Homemade bath bombs are a fun, easy treat that you can enjoy yourself or make as a gift. Using common, budget-friendly ingredients, I’ll show you how to make bath bombs at home. They’re a fun project to make with kids, too!
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Bath bombs have become a hugely popular product to brighten at-home self care. They make bath time fun for kids and relaxing for adults. This DIY recipe allows you to enjoy the luxury at home without the expensive price tag.
Most of the ingredients in bath bombs can be found in your kitchen already. If not, they are ingredients that you should stock up on because they can be used in MANY other recipes and applications around the house.
Dry Ingredients
Corn Starch: Corn starch is found in the baking aisle.
Citric Acid: Citric acid is a natural ingredient made from citrus fruit. This, mixed with the baking soda, is what makes the bath bombs fizz.
Epsom Salt: Epsom salt is the common name for magnesium sulfate. You can find it online or in the pharmacy section of your grocery store. It is wonderful as a soak for sore muscles.
Baking Soda: Baking soda can be found in the baking section of your grocery store. I prefer to buy it in bulk because it has so many uses around the house from cleaning your garbage disposal, eliminating odors, and even in cleaning laundry. It also helps make the bath bombs nice and fizzy.
Mica Powder: Mica powder is a natural soap colorant that is safe for use in bath bombs. We do want to use the least amount possible, though, to obtain the color you want in your bath bombs. It is also completely optional in this recipe. Also, feel free to use any color you like.
Dried Orange Peel: To make dried orange peel, zest three oranges and allow the zest to dry, in a single layer, at room temperature for two days. You can also find it in the spice section of your grocery store.
Wet Ingredients
Essential Oils: Essential oils are optional, but they add a lovely scent to your bath. Feel free to skip them if you are sensitive to fragrances or make sure that you use an oil that is safe for use on the skin. I have chosen to use Orange essential oil in this recipe, but you can use any oil you wish. Lavender or Tea Tree oil would be wonderful.
Coconut Oil: Coconut Oil is the liquid that will hold the bath bombs together. Warm it so that it is a liquid. You can also use Almond oil.
Water: Feel free to use regular tap water.
Equipment
- Large Bowl
- Small Bowl
- Measure cups and measuring spoons
- Whisk
- Rubber Scraper
- Bath Bomb Molds
How to Make Bath Bombs
Measure out all of your ingredients. Choose what color mica powder (optional) you would like to add to your bath bombs, which essential oils you would like, and if you want to add any dried ingredients such as orange peel or dried lavender. If you’re sensitive to fragrances, you can leave out the essential oils and color all together.
Combine corn starch, citric acid, baking soda, epsom salt, and mica powder in a large bowl.
Whisk everything together well to completely combine.
Combine the melted coconut oil, essential oil and water into a small bowl, whisking well to incorporate.
Slowly (and I mean SLOWLY) pour the oil mixture into the dry mixture so it does not fizz too much. Stir and mash together until completely incorporated and the mixture looks like wet sand.
Press the mixture into the two mold halves, generously packing it in there. At this point, you can even include small toys for a fun surprise for kiddos.
Twist the two halves together to close, and allow to dry for at least 24 hours.
To remove your bath bombs from the molds, tap on the outside of the mold and twist to separate.
Store in an airtight container for up to six months. You can also wrap them in plastic wrap. If you want to get really fancy, you can use shrink wrap sleeves to wrap your bath bombs. Heat them with a blow dryer or heat gun to shrink the wrap around your homemade bath bombs.
When you’re ready to use the bath bomb, simply drop in water and let it fizz and dissolve. It should take about 30 seconds for it to dissolve completely.
More DIY Projects
- DIY Dry Shampoo
- DIY Clove Mouthwash
- Simple Loofah Soap Recipe
- DIY Clarifying Shampoo
- Homemade Lavender Soap
The citric acid, baking soda and corn starch all react with water to provide the fizzing. Epsom salt provides a soothing soak to relieve muscle pain and even constipation. The essential oils provide a relaxing or invigorating scent depending on what you use, and oil moisturizes your skin. It’s like a full spa treatment in one bath bomb.
You can absolutely make this recipe without essential oils or colorants. Just prepare the recipe and leave out those ingredients for a allergy-friendly bath bomb.
The ingredients in this recipe are safe, even for sensitive skin. As with any bath product, you may want to do a patch test to make sure that your child’s skin does not become irritated. This recipe does include Epsom salt which is sometimes used as a soak to relieve constipation, however it is a very small amount in one bath bomb. For kids under 10, I recommend limiting the time in the bath to 20 minutes and do not use bath bombs with kids under 3.
The baking soda and citric acid will react with the liquid when it is added. It is important to add the liquid mixture very slowly so that it doesn’t fizz all at once. Even if it does bubble and fizz, the liquid measurement in this recipe is so small that you will still have a fizzy bath bomb once dried.
Once dried, store your bath bombs in an airtight container so that moisture doesn’t get in. Your bath bombs will last for at least 6 months.
DIY Bath Bomb Recipe
DIY Bath Bomb Recipe
Easy DIY Bath Bombs are a fun craft that kids and adults alike will love to make, and they make a wonderful homemade gift.
Ingredients
- ½ cup Corn starch
- ½ cup Citric acid
- ½ cup Epsom salt
- 1 cup Baking soda
- 1 teaspoon Mica powdered soap dye (optional)
- 1 Tablespoon dried Orange peel
- 10 drops Orange essential oil
- 2 ½ tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 5 Bath Bomb Molds
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine corn starch, citric acid, epsom salt, baking soda, mica powder (optional), and dried orange peel. Whisk to incorporate completely.
- In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together coconut oil, essential oil, and water.
- Very slowly add the oil mixture to the dry ingredients. Pouring slowly helps make sure the mixture fizzes as little as possible. Mix together until it resembles wet sand and everything in fully incorporated.
- Transfer the bath bomb mixture into bath bomb molds, making sure to press the mixture tightly into each mold half. Overfill a little to ensure that the two pieces stick together when pressed together. Press the mold pieces together and twist until closed.
- Allow the bath bombs to dry for at least 24 hours.
- To remove the bath bombs from the molds, tap the outside of the mold gently and twist each side of the mold and pull apart to remove the bath bomb.
- Store bath bombs in an airtight container or wrap in plastic wrap.
- To use the bath bomb, simply drop it in water and watch it fizz and dissolve.
Notes
Feel free to play with essential oils and mica powder to customize different looks and scents. Lavender essential oil and dried lavender would make a great, calming bath bomb.
For an added treat, you can even press a toy into the middle of the bath bomb before pressing the two halves together. The toy will be revealed when the bath bomb dissolves in water.
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Does this color the bath water? I’m looking for a natural replacement for my kids’ bath color tablets!
Hi, LeeAnn. It does color the water a little bit, but not as much as color tablets. You can always add more mica powder to make the color a little stronger. I think it is a great replacement, though, as kiddos will have fun watching the fizzing. 🙂
I use normal food colouring to colour my kids baths 🙂
How big are each bath bomb from this recipe???
Hi, Rachel. It depends on the size of the mold that you use. The mold I used and linked to are 2.5 inches in diameter.
Hi. Is the water necessary? And is the alcohol necessary? I only found 70% alcohol.
I’ve seen a recipe for 1Tsp of water for the same amount of dry ingredients. Why does it differ? I’m concerned because my bath bombs have been hit or miss and I don’t know why.
Thank you.
I don’t see alcohol on this list. Is there supposed to be?
Hi, Amber. I chose to use water in this recipe rather than alcohol. You can absolutely use Isopropyl alcohol in place of the water. I found that if the water is added slowly, it doesn’t activate the bubbling and it’s an ingredients more readily available for most people.
Hi, do i have fo freeze overnight or let them dry in room temperature? Thanks for your answer
Hi, Selin. These dry at room temperature in the molds. Thanks!
I was wondering do have to use melted coconut oil or can you use already liquid coconut oil in this recipe?
I was wondering if you could use already liquid coconut oil in this recipe instead of melted coconut oil ?
Hi, Larry. I’m sorry for the late response. Yes, you can use liquid coconut oil in this recipe. The dry ingredients will absorb the oil and it won’t affect the finished bath bomb.
Hi, I’m allergic to coconut oil, can I use something else?
Hi, Sharon. You can use an equal measurement of almond oil or even olive oil. Thank you for the great question!
Hey! Is it necessary to add water? I’ve tried this and when I added water the mixture just kept expanding and would ruin the whole thing.
Hi, Linda. The liquid is necessary to dampen the mixture enough for it to stick to itself while drying. You can try Isopropyl alcohol instead of water, or pour the water/oil mixture in very, very slowly, stirring as you add it.
does this make 5 bath bombs?
Hi, Sam. Using a 2.5 inch mold like what I linked to above will give you approximately 5 bath bombs depending on how well the mixture in packed. If you use a smaller mold, you’ll be able to get more bath bombs. You can even double the recipe if you’d like to yield more.
when you put this in the bath, is it a strong enough smell that it marinates in the room. do you also smell like that when you leave the bath
Hi, Taylor. This bath bomb is very subtle. It contains dried orange zest and a bit of orange essential oil. So, no it won’t permeate the room and you won’t notice a strong lingering smell.
Hi Sarah!Could we use food coloring? Thanks
Hi, Mehar. You can use food coloring in very small quantities. I would use 1-2 drops at a time and keep the color fairly light. You don’t want to use too much that it will stain skin or the bathtub.
Hi! I am hoping to make this with my students so I am trying to budget and plan ahead. Can you tell me approximately how many this recipe makes?
Oh, sorry! I see that it is 5 molds which are 2.5″ each. Thanks!
when i make bath bombs they inflate me increases what
to do so? thanks
this happened to me too. 🙁
Good stuff
Hello! Could you convert the recipe into grams quantities? (I don’t have the cups)
Thank you!
I really enjoyed making this recipe with my kids. Is it normal that the mica powder floats on the top of the bath with the oil? And then leaves a bit of a ring around the tub? I’ve been finding kind of frustrating to clean after the bath drains.
Hi, Caleb. I haven’t experienced the mica powder floating on top, but I do color and oil residue in the tub afterward that I simply rinse off. Feel free to leave out the mica powder as it is just for color, if you like.
Can you use baby oil ?
Hi, Chella. I haven’t tested this recipe with baby oil, but I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work. Let me know how it works if you try it.
How many bath bombs does 1 batch make?
Hi, Keera. I use bath bomb molds that are approximately 2.5 inches in diameter and this recipe makes 5 bath bombs. You can easily double the recipe or use smaller molds to yield more bath bombs.
I use exotic oils to imitate popular perfumes and colognes. Can I do without the orange peel?
Hi, Justin. Yes, you can absolutely leave out the orange peel with no other changes to the recipe necessary. I look forward to hearing how they turn out. 🙂
Hi,
Would this work with silicone shaped molds if pressed firmly into it?
Hi, LJ. Yes, if you press the mixture in firmly and allow to dry completely, it will hold the shape of the silicone mold. Have fun!!
Mica powder completely stained my tub and my kid’s skin. Unfortunately I didn’t test it before making 30 for a birthday party 😭. Use my story as a cautionary tale.