There comes a time, usually right around 50, when the phrase “go touch grass” becomes less of a meme and more of a personal wellness plan. And honestly? We’re better for it!
Because in this season of life, our souls are craving something slower, softer, and a whole lot more sacred. We’re done with the hustle. We’re done with the “anti-aging” everything. What we want now is deep-rooted restoration.
Enter: Forestcore Bathing - a dreamy mix of cozycore aesthetics, wildcrafted wellness, and midlife rituals that feel like therapy in a teacup. Or, better yet, in a hot, herb-infused bath.
So light the beeswax candles, grab your bath salts, and let’s return to the wild!
1. Herbal Bathing Rituals for the Forestcore Soul
Let’s start with the obvious: bath time is holy.
It’s not just about hygiene - it’s about slowing the heck down, tuning into your body, and letting nature literally soak into your skin.
Here’s how to build your own forestcore bath ritual:
- Start with your base:
- 1–2 cups Epsom salt (magnesium = midlife joint + hormone magic)
- Optional: sea salt or baking soda for added detoxifying powers
- Add in herbs or essential oils:
- Fir needle, cedar, eucalyptus, rosemary = invigorating and earthy
- Lavender, chamomile, lemon balm = calming and cozy
- Bundle herbs in muslin or steep like tea to keep cleanup simple
- Set the scene:
- Candles, soft lighting, forest sounds playlist, grounding crystal nearby
- Optional: bring in pinecones, stones, or foraged twigs for ✨aesthetic✨
✨ Midlife tip: A weekly herbal soak is cheaper than therapy - and smells better, too.
2. Forestcore Walks & Nature Meditations
You don’t need a luxury spa - you just need a patch of earth and a few deep breaths.
Forest bathing (a.k.a. Shinrin-yoku) is the Japanese practice of mindfully immersing yourself in nature. Studies show it can lower blood pressure, reduce stress hormones, and boost immune function. We love science-backed magic around here!
Try this:
- Take a “listening walk” - no phone, just birdsong
- Sit with your back against a tree and breathe deeply
- Collect nature tokens (acorns, moss, leaves) for your altar or bath
- Walk barefoot on grass or moss to ground your energy
✨ Midlife tip: Nature doesn’t care if you’re productive - just present.
3. Wildcrafted Herbs & DIY Bath Blends
Whether you forage your herbs or buy them from a trusted herbalist, this is where the real magic brews.
Midlife wellness meets plant alchemy when you start blending your own soaks. Trust your senses, follow your intuition, and let the plants speak.
Some forestcore-friendly herbs:
- 🌿 Lavender – relaxation, sleep, divine feminine energy
- 🍂 Rose – softening, love, skin nourishment
- 🍃 Cedar & fir tips – cleansing, earthy grounding
- 🌼 Calendula – skin healing, solar energy
- 🌙 Mugwort – intuition, dreamwork, menstrual balance
- 💚 Nettle & yarrow – circulation, protection, strength
Easy DIY Bath Soak Blends:
- Relax & Release: Lavender + chamomile + rose petals
- Forest Witch Blend: Epsom salt + fir tips + cedar oil + rosemary
- Moon Magic Soak: Mugwort + rose + lemon balm + a few drops of vetiver
✨ Midlife tip: You are allowed to be soft, slow, and sacred.
How to Use Herbal Bath Soaks
There are three main ways to use your herbal blends in the bath - depending on how fancy (or low-effort) you’re feeling:
1. Tea Bag / Muslin Pouch Method
This is my fave method - less cleanup, still totally magical!
You’ll need:
- A muslin drawstring bag (or a clean sock in a pinch...hahaha)
- ¼ to ½ cup of your dried herbal blend
- Optional: Add Epsom or sea salt directly into the pouch too
How to use:
- Toss the filled pouch into your hot bath and let it steep like tea
- Soak for 20–30 minutes and squeeze the pouch occasionally to release more herbal oils
- Compost or empty the herbs after, rinse the bag, and reuse!
Additional resource: DIY Herbal Bath Tea - The Best Homemade Tub Soak!
2. Direct Infusion (Messy but Powerful)
Feeling witchy and don’t mind a little cleanup? Sprinkle those herbs right in the water.
How to:
- Add ¼–½ cup dried herbs directly to the bath along with salts and essential oils
- Let steep while the tub fills
- After soaking, use a mesh strainer or your hands to scoop herbs before draining
- Rinse tub to avoid clogging or staining
This is gorgeous if you want to float rose petals, cedar tips, or chamomile for ~aesthetic~ reasons.
3. Pre-Steeped Tea Bath (Super Potent)
For a super strong herbal bath (great for pain, anxiety, or skin healing), make a “tea” ahead of time.
How to:
- Boil 4–6 cups of water
- Add ¼–½ cup herbs and cover
- Let steep 20–30 minutes
- Strain and pour directly into your bath water
Pro tip: You can refrigerate extra “tea” for 2–3 days and use it for your next bath or even as a facial steam base!
How to Use Salts in Bath Soaks
If you’re adding salts (and you should - especially Epsom!), here’s the sweet spot:
- Epsom salt: 1–2 cups per bath
- Sea salt / Himalayan pink salt: ¼–½ cup
- Add salts while your bath is filling to help them dissolve
Optional extras:
- A few drops of essential oil (like lavender, cedarwood, fir, or eucalyptus)
- 1 tablespoon of carrier oil (like sweet almond or jojoba) to make the soak extra moisturizing
How to Store Your Herbal Bath Blends
Proper storage = longer life + more potency!
Store your blend in:
- A glass jar with a tight-fitting lid (mason jar, recycled candle jar, etc.)
- Label it! Include the blend name + date
- Optional: tie a muslin bag to the jar for easy use
Keep it:
- In a cool, dark place (away from sunlight and moisture)
- Use within 3–6 months for peak freshness and scent
🌿 Bonus idea: Make a “Bath Apothecary Shelf” with labeled jars for each mood - like Muscle Melt, Moon Soak, Forest Rest, etc. It’s aesthetic AND useful!
4. Creating a Forestcore Sanctuary at Home
Even if your bathroom is the size of a broom closet, you can still make it a magical, mossy retreat.
Forestcore decor = nature meets cozy:
- Apothecary-style jars for salts and herbs
- Beeswax or soy candles (woodsy scents like birch or vetiver)
- A bath tray with crystals, dried flowers, or a cup of tea
- A portable speaker with your fave rainstorm or ambient forest playlist
- Neutral linens, soft textures, fairy lights, and maybe a plant (or six)
✨ Midlife tip: You don’t need a Pinterest-perfect bathroom — just one that feels like yours.
5. How to Integrate Forestcore Wellness Into Your Routine
This isn’t about trends - it’s about tending!
You don’t need to live in a cottage or forage full-time. You just need rituals that root you back into your body, your breath, and the natural world.
Make it part of your regular rhythm:
- A weekly forestcore bath night (Wednesday is perfect for midweek magic)
- A monthly nature walk + journaling day
- A seasonal herbal soak + intention setting on the new or full moon
- A small shelf or altar with stones, herbs, and candles just for you
✨ Midlife tip: This chapter of your life gets to be earthy, sensual, and entirely on your terms.
Get the nature core journal page!
Final Thoughts: Healing Happens in the Wild (or the Tub)
Your wellness isn’t something to chase.
It’s something to remember. To reclaim.
To soak in, literally and metaphorically!
So whether you’re brewing mugwort tea by the full moon, steeping in a rosemary salt bath, or simply sitting under a tree with your journal - you’re doing the work. You’re tending to your inner wild.
And that?
That is the most powerful kind of midlife magic there is!
Here are some more great posts you might like to check out:
- Witchy Wellness: Self Care for the Mystical Midlife Woman
- Princesscore Self Care After 50: Because You Deserve to Feel Royal
- How Vintage Core Shopping Became My Favorite Form of Self Care
