Dave Gee: Life from Right Field

There's nothing better after a long hard day than a good hot shower to ease away the stress. The stronger the water pressure, the better (none of this Greenie water-limiting nonsense for me!), giving you a bit of a neck and back massage while you're there.

Baths used to be the way to go, but most people now prefer the convenience of a shower. Soaking in a bath is something I only indulge in occasionally, when I'm out of town working and staying in a hotel somewhere.

My current thought train came after reading a post on another blog about the apparent wonders of bath bombs, the strange looking objects which you can see below...

These unusual round objects look something like colourful scoops of ice cream, or perhaps some far off alien planet. They're the sort of thing girls tend to buy for their girlfriends as gifts on birthdays or other occasions as a bit of a girly smelly luxury.

These bath bombs (or bath fizzies) are marketed as an indulgent treat to add to a warm bath, with their soothing aromas and oils designed to help you de-stress after a long day.

I did some web investigating, and bath bombs are mainly main of sodium bicarbonate and citric/other organic acid. This causes the fizzing reaction when the bombs are dropped in water, releasing carbon dioxide and the contents of the ball (which can include perfumes, oils, and butters).

It all sounds very intriguing, but I think probably accentuates the difference between men and women when it comes to daily hygiene.

Women see baths as a time for pampering, and are happy to spend an hour of their lives soaking in bubbles and nice smelly oils. Men however tend to prefer a quick in and out, get yourself clean, and get on with the day without wasting too much time...