How to Make Essential Oil Bath Bombs Without Citric Acid

Baths are the ultimate cure-all. Had a bad day? Didn’t sleep a wink last night? Just plain stressed? A hot soak is pretty much all you need to start feeling better immediately.

In the past, I used to turn to a glass of wine after a rough day. But I find these days that taking a bath is even better for decompressing and turning my mood around quickly—especially when I can kick things up a notch with an aromatherapy bath bomb.

These bath bombs are the perfect mixture of relaxing essential oils, cleansing baking soda, and soothing Epsom salts to help you soak away the stress. But that’s not really what makes them special.

The real kicker is that these bath bombs don’t contain citric acid, so you can whip them up in a pinch, even if your citric acid stash has run dry.

How to Make Bath Bombs Without Citric Acid

Most of the recipes I found called for citric acid to get the effervescent action that makes bath bombs so much fun. But since I couldn’t find it at any of the stores I went to, I was forced to improvise! Luckily, fizzy essential oil bath bombs can be made with some simple ingredients most of us already have lying around the kitchen.

The key is finding a replacement acid to kick off the fizzy effect. You can’t just leave it out entirely, or it won’t be a bath bomb.

Alternatives to citric acid

• Cream of tartar
• Apple cider vinegar
• Lemon juice
• Distilled white vinegar
• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C powder)

My personal favorite is cream of tartar because it’s a dry acid, much like citric acid, so it doesn’t prematurely kick off the fizzing reaction. That’s what I use in this recipe.

But if you would like to use vinegar, lemon juice, or ascorbic acid, go right ahead! Just make sure to consult Google for measurements or play around with the ratios to create your own recipe.

Once you’ve selected your fizzing agent, all you need is some baking soda, salt, corn starch, and essential oils, and you’re in business. 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup corn starch
• 1/4 cup cream of tartar
• 1/4 cup Epsom salt
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 teaspoon essential oil
• 1-1/4 teaspoon coconut oil

Instructions

Step one

Combine the dry ingredients in a small bowl and whisk well to remove any clumps.

Step two

In a separate bowl, stir together the wet ingredients (make sure the coconut oil is completely melted before combining it with the wet ingredients).

Step three

Slowly pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture, whisking as you go. The dry ingredients might fizz a little as you pour. If this happens, try adding the wet ingredients more slowly. It should stick together fairly well in one or two big chunks. If it’s still too powdery to hold together, try adding a tiny bit more water.

Step four

Spoon the mixture into your molds and press firmly. Let dry for a few hours, or better yet overnight, before removing from the molds.

Bath Bomb FAQs

Will bath bombs without citric acid fizz like traditional bath bombs?

Citric acid has a lower pH than cream of tartar, which means it’s a stronger acid and will produce more fizz. If you find that your bath bombs aren’t fizzy enough, use more cream of tartar and a little less baking soda.

Can I give these bath bombs as a gift or sell them?

Bath bombs without citric acid tend to be softer and crumblier than those made with citric acid. So, these might not hold up well enough to give as gifts or sell.

Can I leave out the coconut oil?

Because these bath bombs crumble easily, I recommend using coconut oil to help hold them together. You can leave it out if you like, but you might run into issues getting your bath bombs to stick together once they’re completely dry.

Other Bath Bombs You Might Like

• No-Fail Coconut Oil Bath Bombs
• DIY Popsicle Bath Bombs
• Hidden Ring Bath Bombs
• Skin Soothing Black Bath Bombs

Print

5 from 2 votes

Bath Bombs without Citric Acid

No need to go hunting for citric acid—these aromatherapy bath bombs are made with an ingredient you can find at any grocery store.

Active Time15 mins

Drying time1 d

Total Time1 d 15 mins

Course: Bath and Body, Detox bath

Cuisine: DIY

Keyword: bath bomb

Yield: 4 bath bombs

Author: Stephanie Pollard

Cost: $10

Equipment

• Mixing bowls
• Bath bomb molds

Materials

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup corn starch
• 1/4 cup cream of tartar
• 1/4 cup Epsom salt
• 1 teaspoon water
• 1 teaspoon essential oil
• 1-1/4 teaspoon coconut oil

Instructions

• Combine the dry ingredients in a small bowl and whisk to remove any clumps.
  
• In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients (make sure the coconut oil is completely melted first).
  
• Slowly pour the liquid mixture into the dry mixture, whisking as you go. The dry ingredients might fizz a little as you pour. If this happens, try adding the wet ingredients more slowly. It should stick together fairly well in one or two big chunks. If it's still too powdery to hold together, try adding a tiny bit more water.
  
• Spoon the mixture into your molds and press firmly. Let dry for a few hours, or better yet overnight, before removing from the molds.
  

Video

Notes

I used mini muffin liners for molds the second time I made these. Because they turned out small, you may want to add 2–3 bath bombs to each bath. If you make standard-size bath bombs, one bomb per bath should be enough.

Store bath bombs tightly wrapped in plastic wrap (or an airtight container) in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

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 reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.