Make a Bath Bomb and Enjoy

Imagine sinking into a long-awaited bath after a tiring day. The warm, relaxing water soothes away discomfort. The mind clears. Stress gives way to the delicious feeling of pure bliss.

Now imagine an amped-up version of this experience—one that is fizzy and fun with even more relaxing benefits. That’s a bath with a bath bomb.

Bath bombs serve as a fun self-indulgence as well as an excellent gift. They are also easy to make, so why spend as much as $9 for one when you can make them yourself?

 Wait, back up… What is a bath bomb, anyway?

Despite the name, bath bombs do not actually explode in the tub. Instead, they slowly fizz away when thrown in warm bath water. This is due to a reaction caused by citric acid and baking soda once they’re exposed to H₂O. As the bath bomb “detonates,” it releases essential oils for an aromatherapy effect.

Bath bombs also contain Epsom salt, which helps soothe muscles. All of these powdery ingredients bind together due to coconut oil, which also helps nourish skin. Some bath bombs may also contain food coloring, which can add an extra dimension to the bath bomb detonation (more on that later), but that is optional.

 Where do I get all the materials for a bath bomb?

Glad you asked! You can get all the ingredients you need right here at Swansonvitamins.com (see links below), or at your local health food store.

You can find bath bomb molds on Amazon, Etsy or other stores that sell soap-making supplies. Some will have a section specifically for bath bombs, whereas others will group them with soap molds. For the record, soap molds do work for bath bombs.

Got everything you need? Let’s move on to the recipe.

DIY Bath Bomb Recipe

Bath Bomb Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup corn starch
• 1/4 cup citric acid
• 3-4 tsp. coconut oil
• 1-2 tsp. water
• 1 tsp. essential oil
• Few drops food coloring (optional)

Bath Bomb Tools:

• Bath bomb molds
• Bowl
• Whisk

Bath Bomb Steps:

1. Combine all dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir together with a whisk.
2. Add coconut oil, essential oil and food coloring (if using). Stir until ingredients are thoroughly combined.
3. When adding water, do it slowly and add only as much as needed because the mixture will fizz upon exposure to water. Stir vigorously to reduce fizzing while adding water.
4. When the mixture is wet enough to stick together in clumps, press mixture firmly into molds until molds are filled. If using a mold with two pieces, such as a round mold, squish pieces together and remove any excess from the sides.
5. Let the mixture sit in the molds for five minutes, then carefully remove bath bombs from the molds.
6. Lay bath bombs on parchment paper or a towel and let them dry for 24 hours.

Recipe makes enough for two round 2.5 inch diameter bath bombs.

Simple, right? And so much fun!

Get Creative with Bath Bomb Recipes

Now for the really fun stuff. Bath bombs can be made into a variety of shapes, colors and sizes. The following are a few suggestions for inspiration.

• Use More than One Color 

Separate your bath bomb mixture into as many bowls as you want colors, and follow the rest of the recipe as directed.

• Fun Looks with Color

Abstract: Randomly pack your bath bomb mold with different colors for a wild and fun look.

Stripes: Take turns packing your mixture with two or more colors for a stripe effect.

“The Planet:” This one’s a lot of fun to watch as the bath bomb fizzes away in the bath. It is also a little tricky to make since it’s built with an outside-in approach, meaning you’ll work from the edges inward. Start by thickly and evenly lining the edge of a round bath bomb mold with one color so it leaves a little hole in the middle. Then fill in the inside with another color for a “core.” Follow the rest of the recipe as directed.

• Vary Shape and Size 

Round is the most common bath bomb shape, but why stop there? Search around on websites that sell bath bomb materials, and you will find a variety of bath bomb molds that include flowers, hearts, snowflakes and even cupcakes! Here’s a tutorial for how to make a cupcake bath bomb.

• Add Non-Fizzy Ingredients

Mixing flower petals into your mixture won’t affect the consistency of the bath bomb, but they’ll create an amazing look in the bath. Just don’t let the petals go down the drain and clog your pipes when you’re done.

You can also add things like chamomile, oatmeal and green tea leaves for an extra therapeutic boost. For kids, you can insert a small waterproof toy inside a bath bomb for a fun surprise. Also, avoid glitter. No matter how good the idea seems at the time, just don’t do it.

The possibilities for creating your own bath bomb are limited only by the imagination. Please share in the comments if you’ve made your own bath bombs, and tell us about your creations!