Bath Junkie: A Good, Clean Addiction!

By Shannon Magsam, a bath junkie

Fellow mamas, imagine my horror as I opened the shower door recently to discover an empty jar of Bath Junkie salt scrub. When I saw the lid askew and my daughter’s most recent science experiment nearby on the floor, a scream emanated from me similar to the one made famous in the Psycho shower scene. When the aforementioned child sped into the room, I explained in short, clipped tones why mommy’s salt scrub is NOT to be used EVER for science experiments. I mean, have you tried Bath Junkie’s stuff? It is absolutely divine. Not only the exfoliating salt scrub, but the body desserts, the fizzy bath balz, the chocolate pudding hydrating masque, the goatz milk soap … well, the list could go on until the piping hot water turned ice cold in your bath.

At Bath Junkie, a brand new Motherlode sponsor, it’s about bath stuff designed by you: kind of like your own personal science experiment where you choose the scent and the tint so it’s a fragrance and color most befitting your personal taste (or bathroom color scheme). From citrus to floral, there are 200 fragrances to choose from. And the tints range from cerise to lavender blue to citrus green and everything in between. For those who get freaked by too many options, Bath Junkie has a blend menu of tried-and-true combinations to help you out. (May I suggest Citrus & Sage? I have a brand new jar of salt scrub beside my bathtub and I think I’m in love.)

And did you know this? First conceived in Fayetteville by mother-daughter duo Judy Zimmer and Jocelyn Murray in 1996 and franchised in 2000, Bath Junkie now has 70 locations, with more scheduled to open within a year, and plans to expand to Northern Europe. These NWA mamas are working it!

Behind the scenes: Judy and Jocelyn, as well as the entire team at Bath Junkie, exude creativity. Their headquarters in Fayetteville (which, by the way, is getting its Bath Junkie back next month in the new Underwood Plaza!) is simply bustling with activity. But amid all the industry, it’s simultaneously soothing, since all those fabulous scents are floating around throughout the entire office space. Between taking calls from potential franchisees to brainstorming about business initiatives, all the women (and a few good men) make sure everything is bubbling along nicely. Ellen Miller makes sure all the t’s are crossed and the i’s are dotted, while Kim Missener, mom of two young children, travels around the country — often with her 10-year-old daughter and 11-year-old son — designing and setting up new franchises. Kids and dogs are always welcome at Bath Junkie headquarters and they clearly all enjoy sharing creative space together.

“It’s a group effort,” Judy said. “We share the success of this company.”

A mother of a mission: As a child and young adult who had suffered with uber-sensitive skin all her life, president and co-founder Jocelyn was the driving force behind Bath Junkie. While attending college in Northern California in the mid-1980s, Jocelyn began working for a natural foods store that also sold essential oils. She found that for the first time in her life she could put something delicious smelling on her skin without breaking out into hives. Jocelyn then began experimenting with blending the different scents and tints together. Her mother, Judy, caught the mixology bug and began putting together salt scrubs with all-natural ingredients. For once, Jocelyn could use those, too. They began developing their own products for personal use. When they moved from the Los Angeles to NWA in the mid-1990s they decided to share their discovery with the public. Judy took the salt scrub from her kitchen to the Bath Junkie counter and people began to enjoy making their own creations. From this original concept, many new pampering products were born.

And as they say at Bath Junkie, it’s a good, clean addiction!

Please put your oxygen masks on first, mamas: Jocelyn, first-time mom to 3 ½ year Joa, encourages mothers to find some time to pamper themselves. She said it’s kind of like when you’re on an airplane and they tell you to put your oxygen mask on yourself first, then on your child. “It’s very important for you to take care of yourself,” she said, “so you can better take care of them.

“Take time to make a sanctuary. Spend time in your tub, relax.”

When Jocelyn is traveling, she always takes various bath essentials to enjoy a new tub (after scrubbing it out thoroughly with her own cleaning supplies). She never brings the same pampering package twice, choosing a variety of Bath Junkie scents and tints. “Let’s just say I’m not faithful to my bathtub or my fragrance – but I am to my man,” she joked.

What else does Jocelyn take to the tub? She was reticent to admit it, but a trashy magazine is usually a guilty pleasure. “I get a glass of water, soak and read about other people’s lives,” she said.

Jocelyn, who has a degree in theatre, is the voice of the company’s newest Bath Junkie commercial (you also hear her when you call Bath Junkie and have to hold the line), kind of a Kim Cattral sound that calls out to the bath junkie in all of us. Before she moved to NWA she was part of an LA-based improve sketch comedy group called The Groundlings. She aspired to be on Saturday Night Live.

Now she’s more than content to be a wife, mother, daughter, friend and dynamic business owner.

“I’ve been to a lot of cool places, I’ve met a lot of cool people, but by far the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me was my daughter, my husband, and working with my mother in our own business.”

Note to the mamas: Pay close attention this month because Bath Junkie will be offering the Motherlode mamas a fantastic giveaway. This is one science experiment you’ll all be able to enjoy! Pinkie slathered-in-Bath-Junkie-lotion swear.