Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. ….not because I expect to make a ton of money, although it would be nice. It’s just easier to let you know exactly what I purchased to make bath bombs so that I don’t have to answer numerous emails asking where to buy supplies. Thanks for understanding!
I officially have a tween girl in my house, which means we frequent stores like Justice, Bath & Body Works, etc. Basically any place that you can buy stuff that smells good (and not so good). One of the popular gift items/stocking stuffers this year. Since my daughter is wanting to give gifts to ALL her friends this year, I figured we could whip up a few of these easy-peasy. There are tons of tutorials on Pinterest and everyone makes it look so easy. Well, let’s just say there is a learning curve and I have become quite good at making something I like to call: the Bath Blob.
TRUE STORY: Daughter shows my husband a Bath Bomb while we are in Justice.
Husband: What is it?
Me: It’s a bath bomb. You know, those things I’ve been making.
Husband: Well, it looks nothing like what you’ve made. I think you’re doing it wrong.
And apparently, I’m not alone. After talking with a few friends, they too have experienced the joy of making a Bath Blob. I refused to be defeated by a seemingly simple craft project, so I have compiled a bevy of tips to help you be successful at making Bath Bombs. Beautiful bath bombs, not blobs.
SUPPLIES
Purchased at Sam’s Club:
Baking Soda
Corn Starch
Purchased on AMAZON:
Color Dyes (optional)
Other Items You’ll Need:
Epsom Salts
Spray Bottle filled with water
Glass or Steel Bowls–one large and one small
Wisk
An area to dry your Bath Bombs
In the large glass bowl, combine your dry ingredients:
1/4 cup citric acid
1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup epsom salts
1/4 cup corn starch
In the small glass bowl, combine your liquid ingredients:
3 teaspoons of fractionated coconut oil
1 teaspoon water
1 teaspoon of essential oil (I used YL Lemon, but you can also create blends)
Several drops of dye
SLOWLY, pour the liquid into the dry, whisking to mix the ingredients evenly. If you notice fizzing, SLOW DOWN–you are going too fast. Once all the ingredients are combined, determine if you are happy with the fragrance and color. If you wish to add more of either the essential oil or dye, mix it with a teaspoon of water and add it slowly to the mixture.
You’re mixture may be ready at this point. Pinch a small amount between your fingers. If it holds together without crumbling, you are good. If it crumbles easily, you’ll need to add more liquid. Use a spray bottle to spray the mixture lightly with water, then blend. Again, you don’t want it to fizz so go slow. Test it often to see if it holds together.
Once your mixture is ready, fill both sides of the molds, adding a bit more to the middle. Squeeze the molds together. Wipe off any excess that comes out of the sides. Gently tap the ends with a spoon and remove one side at a time. Set your bath bombs aside for 24 hours to dry.
TROUBLESHOOTING
If your bath bomb falls apart or cracks, the mixture is not wet enough. Return the mixture to the bowl and spritz it again lightly before trying again.
If the mixture oozes out of the sides of the mold, then the mixture is too wet and reacting. Set the mixture aside for 1-2 hours and allow it dry before trying again. The mixture is also too wet if it sticks to the sides of the mold and won’t release easily. Occasionally, the bottom of you bath bomb may flatten while drying. This is also caused by too much moisture. All of these situations can be remedied by simply allowing the mixture to dry out a bit before placing it in the mold again.
Until you are comfortable with the recipe, I recommend you create small batches. It was much easier to create the smaller bath bombs, and I had to work up to the larger ones. Make sure you have a variety of different-sized molds to find what works best for you.
The girls loved making these and can’t wait to hand them out to their friends. I’m thrilled that I know exactly what is them and that I was able to choose ingredients that are safe and non-toxic.
Leave me a comment below and let me know how this recipe works for you.
Thanks for stopping by!
This may be a stupid question but are these things that you put in the shower or the bathtub for a bubble bath? I’d love to make the bombs that smell good and clear up a stuffy nose if you have a cold. Same thing?
You can use them in the shower or bath. They won’t create large bubbles but will gently fizz until they completely dissolve. You can certainly add essential oils that aid in clearing congestion to this mix to get the effect you are wanting. Good question!