You know those days where everything that can go wrong, does go wrong? That's when you'll want to amp up the self care and relaxation. That's why 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.
Ingredients
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. 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.
I just stick to coconut oil instead of using a binding agent. 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.
Instructions
Combine the baking soda, citric acid and Epsom salt.
Add the melted coconut oil and stir everything as quickly as possible, before the oil has a chance to solidify.
Add the essential oil and activated charcoal, and use a spoon to mix until you reach the consistency of damp sand.
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.
To use, drop a bath bomb into the bathtub and soak for 20 - 30 minutes.
Top tip
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.
Black Bath Bomb FAQ
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.
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.
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.
Black Bath Bomb Recipe
Equipment
- Large bowl
- Bath bomb mold
Materials
- ¾ cup baking soda
- ¼ cup citric acid
- ¼ 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
Related
Looking for more bath bombs recipes? We have plenty:
