Content

• Ingredients
• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Making the bath bomb
• Tips
• Necessities

It is quite fun to make bath bombs, but it is very difficult to do it properly. That's because one of the main ingredients, citric acid, can be quite expensive and hard to find in stores. In the recipe below, the problem is avoided by using tartar powder, an ingredient that is also often used in baking. With these bath bombs without citric acid you get beautifully colored bath water and a very soft skin.

Ingredients

• 300 grams of baking soda
• 40 grams of tartar powder
• 65 grams of cornstarch
• 150 grams of salt (Epsom salt, sea salt or table salt without iodine)
• 2 teaspoons of essential oil
• 1 tablespoon of oil (hydrating vegetable oil, such as sweet almond oil, coconut oil, or olive oil) (optional)
• 1 or 2 drops of food coloring (optional)

To step

Part 1 of 2: Making the bath bomb

1. Make sure you have all the supplies ready. When you have mixed all the ingredients, you will have to work quickly. You don't want to have to search your pantry for a shape at the last minute.
   • Remember that with this recipe you will make a large bath bomb that is about the size of a softball. If you want to make more bath bombs, adjust the recipe and keep the proportions the same. For example, if you want to make two bath bombs the size of a softball, use 600 grams of baking soda instead of 300 grams.
   • Try to prepare your ingredients in an orderly fashion by keeping the wet and dry ingredients separate.
2. If necessary, spray the mixture with a spray of water. You will likely need to add a little water to the mixture to properly mix the ingredients. Exactly how much extra water you need to add differs per mixture, so it is best to add a little water each time during mixing. You will generally need less than a tablespoon of water. If it is difficult to mix the ingredients, squirt some water into the bowl.
   • You should end up with a mixture that is crumbly but still stays in shape when you press everything together.
3. Wait for your bath bomb to harden before removing it from the mold. Let the bath bomb dry for at least a few hours. Ideally, you let it sit in the mold overnight.
   • If you try to take the bath bomb out of the mold too early, chances are that it will fall apart.
   • Rinse all metal tools thoroughly. Epsom salt can cause metal to rust over time.
4. Choose a shape. You can use almost anything as a shape, but plastic and glass items work best. You can choose something large enough for a large amount of the mixture so that you can make a very large bath bomb. You can also use smaller molds to make small bath bombs.
   • Plastic can absorb undiluted essential oil, but this is less likely to happen after you mix everything.
   • The most popular "shape" to use is a plastic bauble. At craft stores, look for baubles that have two parts that you can take apart and put back together. This way you get round bath bombs that are the size of a softball, just like bath bombs from the store.
   • There are many fun chocolate molds that are perfect for making bath bombs.
   • Cupcakes and small pastry molds are also very suitable.
5. Choose colors and experiment with them. You don't necessarily have to use the dyes as sold. Try mixing them to create your favorite colors.
   • An effervescent ball that looks nice when made may not look so good in your bath water later on.
   • Write down which combinations you have tried and which ones work best.
   • Make sure to always use dyes that are non-toxic, smudge-free, and water-soluble.
6. Find the perfect scent. Be creative and give your bath bomb a nice scent. Mix different oils to create your own unique scent.
   • If you don't know where to start, look up essential oil blending recipes online for ideas. You don't necessarily have to look for bath bomb mixes. Information about soap making and aromatherapy can also be used when making bath bombs.
   • Some popular combinations include 4 parts spearmint to 1 part patchouli, 2 parts orange to 1 part vanilla, 1 part patchouli to 1 part cedar and 2 parts bergamot, equal parts lavender and peppermint, and 1 part peppermint to 1 part tea tree. oil and 2 parts lavender.
   • You can bottle larger amounts of your favorite mixes for later use.
   • Be careful when working with undiluted essential oils. Some oils can burn your skin and cause skin irritation.

Tips

• Make sure to add the oils to the dry ingredients slowly. If you work too quickly, the mixture can already start to fizz in the bowl and your bath bomb will no longer do anything.
• Wrap bath bombs in transparent cellophane and tie a bow around them. This is a beautiful homemade gift.
• The bath bomb will dry more slowly if the room you are working in is very humid.
• Try to make smaller bath bombs if your bath bombs crumble when you take them out of the molds.
• You can adapt most other bath bomb recipes and use tartar powder instead of citric acid. Make sure to use half as much tartar powder as citric acid. Using too much tartar powder will make the mixture too thick to stir.

Necessities

• 1 or more molds (depending on how much you make of the mixture)
• Whisk (alternatives: forks or chopsticks)
• 2 bowls of glass or metal
• Measuring cup
• Measuring spoons (preferably made of metal)
• Small metal spoon
• Latex gloves (optional)
• Atomizer filled with water