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There’s something incredibly relaxing about a warm bath, and this homemade bath bomb recipe makes it even better! There are thousands of bath bomb options, but you can easily make your own using natural ingredients. Kids and adults both love them and they make a great gift.
While each can cost up to $9 to buy, you can make a whole batch for just a few dollars!
DIY bath bomb recipe
When I was younger, I liked bath bombs. I avoided them as I got older because the store-bought versions often used artificial ingredients, dyes, and fragrances. For a while, I only used bath salts in my bath water when I wanted to relax, but I missed a bath bomb.
These homemade shower faucets are a great solution! They are made with nourishing sea salt or Epsom salt, alkalizing baking soda, and crystallized citric acid with a balm base. I would add different essential oils or even dried herbs depending on my mood. Peppermint, eucalyptus, or lavender essential oils are a few ideas.
If you need a gift idea for an Easter basket, Mother’s Day, Christmas, or even a birthday, DIY bath bombs are a great choice.
How to make a natural bath bomb recipe
Bath bombs only take a few seconds to craft, so it’s important to have your ingredients ready and measured before you begin. Once the water hits the citric acid, they start to smoke and you’ll need to work quickly. Most ingredients are pantry staples in many homes, but make sure you have these on hand:
Baking Soda
The basis of this recipe is alkalizing the baking soda. It adds acidic citric acid and helps with the fizze reaction. It is a regular ingredient in my detox baths and can even help soothe a sunburn.
Citric Acid
You may not have citric acid on your pantry shelf, but you will need it for this recipe. Citric acid is what gives us the vaporizing reaction that makes bath bombs feel like they’re soaking in champagne.
Corn starch or galangal
Cornstarch gives the silky feel we all love from bath bombs. I usually use organic cornstarch in this recipe (and my natural deodorant). Arrowroot also works but not quite as smooth as the finished product.
Liquid ingredients
They are all very versatile and you can choose any combination you have on hand. You will need some kind:
- Oil: Choose a simple oil like olive oil, almond oil or coconut oil. If you feel like it, use sea buckthorn, argan, or apricot oils. You can also create your own blends with several different oils.
- Salt: Use basic sea salt or enhance it with Epsom salt or your favorite salt for this bath bomb recipe.
- Liquid: Basic water will work, but I also like to use organic witch hazel for extra skin soothing. Some people find that bath bombs stick together better than witch hazel.
Scent and color
There are many options here. Use your favorite essential oils, add dried herbs and flowers, or make them fragrance-free. Some options include:
- Lavender and Vanilla or Rose and Ylang-Ylang… or just use your imagination!
- Kids love the fuzzy action of the bath bombs! I am quite cautious with essential oils around children so I use mixture safe for children while making them as a gift for my kids.
- You can even add some natural food coloring to change the color.
The best essential oils for bath bombs
While there are many different types of oils that are scented, not every essential oil is the best choice here. Some essential oils are more irritating to… ahem… sensitive tissues. Oils like cinnamon, clove, ginger, and lemongrass are more likely to irritate the skin.
The recipe below uses a 0.5% dilution of the essential oil (that’s 1/2 percent, NOT 5 percent), which shouldn’t pose a problem for most people. And of course, if you tend to be more sensitive, dried herbs are a gentler option. Here are some essential oils that are gentle, skin-friendly, and smell great!
Herbs for Bath Bombs
If you want to add some soothing herbs or dry flowers here are some options. Keep in mind that if the pieces are too large, the bath bombs won’t stick together, so I won’t mix in the leaves or flowers. These herbs are generally safe, especially in such low amounts, but do your research to see which is right for you.
Homemade bath bomb recipe device
These are easy enough to do but for a nicer and more uniform product you also need to have:
DIY bath bomb tutorial
Making a homemade bath bomb recipe is a great project for kids to help with. Some DIY beauty recipes (especially homemade soap) require precise measurement and handle harsh chemicals like lye, so they’re not great to perform with kids around. These bath bombs are the opposite and a fun project to do with kids. They are simple to make with child-safe ingredients and are completely versatile. Let the kids come up with scent combinations, colors, and other fun customizations.
Bath bombs are a great way to relax in the tub after a long day of babysitting, cooking, and all the other activities that motherhood entails. If you’ve never tried them, I highly recommend it. It’s one of my favorite things to do at the end of the day.
DIY bath bomb recipe
This simple bath bomb recipe features simple, nutritious ingredients for a relaxing bath. Great for kids and adults alike!
Productivity: 23 ounce
Guide
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In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients (baking salt, citric acid, and sea salt) and stir well.
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In a small bowl, combine carrier oil, vanilla extract, essential oil, and natural dye if using.
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Slowly add wet ingredients to dry mixture and mix by hand until mixture is crumbly.
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Add dried flowers or herbs if using.
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Sprinkle witch hazel or water into the bath bomb mixture, mixing with your hands to combine. Do this only until the mixture sticks together when squeezed without crumbling. It will look like wet sand. You may need to add a little more witch hazel if the consistency is not yet achieved.
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Press the bath bomb mixture firmly into the silicone mold, muffin tin, ice cube tray, or bath bomb mold.
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Gently turn the mold over onto a flat surface to remove the bath bomb and allow to dry for 48 hours or until hardened.
Note
- Warehouse: Keep bath bombs in sealed containers, away from moisture.
- Expiry: About 6 months.
Non-toxic ready-made bath bombs
I ended up finding some natural bath bombs that use a similar recipe to mine. These are gorgeous and use only natural ingredients. They are also much larger than most bath bombs and last longer in the tub. I recently sent them as a gift and my friends love them too!
Troubleshooting Bath Bombs
While this recipe is easy and doesn’t have a lot of ingredients, they can sometimes be a little tricky to make. It is important to add the right amount of liquid and work quickly when pouring the mold.
- Bath bombs stick to the mold: Maybe you used too much liquid or didn’t get them out of the mold fast enough.
- Bath bombs dropped: It may be too much or too little liquid or they may have been left in the mold for too long.
- Bath bombs crack when dry: too much moisture in the mixture or moisture in the air.
- Bath bombs sink in the bathtub: too much moisture or moisture or they haven’t dried long enough.
- Bath bombs are not explosive enough: They may not have had enough time to solidify, or they may not have been wrapped before storage and they have reacted with air.
More natural bath recipes
Ever made your own bath bomb? Do you have a favorite scent or herb you’d like to add to these? Share below!
