Can You Bathe in Champagne?
First off, hats off to your creativity and spirit of luxury for asking this question. But did you know you’re not the first to wonder if you could immerse yourself in a bathtub filled with bubbly? This extravagant notion has been around for quite some time, and people do ask me if it is possible to bathe in bubbles, or if it is a good idea. Since you’re asking me – yes, and no. Maybe. You can bathe in champagne but I’m not convinced it’s worth it.
Champagne is well known to all as a symbol of luxury and indulgence. It is often used to celebrate the most important milestones in life, such as weddings, graduations, and a significant promotion. But could there actually be benefits to a champagne bath?
Is champagne safe for your skin?
First, I’m not a doctor myself and this is not medical advice. But to approach this question, let’s first consider the properties of champagne. Champagne is made from a blend of grapes from the French region of the same name. And while it may have alcohol content, some argue that its relatively acidic pH level makes it an effective tool for purifying the skin.
I’m not sure there is enough science to support all the claims that champagne also aids in skin cell regeneration and hydration, but some people have tried it and reported that it gives you a soft, silky feeling after your soak. Some skincare pros say that the antioxidants in champagne are super powerful for repairing skin and slowing down aging.
On the other hand, I’ve read a couple of reports of others who have bathed in champagne that reported some irritation to certain intimate parts, where the pH balance tends to be sensitive to unexpected changes. So if you do go for it, you may not want to soak for too long.
Verdict: Yes, in theory it is relatively safe, and at minimum not very dangerous to bathe in Champagne. People really do it.
How much champagne does it take to fill a bathtub?
A standard bathtub typically holds 40-80 gallons of water. Let’s take a midpoint and assume a 60 gallon capacity bathtub filled ¾ full, you would need around 45 gallons or 170 liters of champagne to fill up a tub while leaving a bit of room to get in the bath.
How many bottles of champagne would be needed to fill a bathtub?
A standard wine bottle is 750ml, or 0.75 liters. So you’d need around 220 bottles to fill the bath up to 170 liters as calculated above. Of course, the exact number would vary based on the size and shape of the bathtub. Also, how many people will be getting in the bath together.
How much would it cost to fill a bathtub with champagne?
We all know that champagne is not cheap, so filling your bathtub with it won’t come cheap either. With an average price of $50 per bottle, filling your bathtub with champagne will cost you around $11,000. Let’s say you find a cheaper brand for around $30 per bottle, then you could fill up your tub for closer to $6,700.
Which hotels offer a champagne bath?
When I started researching this question, I was a little surprised that this is a real thing. But as I said above, others have had this idea before you or I.
Here are a few hotels that offer or have offered a champagne bath service:
- Il Salviatino in Fiesole, Italy. At last report, they offered a bubbly bath for $10,000 including a private tub, bath butler, and of course a cold bottle of champagne to sip while you soak.
- Cadogan Hotel, London, UK. We’ve seen their menu offering a champagne bath filled with 120 bottles of champagne for £4000-25,000 depending on the champagne producer you choose.
- The Dial House near Norwich, UK. For £600 pounds,you can have a bath infused with champagne and gold leaf. While the tub isn’t filled entirely with champagne, there’s enough champagne in the water to achieve the effect. The package also includes a gold leaf facial.
- Ritz-Carlton in Los Angeles, USA. While not quite a bath, the Ritz-Carlton Spa offers a champagne body treatment involving seeds from champagne grapes. After a massage and scrub, you are dusted with 24 karat gold powder. Price on request.
While it’s not always listed on the menu, rumor has it that a few other high end hotels will provide a champagne bath on request while charging you for the bottles used. As you can imagine, it would surely be cheaper to try it at home.
Champagne Bubble Bath Benefits
Most everyone agrees that a relaxing soak in a bubble bath is good for mental health. But soaking in sparkling?
First – I recommend checking with your dermatologist, and test on your skin in an out of the way spot to check how your skin reacts especially if your skin is sensitive. But, there are various reports online from reasonable sounding specialists who claim that there are serious benefits to sparkling on skin.
For example, Dr. Larry Pollack, MD, of Del Mar Plastic Surgery in San Diego reports that:
– “Champagne detoxifies the skin due to its antioxidant properties”
– “For people with oily skin, champagne’s antibacterial properties help prevent breakouts”
With that said, the benefits of a champagne bath can still be achieved by adding a bottle or two of dry sparkling wine to your existing bathwater. It’s not recommended to mix in essential oils or epsom salt as this can counteract the effect of the wine.
While we’re on the topic of champagne benefits, the University of Reading has also reported the following benefits for blood vessels:
“High nitric oxide levels in the blood as a result of drinking Champagne can have beneficial effects, because as well as increasing blood flow, it may help to decrease blood pressure and the likelihood of clots forming”.
Sounds good to me. If you’re going to soak in champagne, at least pour yourself a glass while you’re at it.
Know Your Sparkling Wine Limits
It’s worth mentioning especially if you’re drinking wine while soaking in a hot water bath, you should do it with someone around and keep a close eye on your alcohol consumption.
A glass or two is probably fine, but champagne and other sparkling wines go down easy, so drink responsibly to make sure you don’t fall asleep in your bubbles and not get the chance to wake up. Not to be morbid, but safety first. Stay hydrated (with water)..
Can You Bathe in Champagne?
In conclusion, yes it is indeed possible to bathe in champagne. Champagne baths are no doubt luxurious and indulgent, and quite possibly also beneficial to your skin. However, it is an expensive and dare I say over-the-top decadence that requires a hefty budget.
Personally, I love good wine too much to see it poured down the drain for some potential skin benefits, no matter how fun it may sound in theory. I’d rather take the money to buy 200 bottles and drink a different one every day, which for me would extend the pleasure for the better part of a year.
Also, in my experience, champagne is pretty sticky, especially when it dries. The idea of having that all over my body gives me a bit of the ick – just not my idea of relaxation. So bathing in champagne is a big nope for my next bath.
That said, if you have money to blow and really wish to indulge in a bubbly champagne bath, several luxurious hotels offer this service as part of their spa and hotel packages, though these offers can be seasonal or special promotions so check to make sure before you book your tip.
