Luxurious and fragrant, make DIY bath bombs for any mood or season. This homemade bath bomb recipe never fails, and it’s super-easy to change it up with different scents.
Bath bombs DIY
Who else loves relaxing in a steamy bath with some fizzy bath bombs? There’s nothing like setting the mood with a glass of wine, some candles, and your favorite book or music.
To make the experience even more special, toss one of these DIY bath bombs into the water. The fizzy bubbles, essential oils, and beneficial minerals are a treat for the senses.
Today, I’m going to show you how you can create your own custom bath bombs at home. If you’re anything like me, maybe having these on hand will encourage you to decompress a bit more frequently.
Bring some relaxation into your home and create a spa-like experience whenever you need it. I’ll show you how to make your own DIY bath bombs with this easy tutorial.
If you’re feeling intimidated by this process, don’t be. These are so simple to make and really easy to customize. Let me show you.
Ingredients
First, gather all of your ingredients. I found everything online and linked things up below to make it easy for you. (This post contains affiliate links.)
- Baking soda: This helps add the fizz. Make sure it’s baking soda, not baking powder.
- Citric acid: It works with the baking soda (they neutralize each other) to create an incredible fizz.
- Epsom salt: There are powerfully relaxing properties in Epsom salts.
- Cornstarch: This helps all the ingredients stick together.
- Coloring pigment: Just for fun, colo can give you a visual clue about the scents.
- Almond oil: Incredibly beneficial for your skin, almond oil can help moisturize your entire body as you soak.
- Essential oils: Each oil has different properties. Choose the oils that match your needs, whether it’s relaxation, improved focus, or renewed energy.
- Bath bomb molds: Totally essential to give them the classic round shape!
How to make DIY bath bombs
You will find a full ingredient list and detailed instructions for these homemade bath bombs in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
First, measure and whisk the dry ingredients in a large bowl.
I used a coloring pigment for my DIY bath bombs. Since it’s a dry pigment, you’ll want to include that in this step. Add as little or as much as you’d like to achieve the color you prefer.
Next, in a small cup, mix together the wet ingredients. This is also where you’ll add the essential oils.
You can get essential oils almost anywhere these days. I recommend shopping for these in person so you can find a scent you like.
Also, pay attention to the benefit each oil offers. I made three different varieties. The purple bath bomb has an oil for stress relief, the blue prompts sleep, and the yellow promotes joy.
The next step is very important. You need to add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. You’ll want to do this very slowly, adding a few drops at a time while mixing.
The citric acid is what causes the bath bombs to fizz when it comes into contact with water. Adding the wet ingredients slowly minimizes this effect, allowing you to create the ball.
Once mixed, you’re ready to mold. I picked up these bath bomb molds to create a ball shape. However, you can use things like a cupcake pan or silicon mold to achieve different shapes and sizes.
For this round mold, fill each half, packing it in slightly until it’s overflowing. Then, firmly press the halves together. Let the mold sit for one minute. Once set, tap the mold and pull it apart.
You’ll want to let the bath bombs dry for at least 24 hours before you create your own mini spa in your tub.
It’s that easy!
Frequently asked questions about making DIY bath bombs
Before we get to the printable recipe card, here are some questions people often ask about DIY bath bomb recipes. If you don’t see your question in this list, please leave it in the comments.
How long do homemade bath bombs Last?
I’d say you’d want to use these DIY Bath bombs within about 6 months. I liked to keep mine stored in a moisture-free clear glass jar. You’ll need to be very careful to not get moisture or water on them, as that will start the fizzing process!
Is it cheaper to make or buy bath bombs?
This depends on who you are buying them from and what ingredients you use. If you use pure essential oils, it might be more expensive to make your own if you compare them to bombs with artificial fragrances.
The real reason to make your own bath bombs is to control the ingredients to make body-nourishing and safe bath products you can trust. Plus, it’s fun!
Can bath bombs grow mold?
Yes, bath bombs can grow mold if they are exposed to moisture. Wrap your unused bath bombs tightly in tinfoil or keep them in an airtight container, and they will last longer.
That’s a wrap on DIY bath bombs!
If you have yet to make or even experience a bath bomb, I definitely recommend giving it a try. I know some people get intimated by making homemade bath bombs, and they might take a little practice.
A few of them might fall apart at first, but once you nail it, you’ll see how fun they are to make!
DIY bath bombs make thoughtful gifts too. Add them to a homemade spa gift basket with a bottle of wine and a couple of candles for the ultimate treat. Give someone the gift of relaxation – they’ll love it!
If you like this DIY project, you may enjoy these too:
- DIY Beeswax Candles
- Homemade Felt Ball Coasters
- Tassel Garland DIY
- No-Sew Burlap Table Runner
- DIY Vertical Herb Garden
DIY Bath Bomb Recipe:
DIY Bath Bombs
Ingredients
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup citric acid
- 1/2 cup epsom salt
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- coloring pigment - optional
- 2 1/2 tablespoons almond oil - or melted coconut oil
- 3/4 tablespoon water
- 12-15 drops essential oil
- Bath bomb molds
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, mix together all of the dry ingredients. Add as much or as little color pigment to achieve desired look. Whisk to combine.
- In a separate small bowl, mix together the wet ingredients.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ones very slowly. (This is very important; otherwise you will activate the citric acid which is used to create the fizzing affect.) Mix until combined, and the ingredients look like wet sand.
- Fill each half of the mold, packing the mixture in slightly until it’s overflowing. Press the halves together firmly. Let the filled mold sit for one minute. Lightly tap the mold and gently pull it apart to remove the bath bomb. Let the bath bombs dry for 24 hours before enjoying in the tub.
This is a GREAT recipe and I have made them many, many times!!! Thank you so much for posting it!!!
I did make some modifications: First, no matter how slowly I combined the wet ingredients, it always fizzed so instead, I add the citric acid as the very last step after mixing the wet and other dry ingredients. Second, I found that the success of the molds holding their shape seemed to be related to the relative humidity in my area, so instead of water, I use witch hazel – in the humid summer I use all witch hazel and no water, and in the arid winter I use 1 part water to 2 parts witch hazel. Witch hazel has a strong scent, but I find that by the time it is mixed with the essential oils and the molds dry out, I cannot smell the witch hazel anymore. (And I have given many of these as gifts and received input that others, also, could not detect the witch hazel in the final product.) Third, I prefer jojoba oil so I use that instead of coconut oil, though I can attest that the coconut oil works well – that is just my personal preference.
Could you use eye shadow for the colour?
I don’t know. I haven’t tried that.
xo Michael
Amazing well done and I love it thats why I gave you 5 stars
I have a question and I’m not sure its been asked yet. What if I have a nut allergy (I cannot use coconut or almond oil) I have safflower oil. Would that work as well? Or olive oil? Let me know because I would love to be able to make this recipe!
I use jojoba oil instead of coconut oil and it works just fine! I’ve never tried safflower oil, but my sister uses olive oil in hers (a different recipe, though), and olive oil works for her as well.
We have a citrus allergy in our house. Is there anything we can use instead?
What a tutorial. Nice Job. Very good tutorial. i want to try it at the weekend. Thnkx
This is my first time trying bath bombs and the wet ingredients were not enough to make the dry ingredients like packed sand. I kept adding melted coconut oil and water until I had the right consistency but right before putting into molds the mixture became fizzy/bubbly and I think it’s ruined 😔
They look like they’d smell fantastic and look beautiful in the water! I absolutely love bath bombs, simply for the fizzing and the beautiful smell! I do prefer to make them myself because then I can use more quality essential oils which produce a better scent than store bought I think. I like to use lemongrass oil in mine as they smell absolutely fantastic. But I usually keep it at that with no other addition. I don’t even add any colorants as I don’t need it.
Nice post. 🙂
Total disaster without measurements listed!
That’s why I listed all of the measurements in the printable recipe card. You should have everything you need.
xo Michael
So many ads and beating around the bush, I didn’t even get to the recipe.
Hi there,
How many bath bombs can you make with the listed ingredients?
Dammit, I’ve never seen a fraction of a tablespoon done before so i read 3/4 tablespoons as 3 or 4… My mix messed up so bad!
This recipe is extremely amazing. I would love to try this.
Tried this recipe tonight. I’m so excited.
This is my first time making bathbombs. I have a helpful idea to share. So I ordered all ingredients to make bathbombs. I received everything but the molds & being to excited to wait for them to come in I racked my brain on what I could use. I pulled out my Easter 🐣 tubs & grabbed me some Easter eggs. Worked beautifully!!! Also you can get 18 plastic Easter eggs for 1.00 online. NO EXPENSIVE MOLDS NECESSARY!! I hope this helps.
I would love to post a picture if someone can tell me how to do that here 😂
Mine didn’t work! I don’t know what happened, I followed the instructions….they just keep expanding and bubbling even after 12 hrs.
Tried this and it did not work at all. It turns out the PRINTABLE directions do NOT include baking soda. So… yeah. If you could update those instructions, that’d be great. I basically wasted a whole batch of ingredients for nothing. The blog does have baking soda on the shopping list and the on screen instructions but not the printable.
Super sad. I may try these again but not a good first experience.
Sandra,
I’m so sorry to hear this. I double checked and the baking soda is included on the website and the printable recipe. I even tried printing the recipe myself and it’s there. (It’s slightly indented as the first ingredient, so maybe you missed it?)
Hope you have better luck with them next time.
Thanks!
Michael
If you save adding the dry citric acid until last (when the other wet and dry ingredients are already mixed) you will not have to go super slow to avoid fizz. There is not enough moisture in one place to activate it. You are welcome.
Homemade bath bombs are so tempting. I would like to add some Shea butter or other moisturizing ingredient. Any suggestions as to how to do that?
I tried adding the water to all of the dry ingredients EXCEPT the citric acid, then adding the oil and citric acid last of all. This has made a big difference; the bombs I made with that tweak don’t fizz too early and look/feel like store-bought ones.
I am not seeing this. How much of the wet and dry ingredients do we need? I don’t see measurements.
Thanks!!
Excited to try them!!
Kelly
The full “recipe” is towards the end of the post. 🙂
xo Michael