How To Make Homemade Bath Bombs

in howto •  8 years ago  (edited)


Creating beautiful, bubbly, spa-like bath bombs!


Making bath bombs can be very challenging, but if your patient and practice, you will come to enjoy making these bubbly delights.



"Ingredients"


Recipe:


4 cups Baking Soda
2 cups Citric Acid
1/2 cup Epsom Salt
1 1/2 teaspoon Kaolin Clay
1/4 cup Coconut Oil
1 1/2 ounces of your favorite fragrance oil
natural colorant of your choice - I use Bath Bomb Colorants
distilled water or witch hazel (to spritz)

Makes 7 - 8 four ounce bath bombs



"Mixing"


Directions:


1. Mix together your baking soda, epsom salt, and kaolin clay until well blended.

2. Add the colorant to the dry mix, a little at a time until desired tint is achieved. If you want different colors, divide the mix into separate bowls.

3. Melt the coconut oil in the microwave on short bursts until melted. Do not get it too hot. Add you fragrance oil to the coconut oil and stir well.

4. Begin to slowly add your oil and fragrance oil to the dry mix. Blend well with your fingers to really get that moisture evenly distributed. Really work it in!

5. If your mix is now ready for the citric acid. I put this in at the end so as not to activate it when adding the wet ingredients. Mix, mix and mix some more. Really blend it all well.

6. Test to see if you mix will clump. You want the mix to be like damp sand in your hands, not wet! Squeeze the mix in your hand and if it holds without crumbling you are ready to mold. If it is too wet and sticky it will activate the fizz from the citric acid. You want it just right, not too dry and not wet.

***NOTE - If you need to add moisture, spritz with water or the witch hazel, one - two spritzes at a time. Mixing well after each. Test in between each spritzing as the mix will get wet very quickly. If it does add equal parts baking soda and citric acid until it is slightly damp.



"Molding"


If using dried petals or herbs now is the time to place a few in one of the molds. Place your mix into each side of the bomb mold, pressing down lightly as you fill. (I use a plastic Christmas ornament I found at the local craft store). Alternate your colors however you desire the bomb to look like in the end.

Mound the mix higher than needed as you want a lot extra when compacting the two together.


"Squeeze firmly"


Place both sides together, pushing firmly until they meet. Do not twist or turn, just push them tightly together and hold for a few moments.



"Tap one side"


Holding the bomb in your palm, tap lightly with a spoon to loosen one half of the mold. Lift it off slowly and carefully after you feel it release.



"Remove mold"


Turn it over in your palm and tap lightly and remove the other side. Hopefully at this point your bomb has held it's shape.


"Drying"


Carefully place it on a tray to dry. If you have high humidity where you are you may want to place them in the oven for about 10 minutes on your lowest setting. My stove says warm as the lowest, which is around 170 degrees F. Just warm them for a few minutes helps them to dry quicker.

After 24 hours of drying, be sure to wrap your bombs in a cellophane bag and close tightly with a twist tie to keep moisture from getting to it. Store them in a cool, dry place to enjoy at a later date when you're ready for a spa-like experience.



"Bath time"


Thank you for stopping by my post, I hope you enjoyed it.

Until next time, this is Sunscape
Sun. Scape. Ing your day

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This is great - thank you! How many does this quantity make?

Hi @kiwideb It makes 7 - 8 4 ounce bath bombs. They can be tricky, just watch your moisture level...very little

I made these for Christmas presents last year- I think I have the same silicon heart mold as you! I didn't add kaolin clay though- I may give that a go. Mine were scented with rosemary and lavender oils. Yours look fantastic!

Good for you, I love rosemary and lavender for a combination. I do that in my soaps and shower melts.

Wow mom, you are very creative. I love this @sunscape ;)

Thank you @anahilarski someday you will get to enjoy one when you come visit!