Homemade Bath Bombs: Easy DIY Bath Bomb Recipe for Relaxing Soaks

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If you’ve been following me for a bit, you know I love cozy DIYs, natural remedies, and all the things that bring beauty, happiness and balance into our lives. From herbal teas and hair oils to homemade face scrubs and masks, I’m always looking for ways to make my favorite everyday products feel a little more natural and personal. So, it probably won’t surprise you that I’ve fallen completely in love with making homemade bath bombs.

If you’re looking for bath bomb recipes and wondering how you can make bath bombs at home using natural ingredients, you’re in the right place. I’m sharing everything you need to know to create your own fizzing, fragrant, and totally customizable DIY bath bombs.

Homemade bath bombs made with natural ingredients like baking soda, citric acid, and essential oils

Why Make Homemade Bath Bombs?

You gain so much knowledge and control over what you put on your skin when you create something yourself! Choosing clean, natural ingredients, adjusting each scent to your mood, and knowing every element that goes into your bath ritual is all deeply rewarding. No synthetic dyes or additives, just nourishing ingredients you can trust.

Another of my favorite things about making bath bombs at home is how personal the process feels. Homemade bath bombs are a pure joy to create. The process is both creative and grounding: measuring, whisking, molding, and a little blend of science and self-care to bring mindfulness into your day.

Homemade bath bomb recipes can easily be tailored to your mood or your skin’s needs. Use lavender its calming scent, and chamomile for deep relaxation, eucalyptus or peppermint for an energizing lift, or rose petals for something romantic and indulgent.

Beyond the sensory magic, they’re also wonderful for your skin: coconut oil leaves it soft and hydrated, while Epsom salts help ease tension after a long day. Plus, they make beautiful, thoughtful gifts for anyone who could use a little extra relaxation in their life.

I love preparing a few extras to package up in glass jars for birthdays, holidays, or simply to brighten someone’s week.

Step-by-step guide showing how to make homemade bath bombs at home using simple natural ingredients.

What You’ll Need for This Bath Bomb Recipe

Making bath bombs at home is easier than you might think! All you need to know are the basic ratios and steps, then you can experiment with scents and natural add-ins like dried rose petals or Epsom salts.

Bath Bomb Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need for this DIY bath bomb recipe.

Baking Soda - The classic base for every bath bomb, baking soda helps create the fizzing reaction in water while softening your skin for a silky-smooth feel.
Citric Acid -The magic behind the “bomb” effect! Citric acid reacts with baking soda when it hits water, producing the signature fizzy explosion.
Cornstarch - Helps bind all the ingredients together for a sturdy bath bomb while giving the water a silky, softening texture.
Epsom Salt - A favorite for post-workout or relaxing soaks, Epsom salt helps relieve muscle soreness, stiffness, and tension while promoting overall relaxation.
Essential Oils - Add your favorite scents while reaping skin benefits. Lavender and chamomile oils are perfect for soothing, calming, and refreshing baths.
- Eucalyptus Essential Oil - Refreshing and revitalizing, helps ease tension.
- Citrus (Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit) Essential Oil- Bright and uplifting, adds a cheerful aroma.
- Vanilla Essential Oil - Warm, sweet, and comforting, ideal for a cozy soak.
- Coconut Oil - Moisturizes the skin while keeping your bath bomb mixture smooth and easy to mold.

Food Coloring or Mica (optional) - For a visually stunning bath bomb, add a few drops of natural colorants or mica powder. This step is optional, but it makes your homemade bath bombs extra fun and gift-worthy!

Homemade bath bomb ingredients including baking soda, Epsom salt, citric acid, and dried flowers.

Bonus Herbal and Natural Add-Ins

Try these natural ingredients for added skin and wellness benefits:

Lemon Balm - Known for its cleansing properties, lemon balm adds a refreshing, uplifting scent while helping purify your skin.
Chamomile - Dried Chamomile flowers have calming properties that reduce stress and anxiety. Mix it into your bomb and use it in a bath before bed.
Oats - Beyond breakfast, oats are a gentle anti-inflammatory ingredient that soothes irritated skin, rashes, and redness.
Rose Buds - Delicate and fragrant, rose buds improve circulation, relieve minor cramping, and add a touch of romance to your bath.
Green Tea Leaves - Frequently used to calm skin irritation, including sunburn, scrapes, or redness.
Calendula - We use it to soothe muscle aches after gym sessions.
Lavender - A classic addition with a calming and refreshing aroma, dried lavender pairs beautifully with other herbs in your bath blends.
Ginger and Turmeric - These roots are fantastic for reducing inflammation and promoting a rejuvenating, warming bath experience.
Ground Rice - It helps calm skin inflammation and soothe redness. Simply soak organic rice, dry it on a towel, and grind it to a fine powder for a soft, silky texture.

Tools You’ll Need

Step-by-Step DIY Bath Bomb Recipe

Start by whisking all your dry ingredients in a large glass bowl. This includes baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, and Epsom salt. Combine them until evenly blended.

Pro Tip: Make sure there are no clumps! Smooth, evenly mixed dry ingredients help your homemade bath bombs fizz perfectly.

Next, slowly add your wet ingredients: coconut oil, essential oils, and optional colorants to the dry mix. It’s important to add them gradually to avoid activating the fizzing reaction too early. Mix gently with your hands or a spatula until the mixture holds together when squeezed.

Once your mixture is ready, press it firmly into molds or shape it by hand. You can use silicone molds, round bath bomb molds, or even ice cube trays for fun shapes. The key is to pack the mixture tightly so your bath bombs stay intact.

After shaping, place your bath bombs on a tray lined with parchment paper. Let them dry at room temperature for at least 24 hours. For best results, allow them to cure for 48 hours. This ensures they are fully hardened and will last longer in storage.

Pro-tip: If the mixture is too crumbly when shaping your bath bombs, lightly spritz it with water.

Relaxing bath bomb recipe with lavender and chamomile flowers for a calming bath experience.

3 DIY Bath Bomb Recipes

Below, we are sharing our favorite homemade bath bomb recipe combinations. You can always mix and match these or create your own.

Relaxing Bath Bomb Recipe

This relaxing bath bomb recipe is made with soothing lavender, chamomile, and oats. These gentle ingredients calm the mind, soften the skin, and turn any bath into a tranquil escape.

Ingredients:

1 cup Baking Soda
1/2 cup Citric Acid
1/2 cup Cornstarch
1/3 cup Epsom Salt
2-3 tsp Coconut Oil (melted)
10-12 drops Lavender or Chamomile Essential Oil
2 tsp Chamomile (dried flowers)
2 tsp Lavender (dried flowers)
Food Coloring (optional)
Water (optional)

Instructions:

In a large bowl, whisk together citric acid, baking soda, cornstarch, Epsom salt, dried chamomile, lavender, and oats until evenly mixed. Next, in a separate bowl, combine melted coconut oil and essential oils, adding coloring if desired.Gradually mix wet and dry ingredients until the texture holds together like damp sand; spritz lightly with water if needed. Press the mixture into bath bomb molds. Once done, allow to dry for 24-48 hours in a cool, dry place before unmolding.

Bath bomb recipe for sensitive skin made with calendula petals and oatmeal for a gentle, nourishing bath.

Sensitive Skin Homemade Bath Bomb Recipe

Soothe and nourish delicate skin with this sensitive skin DIY bath bomb recipe made from gentle, natural ingredients like oats, calendula, and almond oil. Perfect for anyone seeking a calming, skin-friendly soak.

Ingredients:

1 cup Baking Soda
1/2 cup Citric Acid
1/2 cup Cornstarch
1/3 cup Epsom Salt
Water (optional)
3 tsp Almond Oil (melted)
8-10 drops Sweet Almond Oil (optional, for extra moisture)
2 tsp Calendula (dried petals)
2 tsp Oats (ground or whole)

Instructions

In a bowl, whisk baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, Epsom salt, calendula, and oats. In a separate bowl, mix melted almond oil and essential oils. Slowly combine wet and dry ingredients, stirring until the texture resembles damp sand.

Gently but firmly, press the mixture into bath bomb molds and let them rest for 24-48 hours in a cool, dry place. Once set, store your DIY bath bombs for sensitive skin in an airtight container to keep them fresh and fizzy.

Hydrating Bath Bomb Recipe

Replenish dry skin with this hydrating bath bomb recipe made with coconut oil, honey, and coconut milk for a deeply moisturizing soak. These fizzy homemade bath bombs leave your skin soft, smooth, and nourished, perfect for self-care nights or post-shower pampering.

Ingredients:

1 cup Baking Soda
1/2 cup Citric Acid
1/2 cup Cornstarch
1/2 cup Epsom Salt
3 tsp Coconut Oil (melted)
Water (optional)
3 tsp Coconut Milk (melted or powdered)
8-10 drops Sweet Almond Oil (optional, for extra moisture)
2 tsp Honey

Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together citric acid, baking soda, cornstarch, and Epsom salt. In a different bowl, mix coconut milk, melted coconut oil, honey, and almond oil. As before, slowly mix wet into dry, press into shapes, and allow to fully set before storing in airtight containers.

DIY bath bomb recipe using baking soda, citric acid, and coconut oil for a fizzy, moisturizing soak.

Troubleshooting Your Homemade Bath Bombs

Making bath bombs at home is a fun, creative process, but even seasoned DIYers run into a few bumps along the way. Whether your bath bombs are crumbly, soft, or just not fizzing enough, a few tweaks can go a long way.

Bath Bombs Too Crumbly?

If your DIY bath bombs fall apart the second you touch them, it usually means they’re too dry. The fix is simple: add a little more binding agent.

Add More Oil: A small amount of carrier oil, like coconut, almond, or jojoba, helps the ingredients stick together. Start with half a teaspoon at a time, mixing thoroughly, until your mixture holds together when squeezed.
Spritz With Water: Another approach is lightly spritzing your bath bomb mixture with water. Don’t drench it; too much water will trigger the fizzing reaction prematurely. A fine mist until the mixture just holds together is enough.

The key is balance. Bath bombs need to be dry enough to handle but moist enough to compact into the mold without crumbling. If you’re struggling, try gently pressing the mixture into your mold with slightly damp hands. This can help form a solid shape without adding too much moisture.

Bath Bombs Not Fizzing Enough?

There’s nothing more disappointing than dropping a bath bomb into your tub for it barely bubble or not bubble at all.Several factors could be at play:

Check Citric Acid Freshness: The main culprit is often old or expired citric acid. Citric acid is what reacts with baking soda to create fizz, so if it loses its potency, your bath bomb won’t fizz properly. Keep your citric acid in a cool, dry place, ideally in a glass airtight container to maintain its effectiveness.

Too Much Moisture During Mixing: If your mixture got damp too early, the reaction might have started prematurely, leaving you with a less fizzy bomb. This is why using a fine mist instead of pouring water directly is essential.

Ingredient Ratio: Check your baking soda to citric acid ratio. The standard is roughly 2:1. Too much baking soda can produce a bath bomb that fizzes weakly or leaves residue in your tub.

Colorful bath bombs in pastel shades arranged in a bowl, made from a homemade DIY recipe.

Bath Bombs Too Soft

Sometimes, your bath bombs may feel soft or fail to hold their shape even after drying. Here’s how to troubleshoot this issue:

Dry Longer: Patience is key. Most bath bombs need at least 24 hours to fully dry. Larger bombs may need up to 48 hours. Place them in a cool, dry area without humidity to ensure they harden properly.
Press firmly: When filling molds, apply even pressure to compact the mixture fully. This step ensures the bath bomb holds together and won’t crumble or collapse while drying.

How to Store Bath Bombs for Freshness

Proper storage is crucial for keeping your bath bombs fresh. Once you’ve invested time in creating the perfect bath bombs, you want them to last as long as possible. Here’s how to store bath bombs so you can enjoy them weeks or even months later.

Storage Tips and Advice

Bath bombs are highly sensitive to moisture. A little humidity can trigger fizzing before your bath is ready. The best way to prevent this is by storing your bath bombs in airtight containers. Our go-tos are glass jars with tight lids, but sealed plastic containers also work well.

For extra protection, consider wrapping individual bath bombs in wax paper before putting them in your container or bag.This double layer of protection keeps moisture at bay and preserves fragrance.

Heat and humidity are the enemies of bath bombs. We store them in cool closets or cupboards away from sunlight and avoid areas where temperatures fluctuate often, like kitchens.

Homemade bath bombs can last up to 6 months if stored correctly. After that, their fizz may weaken, and scents may fade. While they’re safe to use beyond six months, they might not be as fizzy as you intended.

DIY homemade bath bombs with coconut oil and lavender essential oil on a marble background.

Common Questions About Bath Bomb Recipes (FAQs)

If you’re new to bath bombs or just curious about best practices, here are answers to some common questions.

Citric acid is inexpensive, widely available, and essential for classic bath bomb fizz. It is what reacts with baking soda to create the fizz. Without it, your bath bombs won’t produce bubbles. If you want to make a bath bomb without citric acid, use alternatives like effervescent powders designed for baths.
Essential oils add fragrance and aromatherapy benefits to bath bombs, but not all oils are safe for topical use. If your skin is sensitive to certain ingredients, definitely avoid those!

Yield: 8-10

Author: Prancier