Relax in the tub with these easy DIY bath bombs, or give them as gifts! They’re simple to make, much cheaper than store-bought ones, and YOU get to pick the scent!
I love making our own bath bombs, especially since my girls love baths and LOVE using them. They’d use one every single time they bathed. I’ve found that the coconut oil helps keep their skin from drying out in winter, which is an extra plus!
Hopefully, having a big jar of these in your bathroom will give you an excuse to relax and take some time for yourself, too!
I’ll share the recipe first, then some fun gift ideas for presenting these bath bombs, with free Christmas printable gift tags!
I started making bath bomb recipes a few years ago, when I taught other women how to use bath and body products with essential oils. While I don’t share as much about essential oils these days, I still love them and use them daily.
If you’re buying essential oils for these bath bombs, I highly recommend choosing high-quality oils. I use and love Young Living essential oils.
I know it can seem overwhelming to make something like a fancy bath bomb, but trust me, you can’t mess these up (too bad). The biggest thing to watch is not making the mixture too wet with the witch hazel at the end, but I’ll share an easy tip to keep it from getting out of hand!
You’ll want to order your supplies ahead of time. You can find most of these ingredients at local stores, but I’m an online shopper at heart. Since I’d rather have them shipped to my door, I thought I’d share where to get everything you’ll need.
What You’ll Need for Homemade Bath Bombs
- Baking Soda
- Epsom Salt
- Citric Acid
- Fractionated Coconut Oil (or Almond Oil)
- Mica Powder Pigments
- Essential Oils (I highly recommend Young Living for 100% pure essential oils. I wouldn’t use anything else, but I’ve linked a few others in case you need some.)
- Witch Hazel
- 60 mm Bath Bomb Molds (Clear Ornament Molds HERE)
- Spray Bottle
How Do You Make the BEST Bath Bomb?
Step 1. Use a whisk to combine all three dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Step 2. Stir in your colorant.
I’ve used both liquid food coloring and mica powder, and by far the mica powder colorants work best!
Step 3. Mix the next two wet ingredients (coconut oil and essential oils) in a small container.
Step 4. Then add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients very carefully.
Add the coconut oil and essential oils to the dry ingredients carefully, a little at a time, while you keep stirring the mixture. The citric acid is what makes the bath bombs fizz, so leaving any liquid sitting in one spot too long will cause the acid to react.
Step 5. Mist the mixture with a few sprays of witch hazel.
Pour some witch hazel into a spray bottle and mist the mixture a few times until it forms a snow-like consistency. You’ll want to be able to pack it together in your hands without it falling apart. BUT be careful not to over-mist it. You don’t want a damp sand consistency. If you over-mist it, the bath bombs won’t stop setting and will burst out of their molds.
If you do find that you’ve over-misted your mixture, just press them into muffin tins or open molds instead of round molds. That way they can expand over the top of the muffin cups without breaking anything. And they’ll still be great for the tub!
Step 6. Pack the mixture into one side of the mold, then repeat for the other side.
Step 7. Press the two sides together.
Then let it set for 30 minutes, then remove one side of the mold and let it dry for 24 hours. Remove the mold the following day and enjoy!
Step 8. Let it dry for at least 24 hours before using.
I store my bath bombs in an airtight container in my bathroom.
*Tip: If you’re using the ornament molds, remove one side overnight, then put it back on the next day to make sure they’re completely dried out.
NOTE: The fragrance oils I used from Young Living for my bath bombs are Stress Away, Peppermint, Christmas Spirit and Lavender. I don’t mix them together, but use them in different batches.
Be cautious with citrus oils in bath bombs, because they can cause photosensitivity. If you do use them, wait 24 hours before going out in the sun. Obviously, if you’re using these in winter and your skin will be covered by clothing, it wouldn’t be an issue.
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Easy DIY Bath Bombs
Quick and Easy Bath Bomb Recipe for anyone who loves to pamper herself! Keyword bath bomb, bath bomb recipe Prep Time 1 hour hour Cook Time 1 hour hour Servings 4 60mm bath bombs Author LauraWhat You’ll Need
- 1 cup Baking Soda
- 1/2 cup Citric Acid
- 1/4 cup Epsom Salt
- 20 drops essential oils
- 2 tsp. Fractionated Coconut Oil
- Witch hazel in a spray bottle
- 4 60 mm bath bomb molds
- Mica Colorant
Directions
- Whisk together the baking soda, citric acid and Epsom salt in a bowl.
- Combine the coconut oil and essential oils, then mix them into the dry ingredients a little at a time while continuing to stir. Mix well.
- Add colorant to taste.
- Mist the mixture with witch hazel until it clumps like a snowball (or you can pack it in your hands). Be very careful not to make it too wet. This can cause the mixture to set for a long time.
- Fill both halves of the mold.
- Press together until they form a ball.
- Keep closed for 30 minutes, then remove one side and let it dry overnight.
Ways to Give Bath Bombs as Gifts
There are so many ways to turn these easy bath bombs into gifts, but one of my favorites is a Christmas ornament.
Christmas Ornament Bath Bombs with Printable Gift Tags
I crushed some candy canes and placed them in the mold before filling it with the bath bomb mixture. Once they were dry, I added some ribbon, a mini pinecone and one of my free printable gift tags.
I’ve included the FREE PRINTABLE GIFT TAGS HERE for your personal use.
TAP HERE
I printed my gift tags at 65% so they would be smaller for the bath bomb. But you can print them as large or as small as you like!
Candy Bombs Wrapped in Tissue Paper
Wrap your bath bombs in festive tissue paper and tie the ends closed with pretty ribbon. Add one of the free printable gift tags above for fun!
Loofah and Bath Bomb Bath Set
Place a few bath bombs in a plastic drinking cup with a domed lid and top it with a mini loofah for a cute “treat” bath set!
More Homemade Bath & Body Products You’ll Love:
