How We Started
The Soaking Tub began in 2021 when our founder, Marin Cole, developed chronic back pain after a decade of desk work. Physical therapy helped, but it was the nightly Epsom salt baths — prescribed almost as an afterthought — that made the real difference. The problem was finding a product that did not contain synthetic fragrances, dyes, or fillers she could not identify.
She started blending her own. First for herself, then for friends who kept asking what smelled so good. Within a year, what started in a kitchen mixing bowl had moved into a proper studio space in Portland's industrial district.
Our Ingredients Philosophy
We keep our formulas short. Most of our soaks contain between four and seven ingredients, each with a clear purpose. If a component does not dissolve properly, does not contribute to the therapeutic effect, or exists purely to make the product look pretty on a shelf, we leave it out.
Our salt bases come from three sources: the Dead Sea (mineral-rich, detoxifying), Epsom deposits in Germany (high magnesium, muscle-focused), and the Himalayan range in Pakistan (trace minerals, skin softening). Essential oils are sourced from distillers we have visited in person.
Small Batch, Always
We blend in batches of 50 jars or fewer. This is not a marketing angle — it is a quality control decision. Salt absorbs moisture and fragrance differently depending on humidity, temperature, and grain size. Small batches let us adjust ratios batch-to-batch so that every jar performs identically when it hits the water.
It also means we occasionally sell out. We would rather have a waitlist than a warehouse full of product that sat too long and lost its potency.
Packaging and Shipping
Our jars are amber glass with aluminium lids — recyclable, airtight, and opaque enough to protect light-sensitive oils. We ship in recycled cardboard with paper padding. No plastic wrap, no styrofoam peanuts. Orders placed before noon Pacific time ship the same day via USPS Priority.
Get in Touch
Questions about ingredients, wholesale inquiries, or just want to tell us about your favourite bath? Write to us at [email protected]. We read every message and respond within a day.