DIY Bath Bombs
Ready to unwind? Here’s a little confession: I’ve never actually used a store-bought bath bomb. Sure, I’ve seen those colorful, tennis ball-sized fizzies displayed like luxurious produce in the store. I’ve even gifted them to friends. But when it comes to spending eight to ten dollars on a single fizzy bath experience, I just couldn’t justify it.
And honestly, I’ve never found myself longing for one while staring at my unadorned, unscented tub.
But don’t lose hope! I promise there’s a recipe coming your way that might just change your mind. After experimenting with essential oils while making a sugar scrub, I started exploring ways to incorporate those lovely scents into my daily routine—little indulgences that brighten up life.
Bath bombs kept popping up as a suggestion, but I had previously dismissed the idea. Surely, if they were priced so high, they must contain some magical blend of rare ingredients. Turns out, the secret ingredients are pretty simple:
- Baking soda
- Cornstarch
- And yes, baking soda again!
To make 12 bath bombs, you’ll need:
- 10 oz. baking soda
- 6 oz. granulated citric acid
- 6 oz. cornstarch
- 6 oz. finely ground Epsom salts (I bought coarse Epsom salt and ground it at home)
- 4 teaspoons of water
- 8 teaspoons of essential oils (I used rose and lavender)
- 4 teaspoons of coconut oil (melted)
- Food coloring (optional; I used natural vegetable dyes for a subtle tint)
- Dried rose buds and lavender (I found mine at Whole Foods)
- Plastic eggs for molds (the mini ones work perfectly for standard egg cartons)
- An empty egg carton (optional, but great for drying the bath bombs)
Instructions
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, and Epsom salt.
- Separate the Mixture: Divide the dry mixture into two bowls if you want to create two different scents. If you prefer just one scent, keep it all in one bowl.
- Prepare Wet Ingredients: In two smaller bowls, combine your wet ingredients for each scent. To each bowl, add 2 teaspoons of water, 4 teaspoons of essential oils, 2 teaspoons of coconut oil, and food coloring if desired. (You can see how dark I made my colors to achieve a light tint in the final product.)
- Combine Wet and Dry: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and whisk well. It may bubble at first but will settle down with more mixing. Once it starts clumping together, use your hands to blend everything thoroughly. You might think it’s too dry at first; squeeze a handful together—if it holds its shape, you’re good to go! Just be careful not to make it too wet or your bombs won’t set properly.
- Add Dried Flowers (Optional): If you want to include dried flowers or herbs, place a few inside the top half of each plastic egg before filling.
- Fill the Molds: Pack the mixture firmly into both halves of the plastic eggs. I slightly overfilled each side before twisting them together to seal and push out any excess.
- Drying Time: Once all your eggs are filled, let them dry for about 30-40 minutes (using an egg carton makes this easier).
- Remove the Bottoms: Carefully turn each egg over and gently remove the bottom half. I found that twisting caused some filling to break apart, so squeezing gently around all sides helped separate them easily.
- Finish Drying: After removing all bottoms, let them dry for another 30 minutes before taking off the tops using the same gentle method.
With essential oils that soothe and coconut oil that leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth, these DIY bath bombs are sure to be a hit!I know exactly what will be filling my Easter baskets this year!
