HOMEMADE BATH BOMBS

Bath bombs or bath fizzes are not a new concept. I’ve seen a number of tutorials floating around the Internet, but if you’re not the DIY type, then you can just purchase pretty bath bombs

On what I had already decided would be my final attempt, I tried a tutorial but changed up the amounts based on how many I wanted to make, and… it worked! I do have a few additional tips if you plan to make these yourself, so check that out below. But now that I’ve found a method/recipe that works, I’m thinking I should have some friends over for a make-your-own-bath-bombs party. Added bonus: It seriously makes your whole room smell amazing while you make these!

Homemade Bath Bombs, makes two (you can easily double or triple)

4 oz. baking soda
2 oz. corn starch
2 oz. citric acid
2 oz. Epsom salt
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons water
5-10 drops essential oil of choice
1 1/4 teaspoon oil (I like coconut or olive oil here)
1-2 drops food coloring (optional)

In a bowl combine the dry ingredients (the first four listed above). Whisk to remove any clumps, corn starch tends to be clumpy. In a small glass jar stir together the wet ingredients (the last four ingredients listed). If you’re using coconut oil, give it a quick melt in the microwave or stove top first so it will more easily combine with the other ingredients. Slowly pour the liquid mixture in with the dry mixture, whisking as you go. If you see the mixture fizz or foam, you may be adding the liquid too quickly. Once all the wet ingredients are combined with the dry, take a small amount in your hand and squeeze it together. It should stick together fairly well in one or two big chunks. If it’s still too powdery to hold together, just add a tiny bit more water and mix until it does hold together. If you find that adding the liquid slowly is difficult use a spray bottle to add them instead of pouring.

Then fill each half of your bath bomb mold with the mixture until it’s just overflowing a little. Press together, then gently remove one side of the mold. Place the bath bomb on a tray and allow to dry out before removing the other side. Wait one hour and then see if the bath bomb easily removes from the mold without breaking. If it breaks, just press into the mold again and let it dry out longer. The goal here is to get the bath bomb out of the mold so it can further dry out overnight. I’ve found that if you leave them in the mold too long they can begin to stick and then it’s more difficult to remove without cracking. So find the balance here and remember that if something cracks at this point it’s totally OK to just press the mixture back into the mold. No worries!

Once you are ready to remove the other side, gently invert the bath bomb so the uncovered side is facing down, then gently remove the other half of the mold from the top. The key word, if you haven’t noticed, is gently. These can fall apart on you very easily if you’re not careful. If a bath bomb does crack in half while you’re removing it, you can gently press it back on top of the other half, or remove all the mixture back to the mixing bowl and start the molding process again. I had this happen to a few, so don’t fret, it’s easy to fix.

Once they are completely out of the mold, allow them to dry out for 8 hours or overnight. Once very dry, you can wrap them in plastic wrap and store in a dry place until you’re ready to use them, or you can gift them to friends.

In case you’re curious, the flavors I created included: lemongrass (green), lavender (purple), and peppermint (white and red). You can mix essential oils within each bath bomb too if you’d like to create blends. I’ve had some people ask about using citrus essential oils, since they can sometimes cause photosensitivity (your skin is more sensitive to sunlight) but I think citrus is OK here since you will be washing it off your skin the bath, not leaving it on and then immediately going out into the sun. That being said, if you’re new to essential oils it’s always good to find what scents you prefer and what works best for you and your skin. We are all different so it’s possible some allergies or sensitivities may occur so just be aware and use what is best for you.