Birch leaf bath sachets

Name: Birch leaf bath sachets
Total time: 7 d 30 min
Yield: 4 bath sachets
Ingredients: 150 g fresh, young birch leaves (gives about 40 g dried); 4 tablespoons coarse rolled oats; 4 muslin or cotton drawstring bags (or squares of fabric and string)

Updated on 9 October 2026

Makes: 4 bath sachets
Time: 30 min + 1 week drying
From: Downy birch

Ingredients

150 g fresh, young birch leaves (gives about 40 g dried)
4 tablespoons coarse rolled oats
4 muslin or cotton drawstring bags (or squares of fabric and string)

Method

Pick young, soft leaves in April or May, away from busy roads.
Remove the stalks and spread the leaves out in a single layer on a rack or a clean cloth. Leave them to dry for 5–7 days in an airy, shady place until they crackle. Turn them now and then.
Crumble the leaves roughly with your hands and mix them with the oats.
Fill each bag with 2–3 tablespoons of the mixture and tie it tightly.
Let a sachet steep in the warm bath water like a tea bag and squeeze it now and then.
Put the sachet on the compost heap after use.

Storing: Unused sachets keep for up to 6 months in a dry, well-closed box. Not edible. Dry the leaves completely: damp leaves go mouldy. If you have sensitive skin or a birch pollen allergy, patch-test on a small area first or leave it out.