Easy DIY Bath Bombs Recipe

Do you think of things like body scrub and bath bombs as an unnatural luxury? Think again! Learn how to make beautiful, all-natural bathbombs and enjoy a little more self care time. You’ll need a few ingredients you might not have on hand– like citric acid, but once you’ve got what you need, you’ll be hooked on making these fun beauty goodies. 

My sister-in-law is obsessed with self care treats like bath bombs and shower bombs, which is why I was inspired to take on the challenge of learning to make these bad boys myself. After plenty of trial and error (beware: exploding suds and flower petals is likely), I found the perfect ratio of ingredients. 

When learning how to be a modern homesteader, there are plenty of icky, aggravating projects to take on–like learning how to compost. Learning how to make bath bombs is a pleasant change. Let’s dive in!

Bath Bombs Require Patience

I tested bath bomb recipe after bath bomb recipe, paying attention to what ingredients and ratios worked best. I learned from my mistakes and came up with this reliable and easy bath bomb recipe. 

Some recipes called for water as a binder, which in hindsight didn’t make any sense… wasn’t the whole idea that bath bombs explode in contact with water? Other people used witch hazel as a binder, but I thought that was a bit too out of reach for most people. After experimenting with both options, I didn’t notice a significant difference between the two. So, for simplicity, I recommend water. Plus, witch hazel is pretty harsh and can irritate some people’s skin.

For an oil base, I settled on melted coconut oil, which many people already have on hand. I also add sweet almond oil for added skin care benefits, however, as noted, if you don’t want to invest in almond oil you can just swap this ingredient with an extra teaspoon of coconut oil.

After much trial and error, I finally came up with this bath bomb recipe. No artificial colors or ingredients. Be patient with yourself. If you feel like a kid playing on the beach trying to build a sandcastle that keeps collapsing or washing away, you’re on the right track. However, if you follow this recipe exactly, you can avoid disappointment. 

What’s a bath bomb? 

Bath bombs are essentially molds of soap, oils, and sudsy fragrance designed to burst open when popped into the bath or shower. They’re a popular self care treat and come in tons of different flavors and styles. 

Are bath bombs natural? 

They certainly can be! Although many bath bombs you’ll find in stores are full of preservatives and artificial colors, this bath bomb diy recipe is all natural. In fact, it’s super good for your skin–the ingredients in homemade bath bombs are designed to give your bathtime ritual a little glow up; they’ll exfoliate, cleanse, and hydrate your skin. 

Ingredients in Bath Bombs

Citric Acid – We know that this one sounds a bit scary. Actually, citric acid is completely natural. It’s simply acidic compounds extracted from citrus fruits. This ingredient is crucial to get the fizz. Also, it’s often used in acne-focused skin wash because of its purifying properties, so you can feel good about soaking in it. (*See below if you don’t have any citric acid.) 

Epsom Salt – The classic remedy for achy, sore muscles, epsom salt is packed with magnesium and cleansing granules to purify the skin and reduce inflammation. It even boasts benefits for anxiety and depression. 

Coconut Oil – Melted coconut oil works beautifully to combine the dry ingredients in this recipe and then solidify them into a moisture-rich final product. Coconut oil is known for its ability to heal dry skin and even treat acne. 

Arrowroot Powder – The arrowroot powder acts as a binding starch to keep your bath bomb from falling apart. Plus, it’s known for its wondrous ability to give skin a vital glow. 

Almond Oil – Just a touch of antioxidant-packed, anti-aging oil in this easy bath balm recipe makes for a luscious bath time and baby soft skin afterward. 

What properties make a good bath bomb?

The dream bath bomb is one that holds together smoothly and seamlessly when dry, and then explodes in bubbly, fragrant goodness in the tub or shower. The secret to this is in the perfect ratio of activating ingredients and ingredients that hold the shape. 

At a chemical level: the baking soda is reacting to the acidity of the citric acid and creating carbon dioxide gas– a harmless fizzy reaction. Remember making a volcano experiment in grade school with baking soda and vinegar? It’s the same idea here! In general, most bath bomb recipes call for twice as much baking soda as citric acid. 

Flavor Ideas for Our Bath Bomb Recipe

One of the most magical and enticing characteristics are their bright colors and fragrant aroma, which is wny we love this all-natural bath salt recipe. So, we tested a few all-natural, non-toxic bath bomb recipes. Our general advice: if it’s food safe, it’s probably skin safe. Here’s what we used:

Turmeric + Citrus – A little bit of turmeric goes a long way. Start with adding just a 1/2 teaspoon to your dry ingredients for a golden bath bomb. Use citrus essential oils, like grapefruit, orange, lime, and lemon. Top with chammomile and calendula for a golden goddess bath.

Pomegranate Powder + Rose – Another flavor that we’re obsessed with is rose. Mix in some pomegranate powder for a pretty pink tone, and add rose essential oil as well as rose buds to the top of your bath bomb recipe, for a floral, rosey tub.

Matcha Powder + Lavendar – For an earthy, subtle floral fragrance, mix lavendar essential oils with a pinch of matcha powder.

What You’ll Need 

• 1 cup baking soda
• ½ cup citric acid
• ⅓ cup arrowroot powder
• ¼ cup epsom salt
• 1 tablespoon water
• 2 tablespoon sweet almond oil (or coconut oil)
• 25 drops essential oil
• dried flowers
• ½ teaspoon of natural powdered coloring

The Six Steps to Making this Bath Bomb Recipe

Prep Your Supplies

Prepare a bowl for both dry and wet ingredients. Since this recipe is so time-sensitive, having everything ready is a must.

Mix Together Wet Ingredients 

Combine the different wet ingredients in a bowl. Include essential oils for fragrance, oils, and the small amount of water.

Whisk Together Dry Ingredients

Thoroughly whisk together all dry ingredients. Each ingredient is important for the bath bombs to form and to fizzle properly, so even distribution is essential.

Add Wet to Dry and Combine with Hands

Prepare to get messy. Once you combine the ingredients, they will fizz a bit. This is normal. Combining any bath bomb recipe is a bit chaotic. Knead the wet ingredients into the dry. The consistency should be like damp sand for building sandcastles. Act as quickly as possible.

Shape the Bath Bombs into the Molds

If adding garnishes, place the garnishes into the base of the mold you are using. Then, firmly pack the bath bomb mixture into the molds. If working with a mold with two halves. Fill each half separately, then carefully place one on top of the other, much like baking a layered cake.

Freeze the Mold

Pop the bath bombs in their molds into the freezer for about fifteen minutes, or until they are firm to the touch. Then, remove, the molds and let the bath bombs harden on their own. Don’t touch the bath bombs for at least 24 hours.

Activate in Warm Water & Enjoy

After the bath bombs have hardened, add them to a bathtub or a shower for a colorful fragrant explosion.

Tips for Making This Bath Bombs Recipe

Should I add water to bind my bath bomb? 

Water (hopefully in the tub) is what causes bath bombs to explode, so adding any water to the base of your bath bombs will cause them to fizz up a bit. Some people try witch hazel to help their bath bombs bind without causing them to fizzle out. However, as long as you quickly freeze the bath bombs after forming them, adding water is completely fine.

How do I make DIY bath bombs, no citric acid? 

Armandhammer has the best solution for bath bombs, no citric acid. Essentially, rather than the baking soda reacting to the citric acid, it will react to lemon juice to create a fizz. 

Can I swap almond oil with a different oil? 

Yes! You can always swap almond oil with more coconut oil, but jojoba oil, olive oil, or avocado oil also are beneficial for skin and work with this recipe. 

What if I don’t have arrowroot powder? 

You can also swap the arrowroot powder for cornstarch, potato starch, tapioca flour, or rice flour. 

What shapes of bath bombs can I make? 

The easiest, cheapest method is to use a muffin pan, cocktail ice tray, or some other silicon mold you already have on hand. However, if you want round molds or other more special shapes, consider investing in molds designed for bath bombs, or even cake pops and gourmet cupcake trays.