Botanical bath and body oil: how to use it, from the tub to damp skin

The botanical bath and body oil is the most versatile product Selv makes. The same bottle works in bath water, as a massage oil, as care after the shower, and even mixed with a salt to exfoliate. It is also the one that raises the most questions: how much to use, when, on what kind of skin, and how it differs from a lotion. This guide answers all of that, drawing on the product pages and on the way we use it in the studio.

What is in the bottle

The Selv botanical oils in the 60 ml size are built on a base of plant oils: sweet almond, avocado, apricot kernel and argan, with vitamin E. On top of that base come the essential oils or the natural fragrances specific to each range. Our FAQ notes that the oils are infused with plants, flowers and fruit for more than a month, which explains the lavender flowers, eucalyptus leaves and rose buds you can see in some of the bottles.

The 30 ml minis have a slightly different, lighter base: caprylic/capric triglycerides, sweet almond and jojoba. Their product pages describe them as leaving the skin soft and satiny, with no greasy finish. These are the sizes to slip into a bag or a travel kit.

In both cases, there is no water in the formula. That is what sets an oil apart from a lotion, and we come back to it below.

In the bath

This is the use the product is named for. The NORDIQUE botanical oil page says to add 2 to 3 dropperfuls straight into the hot bath water. The same benchmark applies to the Boréal, Quartz and Luv oils.

A few things that make the experience better:

• Pour the oil once the tub is full, or toward the end of the fill. Poured too early, it spreads less well.
• Stir the surface gently with your hand. The oil does not mix with the water; it forms a veil that settles on the skin as you get in and out.
• Watch out for a slippery tub on the way out. That is the one real drawback of an oil bath, and a mat or a hand on the edge takes care of it.
• After the bath, pat the skin with the towel rather than rubbing it. The veil of oil stays, and that is the point.

The minis can also be poured straight into the bath water for a more enveloping experience, as their product pages note. And if you already use a bubble bath, the Luv bubble bath page suggests adding a few drops of the oil from the same range.

On damp skin, out of the bath or shower

This is the gesture Selv recommends most. Our FAQ puts it this way: the oil is applied to damp skin as you step out of the bath or shower, to help seal in moisture. The ritual described on the mini product pages is almost identical from one range to the next:

• Put a few drops in the palm of your hands.
• Warm the oil gently between your palms.
• Apply it to skin that is still slightly damp.
• Massage gently until absorbed.

For the 60 ml size, the product page suggests 1 to 2 dropperfuls for the body. Oil spreads far better on damp skin than on dry skin: the water left behind helps distribute it in a thin layer, and the greasy feel is gone within a few minutes. If the result feels too rich, it is almost always a question of quantity. Start with less, add more if you need it.

As a massage oil

The pages for the Boréal, Quartz and Luv oils also suggest using it as a massage oil: apply 1 or 2 dropperfuls wherever you want it. On dry skin the oil glides for longer, which is exactly what you want for a massage. The NORDIQUE botanical oil page also mentions applying a little oil to each wrist, to carry the scent with you.

To exfoliate

Mix the oil with a bath salt in the palm of your hand, then rub the skin gently before rinsing. That is the gesture suggested on the Boréal, Quartz and Luv pages. The salt exfoliates, the oil nourishes, and it all ends up in the bath water.

Oil or lotion: what is the difference

A lotion contains water, oils and an emulsifier that holds the two together. It sinks in quickly, leaves little trace, and goes on easily over dry skin. A botanical oil contains no water. It is more concentrated in lipids, takes a little longer to absorb, and gives the skin that supple, satiny finish the Selv product pages describe.

In practice:

• If your skin is dry, or if winter leaves it feeling tight, oil on damp skin is more comfortable than a light lotion.
• If you get dressed right away, a mini (lighter base, no greasy finish) is more practical than a 60 ml bottle.
• If you want both, use the oil on damp skin in the evening and keep a whipped body butter for the very dry spots. The after bath ritual covers that pairing.

There is no right or wrong choice here. There is a texture you prefer and a time of day when it suits you.

The ranges and their notes

Each oil carries the scent of its range, described in top, heart and base notes. Here is what to go by in the botanical oil collection.

• NORDIQUE (60 ml, 30 ml mini): eucalyptus, lavender, fresh green accords. Scented exclusively with pure essential oils. The scent of the spa.
• Boréal (60 ml, 30 ml mini): balsam fir, with eucalyptus, lime and rosemary in the formula. A conifer forest. Its product page presents it as vegan.
• QUARTZ (60 ml, 30 ml mini): damask rose absolute and rose buds. Its product page lists it as safe for pregnant women.
• LUV (60 ml, 30 ml mini): peach and jasmine flowers. Fruity, soft, velvety. Also listed as safe during pregnancy.
• BLOMST (30 ml mini): white flowers, lilac, powdery floral accords. A walk through a garden in spring.
• BOHO (30 ml mini): grapefruit, clementine, lemon and lime, in pure essential oils. Bright and sparkling.
• LUNE (30 ml mini): sweet mint, lavender, soothing green accords. The one you reach for in the evening.

The mini product pages note that they contain no synthetic fragrance, no parabens and no mineral oils, and each one is presented as vegan. All of them are handmade in Quebec.

Precautions and storage

The botanical oil is for external use only. Do not apply it to the lips, the eyes or the genitals, and avoid all contact with the eyes. Stop using it if irritation appears. Store the bottle in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight and out of reach of children. A well-closed bottle keeps its scent longer.

Frequently asked questions

How much botanical oil should you put in the bath?

The Selv product pages list 2 to 3 dropperfuls straight into the hot water for the 60 ml size. For a mini, a few drops are enough.

Should the oil go on dry or damp skin?

On slightly damp skin, as you step out of the bath or shower. The oil spreads better and helps seal in moisture. On dry skin it glides for longer, which suits a massage.

Can a botanical oil replace a lotion?

It can, if you like a richer texture and a satiny finish. Unlike a lotion, it contains no water and absorbs a little more slowly.

Which botanical oil should you choose during pregnancy?

The QUARTZ and LUV oils are listed as safe for pregnant women on their product pages. The full INCI list is shown on every product page.

One last thing

A botanical oil is a bottle that fits itself to the day: a few dropperfuls in the water when you have time for a bath, a few drops on damp skin when all you have is a shower. Pick the range whose scent stays with you nicely, and let the gesture turn into a habit. That is where the ritual starts.