How to Make Bath Bombs -

Last year, I learned how to make bath bombs. It is surprisingly easy to do. Therefore, I am sharing the recipe, steps and a few of my favorite scents to try. These bath bombs make great homemade gifts and will become a staple in your bathroom.

WHAT YOU NEED:

The best part of making your own bath bombs is that you know exactly what ingredients go into the products.

Baking soda – 1 cup
Corn starch – 1/2 cup
Citric acid – 1/2 cup
Epsom or Himalayan bath salt – 1/2 cup
Coconut oil, fractionated or melted – 3 tbs
Essential oils – 2 tsp
Water – 1 tsp
Bath bomb molds
Large & small mixing bowl, spatula or whisk

Where to find: Citric acid is used for canning, so look for it near the mason jars or in the organic spice aisle at your grocery store. Also, quality fractionated coconut oil and pure essential oils can be found online, here. Round fillable ornaments, plastic eggs, silicone ice cube or soap molds will work as bath bomb molds. Specifically, find these at the craft store or Amazon.

Optional: Corn starch makes the bath water feel silky and slows the citric acid reaction process down. So, use it or not. You can add a drop of food coloring or teaspoon of mica in the color of your choice to make bath bombs colorful. Lastly, you can add finely chopped, dried botanicals like lavender or rose petals.

WHAT YOU DO:

First, gather all your materials. You need to work quickly to ensure the materials remain flexible and easily set in the mold. However, slowly mix the dry and wet ingredients so that you do not activate the citric acid. This makes the bath bombs fizz. Lastly, keep these DIY bath bombs in a sealed container to maintain freshness and eliminate moisture from disrupting the form.

In a large bowl, mix 1 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup of citric acid, 1/2 cup of Epsom salt and 1/2 cup of corn starch.
In a small bowl, pour 1 tsp of water, 3 tbs of coconut oil, and 2 tsp of combined essential oil. Stir.
Slowly, mix the dry and wet ingredients together. Stir.
Then, pack the mixture into each half of the molds generously. Press molds together.
Allow to sit for 24 hours before removing from mold to use or store.

Essential Oils to Make Bath Bombs

When using essential oils, make sure that the oils are pure. Most importantly, use oils that are safe for the skin and be familiar with any that you may be particularly sensitive to. Some citrus oils, like lemon or orange, can be used on the skin. However, they may make your skin sensitive to the sun. Just FYI, if you are planning a day outdoors, avoid topical citrus oils or wear sunscreen.

Depending on the essential oils that you use, you can create the scent, mood and health benefit that you desire. So, here are a few oils to try.

Helichrysum, tea tree oil or juniper berry for an uplifting aroma and improved skin complexion.
Bergamot, magnolia or eucalyptus for a calming aroma and skin purification.
Douglas fir, sandalwood or cedar wood for an outdoorsy scent and calming aroma.
Lavender or rose oil to calm skin, stress and the senses.
Orange, lemon, lemongrass, or grapefruit to uplift the mood and antibacterial and air purifying qualities.