liquid ('oil') to this intensifies the scent, so less can be used. The liquid version can be added to Epsom salt or similar as well, and while the color is not as intense, the scent permeates the plain salt very nicely after a few days. This salt, even at $18, is a worthwhile splurge and makes a great gift. I have tried to replicate the scent, and can't - mine smells like lavender only, and is not economical for the amount of herb and/or essential oil used - I have used 'healthier' food coloring and made an acceptable colored bath, but simply can't make something that compares to Kneipp. I have used this in sachets for bedclothes and pjs, and love the result, though the drawer does absorb the smell more than the cloth. I have also put simply cotton headbands that I wear to bed into the jar, and the scent is strong and long-lasting. I did once use a bit for homemade deodorant, but the color was a problem, so I will stick with essential oil only for that purpose.Note ending my newer reviews - tips on SAVINGS, or 'Why I buy just about everything on Amazon": Join an Amazon program like "Mom" or "Student" for discounts & other savings, even free Prime for a full year, there are many programs and everyone I know meets the requirements for at least one of them; Take advantage of Subscribe and Save AND the option to order five items for the same delivery for 20% savings or more; Read the fine print as savings often hide there, including promo codes; Check popular websites for promo codes, I have saved 40% off and gotten items for less than a dollar with all savings combined, in the time it took to type/read/write; Check other vendors, spellings, and especially departments as price vary wildly on some items and things sometimes don't appear in an all departments search; always click the 'Specials' on Amazon as they may not appear on product pages; consider the pantry program, especially if you don't have Prime; set price alerts on other websites as Amazon vendors are quick to respond to reductions anywhere. Forgive me if this is tedium, but I used to be guilty of one-click-2 AM-ordering, and these ideas have given me much more purchasing power with very little effort or time commitment.

For a bath or a foot soak, this stuff feels really luxurious, and the color it gives the water makes it look great too. Very relaxing to soak in, and my skin feels so soft afterward. Just exactly the pleasurable and somewhat exotic experience I was looking for in the bath. I bought a wide variety, and I may still try more.They all smell VERY strong and medicinal in the bottle, but once they are diluted into the water, the scent becomes quite subtle. I added a sea salt & sage scented candle to my bath time just because the scent from these bath salts was so subtle.I find the colored water quite enchanting. The valerian & hops one turns the water bright blue; devil’s claw makes it blood red; arnica is yellow like… well, it looks like pee, but it still feels amazing, just dim the lights! Basically, the color you see is close to what you get in the tub—depending on how much you add, of course. If you don’t want brightly colored water, stick to the varieties without coloring like Lavender.I looked up several of the hero ingredients on the front of the label, and some had some interesting warnings, so check them out before you buy. It’s probably a very low dosage in these salts, and probably even lower since you’re taking them as a soak on the skin and not by mouth. But still, a few said not to use while pregnant, or while using sedatives/sleep aids, or while using blood thinners, even ibuprofen. Again, probably not a significant dosage in bath salt soaks, but something to be aware of.Several of the ingredients (like arnica or calendula) aren’t actually shown to be effective—maybe they are, maybe they’re not. Others are shown to be useful, but when taken by mouth rather than a topical treatment (like devil’s claw or valerian). Others are shown to be effective, even in a form like bath salts (like lavender or orange). Some have warnings for people with plant allergies (like calendula). Still others are just for a pleasant aroma (like pine and fir).Despite the dubious claims (like arnica for muscle pain or topical devil’s claw for back pain) the salts and trace minerals themselves are shown to be effective, and of course that is the main ingredient in every variety, so every variety will be effective as a treatment in the bath. The hero additives on the front of the label should be considered more entertainment than medical intervention.Overall, very happy with these. I bought fragrance-free bubble bath and fragrance-free cleansing bath oil to use with them. These salts are the star of the show. I have never had such a luxurious experience in the bath and I look forward to using a different variety every time.

For a stressed out insomniac, these bath salts have been a nice bit of winter self-care. I got a packet of them in a beauty subscription box recently. I took a bath and knew they were just what i needed in my stress filled life. So i purchased a full bottle here on Amazon.They turn your bath water a beautiful, deep blue! The fragrance is quite strong, with citronella the most identifiable scent in the bouquet. I am hooked. After luxuriating in the tub for a bit longer than the suggested 15 minutes (i was reading a book in the tub! So nice!) I prepared for bed and i did fall asleep in short order! I am not going to claim that a bath product cured my insomnia but it has made a very nice addition to my routine on nights when i need extra help relaxing and getting ready to sleep. I have become very fond of the fragrance, too. The deep blue bathwater is so fragrant and inviting. It's an affordable indulgence. The ingredient list includes valerian, a very sedating herb that usually comes with an unpleasant aroma. Somehow, you don't smell it at all. Magnesium salts are probably the most important active ingredient, soothing away aches and pains. My skin can be sensitive in winter, but it has done well with these baths. I would recommend them to anyone looking for a relaxing, fragrant bath to help them wind down before bed. Would be a great gift, too!EDIT: after reading some other reviews i wanted to add that it didn't stain my tub or anything else on me. Maybe it depends on your tub.