The 11 Best Bath Soaks For Sore Muscles – Our Top Picks Of 2024
A therapeutic bath over the weekend using relaxing and fragrant salts sounds so tempting.
Dr. Allen Conrad is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and the Team Chiropractor for the Blackthorn Rugby Team. He is also the owner of the Montgomery County Chiropractic Center located in North Wales, Pennsylvania. Dr. Conrad has experience with car and work-related injuries and sports rehabilitation and has been working with patients with various health insurance plans for over 23 years, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Personal Choice, Aetna, and Independence Administrators PPO health insurance plans.
Read full bio of Dr. Allen Conrad
Experience: 5 yearsAditi Naskar has a postgraduate degree in English literature from Presidency University, Kolkata, a bachelor’s degree in education from WBUTTEPA, Kolkata, and a diploma in health and wellness. She is an associate commerce editor with 5 years of experience and specializes in reviewing fitness and health products.
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Experience: 5 yearsMedha Deb is a commerce editor with a master's degree in applied linguistics from the University of Hyderabad, which has allowed her to develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts. She specializes in the areas of beauty, health, and wellness and is committed to ensuring that the content on the website is of the highest quality.
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Experience: 3 yearsRajeshwari is a dedicated fitness and lifestyle enthusiast, deeply committed to enhancing our readers’ well-being and vitality. She has a master’s degree in Journalism & Mass Communication from the University of Calcutta.
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Many people look forward to a nice warm bath after a long and exhausting day because bath soaks add to the comfort and luxury of a long soak. Using the best bath soak for sore muscles can help calm and ease your muscles while also giving you a spa-like experience at home. They can help you purify your skin, relieve muscle discomfort, and reduce tension. When mixed with essential oils, these revitalizing bath soaks also have several aromatherapeutic effects. Experience the soothing effects of these relaxing bath products, specially formulated to provide soreness relief and promote muscle relaxation.
Finding the ideal bath soak with the right type of salt might be difficult with so many alternatives available in the market! That’s why, just to make things easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of the top bath soaks available in the market right now to simplify your search. Take a look at them below, and choose one for yourself!
In This Article
How Do Bath Soaks Work?
Bath soaks break down into sulfate and magnesium when added in water. Your body absorbs these minerals through your skin, which helps in relaxing your stiff muscles and joints. They also reduce swelling and arthritis pain when used daily.
Still wondering why you should use bath soaks for sore muscles? Find out below!
Why Should You Take A Bath Soak For Sore Muscles?
A bath soak helps in blood circulation, loosens stiff joints, and helps in relaxing your muscles. They also increase the elasticity of your tissues to relieve pain and tightness. They increase the oxygen level in your body, thus relieving sore muscles.
Now that you know how great bath soaks are for relieving your sore muscles, check out the best ones in the market below!
11 Best Bath Soak For Sore Muscles
1. Best Fragrance:Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath
The Mustard Bath by Dr. Singha is a therapeutic bath soak infused with powdered mustard seeds, wintergreen essential oil, rosemary essential oil, and eucalyptus essential oil. These oils penetrate deep into your skin to soften and cleanse it and leave you with a great scent. The mustard seeds help open up the pores and improve blood flow while drawing out any impurities. This all-natural alkaline bath salt helps soothe and purify your whole body while relaxing back pain, easing muscle pain, relieving joint ache, repairing damaged skin, and speeding up postpartum recovery. It creates a scented bath that eases muscle stiffness and soreness. It also helps calm and nourish irritated skin. You may check this video to explore a reviewer’s experience of using this bath soak for a better understanding of this product.
Key Ingredients: Mustard seed powder, Eucalyptus essential oil, Rosemary essential oil, Thyme and Wintergreen essential oil
Pros
- Dissolves quickly
- Reduces stress
- Great fragrance
- Reduces inflammation
- Helps in postpartum recovery
- Phthalate-free
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- May cause irritation
Why We Think It's Worth Buying
With over 63 Amazon acclaimed reviews, this product is sure to find a place in everyone’s shopping bag.
2. Best Cruelty-Free:Soothing Touch Sore Muscle Soak
Indulge in an instant tension-relieving experience with this blend of essential oils by Soothing Touch. It is ideal for use after heavy exercises or just to ease muscle tension. The soothing muscle soak blend also contains Epsom salt, evaporated sea salt, Dead Sea salt, and mineral salts that are rich in calcium, potassium, and magnesium. The clove, eucalyptus, and peppermint essential oils in the soak rejuvenate your senses and relieve pain. Since the product has essential oils in it, perform a patch test before using it, especially if you have sensitive skin. Also, if you are on any medication or are pregnant, consult your healthcare specialist before use.
Key Ingredients: Peppermint essential oil, Eucalyptus essential oil, Clove essential oil
Pros
- Great fragrance
- Cruelty-free
- Paraben-free
- Gluten-free
- Synthetic fragrance-free
- Phthalate-free
- Long lasting benefits
Cons
- None
"The bath salts offers relaxation and muscle relief. The scent is strong, but that is the reason for my extended bath time. I love using these to relax after a long work day."
3. Best For Aromatherapy Experience: DAILY REMEDY Muscle Relief Body Soak
The DAILY REMEDY Muscle Relief Body Soak is packed with nutrient-rich salts and essential oils that relieve sore muscles and reduce swelling. This body soak is infused with the goodness of natural ingredients, like vitamins C and E, Epsom Salt, camphor, peppermint, and eucalyptus, that combat muscle aches and joint pains caused by intense exercises, and accelerate post-workout recovery. This bath soak also provides a soothing aromatherapy experience, making it suitable for athletes and trainers.
Key Ingredients: Dead sea salt, Epsom salt, Eucalyptus oil, Peppermint oil, Arnica oil, Hemp oil, Camphor, and Vitamins E and C
Pros
- Reduce swelling
- Soothes muscle aches
- Hypoallergenic
- Organic
- Easy to use
- Soothing fragrance
- Cruelty-free
Cons
- Less quantity
- Expensive
"This body soak is great for muscle irritations. It soothes itchy skin conditions and provides a muscle relief post-exercise. It has a natural scent that is not too overpowering."
Did You Know?Why We Think It's Worth Buying
The overwhelming 127 positive reviews on Amazon show how popular this product is with happy users.
Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath Best Fragrance | Soothing Touch Sore Muscle Soak Best Cruelty-Free | DAILY REMEDY Muscle Relief Body Soak Best For Aromatherapy Experience | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 7.01 x 4.02 x 4.02 inches | 7.5 x 3 x 8 inches | - |
| Weight | 1.75 Pounds | 2 Pounds. | - |
| Rating | |||
| Reviews | 63 | 57 | 127 |
| Price | $31.99 | $8.99 | $14.97 |
4. Best Moisturizing:Sanara Yerba Mate Bath Soak
This plant-based bath soak by Sanara is infused with premium-quality moisturizers, which smoothen and soften your dry and cracked skin condition. The soak is scented with essential oils of lavender, ylang ylang, amyris, and orange to provide an aromatherapeutic effect while reducing stress and calming your senses. The blend contains the goodness of moisturizing jojoba oil, anti-aging acai berry that promotes skin cell regeneration, and Yerba Mate which is rich in caffeine and reduces puffiness, skin redness, and itching. The aloe vera extracts in the formula provide skin hydration without leaving a greasy residue or clogging your pores. Pink Brazilian clay, being rich in iron, absorbs toxins and excess sebum, leaving your skin with a natural glow. With regular use, you get clear, soft, and smooth skin. Indulge in a calming bath infused with natural muscle relaxants and a relaxing fragrance that effectively relieves sore muscles, joint pain, cramps, and restless leg syndrome with ease.
Dr. Allen Conrad, BS, DC, CSCS, cautions, “Those who are sensitive to excessive caffeine must consult their doctor before using products with caffeine because in certain cases it may lead to dizziness, headaches or irregular heartbeat. This is especially important for those who take medications for blood pressure or blood thinning.
Key Ingredients: Aloe vera extract, Jojoba oil, Yerba Mate, Acai berry, and Pink Brazilian clay
Pros
- Improves blood circulation
- Moisturizes the skin
- Improve skin elasticity
- Induces a natural glow
- Pleasant fragrance
- Stress relief
- Chemical-free
- Paraben-free
- Formaldehyde-free
Cons
- None
"After a long day of stressful work, I love induging in this bath soak. It soothes my muscles and helps me unwind. It softens my skin and does not cause any irritation. It has a subtle, woody scent that is quite relaxing."
5. Best Pleasant Fragrance:Plant Life Sore Muscle Therapy
Release body tension and calm your senses with this unique formula by Plant Life! It is infused with the goodness of pure and unprocessed Fleur de Sel sea salt, which is rich in 84 vital minerals. It contains the necessary nutrients to improve the blood plasma, extra cellular fluid, and lymphatic fluid in your body. It is also not tested on animals, ensuring a guilt-free experience. A hot soak with this bath salt relaxes you physically and mentally while stimulating your immune system.
Key Ingredient: Fleur de Sel sea salt
Pros
- Pleasant fragrance
- Does not cause irritation
- Eases joint pain
- All-natural
Cons
- None
"This soak is so therapeutic to use after physical activities. It is great for easing and releasing tension in sore muscles."
6. Best For Pain Relief:WIC Family Naturals Ache & Pain Soak
Indulge in a relaxing spa-like experience with this bath soak by WIC Family Naturals. It is infused with a blend of natural healing ingredients like menthol, camphor, and MSM which fade away joint pain and muscle aches. The Canadian glacial mineral and solar sea salt in this formula are rich in 50 trace minerals that give you instant relaxation and pain relief. The formula also contains Copaiba, which makes this bath soak ideal for people with lower back pain, hip pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, arthritis, joint pain, and springs. Many reviewers have agreed that the aromatherapeutic scent of the essential oils also helps relieve mild anxiety and induces good sleep. Peppermint oil, lemongrass oil, and eucalyptus oil offer a cooling effect that rejuvenates and energizes your body, mind, and spirit.
Key Ingredients: Menthol, Camphor, MSM, Copaiba, Peppermint essential oil, Eucalyptus essential oil, and Lemongrass oil
Pros
- Dissolves quickly
- Reduces stress
- Pleasant fragrance
- Does not irritate the skin
- Reduces inflammation
- Phthalate-free
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Cruelty-free
- Artificial fragrance-free
- Filler-free
- Dye-free
Cons
- May cause a burning sensation
ProTip7. Best Non-GMO Formula: Amaki Flowers & Salts Bath Soak
The Amaki Flowers & Salts Bath Soak is infused with dead sea salts that exfoliate the skin and eliminate the signs of aging. It contains lavender oil and calendula, which soothe skin irritations, reduce redness, and treat skin problems like eczema. The Epsom salt in the bath soak reduces muscle cramps, diminishes spider veins, and treats cuts and bruises by promoting the regeneration of skin cells. The formula is also mixed with the goodness of rose, chamomile, and many essential oil blends that moisturize the skin and impart the benefits of aromatherapy. The bath soak comes with two reusable muslin bags to avoid product clogging.
Key Ingredient: Epsom salt, Dead Sea Salt, Lavender, Calendula, Rose, and Chamomile extracts
Pros
- Suitable for all skin types
- Gentle
- Moisturizes the skin
- Vegan
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Non-GMO
- Eco-friendly packaging
- Comes with two reusable muslin bags
Cons
- Less quantity
"This product has truly leveled up my bath routine. It softens my skin and does not cause any dryness. This little luxury is best for a much-needed pampering session. It has a very pleasant scent."
8. Best Quick Acting Formula: Athletabis Sore Muscle Relief Epsom Salt
The Athletabis Epsom Salt Sore Muscle Soak is infused with the goodness of magnesium, menthol, and hemp oil, which help you deal with post-workout soreness and moisturize your skin. It helps you release strained muscles and relax your mind with the sweet, minty aroma of eucalyptus and the cooling effect of menthol. This healing bath soak combines warm water soak with detoxification and the healing properties of a herbal bath. Many reviewers have testified that the formula reduces aches from training and other chronic issues while relieving your stress. This hemp-infused, THC-free bath salt is also rich in fatty acids that nourish your skin.
Dr. Conrad advises, “ If you are already on blood pressure medication, it is recommended that you consult your doctor first before trying bath soaks with magnesium as this mineral is shown to lower your blood pressure.”
Key Ingredients: Magnesium, Hemp oil, and Menthol
Pros
- Relieves stress
- Treats sore muscles
- Moisturizes the skin
- THC-free
- Pleasant smell
Cons
- Expensive
- Does not dissolve well
Did You Know?9. Best For Stress Relief:Coach Soak Muscle Recovery Bath Soak – Cooling Peppermint
Say ‘goodbye’ to sore muscles with the Muscle Recovery Bath Soak by Coach Soak. It is formulated with fast dissolving magnesium flakes, which get absorbed faster than Epsom salt and effectively reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation, and heal sore joints. The mineral-rich Dead Sea salt soothes stiff muscles, tired feet, and swollen muscles, while the vitamin C crystals soften your skin and prevent dryness and irritation. The cooling, therapeutic property of peppermint essential oil in the formula rejuvenates your senses and gives an aromatherapeutic experience, while the coconut oil moisturizes your skin and prevents any irritation or dryness. This bath soak can also be used as an exfoliator to improve your complexion and soften your skin. This unique blend is ideal for individuals who are into weightlifting or running or have a physically demanding job
Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, Magnesium flakes, Vitamin C crystals, and Peppermint essential oil
Pros
- Improves blood circulation
- Moisturizes the skin
- Improves skin elasticity
- Induces a natural glow
- Pleasant fragrance
- Stress relief
- Cooling sensation
Cons
- None
"The bath salts have a very refreshing lemon scent. They help ease my muscle aches. I love using them to relax after long work hours. They do not dry out the skin."
10. Best Soothing Formula:Aromasong Salt Co. All Natural Muscle Recovery Soak
Recharge your body after a workout or training session with this relaxing soak by Aromasong Salt Co.. The soothing formula helps smoothen your dry skin and treat sore muscles while promoting faster healing. The minerals in this therapeutic formula have anti-inflammatory properties that also purify and detoxify your skin by removing dead skin, excess oil, and toxins from your pores. The vitamin C crystals in the bath salt neutralize the chlorine in water and quicken your post-workout recovery. The soak also contains lavender oil that ensures a good night’s sleep. The Dead Sea salt naturally treats psoriasis, eczema, and acne while nourishing your skin.
Key Ingredients: Raw Dea Sea salt, Vitamin C crystals, Raw magnesium flakes, and 100% Natural Lavender essential oil
Pros
- Dissolves quickly
- Reduces stress
- Pleasant scent fragrance
- Does not irritate the skin
- Reduces inflammation
- Detoxes the skin
- Phthalate-free
- Paraben-free
- Sulfate-free
- Cruelty-free
- Artificial fragrance-free
- Filler-free
- Color-free
Cons
- None
11. Best Paraben-Free:Village Naturals Therapy Concentrated Mineral Bath Soak
Soak in the Village Naturals Therapy Concentrated Mineral Bath Soak and relax the tired muscles and rejuvenates the body. This high-quality bath soak consists of a blend of sea salt and Epsom salt, which helps improve blood circulation and eliminates toxins while relieving stress. The refreshing fragrance of spearmint and eucalyptus invigorates the senses and energizes your body, mind, and soul. The menthol in the formula gives a cooling and tingling sensation and eases tired muscles.
Key Ingredients: Epsom salt, Sea salt, Menthol, Spearmint, and Eucalyptus oil
Pros
- Reduces inflammation
- Eases body stiffness
- Soothes muscles
- Cooling sensation
- Reduces anxiety and stress
- Hydrating benefits
- Paraben-free
- Pleasant fragrance
Cons
- None
"These salts have become an essential in my bath routine. They are so therapeutic with a menthol cooling effect that helps relax my sore muscles. The scent is pleasant too."
Infographic: How To Use Bath Soaks To Treat Sore Muscles
Who does not want to indulge in a warm relaxing bath, especially after a long day? To take that therapeutic experience to a whole new level, all you need to do is just add some bath soaks into your bath. Check out the infographic below for a step-by-step guide on how to use bath soaks to melt the stress away from your body and mind.
Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team
The Bottom Line
Day-long stress at work makes your muscles sore. So, a spa-like treatment is much necessary to relax the muscles. Unfortunately, a regular shower or bath cannot release tight, tense muscles. But, bath soaks with additional ingredients can be the savior you are looking for. Bath soaks can relax your stiff muscles, improve blood circulation, and loosen the tight joints. For a sulfate, paraben, and cruelty-free bath soak with a delightful fragrance, opt for the Dr. Singha’s Mustard Bath. If you desire moisturized skin with improved elasticity and a natural glow, go for the Sanara Yerba Mate Bath Soak. Embrace vegan, gentle options suitable for all skin types with the Amaki Flowers & Salts Bath Soak. The bath soaks on our list reduce stress and offer an aromatic experience. Additionally, they are infused with essential oils to keep you calm and refreshing. When choosing among them, read the in-depth reviews and check the ingredients list to make these a part of your skin care set. Also, if you are pregnant, consult your healthcare specialist before using bath soaks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does soaking in a bath help sore muscles?
Yes, soaking in a bath helps relax your stiff, sore muscles and soothes your body and mind.
How long do we soak sore muscles?
Soak sore muscles for 12-15 mins roughly to get the benefits of the bath soaks.
Is it better to soak in hot or cold water for sore muscles?
The cold water helps reduce inflammation, swelling, and soreness by constricting your blood vessels and slowing the blood flow.
Does soaking in hot water help sore muscles?
Yes, hot water helps relieve muscle soreness to some extent.
Do hot baths help with muscle recovery?
Yes. Hot baths help relax blood vessels and improve blood flow to promote muscle recovery.
Why Trust StyleCraze?
The author of this article, Aditi Naskar, has a health and wellness diploma. She has a keen interest in experimenting with the latest health-related items and brands. After thorough research and going through numerous reviews and feedback on multiple forums, she has curated a list of the best bath soaks to soothe your sore muscles. These products can help calm and ease your muscles while giving you a spa-like experience at home. In addition, they can help you purify your skin, relieve muscle discomfort, and reduce tension.
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