How To: Make Bath Bombs

How To: Make Bath Bombs
Everybody loves bath bombs. It is like taking a bath in champagne, only without the show tunes and chorus boys. They are fairly simple to make, keeping in mind that the strangest things can make a batch go weird; humidity, room temperature, oil viscosity, the moon rising in the seventh house of Aquarius . . . they are a mysterious wonder.
For this recipe, I am using ingredients that are pretty common, or easy to find in most areas. Essential oils can be found in small amounts at places like health food stores and craft stores often carry essentials and fragrances. Just make sure, if you buy fragrance oil, that you are buying "body safe" oils and not stuff for candles or oil warmers.
So, let's start with a basic recipe in two parts.
Dry ingredients: (By Weight, as measured on a scale.)
  • Baking Soda - 8 ounces
  • Citric Acid - 4 ounces
  • Corn Starch - 4 ounces
  • Salts - 4 ounces ( in these pictures, I used Dead Sea Salts, but mineral salts work too, and are easier to find and significantly less expensive.)
Wet Ingredients:
  • Water - .75 tbsp
  • Essential or Fragrance Oil - 2 tsp (for these I used a Ginger Peach.)
  • Oil - 2.5 tbsp (I used cherry kernel, but any light vegetable oil will work.)
  • Food coloring - 1 or 2 drops. (Your color will look very dark in the emulsion, but will be light in the fizzies, so as to not leave rings around the tub. For this batch I used one drop red and two drops yellow. The final result will be very light peach.)
 
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Step 1Blend the Dry Ingredients

Blend the Dry Ingredients
Begin by putting all of your dry ingredients into a big bowl. Glass is best because it is non-reactive. Whisk or pestle those pesky clumps out. You want a fairly smooth consistency throughout the entire mix.
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418 comments
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Sep 15, 2008. 8:53 AMsoonersseth says:
Great Instructable my mom liked her birthday present
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Sep 15, 2008. 6:33 PMcodongolev says:
great birthday present idea.... I'd do it too if I could drive to a store to get all the oils and such. "hey mom, can you drive me to the store?" "why?" "to get essential oils." "....why?" ".......because they're essential."
Jan 20, 2009. 5:56 PMbackcountry says:
OK, here they are! I bought 4 of these molds and one batch filled them with a little to spare. I started early for Valentine's Day so I had time to screw up a couple of batches, but I think these are going to be fine as. Peppermint. Maybe I'll make one more different batch. What about glycerin instead of oil, would that work? I used almond oil, but I wasn't really happy with it.
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Jan 23, 2009. 3:42 PMbackcountry says:
Oh my, I am so glad you mentioned that about peppermint! I've been "stung" by Dr. Brommers before, I should have known better. Now I know I have to make another batch with a different oil. One thing I like about these molds is that ice cube trays would make half hearts (they're flat on one side). These are snap-together, two piece molds. They make full 3d hearts, which I think is cool. I thought they might break apart unsnapping or trying to pry them out of these molds. But no problem, they plopped right out.
Feb 5, 2009. 3:02 PMsusie-q says:
where did you get theose heart molds? They are cute!!
Feb 5, 2009. 3:05 PMsusie-q says:
Here's one for you, I made bath salts and you add epsimons salt, could I put that in the bath bomb mix? Or will I blow up ha ha ! Not sure how to spell that salts hope you can read it
Feb 6, 2009. 4:28 PMbackcountry says:
FactoryDirectCraft.com I just googled 'fillable plastic hearts' and started clicking. The ones I got are 80 mm (the medium size). In retrospect, they're pretty big, I'd recommend going with the small ones.
Jul 2, 2009. 3:00 PMcarminedacat says:
i planned on making these for my sister as a birthday present and was hoping to make them peppermint b/c that's her fave smell... what exactly does the "levitation" thing mean...? sorry if i'm just not getting it... :-/
Mar 13, 2010. 10:38 AMhimynameisandy says:
Hey guys, these are great! I made them yesterday and have packaged them up for my girlfriend this morning! Isn't she lucky it was raining yesterday and I couldn't work :P
I used 2 pairs of measuring spoons to form the molds, they worked well once I had the right consistency. I just forced them together to form a sphere. A 1 Tbsp one for the big ones, 1.5tsp for the medium, and 1/4tsp for the tiny ones.
Over here in a country town in New Zealand, its hard to find the right fragrance oils that are safe for skin. I know I could of ordered online, but it was a matter of now or never,  So while wondering what I could use to add some scent, I remembered how much my gf liked my CK cologne, so just cracked open my bottle of that, and poured about 2tsp of the stuff in. Didn't like being with the water much, but guess it was similar to oil.
Here's a couple of pics, Hope you like them.

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May 2, 2010. 10:55 AMPinky212 says:
Very pretty and nice job.  thank you for sharing that you used cologne.  I've wondered if it could be used but haven't done a project yet that would let me find out.  You have inspired me!
May 25, 2010. 1:20 PMPastor Straw says:
the Secrets of eden (www.thesecretsofeden.com) sells essential oils internationally!
Jun 14, 2010. 5:36 PMmisscollegiate says:
WOW...that is too cute!!! she"s lucky :)
Aug 18, 2010. 1:36 AMAislinn says:
they look really cool my mum ordered molds online ages ago and we're making the stuff today
Feb 1, 2012. 4:57 AMjewels402 says:
Love this site!
My first attempt at making bath bombs was a flop and I consider myself to be pretty good at things like this.
I bought a kit from wholesalesuppliesplus and the ingredients were baking soda, caolin clay, citric acid all premeasured. It said to mix all ingredients then add in color and scent which I did as instructed. Then it said to mist with alcohol to the point where it will hold together and put in molds pressing firmly.
I found it very difficult to keep them from being all crumbly. If I misted a bit too much they started fizzing and puffing.
Needless to say I managed to get them into heart shaped silicone molds and I waited for about 8 hours to dry. during this time they puffed way up several times and I kept pressing them back down. When I took them out they were all cracked and crumbly.

The indgredients seem different than what I read on this site ( mine did not call for oil)
Now that I have a crumbly bowl of flopped bath bombs, Can I remake them somehow? I hate to waste them because they do still fizz up and dissolve.
Can I grind them all up and package them as powdered bath fizz? I was supposed to have these packaged for gifts at a networking meeting.
Jan 21, 2012. 9:55 AMkpiazza says:
First time making these and they came out Perfect! Thank you! I used what I had.... Corn starch, Epsom salt, Citric acid (found in the health food store, or you can order through a pharmacy, less expensive) Almond extract (same two teaspoons) and Bio oil (for scars) used plastic Easter eggs (worked great) and also used The I Tbsp round spoon like "himynameisandy" said (worked great)...
I packed very tight and smoothed out the edges... takes a little getting used to, but what doesn't? Tapped the plastic and came right out after a minute or so.
I'm addicted!! Not sure why some people got a wet mess, must have added too much liquid. Keep in mind, it's, 3 quarters of a Tablespoon of water, that's it. It really is a great recipe and floats and smells and feels fantastic! Thank you!
Jan 9, 2012. 10:38 AMcraftee1 says:
So...are you saying not to use almond or grape seed oil? If so, what kind of oils are good?
Nov 4, 2010. 4:51 PMmandismuses says:
I have a meatballer that I bought from wholesalesuppliesplus for bath bombs....and I can NEVER get the two sides to stick together. Any suggestions or helpful tricks?
Jan 9, 2012. 9:55 AMSaintSalvage says:
Try an empty plastic clear Christmas ball ornament that hinges together.
Dec 18, 2011. 6:06 PMMorNiLachnan says:
2 teaspoons of essential oil for 8 ounces of baking soda sounds like an insanely large amount of essential oil. That is about an entire bottle. I can make a huge bottle of linen spray with about 20-40 drops of essential oil. 2 teaspoons would be way too much. Are you maybe talking about something specific to soapmaking that isn't as strong?
Dec 16, 2011. 4:31 PMSimpletonone says:
I just made these tonight and they turned out great! will make a couple more batches this weekend and was wondering...would melting vicks into the recipe to replace 1 tsp EO work? I'm thinking of making something similar to shower soothers (half balls).
Dec 7, 2011. 8:04 PMCeline1107 says:
By the way great job!
Dec 7, 2011. 8:03 PMCeline1107 says:
I tried making these, but tried to match the citric acid with lemons but that was a stupid idea I wasn't thinking and they turned into a mushy gross mixture, but worked well for a body scrub I guess!
Dec 7, 2011. 1:23 PMfgenovese1 says:
I followed directions sooo carefully. The only variation was that I used 100% Almond oil. The bombs wont seem to dry. I used one large ornament just like you did and a ice cube tray made for sphere ice balls. I could not take them out right away. I had to wait a few hours before they wouldn't fall apart. Then once they came out they still seemed sticky and moist. I put them out to dry some more but some stuck to the surface and some seemed to compress. Is this b.c of the Almond oil? I have walnut which I could try next. Orrr is this because I'm in Florida and its humid in December? They still work when I toss them in the bath. I love what they do. I just want to be able to package them up all pretty for other people lol
Mar 2, 2011. 6:50 AMEdieB says:
I have another question, I cannot find cherry kernel oil and the vegetable oil was too, well oily, in the bath. Can I use Vitamin E oil?
Nov 15, 2011. 8:29 PMkkim11 says:
Can I use Lavender oil???
Jun 3, 2011. 9:07 PMmbeedle says:
how can eucalyptus, peppermint/spearmint/wintergreen type oils in a bath productgive you the ability to levitate and walk on water.
Oct 18, 2011. 6:28 PMshantelle7ca says:
i sell Young Living Essential Oils. It is a great product and 100% theraputic grade essential oils. If anyone would like to order. Please contact me at shantelle7ca@hotmail.com
Aug 13, 2011. 8:42 AMgabbsy123 says:
hey these are great!! does it say water 0.75 tbsp or just 75??
Apr 13, 2011. 3:40 PMSpellboundAngel says:
I can't wait to try these. I want to second the question about where is a good place to buy citric acid. And also ask if coconut oil would work?
Jun 19, 2011. 8:39 PMRowan_Winterhaven says:
I get my citric acid by the pound at a local home brewing shop. It's very inexpensive that way.
Jun 14, 2011. 2:12 AMjessejello says:
75 Tablespoons? Is that right?
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