12 most relaxing bath songs

If you’ve had a tough day, worn out a busy schedule or simply want to indulge in a spot of self care, it’s time to turn on the taps and soak in an ultra-relaxing bath. Whether you fill it all the way to the top with bubbles, throw in some essential oils, light a few candles or immerse yourself with your favourite book, the ultimate step when it comes to creating a calming atmosphere is to stick on a soothing song or two.

But with so many songs on hand to offer a little stress relief, how do you pick your perfect bath time playlist? To help create a stress-free sanctuary, read on to find out our top picks for the most relaxing bath songs and get ready to unwind.

1. Enya - Only Time

We can’t discuss the delights of a relaxing bath without mentioning Enya. Chances are, you’re already familiar with the classic “Orinoco Flow” but if you want to really ramp up the unwinding, a great song to add to your relaxation playlist is the sublimely peaceful “Only Time”.

With its enchanting melody, make sure to keep the lighting low and light a few candles to really soak up the ambient atmosphere.

2. Sleeping At Last - Saturn

Known to their fans for being a stunning musical project, Sleeping At Last are led by multi-instrumentalist Ryan O'Neal. Whilst they have covered a number of famous songs, they’re also responsible for producing some stunning original pieces of music. One of which is the deeply meaningful “Saturn”.

Listening to the gentle vocals and beautifully interpretive lyrics, Saturn will make you feel so relaxed, you’ll find it hard to switch back on. Make sure to turn the lights all the way down and add some scented oils to your bath to really indulge your senses with this magical piece of music.

3. All Saints - Pure Shores

With experts citing the song as an effective form of stress relief, “Pure Shores” is more than just the soundtrack to one of the coolest cult films around. It also provides the benefit of keeping you alert and relaxed at the same time, which is the optimal state according to yoga practitioners. So all you need to do is lie back, close your eyes and imagine you’re on a deserted island miles from home and sink into that relaxing feeling.

4. Vancouver Sleep Clinic - Someone To Stay

From its soft instrumentals to the mellow vocals, this soulful song will provide a perfectly peaceful backdrop to your bath routine and help to get you into a relaxing mood. As you sink into your own blissful sanctuary, press play on this beautiful piece of music. Then all you need to do is lie back, lap up those inviting essential oils and let the soothing tones melt away any worries from the day.

5. Electra - Airstream

If you’re seeking a seriously chilled-out tranquil atmosphere, this could be the song for you. In fact, “Airstream” has been proven by experts to calm your nervous system down. Coming in at just over 6 minutes long, its tempo matches the optimal resting heart rate of 60 to 65 beats per minute.

As you soak away any troubling thoughts from your mind, once submerged, you’ll feel the effects of its calming mid-range frequencies, and absolutely zero bass element, making the ideal addition to your relaxing bath time soak. Not to mention, it could also provide a welcoming soundtrack outside of the bathroom, particularly for yoga lovers, thanks to its subtle hip hop beat.

6. Ludovico Einaudi - Oltremare

Part of a breathtaking album titled “Divenire”, this stunning piece of instrumental music should be a staple when it comes to your relaxation routine. With a melancholic piano melody and elegant chords that strike a wonderfully ambient setting, “Oltremare” will help you to unwind almost instantly.

The Italian composer has also included a live version of this song, which is included in his recently recorded album called “12 songs from home”, a collection of his best compositions that he recorded at home on his phone in 2020 during Italy’s lockdown, saying “This new release is the memory of those home live concerts, my memory of this time, the memory of a strange and new atmosphere that we won’t forget.”

7. Norah Jones - Come Away With Me

Super soothing, this classic song makes for an ideal ingredient in your quest to find a little bath time relaxation. The enigmatic vocals and sentimental lyrics will help to wash away any stresses and create a calming environment when you need it the most.

Add lots of bubbles and a few drops of your favourite essential oils - Lavender works a treat - as you sink into the welcoming depths of the water. Slow and mellow, this song will help you to seriously switch off.

8. Louis Armstrong - What A Wonderful World

It’s no secret that moods and music are closely linked. And according to a survey conducted by Rescue Remedy, this soulful song came out on top out of the best songs to keep us calm, making this classic song a bath time favourite.

This soothing and soulful song focuses on the sweeter things in life. So, next time you fill up the tub, channel the meaningful lyrics and help to keep things calm by lighting a candle or two and keep both the lighting and music low.

9. Tom Odell - Real Love

If you want to relax whilst also enjoying a slight tug on the heartstrings, stick on this gorgeous song by Tom Odell. Originally made famous by John Lennon, Tom Odell’s version was first brought to our ears as the soundtrack to the 2014 John Lewis Christmas Advert and triggered all sorts of emotions in its viewers.

Melancholic but soul-soothing, it doesn’t have to be the depths of winter for you to enjoy the heartfelt melody, stunning falsetto and enchanting nature of this super relaxing song. A chilled out bath will do just the trick.

10. Rhye - Save Me

Taken from the eight-track album, “Spirit”, Save Me embodies everything about relaxation and letting go of whatever worries you might be facing. Subtle and enigmatic in its appeal, this blissful song blends a sombre piano with a gentle falsetto and is the perfect accompaniment to a calming bath.

To keep things extra relaxing, try a little mood lighting and a few of your favourite candles. There’s nothing more soothing than the gentle flicker and peaceful piano sounds.

11. Adele - Someone Like You

With her soulful, soothing voice, Adele’s vocals can set the scene for any form of stress relief and has written an abundance of beautiful songs. But this particular song has actually been proven to help people get in touch with their emotions, helping them to relax.

According to the Wall Street Journal, this well-loved song is ‘sprinkled with ornamental notes similar to appoggiaturas’, which as the paper points out, is scientifically proven to relax people. So, as you blissfully soak the day away, you can also find comfort in the fact that your nervous system is really feeling the benefit.

12. Marconi Union - Weightless

Speaking of scientific evidence, according to Dr. David Lewis-Hodgson of Mindlab International, this particular song has actually been proven to reduce anxiety in its listeners, saying “the top song produced a greater state of relaxation than any other music tested to date.”

Even more fascinating is that the song itself was designed to do just that. The band worked with sound therapists in order to carefully arrange “harmonies, rhythms, and bass lines help slow a listener's heart rate, reduce blood pressure and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.”

So, according to the scientists, this is the ultimate song to stick on as you focus on melting your worries away. Just make sure you have mood lighting and a quiet space with no interruptions. And relax.

Once you’ve organised your most relaxing bath time playlist, you’ll want to ensure your bathroom is equipped with all the features you need to properly unwind and make the most of your relaxing sanctuary. This is where our bathroom installations come into play. From Walk-in Baths and Walk-in Showers to Wet Rooms, you can ensure your haven of relaxation is fully equipped for when you need it the most.