What is that saying about kissing a lot of frogs before you meet your prince? Yeah, well, I feel the same way about DIY bath bombs! In a recent attempt to make some ultra-relaxing bath bombs, I was (unpleasantly) surprised at the number of useless recipes out there. Every recipe I tried ended up looking bumpy and not at all pretty—that’s if they even came out of the mold at all!
Let’s just say that’s not the case with these babies, thanks to a secret ingredient that guarantees perfect bath bombs every time. Here’s how to make your own.
How to Make Successful DIY Bath Bombs
My issue: if I’m going to invest in a few bottles of citric acid and take the time to lovingly hand craft something, I want it to actually turn out. I’m not going to discuss the number of batches I attempted (I just can’t go there—it’s still too soon). So, I’m simply going to share the recipe that actually worked, so you won’t have to make the same mi$$takes I made.
The silver lining: this bomb recipe is, well, the bomb! Thank heavens for the girls over at A Beautiful Mess, because when they get it right, they get it right! These bombs released easily from the mold, dried quickly enough (I left them out overnight), and were still pretty to look at after letting them sit out for a few days. The end results were exactly as I expected a DIY bath bomb to be.
Here’s how we made ours:
SUPPLIES NEEDED
SUPPLIES NEEDED- 4 oz. baking soda
- 2 oz. corn starch
- 2 oz. citric acid
- 2 oz. Epsom salt
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 teaspoon essential oil
- 1-1/4 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1–2 drops natural food coloring (optional)
Step 1
Combine all dry ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Whisk well, removing any clumps.
Step 2
In a small measuring glass (preferably one with a spout), stir together the wet ingredients and add food coloring if you desire.
Step 3
Add in the liquids slowly. (I didn’t use a measuring glass with a spout, but you should! It will be much easier to control the amount of liquid as it goes in.) Stir the liquid into the dry mix as you go, and try to keep the fizzing and bubbling to a minimum.
Step 4
Once you’ve added all of the liquid into the dry mixture, you’re ready to fill your molds. If you find the two sides of your bomb aren’t sticking together, or your bath bombs fall apart when you remove them from the mold, you might need to add a tiny bit more coconut oil to your mixture and start the molding process over again.
Step 5
Remove the bath bombs from the mold, place them on parchment paper, and allow them to dry overnight. Once dry, wrap the bombs individually in plastic, or store in a container until you’re ready to use them.
There you have it! Perfectly pretty DIY bath bombs that don’t crack, bubble, or contain Kool-Aid (yes, unfortunately, that recipe is floating around out there, too.)
Bath Bomb FAQ
I left my bath bombs in the mold overnight, and now I can’t get them out. What should I do?
Your bath bombs should pop right out of the mold almost immediately after making them. If left to harden in the mold overnight, you might have trouble getting the mold off altogether—thanks to the coconut oil. If that happens, aim a warm hairdryer at the mold for several seconds to slightly soften the coconut oil, and the mold should release.
Why do my bath bombs start fizzing as soon as I add the wet ingredients?
The teaspoon of water used in this recipe can kick off the fizzing reaction and cause your bath bombs to swell. It’s usually not a problem if you add the wet ingredients slowly enough, but for whatever reason, some people experience a bigger fizzing reaction than others. Either reduce the amount of water in the recipe or skip the water altogether and add an extra teaspoon of coconut oil.
Why does my bath water feel oily after using these?
At room temperature, the coconut oil in these solidifies and helps hold the bath bombs together. But when you drop ’em in a hot bath, the oil melts and gets released into the bath water. Since oil and water don’t mix, the oil floats on top of your bath water, nourishing and moisturizing your skin.
How can I keep my bath bombs from cracking as they dry?
When filling your mold, it helps to over-fill it a bit and press the sides together as tightly as you can. You can also try adding a little more coconut oil.
If all else fails, try adding 1 teaspoon kaolin clay per cup of dry ingredients. Kaolin clay absorbs moisture and may help your bath bombs hold their shape batter.
Do I need to purchase bath bomb molds, or can I use things I already have?
You definitely don’t need to buy bath bomb molds if you don’t want to. You can use empty plastic craft ornaments, muffin tins, plastic Easter eggs, the bottoms of empty plastic bottles (just cut off the tops), silicone baking cups, ice cube trays, you name it.
Can I use citrus oil in my bath bombs, or will it cause my skin to burn when I go outside?
Citrus oils can cause photosensitivity issues if you’re not careful [source], but that shouldn’t stop you from using them altogether. When using citrus essential oils in bath products, dilute them with a neutral carrier oil, such as almond, jojoba, or argan oil, and only use a few drops at a time. Also, make sure to wear extra sunscreen or long sleeves next time you go outside.
Looking for more ways to spice up your next bath?
Why not give some of these a try:
- 12 DIY Ingredients for Soft Skin, Detox, and More
- Sanity-Saving Lavender Bath Salts
- Nourishing Rose Milk Bath for Parched Skin
No-Fail DIY Bath Bombs
Equipment
- Medium bowl
- Measuring cup
- Mold (plastic Easter eggs, muffin tin, plastic craft balls, etc)
Materials
- 4 oz. baking soda
- 2 oz. corn starch
- 2 oz. citric acid
- 2 oz. Epsom salt
- 1-1/2 teaspoons water
- 1 teaspoon essential oil
- 1-1/4 teaspoon coconut oil
- 1–2 drops food coloring optional
Instructions
- Combine all dry ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Whisk well, removing any clumps.
- In a separate bowl or measuring cup (preferably one with a spout), combine the wet ingredients and add food coloring if you desire.
- Add in the liquids slowly. (I didn’t use a measuring glass with a spout, but you should! It will be much easier to control the amount of liquid as it goes in.) Stir the liquid into the dry mix as you go, and try to keep the fizzing and bubbling to a minimum.
- Once you’ve added all of the liquid into the dry mixture, you’re ready to fill your molds. If you find the two sides of your bomb aren’t sticking together, or they are falling apart when you remove them from the mold, you might need to add a tiny bit more water to your mixture and start the molding process over again.
- Remove the bath bombs from the mold, place them on parchment paper, and allow them to dry overnight. Once dry, wrap the bombs individually in plastic, or store in a container until you’re ready to use them.
Notes
This article was medically reviewed by Dr. Gina Jansheski, a licensed, board-certified physician who has been practicing for more than 20 years. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical review board here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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I tried this recipe twice and the mixture wasn't wet enough to actually hold itself together. I added 1 tsp of water and so far so good. Waiting overnight to see if it cracks or not.
Sucha a great guide!
Omg! Thank you for sharing this recipe! My daughter and I have tried few different recipes and this is the first one that actually worked for us. It was so simple ! They turned out beautifully and smell amazing! We even used your scent combinations! My daughter is so excited now instead of selling lemonade she’s planning on selling bath bombs. Lol
I have never left a comment before and I have tried several bath bomb concoctions and failed miserably. I was honestly expecting the same , I am making, of all things popcicles yes long and narrow and hard to slip out. THEY DID. they are perfect. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
My problem is they don’t come out of the molds after the next day . What can I do different. Thank you Jacqui
I made the same mistake when I started. Take them out soon after you mold them
I have figured out that you can put the baking soda and cornstarch in a food processor with drops of food coloring to easily get your desired color before mixing with the other ingredients. I use my nutribullet with the coffee grinder blades in small batches at a time.
They just keep swelling….. like huge! Lost the shape.
Mine crumbled into a powder so I’m not sure what to do now to try over? Do you?
Has anyone perfected this recipe yet?
How many bath bombs does this make?
Does anyone know why my bath watwr is very oily once the bath bombs are done fizzing?
Because there is oil in the recipe but not an emolcifier. Water and oil do not mix without one. Professional bath bombs have poly20 or 80 in them to prevent the oil slick thing from happening. It also helps keep the dyes from staining you or the tub.
I have used this recipe several times. I’ve used witch hazel, tried using a little more so, I have done everything I can think of. They just aren’t working for me. I want to make this recipe work for my shop, but might have to find another. PLZ HELP
This was super helpful! My bath bombs keep cracking as they dry, only over a period of time though. When they come out of the molds they’re perfect and I never have problems with them sticking in the molds or crumbling when they come out, but as they dry they get very large cracks. I use the same recipe as above, so would spritizing with witch hazel help this problem? Or should there be less liquid intionally? The bath bombs still work fantastic but I’d love to have them look prettier for gifting.
I’m new to this so any advice at all helps! I currently leave them on a cookie sheet type of pan to dry overnight. I live on the east coast of Canada so our winters are fairly dry so I doubt that humidity is playing that big of a roll but I could always be wrong of course!
I’m also going to experiment with my first batch of silicone molds next week so any advice on how to get the bath bombs out without damaging would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you everyone!
I have the same problem. The recipe and method above produces bath bombs that come out of the molds fine and look lovely, but after being stored in an airtight container for a few days they go really crumbly. I would really appreciate any advice to troubleshoot this!
I have shrink wrap that I put mine in once they’re dry. It keeps the shape and the scent and they’re cheap and a great way to gift them
Put them in the freezer for 10-15 min and they just peel out
I am in the same position. Have you perfected it yet?
Thank you so much, Im so tired of making bath bomb powder, because my bath bombs are always breaking .
Did you use liquid citric acid or powder
How long do you leave these in the molds? Do you just shape then plop out on parchment to dry?
I also had a problem with them swelling & losing shape. They look like a big blob. They’ll probably still work, but not pretty or gift worthy as I was hoping.
Jodi
Swelling bath bombs are the result of too much liquid causing the reaction or fizz to take place.
My first batch did that, I was told by a friend of mine who does this for a living that I probably added too much liquid . She suggested leaving it overnight to dry and then crumpling it all up with my fingers to make fairy dust . I put it in a jar and just tied some ribbon around the Jar. It was by far my best screwup because I absolutely loved it . I used honeysuckle for my scented. Amazing smell, couldn’t keep my nose out of the jar.
Leave then in the mold. If you pull them out they lose they’re shape, fast! I still haven’t gotten mine down ?
I’ve tried leaving mine in over night but it gets stuck and expands.
I’ve molded it and taken it out right away. It worked good until it started drying and has bumps all over it. Plus isn’t fully hardening.
Heat oven to 170, put balms in oven; close door & turn off heat. Let sit in oven for 40 min
I tried this last night & it helps dry/set them more quickly
I see that your bath bomb is shaped like a plastic easter egg? Can you use the ones you buy at Wal-mart? Just wondering if I need to purchase molds or can I use something I already have? Thanks, Connie
I’ve made some with plastic easter eggs. Also I’ve used 2 really small bowls and wrapped with rubber band after..
Hi, I love this recipe and I have tried it but my bath bomb cracks after a few days. It was all looking good when I remove it form the mould but the it crack after it has completely dried out.
Can you please advise me on this?
Thanks,
TYJ
I’m having the same issue. I just tried this recipe today. Looked AMAZING when I took it out of the mold, but now that it’s been drying for 6ish hours it has huge cracks in it. It’s still in 1 piece but the cracks are crazy :(
Hm, try adding a tad bit more water. Hope it helps!
With sikicone moulds you have to.lwave the bomb mixture in till they are completly dry usually around 24hpurs and then take them out place them in airtight storage and u can keep.in freezer till ready to.use
Skip the water. And when you mix your ingredients, make sure is moist enough t clump. Spray it with witch hazel (spritz, and not pour) .
I am not a scientist, but I have seen many recipes that include water, and that is not necessary, of there is humidity in the air, that is why it will swell, and probably can have the citric acid to react more quickly. As soon as they are dry. Wrap them in sarah wrap, or shrink plastic.
Personally I mix all my ingredients, including the liquid, except the citric acid. When they are well mix, I pour the acid at the very end.
How long after they dry do you wrap them?
I have tried 4 different recipes with no luck yet.
If I were to use lemon juice to substitute for the citric acid would I have a similar reslut?
I haven’t had luck with substitutes. I’ve used lemon juice (and even with an extremely slow pour) the reaction between the liquid and the baking soda begins all the fizz leaving you nothing for the tub. I’ve also tried Cream of Tartar without good results either. Citric acid is rather difficult to find, but we’ve had luck at our local hardware store since it is used for canning.
Bulk apothacary carries citric a in several quantities at great prices
The vitamin store or craft store. If there is a Mother Earth where you are they have it as well. Referring to citric acid.
Love this photography work!
I love this!
I’d always heard that adding citrus oil to a bathtub was a bad idea because of the potential to burn or cause sunburns. I hope that I am mistaken, because I would love to take a big lemony bath.
Would anyone who knows more than me like to chime in on the topic?
Citrus EO is photosensitive (sensitive to sun) so I wouldn’t add it to something you would be wearing on your skin (lotion) and be in the sun for a long period of time. However… make that lemon bomb! Just don’t go over the recommended amount. Then you may have a problem ;)
As long as you dilute any citrus essential oil you should be fine! I usually dilute mine with a neutral carrier oil like grape seed or jojoba oil to get those skin softening effects with no irritation!
Also definitely don’t add water to your bath bombs, rhays going to prematurely set off the fizzing reaction. Instead, once all your other ingredients are mixed spritz (not pour) witch hazel until you’ve reached a damp sand consistency.
You can also use a harder oil then coconut to get a harder bath bomb and a light spritz with witch hazel on the outside helps the shell form, just don’t saturate them. Also, if you lay a folded towel under your parchment paper you’ll avoid any flattening on the underside of your bath bombs
The molds can be anything from silicone ice cube trays, a little tricky to work with as a novice, the make-your-own-ornament plastic pieces, or even left over empty plastic Easter eggs! I use the do it your self ornament pieces since you can get them with seasonal themes in case you want to gift them to friends and family.
You forgot to say where we can purchase molds for the bombs……