How to Make Bath Bombs How to Make Bath Bombs Easy

September 06, 2022 Post a Comment

Learn how to make bath bombs with our easy-to-follow bath bomb recipe and step-by-step tutorial! DIY bath bombs are a ton of fun to make and are a fantastic homemade gift idea!

DIY Homemade Bath Bombs

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Have you been wanting to learn how to make bath bombs, but feel overwhelmed by all of the different recipes and information out there? We've got you covered! Today we're sharing our most favorite bath bomb recipe along with ALL of the information, tips, and tricks to ensure that your bath bombs will be successful from the start!

blue bath bomb fizzing in bath tub water

What is a Bath Bomb?

A bath bomb is an effervescent explosion of colorful fun in your bathtub! Used to add color, foam, fizz, and bubbles to your bath time experience, many bath bombs also contain oils and butters that moisturize and nourish the skin. Essential oils, salts, and clays may also be added to the bath bombs to increase the detoxifying properties and add health benefits. It's like creating a luxurious spa experience in your own home!

How to Make Bath Bombs

Bath Bomb Ingredients:

Knowing the role that each ingredient plays in your bath bomb recipe is important if you want to be successful. Bath bombs can be a little finicky to make sometimes, but with a little knowledge, you'll know exactly how to tweak your recipe to suit your climate and environment for foolproof bath bombs every time!

The most basic bath bombs can be made by simply combining baking soda, citric acid, and a binder; however, we've found that the BEST bath bombs include a few more ingredients. This list here will help you know which ingredients are irreplaceable and which ones can be omitted if desired.

Bath bomb ingredients on dark wood background

Not all of these ingredients are used in our Best Bath Bomb Recipe below, but for your own future recipe creation, these are all important to know!

BAKING SODA

Sodium bicarbonate, more commonly known as baking soda, is the main ingredient in bath bombs. Scientifically known as a "weak base" which will result in a fizzing acid-base chemical reaction when combined with citric acid. Baking soda softens the bath water and leaves your skin feeling smooth and soft.

CITRIC ACID

Citric acid is the second key ingredient in bath bombs. It is a naturally occurring "weak acid" derived from citrus fruits which promotes the fizzing reaction when combined with baking soda.

CORNSTARCH

Cornstarch is a popular filler ingredient that is often used in bath bombs as a thickening and hardening agent. Too much cornstarch can reduce the fizzing action, though, so don't get too heavy-handed!

CREAM of TARTAR and CLAYS

Cream of tartar and clays are also used to harden bath bombs.

SODIUM LAURYL SULFOACETATE (SLSA)

SLSA is a naturally-derived (from coconut and palm oil) surfactant that creates thick and luxurious foamy bubbles during the fizzing process.

SALTS

Salts are included in bath bomb recipes for their purported health benefits. Epsom salt, reported to soothe sore muscles and increase well-being, is the most commonly used salt, but sea salt and pink Himalayan salt are also frequently used due to their reputed detoxifying properties.

Note: Salts attract water and can occasionally start the fizzing reaction prematurely, so they should be included in minimal to moderate amounts only. Grinding coarse salts to a fine powder will produce the best results and smoothest finish on your bath bombs.

OILS

Oils are used to add moisture to the bath bomb recipe and to bind the mixture together. All oils have moisturizing properties that hydrate and soften skin, and different varieties of oil also lend various additional benefits. The most popular oils to use in bath bombs are sweet almond, avocado, coconut, grapeseed, and jojoba. Caution: Bath bombs that contain oils may make your bathtub slippery!

BUTTERS

Butters add moisturizing properties to your bath bombs to make skin extra smooth and silky, and some butters may even help harden bath bombs as well. Commonly used butters include avocado, cocoa, coffee, mango, and shea. Caution: Bath bombs that contain butters may make your bathtub slippery!

FRAGRANCE OILS and ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils are naturally derived oils that can add both fragrance and reported health benefits to your bath bombs. Fragrance oils are generally synthetically created, cost far less than essential oils, and are available in an HUGE variety of scent options.

COLORANTS

I like to use cosmetic micas to color my bath bombs (Mad Micas carries some super awesome bright colors!), but other colorant options include FDA-approved lakes and dyes which must first be "bloomed" into the baking soda before beginning your recipe. I do NOT recommend using food coloring in your bath bombs as it can stain skin and the bathtub.

POLYSORBATE 80

If you do opt to include colorants, especially micas, adding a bit of Polysorbate 80 to the recipe will help the color disperse more evenly throughout the water and prevent it from leaving a ring around the bathtub.

WITCH HAZEL

Witch hazel is the most commonly used liquid binder for bath bombs, but you can also use a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol if you prefer (note: using alcohol as a binder may result in drier and more crumbly bath bombs depending on your climate). A scant amount is used to bring the mixture to the proper consistency and help bind the ingredients together.

Step-by-Step DIY Bath Bomb Tutorial

Let's learn how to make bath bombs! This easy-to-follow recipe and tutorial will have you creating professional-looking bath bombs in no time!

Sifting baking soda for bath bombs Start by using a large mesh strainer to sift the baking soda into a large bowl and use a spoon to break up any clumps. Sift the citric acid into a second smaller bowl and set aside for later.

Adding dry ingredients to a mixing bowl to make bath bombs Add the remaining dry ingredients (minus the citric acid) to the baking soda bowl and mix well.

Bath bomb dry ingredients in aqua stand mixer I like to use my mixer to help make sure that all of the ingredients are thoroughly incorporated, but a good old fashioned spoon works just as well (it just takes a little longer!).

Pouring wet bath bomb ingredients into dry bath bomb recipe mixture In a small container, mix together all of the liquid ingredients. Stirring constantly, slowly add the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix until completely combined. Stir quickly to ensure that the fizzy mixture doesn't start to activate when you introduce the liquids!

Lightly spritz the mixture with 2-3 quick sprays of witch hazel (or a mixture of water + isopropyl alcohol) and mix well.

Test to see if the mixture is a moldable consistency – it should feel just very slightly damp and kind of like kinetic sand.

If the mixture holds together after being squeezed and then lightly dropped back into the bowl, it is ready to mold. If the mixture is too dry, spritz with 1-2 more sprays of witch hazel, stir, and repeat as necessary until the mixture reaches the proper consistency.

Overfilled halves of a metal bath bomb mold Lightly pack the bath bomb mixture into both halves of the mold and generously overfill each side of the mold.

molding a bath bomb in a metal bath bomb mold Press the halves firmly together and gently brush away any excess.

Half molded white bath bomb When unmolding round bath bombs, remove half of the mold at a time and allow the bottom half of the bath bomb to rest in the other half of the mold while the top half of the bath bomb dries. This step ensures that the bottoms of your bath bombs stay rounded and don't flatten out.

Flip the mold to the opposite side of the bath bomb after an hour and then unmold completely after 2 hours. Allow to dry completely for 24–48 hours.

Note: I like to dry my DIY bath bombs on egg crate foam to help keep their rounded shape and to allow air to circulate freely around the bath bomb to help it thoroughly dry. This photo shows halfway unmolded bath bombs, but I also use the egg crate for drying once they have been completely unmolded!

Rainbow sherbet bath bombs in a bowl Once you've mastered making a single-colored batch of bath bombs, make several batches and experiment with different color and fragrance combinations! The possibilities are truly endless!

The BEST Bath Bomb Recipe

In a large mixing bowl, thoroughly combine the baking soda, cream of tartar (or kaolin clay), SLSA. Stir in mica colorant if desired until completely combined.
In a small container, combine the oil, fragrance/essential oil, and Polysorbate 80 (if using).
Stirring constantly, slowly mix the liquids into the dry ingredients until they are completely combined.
Add citric acid to the mixture and stir until it is fully incorporated.
Test to see if the mixture is a moldable consistency - it should feel like slightly damp sand and hold together when squeezed in your hand.

If the mixture is not quite wet enough to mold, spritz two to three times with a spray bottle of witch hazel and mix well. Repeat as necessary until the proper consistency is reached.
Fill both halves of the bath bomb mold with the bath bomb mixture, making sure to overfill both sides of the mold just a bit. Press both halves of the mold firmly together.
Carefully release the bath bomb from the mold (tap the mold lightly with a wooden spoon if needed) and allow it to dry completely for 24-48 hours depending on the temperature and humidity of your location.

The amount of fragrance oil and/or essential oil that will need to be added to your bath bomb mixture will vary widely depending on what you are using. Generally, fragrance oil can be added by the 1/2 teaspoon until the desired amount of fragrance is reached. Essential oils are often far more potent than fragrance oil, so we recommend adding 15-20 drops of essential oil to each recipe to start and then adding more in 5 drop increments until the desired level of fragrance is achieved.

Mention @HeidiKundin or tag #HIHMakersClub on Instagram to show off your awesome work! ♥

I hope that after reading all of this "How to Make Bath Bombs" information that you're feeling super confident and ready to start making some awesome bath bombs of your own! Happy crafting!

For even MORE bath bomb tips, tricks, and recipes, be sure to check out our book, Homemade Bath Bombs and More , available for pre-order now!