Skin-Soothing Black Bath Bombs With Activated Charcoal

You know those days where everything that can go wrong, does go wrong? Today was one of those days for me. And when I say everything, I mean everything.

At one point I found myself chastising the cat for ruining one of my favorite hand towels. And as I was bending over to pick the towel off the floor I actually split my shirt straight down the back from collar to hem. I so wish I was making this stuff up.

On days like this I realize how important it is to find the silver lining, no matter how small. For one, at least it wasn’t my pants that split down the back! And two, I have a cabinet full of these black bath bombs with my name on them and a good, long soak is just what the doctor ordered.

How to Make Black Bath Bombs

These black bath bombs are just like their pastel-colored counterparts, only when they dissolve they turn your bathwater an eerie shade of black. Simply drop one into hot running water and its like stepping into a steamy, bubbling cauldron.

But it’s not just about the color. Activated charcoal is well known for absorbing toxins from the body – but I like to think it may also absorb (ahem, exorcise) a bad mood, too. Toss in a few nourishing ingredients, skin soothing minerals and essential oils, and these babies will cleanse both body and soul.

Now, most bath bombs are made by combining baking soda, citric acid, sea salt or Epsom salt, and a liquid to hold everything together.

While I used to use a tiny bit of water as a binding agent, I could never quite get them to stick. Either I would use too much water and kick off the fizzing reaction. Or I wouldn’t use enough and my bath bombs would be super crumbly.

So now I just stick to coconut oil. You only need 1-2 tablespoons of melted coconut oil to create that wet sand consistency that’s ideal for bath bombs. And once it cools, it hardens just enough to bind your bath bombs so they pop out of the mold and hold together.

As for the color, I rely solely on activated charcoal. Just note that these black bath bombs won’t be as dark as some of the commercial bath bombs on the market unless you use a ton of charcoal. While you can always use non-toxic food coloring to deepen the color (mix together red, blue and yellow until you get an inky color), it’s not necessary. The beauty of these is that they’re more natural than bath bombs you can buy – even if they’re not quite as spooky looking. 

As an added bonus, once you give tub a little scrub down, it will look cleaner than you’ve seen it in months! Just make sure to keep an old sponge or scrub brush handy. After you hop out of the tub, quickly wipe down the walls and floor to remove any oily residue. Then take a quick shower to rinse off your body as well. 

Ta-da! Shiny and new.

Black Bath Bomb FAQ

Are these safe for kids?

Yes, absolutely! All the ingredients are safe for children. If you plan to mix up the recipe a little bit, just make sure to choose kid-friendly essential oils, like lavender, mandarin orange, and chamomile.

Can I use olive oil instead of coconut oil?

I recommend coconut oil because it hardens as it cools and helps hold the bath bombs together. If you would like to use olive oil (or another type of carrier oil), I recommend having a spray bottle with water at the ready. Spritz the baking soda mixture with just enough water to reach a wet sand consistency, but not enough to kickstart the fizzing reaction. Pack them into your mold and let them dry overnight before removing the mold. 

Will black bath bombs stain my skin or bathtub?

No, not at all. It will stick to your skin and the tub, so you should be prepared to rinse off when you’re done. But it won’t stain.

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5 from 4 votes

Black Bath Bomb Recipe

With soothing essential oil and activated charcoal, these black bath bombs are just what you need to calm irritated skin and get a relaxing soak too.

Prep Time15 mins

Active Time5 mins

Drying time8 hrs

Total Time8 hrs 20 mins

Course: Bath and Body

Cuisine: detox

Keyword: bath bomb

Yield: 2 bath bombs

Author: Stephanie Pollard

Cost: $8

Equipment

• Large bowl
• Bath bomb mold

Materials

• 3/4 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup citric acid
• 1/4 cup Epsom salt
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted
• 10 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 tablespoons activated charcoal

Instructions

• In a large bowl, combine the baking soda, citric acid and Epsom salt. Whisk and set aside.
  
• Add the melted coconut oil and stir everything as quickly as possible, before the oil has a chance to solidify. If needed, use your hands to break apart the solid bits until the mixture feels relatively smooth.
  
• Add the essential oil and activated charcoal, and use a spoon to mix. It should be the consistency of damp sand, so feel free to add more coconut oil, as needed.
  
• Pack your mixture tightly into a bath bomb mold, cupcake pan or small ramekin. Pop in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.
  
• Remove the bath bomb from its mold and let dry overnight.
  

Notes

To use, drop a bath bomb into the bathtub and soak for 20 - 30 minutes.

The activated charcoal will stick to skin and bath tub materials, but won't stain. Simply rinse well when done.