The Bath Gourmet [Paperback]

Rhonda Van (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 11, 2004

Here's a fun collection of more than 50 recipes for transforming a bath into a delicious escape, aimed at women who want to pamper themselves with at-home treatments that rival those at the most fashionable spas. Those who spend too much time in dirty, crowded cities can detoxify with the "Big City" bath containing citrus fruit and mustard powder. "Turbo Tub" provides energy, while "Drowsy Lavender Bath" is meant to calm and induce sleep. Each recipe is composed of natural, healthful ingredients, and accompanied by suggestions for appropriate bath toys. Illustrated with colorful, informative artwork, The Bath Gourmet even has a waterproof vinyl cover. From Publishers Weekly: Whether they're seeking to soothe themselves, cure pains, relax, romance a partner or even have a snack while getting clean, bathers will find a recipe for the perfect bath in this DIY volume by enthusiastic bather Van.... Helpful sidebars abound, explaining how to score cheap rose petals at the florist for the Ultimate Seduction Rose Bath, where to find canned coconut milk for the Tiki Tub, and how to pour rice into the foot of a stocking for the Sushi Bath.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Whether they’re seeking to soothe themselves, cure pains, relax, romance a partner or even have a snack while getting clean, bathers will find a recipe for the perfect bath in this DIY volume by enthusiastic bather Van. Most of Van’s recipes call for typical bath ingredients, such as baking soda and the ubiquitous Epsom salt. From there, bathers can add rosemary and fresh mint if they want to renew themselves; seaweed and sesame oil if they want to detoxify, energize and moisturize; or coconut oil and imitation rum extract (or even straight rum) to mend a "really bad mood." Helpful sidebars abound, explaining how to score cheap rose petals at the florist for the Ultimate Seduction Rose Bath, where to find canned coconut milk for the Tiki Tub, and how to pour rice into the foot of a stocking for the Sushi Bath.
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About the Author

Rhonda Van writes computer game manuals and has contributed articles to The Motley Fool and various travel magazines. She also writes science fiction, and won a Pushcart Prize for one of her short stories. Rhonda lives in Northern California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Running Press (May 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762418273
• ISBN-13: 978-0762418275
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great, fun bath book, May 23, 2004

By 

Former QB fan "shalomvsalaam" (Palo Alto, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bath Gourmet (Paperback)

This book is playful and pretty and full of useful information. The recipes are instructions you will actually follow for everything from the milk-and-honey bath I always wanted to try but thought I couldn't (nice to know you don't need gallons of milk) to body fingerpaint that won't stain your bath partner ("cheaper than couple's therapy"). As well as treatments for itchy skin, insomnia, and aching feet, and how to make bath oils and fizzy bath bombs. I bought some for people at work and they were chuckling over the"mess alert" cautionary tales, AND discussing which baths they were going to try first.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite books!!, September 8, 2005

By 

Marika - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Bath Gourmet (Paperback)

I have to say, this book was a godsend for me! Some other bath books have you buy expensive essential oils for the bath recipes, but the recipes in this book require things you usually have on hand and extracts that you can easily find at the grocery store. Plus it has a plastic book jacket (in case you read it in the tub and get it wet!) and chapters on making your own bath recipes and bath bombs, melts, muffins, etc. I was trying a new bath recipe every night!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Obsessed with baths, but bored of "traditional" bath items?, November 14, 2004

By 

C. Karathanasis "dancingkiki" (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bath Gourmet (Paperback)

I adore my bathtub, and make sure to be in it at least once a week, however my vigor and adoration of it has weaned in the past few months, simply because I couldn't do another chamomile milk or lavender bath. My tub had become a very boring place indeed, and I found myself in quite a situation.

Then I found this book while idling around Borders. It turned my tub into an enjoyable place again, and filled me with a sense of joy as I poured rootbeer and vanilla flavoring into my bath, or dumped packets of jell-o, or maybe even kool aide. It turned my tub into one giant test tube, into which I can add all sorts of crazy concoctions I never would have schemed up on my own, and with this in mind, start making up my own ideas.

If you enjoy tubs, but are bored of the frillies sold on the market today, or even if you aren't, or you don't obsess about tubs.. Buy this book to turn your bathroom into your playroom and remind you again what it's like to be little and have not a care in the world :)