TREAT yourself to a good soak in the bath and use a few drops of oil to help you to relax.Many of us have nice smelly oils in the bathroom (maybe a gift at Christmas) but do we all know the benefits they can bring?

Essential oils have been around for centuries, dating back to the early Egyptians. Frankincense can be found in the Bible as one of the three gifts the wise men gave to the infant Jesus. Today they’ve become more relevant than ever so pop some in your next bath.

While people traditionally see a doctor for an illness and get a prescription drug, many others swear by essential oils to support the body’s emotional and physical well-being. Here’s my favourite three. They’re all fab to use in the bath, maybe with a matching smelly candle:

Lavender The scent is fresh, sweet, and floral and some people use it when they’re feeling stressed and irritable.

Cedarwood This has a slightly sharp, woody and sweet aroma and people say it helps relieve anxiety and some skin problems.

Peppermint This well-known minty fragrance is often used for a pick-me-up when you’re feeling mentally tired. I find it’s good for tense headaches, too.

One expert I spoke to told me that sweating in a hot bath is especially good because the Increased circulation of the lymph system required for the sweating process helps to clear the system of toxins and create a free-flowing system to remove toxins, bacteria and viruses from the body.

The lymph system is  responsible for stimulating immune response. Hot baths help increase lymph drainage and improve health.

Now, let me just nip off a run a nice, relaxing, fragrant bath.