Baths used to seem like a bit of a chore to me. No longer. As a mother of small children, I now realise having an hour to do exactly what one wants in the bathroom is pretty much the most exciting thing that could happen. Ever.

So, this festive season, I intend to use the fact that there is another adult in the house to have several long soaks in the tub. Simply being able to lock the door will be a treat – there’s nothing like having to explain what a hair masque is to a four-year-old boy to take the fun out of applying it. And as for the bath itself, I don’t do this very often, so I want something very lovely to put in it. Here are my top five seasonal soakers.

First is a grown-up version of a bath bomb, in the shape of I Coloniali Effervescent Bath Tablets With Ginseng (£19.50). They look like large, turquoise Alka-Seltzers and smell gorgeously incensey. No hectic fizzing here, either, this is a much more sedate affair that turns the bath water a spa-tastic jade colour.

Equally incensey and Christmas-appropriate is Blend Collective’s Bath & Shower Oil (£24.95) from their Unwinding Range, which is a blend of Sandalwood, Frankincense, Cedarwood and Neroli. This feels so luxurious, and you can slather it on before popping in the shower for the same effect if you’re in a hurry.

The same goes for the gorgeous oils from Aromatherapy Associates in their Ultimate Bath & Shower Collection (£50). This is a limited edition for Christmas so you’ll need to hurry to get this exact set, but the same oils can be bought in different boxes all year round. I love picking the right one for my mood or the time of day.

My choice for Boxing Day when I’m struggling to get started after a poultry and Shiraz overload from the day before will be Tisserand Energy Revive Bath Oil (£8.10). It contains one of my favourite whiffs – Bergamot, along with some zingy citrus aromas.

And finally, one for the bubble lovers: Dr Vranjes Soft Foam in ‘Melograno’ (£20). What’s not to love about this? The foam is creamy and designed to cleanse as you soak, and this particular blend has fruity, woody notes of black grape and pomegranate. I may be gone some time…