Do you want to start making your own bath bombs but don’t know where to start? Perhaps all the recipes you have found are complex and you just want a simple recipe to follow? Or maybe you are curious and want to know more? Whatever your reason might be, we have the answer for you!
Bath bombs are incredibly popular these days, with more and more of us enjoying a self-care Sunday by soaking in the tub with a bath bomb fizzing around us, turning the water a beautiful color, and smelling heavenly. But these bath bombs aren’t often cheap and are costing many of us a fortune.
We wonder if there is a different way and if we can make our own bath bombs. So we search, but all we find are complicated and unnecessarily difficult recipes. These recipes call for ingredients that you have never heard of and are sure that you could never track down especially on a budget.
You continue to search and search, but come up empty-handed time after time. You start to wonder if you will ever find a bath bomb recipe that is simple and easy to follow. You resign yourself to parting with your hard-earned cash time and time again to enjoy a bubbling treat.
Well, no more! Today we are here with the answers that you need. Keep reading to see our simple bath bomb recipe and learn how to make it today! This recipe can be adapted and customized easily to use the scents that you love. Why not give it a go today and find a new hobby or even a small business venture?
What Is A Bath Bomb?
Before we dive in, let’s have a quick recap for those in the room that need it! A bath bomb is a single-use product to be used in your bath. Made with a mixture of wet and dry ingredients, they are molded into different shapes, usually round spheres that are deposited into a running or full bath.
The ingredients used will cause the bath bomb to fizz upon contact with the water, usually omitting colors that will change the bath water’s color. Oils and other ingredients will also fill the bath, making the water feel silky or moisturizing.
Some bath bombs will contain other ingredients like dried flowers, petals, glitter, or decorations like stars and flowers that will float in the water with you.
A bath bomb is a relaxing addition to your bath that can help with any skin issues. For example, moisturizing bath bombs can help with dryness or patches of dry skin. On the other hand, some ingredients can also irritate more sensitive skin, so it is always best to check the ingredient list on any store-bought or homemade bath bombs.
Stores like Lush have helped boost the popularity of bath bombs with their wide range of bath products. You can choose from single or gift sets filled with bath bombs that will make your bath a place of relaxation. The bright colors and variety of scents have allowed them to carve out a space in the market, and now everyone wants a slice.
From direct competitors to small businesses, everyone is making bath bombs, and by the end of this article, you will be able to too!
What Do I Need To Make A Bath Bomb?
Now that we have covered what a bath bomb is, let’s dive straight in! Before you can make your bath bomb, you need your recipe or ingredients list. Most of these items are extremely affordable and can be purchased at a grocery store, drugstore, or online. There are lots of options for customizing this recipe too, so you can make the bath bombs that you want.
Let’s take a look at what you need now:
Citric acid (½ cup)
Cornstarch (/2 cup)
Epsom salt (½ cup)
Essential oil (2 tbsp) you can choose the scent that you want, but lavender, rose, lemon, orange, or eucalyptus are some of the most popular
Oil (2 tbsp) again there are plenty of choices here, but almond, coconut, or olive will give you the best moisturizing results. Baby oil can also be used in a pinch
Baking soda (1 cup)
Water (¾ tbsp)
Food coloring of your choice (a few drops)
A mold. Again you can choose from bath bomb molds, candy pans, or mini-muffin tins
Optional extras. Dried flowers or cake decorations like stars and flowers can be used to fill the bath with relaxing extras.
As we mentioned earlier, most of these ingredients will be widely available so you can pick them up easily. This recipe is naturally vegan depending on the ingredients used in the oils you select, so be sure to check before using them.
If you are planning to sell these bath bombs, then having them as a vegan option is sure to attract even more customers! It also means that you won’t need to make a separate batch or worry about cross-contamination if you want to include vegan bath bombs.
Just be sure to avoid ingredients like honey that can be divisive for vegans (it’s best to assume that they don’t want to use a product with honey in it). There is still plenty of customization options with this bath bomb recipe too, so you can create many different combinations.
You might want to experiment with different essential oils and scents to create a mixture or just use one per bath bomb. It’s also worth researching the roles of each essential oil to see what they are meant to do.
For example, lavender’s natural properties can help you sleep. It’s worth looking into the different uses, especially if you want to sell these bath bombs.
You could even create little cards to package with the bath bombs telling customers about the oils and their natural properties. These little touches can help set your business apart from others and attract new customers.
How Do I Make A Bath Bomb?
Now that you have your ingredient list, let’s get into the making of these bath bombs! As we promised, this is a simple recipe that will allow you to create a bath bomb with ease. To make your life easier, start with all your ingredients laid out and ready to go.
We will break the recipe down into easy-to-follow steps below that will help you to make your own bath bomb. Let’s get into it!
Step 1 – Mix Dry Ingredients
To start, take a large mixing bowl. Pour in your dry ingredients, except the citric acid. Mix to combine the dry ingredients.
Step 2 – Mix The Liquids
Set aside the dry ingredients and move on to your liquids. You will want to pour all the liquid ingredients into a jar with a top. Fill the jar and tightly secure the top. Shake it vigorously to mix all the liquids.
Step 3 – Add The Wet To The Dry
Now, it’s time to do some mixing! Take your liquid mixture and add it to the bowl of dry ingredients. You will want to use your hands to help combine the ingredients.
Next, add your citric acid to the mixture. There might be a slight fizzing reaction, but this is completely normal and solely down to the citric acid. You will want the mixture to be slightly crumbly, like wet beach sand.
You won’t want to add any water here, as this can cause the bath bomb to fizz early and will ruin your future bath! Just work with the mixture you have to get that consistency.
Step 4 – Add To The Molds
Take your crumbly mixture and mash them into your chosen molds. You want the mixture to fit tightly for best results. If you overfill the molds you can use a spoon or glass to press the mixture as tightly as possible. Remember you want everything to combine together for best results!
Once done, remove the bath bombs from their molds. You will want to loosen them immediately after pressing them in and place them on wax paper. Leave them overnight to dry out.
Step 5 – Let The Bath Bombs Dry
This step is super simple, just leave your bath bombs alone! Usually, they take a day or two to completely dry. They might take slightly longer depending on the temperature of your room and if you added too much water.
Don’t try and speed the process up with a heater or attempt to warm the bath bomb up, as this could damage the bath bomb.
Instead, it is better to wait to avoid a fizzy disaster! Once they are completely dry, you can use them yourself, or package them as a gift or to be sold. If you are planning to sell the bath bombs, it’s worth considering the long drying time and factoring this into your costs and planning.
You will always want to allow a good 2-3 days for the bath bomb to be made and dried before you can deliver or ship them to customers. Remember that you will also want packaging that can protect the bath bombs so they don’t crack in transit.
Step 6 – Enjoy
Now, your bath bomb is ready to use! Turn your bath on and let the hot water flow! You can either wait until you are about to jump into the bath, or pop the bath bomb in while the bath is running. The pressure from the tap can usually help the bath bomb to fizz even more.
Why not stay in the bathroom while the bath is running to admire the different colors spread through the water and enjoy the beautiful smells now filling the room. Now is the time to maximize on your relaxation.
Put your favorite music on, grab a book, or safely position a laptop in the room and slide into the bath. This is your time, so be sure to enjoy it!
And there you are, six easy steps, and your bath bomb is made! We said it was a simple recipe, didn’t we? Now before you go, let’s cover some other important information.
Packaging And Storing Bath Bombs
You won’t always want to use a bath bomb straight away, or you might be packaging them to give to friends or to sell as part of a business. Either way, you will need to know how to package them correctly. The easiest way to package them is in cellophane gift bags, just like the ones you would put cookies or cakes in!
You can individually wrap the bath bombs if you wish, or add a few different-sized bath bombs to one bag as a lovely gift.
You can tie the bag shut with a funky-colored bow or ribbon to add a professional touch to your gift. Keep an eye out for biodegradable cellophane bags that you can use if you want to be more eco-conscious.
You could also wrap them in some paper, but be mindful not to apply any pressure as it could cause the bath bomb to crack or break.
When packaging bath bombs to be sent through the post, look for some padding that could protect the bath bombs. Lush uses little foam pieces that dissolve under running water to keep the environmental impact low.
Ship the bath bombs in a secured cardboard box, or you can deliver them yourself in the cellophane bags if you prefer, whatever best suits your business model. Remember to weigh up the cost of the packaging and to include this in your prices so that you can still make money from them.
Once the bath bomb has arrived in its new home, you can store them in a range of situations. Ideally, you want them to be in a dry and moisture-free environment to prevent them from crumbling or not fizzing as intended. Mason jars, Tupperware, or sealed bags will keep any damp air or moisture out of your creations.
It’s best to avoid storing bath bombs in a bathroom as the steam and moisture in the air can cause the citric acid to lose its potency. This means that your bath bomb won’t be as fizzy as it should be. Move them out of the bathroom and advise any customers, friends, and family to do the same.
For those selling bath bombs, you can include a care card with them that will feature the ingredients, what the oil helps with and storage instructions for your bath bomb. After all, you want your customers to get the most out of them, don’t you?
In terms of how long they will last, your bath bomb should last for six months providing it is packaged properly. The lifespan of the ingredients can impact this slightly, so be sure to adjust this if any active ingredients are used to come with a shorter shelf life.
Be sure to make any customers aware of how long these bath bombs last too.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it, a simple recipe to create bath bombs! Despite being super easy, there is still plenty of flexibility with this, so you can create the right bath bomb for yourself.
This recipe is cheap to create too, meaning that those wanting to use this to make bath bombs to sell should be able to see a profit. Just be sure that the bath bombs are fully dry beforehand and you can enjoy plenty of relaxing baths!
Hi, my name is Hannah Shiftle, and I started using essential oils 15 years ago. At first, I was dubious of them, much like a lot of people. However, as I began to use them on a daily basis, I quickly discovered how much of a difference they had on both my physical and mental health.
Through Oil Health Benefits, I will be sharing my knowledge and passion for essential oils with you, providing readers with all the information they need to know. From the best oils to use for illnesses, to understanding what makes essential oils pure, I have covered all these topics.
