The Differences In Sea Salt

by Allison B. Kontur
http://www.bathbodysupply.com/

With a plethora of different varieties of sea salt to choose from, it may be difficult to decide which salt is right for your formulation. We hope the following definitions help to make it easier to choose!

Atlantic Sea Salt - This sea salt is a natural sea salt for use in Bath Salts, Aromatherapy, and Soap Making.Environmental conditions directly influence the salt quality through the quality of its main raw material - sea water. The sea water used to make Atlantic Sea Salt is especially clean as it is collected from a mangrove area, an ecosystem that removes undesired elements from the water. This removal is accomplished through a filtration process carried by indigenous plants and shellfish.

Dead Sea Salt - The waters of the Dead Sea (located in Israel) are unique in that they contain 27% of various salts as compared to 3% in normal sea water. While sodium accounts for approximately 80% of the mineral content of normal sea water, it comprises much less of the mineral total in water from the Dead Sea. The remaining mineral content of Dead Sea water is comprised of magnesium, potassium, calcium chloride and bromides.

Dendritic Salt - Dendritic Salt is a very fine grain salt with a greater surface area than most salts on the market. This greater surface area allows the salt to absorb twice the amount of oil. It has less clumping, greater fragrance retention and dissolves quickly in water. Add fragrance or essential oil to dendritic salt and blend with any type of sea salt to make your bath salts. Not only will this aid in keeping your sea salts dryer, it will allow you to use a higher fragrance load and will give your finished product a free-flowing consistency.

Epsom Salt - Magnesium sulfate is used as in bath salts, particularly in flotation therapy where high concentrations raise the bath water's specific gravity, effectively making the body more buoyant. Traditionally, it is also used to prepare foot baths, intended to soothe sore feet. The reason for the inclusion of the salt is partially cosmetic: the increase in ionic strength prevents some of the temporary skin wrinkling ("pruning") which is caused by prolonged immersion of extremities in pure water. However, magnesium sulfate can also be absorbed into the skin, reducing inflammation.

Source: http://bathbodysupply.blogspot.com/2009/05/deciphering-differences-in-sea-salt.html