These days' magazines and lifestyle books make much of the therapeutic and beneficial aspects of taking a bath, which has little to do with actually cleaning yourself and a whole lot more to do with oils and potions, relaxation, scented candles and aromatherapy.
But, in spite of our new found zealousness for bathing, we all know that the pleasuring aspects of this activity are as old as time itself.
Somehow when I read, and I have to admit write, about the benefits of bathing I can't help but ponder about the safe and cosy way in which we indulge ourselves. From the sheltered confines of our centrally heated, decoratively tiled bathrooms with limitless amounts of hot water on tap, a glass of wine, steam damp magazine and packet of crisps (or whatever else it takes to make you happy), we soak in security and comfort, but are we missing something, perhaps just a frisson of excitement?
First of all there is the bath water itself, our predilection to having it warm and full of soapy bubbles. The legendary Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt noted for her beauty and charisma, is said to have eschewed the H2O in favour of asses' milk for the benefit of her complexion. The Romans were partial to a bit of oil and strigiling as well as a group steam and plunge, so we can at least assume that Caesar's assassins had well cleansed pores.
Then in the golden age of Hollywood and beyond starlets and actors have been known to take a decadent immersion in champagne and even now there is said to be a trend amongst pop stars and models for bathing in sparkling mineral water – all of which puts a quite different interpretation on Bubble Bath.
Then there is location, most of us opt for the sanctuary of the bathroom with its bolted door but others have been considerably more adventurous. On the Caribbean island of St Lucia, in a tropically wooded glade near the town of Soufriere, you can bathe (albeit these days in the modest attire of a swimming costume) where Napoleon and Josephine are said to have lingered amongst the waterfalls and sparkling river water.
Then there is the small summer house near the top of the terraced gardens below the Royal Palace in Prague where a Duchess is reputed to have been partial to taking her daily dip. The water carried down to her hill side eerie by muscular servants and where she could admire the view of the city below over the rim of her tub.
One of the most extraordinary outdoor baths I have ever seen, but sadly not had the opportunity to indulge in, as I was working and with a photographer at the time, was a hollowed out six ton rock with its own waterfall in Tirta Ening, which translates as The Clear Water house, of the Begawan Giri estate in Bali. Fed by a natural spring and resting in a small, placid lake it was truly a spectacular sight although, on reflection, it did owe a little something to the Fred Flintstone School of interior design.
All of which leads me to think that perhaps the safety of the modern bathroom does have something to offer, away from the aroma of souring asses milk, immersions in champagne and attentive muscular servants!
Vinny Lee is the Interiors Editor of The Times Magazine, author of Bathrooms and co-author of the Bathroom Design Plannner by Ryland, Peters and Small.
The Bathroom Design Planner is available for the special price of £14.99 including postage and packing (rrp £16.99) by telephoning Macmillan Direct on 01256 302692 and quoting reference GLR 571.
