How To Make Bath Bombs

Ready to take your creativity and love of making things to a whole new level? Making bath bombs is an exciting and gratifying endeavor that can help you explore the world of crafting in a unique way. This fun and creative experience brings together elements of science, artistry, design and of course plenty of fun - giving you lots of creative freedom as you transform ordinary ingredients into impressive works of art. Whether you’re looking for a satisfying hobby or planning on building up your business with invigorating homemade products like bath bombs, this guide will teach you all the tips and tricks to become an expert bath bomb DIY-er.

Creating DIY bath bombs is not only enjoyable but also incredibly useful. Whether you are an experienced crafter or just starting out with the art of making beauty products, this blog post will walk you through each step so that you can craft perfect bath bombs from the comfort of your own home – even if it’s your first time attempting any kind of cosmetics or toiletries project.

This recipe is a guide and can be adjusted using all kinds of scents, colours and more on our website to create your own bespoke bath bombs. Once you have your go-to recipe nailed down, you can switch styles, techniques, moulds and more to create a variety of bath bombs in all different colours, shapes and sizes - what ever takes your fancy!

What is a bath bomb?

Do you want to find out what all of the hype is around bath bombs and why people everywhere are so excited about them? Bath bombs are an amazing combination of unique ingredients that creates an incredible, fizzy and foaming effect when they are dropped into water. Not only that, they release delightful aromas that fill your tub with amazing fragrance and vibrant colors that make every bath an adventure!

Creating unique and beautiful bath bombs is a great way to help improve creativity and body care wellness - plus doing it yourself gives you control over the exact ingredients used to create each one. Whether you're a customer looking for something special for yourself or a business interested in crafting unique products for sale, our how to make bath bombs guide is the first step to get you going. From start to finish our easy-to-follow instructions will have you creating your own custom bath bombs in no time! 

What are the key ingredients in a bath bomb?

No longer do we need to shell out huge amounts of money for five-star spa treatments - now everything we need to enjoy a peaceful soak complete with mesmerising aromas and swirling hues is right at our fingertips. All it takes is a few simple ingredients like bicarbonate of soda, citric acid, SLSA, cornstarch, epsom salts, oils, and fragrances mixed together in the perfect balance.

You can get extremely creative when it comes to making bath bombs, from foaming to fizzing, milky to even turning your water to slime! There are hundreds of ingredients you can use in bath bombs to produce a variety of effects depending on your desired finish.

The basics and most key ingredients for a bath bomb are bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) and citric acid. These two ingredients form the core structure and basic characteristics of a bath bomb. They are what reacts with the water to create the fizz a bath bomb is known for. Any ingredients on top of these two are purely for aesthetic and characteristic affect, from colours to salts, cornstarch for silkiness and sodium alginate for slime. There is a whole host of ingredients to create an incredible range of effects.

For our recipe will be using Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate Powder (SLSA) which adds amazing foaming properties to your bath bombs and is perfect when you want to add some extra life and character to your bath time.

What makes bath bombs stick together?

Moisture can be the making or failure of a bath bomb. Not enough moisture will cause your bath bombs to crumble and break apart, whilst too much moisture will start the reaction process of your bath bomb and small bumps will appear where it is starting to fizz. It is all about finding the perfect moisture and consistency that makes your bath bombs stick together.

Adding a small amount of moisture, whether this is water, witch hazel or comes from your ingredients, you want enough that softens your mixture to bind your ingredients. It turns your powdered mixture into a snowball like consistency, allowing your ingredients to blend and hold together. Then as they dry and harden they build strength and hold together perfectly.

What do bath bombs do for you?

A bath bomb can be beneficial for your skin, your mind and your day to day well being. So how can a small bundle of fizz provide so many benefits? Not only are bath bombs a fun way to add colour and vibrancy to your bath time, but the use of colours is also good for stimulating memories and imagination, this combined with beautiful, calming and nostalgic aromas create a sensual experience.

Each bath bomb is unique, they are a great way to nourish your skin, by holding ingredients that release valuable properties. A warm bath infused with salts, lavender, carrier oils and more does wonders for your skin. Helping to clean out your pores, remove dead skin cells and freshen up your complexity.

Bath bombs are also used for aromatherapy and to create a spa-like experience, far more than a way to get clean, they are the perfect way to enjoy some me time. This along with the properties from the variety of ingredients used, help cleanse your body, soothe your skin and invigorate your mind.

Do bath bombs make a mess?

Making bath bombs can be a messy process, but using a bath is quite the opposite! A bath bomb in many ways to designed to dissolve and fizz into the water and clean your skin but the more funky bath bombs can leave residue in your tub. For example, an activated charcoal bath bomb can leave a black ring around your bath tub, but with any bath bomb, once your bath has been drained, simply rinse and wipe around and it will wash away easily.

If you have a bath bomb containing floral petals, these will often float in the water and can clog the plug when you drain the water. But they can easily be scooped up and removed, similarly with salts, although most salts will dissolve with the bath bomb, some larger particles will sink to the bottom (you will feel these on your bum), again you can easily pick these out.

Due to the nature of a bath bomb, any mess that is made, crumbs etc can easily be wiped away with a cloth and warm water.

The bath bomb making process...

Making bath bombs can be just as fun as using them! Understanding the process to create your very own bath bombs, where you can tailor the colours, the scent and the properties to suit your needs is all part of the fun.

From building your recipe and sourcing your ingredients, to starring at your constructed bath bomb waiting for it to dry. Let's go through each step, including our DIY bath bomb recipe.

At The Soap Kitchen, we sell hundreds of ingredients for bath bomb making, including...

The basics for making bath bombs:
• Bicarbonate of Soda
• Citric Acid

Unique additives for bath bombs:
• Activated Charcoal - Perfect colourant for black bath bombs, activated charcoal is also super healthy for your skin.
• SLSA Powder - Provides beautiful bubbles, foam and extra fizz to your bath bombs.
• Goat's Milk Powder - Will leave your skin super nourished and feeling extremely moisturised.
• Cornstarch - Works as a stabiliser, helping to slow down the fizz and make your bath bombs last longer.
• Sea Salts - Are known to cleanse, hydrate and heal your skin, as well as add texture to your bath bombs.
• Kaolin Clay - Has unique skin benefits and properties and is widely used to help to harden your bath bombs.
• Cream of Tartar - Helps to bind and hold your bath bombs together and harden them, with a smoother, silky finish.
• Calamine Powder - Good for improving complexion, tightening dark spots, adding moisture and healing.
• Sodium Alginate - Gels and thickens when in contact with water, turning your bath water to slime.
• Tapioca Starch - A talc like replacement, leaves a smooth, soft feel on your skin.

Popular carrier oils and butters for bath bombs:
• Sweet Almond Oil
• Jojoba Oil
• Coconut Oil
• Shea Butter
• Cocoa Butter
• Mango Butter

This is just a small selection of oils and butters, we have a much wider selection that you can browse here. We also have an extensive range of fragrance oils and essential oils, so there will certainly be a scent perfect for you!

Please ensure all appropriate safety gear is worn when making this product.

Bath Bomb Equipment

• Large Mixing Bowl
• Weighing Scales
• Water Spray Bottle
• Bath Bomb Mould

Bath Bomb Ingredients

• 300g Bicarbonate of Soda
• 100g Citric Acid
• 20g Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate Powder (SLSA)
• 10g Fragrance Oil
• 4g Mica Powder

This creation makes two 70mm bombs, with amazing foaming properties.

Step by Step Guide To Making Bath Bombs...

1. Firstly, wearing gloves weigh out all of your ingredients.
2. Add the bicarbonate of soda and the citric acid into the mixing bowl. Mix thoroughly until you have a consistent texture.
3. Next, add in your SLSA and mix well ensuring you get rid of any lumps. SLSA is a very fine powder so be careful when adding and mixing. 
4. For this recipe, we are going to be creating a pink and white patterned bath bomb so you will need to separate about a third of your mixture into a smaller bowl and leave to one side. 
5. Then with your large bowl add in your colour and mix thoroughly. 
6. Before you start building your bath bombs you need to make sure the mixture has a snowball like consistency. From a distance spray your mixture with water and mix until you start to feel the consistency change.
7. Keep adding small sprays of water until your mixture starts to hold together on its own. Repeat with your white mixture.
8. Now you can start building your bath bombs. Sprinkle in small amounts of your colours into your mould until you are happy with your desired pattern. Remember the pink is your dominant colour so you will need to fill the middle with the pink. 
9. Make sure you make one-half of your mould slightly higher than the other so when you combine them they slot together easier. Push your two halves together and wipe away any excess.
10. Next using a flat edge tool gently tap on the mould which will help loosen the bath bomb as you can see then repeat on the other side. 
11. Leave the bath bomb to one side to dry then repeat until you have used all your mixture. 
12. Make sure you leave your bath bombs to dry for at least 24hrs so they are nice and solid then they are ready to use!