Bath Bombs with Essential Oils for Relaxation

5 min read

Bath bombs with essential oils turn an ordinary bath into a small spa, and they are simple to make at home for a fraction of the price of store-bought ones. A bath bomb fizzes, scents the water, and leaves your skin feeling soft, all from a handful of kitchen ingredients. A batch of six bombs takes about thirty minutes, plus drying time, and makes a wonderful gift. This guide uses a basic recipe that works reliably, plus tips for adding essential oils without ruining the fizz.

Start with baking soda, citric acid, Epsom salt, cornstarch, a carrier oil such as

• coconut or sweet almond oil
• essential oils
• water in a spray bottle
• bath bomb molds

Buy food-grade citric acid from a baking or brewing supplier, since it is the ingredient that makes the bomb fizz. Choose molds that are about two and a half inches across, which make a bomb sized for one bath.

Mixing the Dry Ingredients

Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl, since an even mix is what makes a bomb fizz evenly. A reliable ratio is two parts baking soda, one part citric acid, and half a part each of Epsom salt and cornstarch, measured by volume. Sift the baking soda and citric acid through a fine mesh strainer to break up lumps, because lumps cause uneven fizzing and rough spots. Stir the dry mix for a full minute, since a quick stir leaves pockets of pure citric acid that fizz too fast.

Wear a dust mask when you mix, since citric acid powder irritates the nose and throat. Keep the bowl away from water and steam, because even a few drops can start the fizzing reaction early. If the mixture feels damp, your room may be too humid, so work quickly and consider running a dehumidifier.

Adding Oils and Scents

Mix the wet ingredients separately, then add them to the dry mix a little at a time. Combine one tablespoon of carrier oil with ten to fifteen drops of essential oil per cup of dry mix, and stir well. Lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint are popular choices, and you can blend them for a custom scent. Use essential oils made for cosmetic use, not fragrance oils meant for candles, since candle oils are not tested for skin safety.

Add the oil mixture to the dry ingredients in small splashes, stirring after each addition, since too much liquid at once triggers the fizz. If the mixture starts to fizz in the bowl, you have added liquid too fast, so stop and stir quickly to distribute it. The mixture should feel like damp sand that holds together when you squeeze it, not like wet dough.

Packing the Molds

Pack the mixture into the molds firmly, pressing it down with your thumbs so the bomb holds together. Overfill each half of the mold slightly, then press the two halves together with a twist, which locks the bomb into shape. Let the mold sit for a minute, then tap it gently and open it, checking that the bomb holds its shape. If the bomb crumbles, the mixture was too dry, so mist it lightly and repack.

Work quickly once the mixture is wet, since the fizzing reaction starts slowly as soon as liquid meets the dry ingredients. If you are making a large batch, mix only enough for six bombs at a time, so the last bomb is not sitting wet while you pack the first ones. Set the finished bombs on a tray lined with parchment paper, and do not stack them, since they are fragile until they dry.

Drying and Storing

Let bath bombs dry for twenty-four hours in a dry room before you use or wrap them, since a bomb that feels firm on the outside can still be soft inside. Turn the bombs once halfway through drying so both sides firm up evenly. If a bomb cracks as it dries, the mixture was too wet, so use less liquid next time. Store finished bombs in an airtight container or wrap them individually in plastic wrap, since air and humidity slowly eat away the fizz.

Keep bath bombs away from bathrooms until you use them, since bathroom humidity softens them over time. A well-made bomb stays fizzy for two to three months if stored properly, though the scent fades gradually. Label each batch with the essential oils you used, so anyone with allergies knows what is in them.

Using Bath Bombs for Relaxation

Drop one bomb into a warm bath and let it fizz completely before you get in, which takes two to three minutes. The essential oils release into the steam as the bomb dissolves, so close the bathroom door and breathe deeply for the full aromatherapy effect. Lavender bombs suit an evening bath, while eucalyptus or peppermint bombs suit a morning bath when you want to wake up. Rinse the tub after your bath, since some oils and colors can leave a faint ring.

Use bath bombs once or twice a week rather than daily, since frequent soaking can dry out your skin. Follow your bath with a plain moisturizer, and skip the bomb if you have broken skin or a skin condition that flares with fragranced products.

Ready for the next step? Start with Bath Bomb Crafts: A Creative Guide to Starting Your Small Business, then browse the related guides underneath.

Reference: Bath bomb — Wikipedia

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