Now you can make your own fragrance

Can bubbling bath crystals from Bath Junkie repair a broken marriage? Can a shower gel transport you to another location, thousands of miles away? According to Aleida Mares-Peña, the owner of the franchise in McAllen, it can.

She recalls a story: A man unceremoniously walked into Bath Junkie one day, specficially looking for the bubbling bath crystals. He created a custom scent and paid for the product. So focused on his mission, he didn't even have it wrapped or bagged.

A few days later, a woman entered the store, asking about the bubbling bath crystals and how she could get the same scent. She then told the story of how her estranged husband set up a date with her at his home. When she arrived, the bathroom was abundant with candles, and a sweet-scented bubble bath was drawn for her. His efforts paid off and the couple reconnected - thanks to bubbling bath crystals.

Another of Mares-Peña's examples: A woman came into Bath Junkie to make a shower gel for her husband, who was stationed in Iraq. When asked what he missed the most about home, he answered, "The smell of wet dirt." His wife blended the scents of dirt and rain into a shower gel and shipped it to him. It was the best way she could think of to give him a little piece of home.

The unique boutique is an inexpensive way to get exactly what you want.

"You can come in here and custom-make your own fragrance," Mares-Peña said.

She adored the concept when she happened upon a store in Fredricksburg a few years ago and didn't hestitate setting up shop in the Rio Grande Valley.

Mares-Peña has heard several stories from customers who also fall in love with the concept of Bath Junkie. The store offers a blank slate for those obsessed with body shop products. Choose a product such as lotion, soap, shower gel, perfume, salt scrub - the list goes on. Then sniff and mix any of the more than 200 scented oils available. There are classic scents such as gardenia, sweet pea and ylang ylang. The more exotic fragrances include lettuce, chai latte and cotton candy. Mix and match, create a custom scent and then choose your favorite color. You can even name your custom-blended scent.

Maybe you have a perfume or lotion that was discontinued and you want to replicate it. Serendipity was defined for Mares-Peña when she opened the store and discovered that she has a powerful sniffer and is able to figure out what different scents are in a fragrance.

Bath Junkie takes the work out of "do it yourself" and makes it fun to create something new.