by Jenn |
Last Updated: November 18, 2017 When you buy something using the links on our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more.
A warm bath with your favorite scent is one of the best ways to relax and let the stresses of the day simply melt away. A fun and easy way to get your favorite scent into your bath are bath salt bombs.
The popularity of these items has ‘exploded’ in recent years, and unfortunately this has also caused their prices to ‘boom’. Retailers are now charging up to $10 per bomb – but their attempts to gouge us are starting to ‘backfire’. (Okay, that’s the end of the puns.)
That’s because the popularity of bath bombs has led to a surge in the amount of DIY recipes available. Thanks to pioneers on Pinterest, you can make your own bath bombs for a few dollars, and you can customize each batch of bath bombs to your favorite scents. Additionally, there won’t be any artificial chemicals or dyes because you choose what goes into your bath bombs.
We’ll walk you step by step through the process of creating your bath bombs, and we’ll list ingredients as well as why they’re important. You’ll want to have all of your ingredients on hand and portioned out before you start making your bath bombs because it’s a very quick and easy process.
How To Make Bath Bombs For Kids And Yourself
Ingredients and Supplies
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup citric acid
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/4 cup Epsom or Sea Salt
- 3 teaspoons of castor or vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon of essential oil
- 1 tablespoon of water (may vary depending on your humidity level)
- Food or soap coloring (optional)
- Soap mold, plastic Easter egg, or plastic ornament mold
Directions
- Mix your baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, and Epsom or sea salt together in a large bowl.
- In a smaller bowl, mix your castor or vegetable oil, essential oil, food or soap coloring, and water.
- Once the wet ingredients are mixed together, very slowly add the wet ingredients to your dry ingredients. Make sure you do this in sections and mix well between each one. Your mixture will end up with a thick, even consistency.
- Take your mix and put it into your mold of choice. You’ll want to pack your bath bomb mixture tightly into your mold. As the video (at the bottom of this article) shows, for a fun surprise you can add something to the middle of the bath bomb that will appear once the bomb dissolves! Let your bath bomb dry overnight, or place it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- After you’ve let your bath bomb dry, gently tap on the mold until the bath bomb releases from the sides. You’re ready to use it or store it in an airtight container. They make great gifts, and if you used an old ornament mold just tie a ribbon on the top.
Why Each Bath Bomb Ingredient is Important
You may be tempted to deviate from this recipe and replace one ingredient with another, but this recipe is very specific and most of the ingredients are there for a good reason.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is the backbone and the base of this bath bomb recipe. It acts as a complementing agent to the citric acid, and it helps produce the fizz that is unique to bath bombs.
Citric Acid
This ingredient is another essential for your bath bombs to fizz like they’re supposed to.
Cornstarch
Cornstarch helps to give your bath bomb and your bath water a silky feel as the bath bomb dissolves.
Epsom or Sea Salt
Epsom salts have been used for years in baths to help relax and soothe tired and achy muscles. Sea salt can also help with this, and you can find it in most grocery stores. Epsom salts are usually found in pharmacy stores.
Castor or Vegetable Oil and Essential Oils
Castor or vegetable oil acts as a binding agent for your bath bombs while essential oils provide a light, relaxing scent. If you choose your essential oil well, you’ll be able to reap the benefits of aromatherapy. They can help aid sleeplessness or help lift your mood.
Bath Bomb Molds
You’ll need something to stabilize your bath bomb’s shape as it dries. You can opt for basic shapes or go for some really cute shapes like bears or flowers.
Watch the Video Tutorial
Making bath bombs is easy peasy but if you want to see it for yourself, check out this great DIY tutorial on how to make bath bombs for kids. So, this mom uses safe and natural ingredients for her little ones but do keep in mind that this recipe is perfect for adults too!
Author: Jenn Miller
Don’t be fooled by her innocent baby face. Jenn’s a demanding shopper who WILL push each and every beauty product to its limit.