Bath bombs pack promises of bubbles, colors, and happiness in an otherwise routinely task. They’re great for infusing scents and fun during your bath time. Bath bombs can be bought from many places in many variations. However, if you want to customize your bath bombs, you might be interested in making yourself. Not only can you make bath bombs up to your liking, but it’s also very easy and straightforward. Its ingredients are usually found right in your cupboard, too!
Bath bombs are known to fizz very well once dipped into the water. Most of them contain citric acid and baking soda, which causes this reaction. Upon contact in water, they produce a reaction that releases carbon dioxide in the form of bubbles and fizzes.
Now, there can be instances that you can’t get citric acid. Citric acid is not a common thing to have in your home. Citric acid, as an acidic substance, might also be irritating to anyone with very sensitive skin. However, there are alternatives to citric acid which should give you a similar bath bomb experience.
Alternative Materials
Removing citric acid from the list of materials actually doesn’t change it very much. There are many common replacement materials for it: lemon juice, cream of tartar, and cornstarch are often used. Apple cider vinegar can also be used as a substitute. You should take note that using these ingredients will not produce the same fizzing reaction as a traditional bath bomb. Most of these will fizz less. However, these alternatives are still great if you simply want your bath bombs to fill your tub with scents and oils.
List of Materials
Lemon Juice Bath Bombs
- 2 cup baking soda
- 8 tbsp lemon juice
Cream of Tartar Bath Bombs
- 2 cups baking soda
- 1 cup cream of tartar
Apple Cider Vinegar Bath Bombs
- 2 cups baking powder
- 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Whatever kind of bath bomb you want to make, you will also need around 2-3 tbsp of coconut oil. You can also add around 1 cup of Epsom salt and cornstarch, although you do not really need it. You might also need to set aside a cup of water to help in getting that wet sand texture.
Of course, you will also need a rigid mold. Although silicone molds are commonly used, these bath bombs are very soft, so they might break once you pop them off. If you opt for silicone molds, you will have to be careful.
Optional additions may be essential oils, at most 2 tsp, and some sprinkles and flower petals. You can also use colorants for food or soap.
Step-by-step Procedure
- Mix all dry ingredients (not including the optional ones) in one bowl. Make sure that there are no lumps in the mixture.
- In a separate cup, mix all wet ingredients together. Add 1 tbsp of water for this step.
- Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, thoroughly mixing it as you add the wet ingredients. You can add the wet ingredients by tablespoon, then stirring the mixture. This is to make sure that the reaction caused by the ingredients do not trigger spontaneously. At this step, your goal is to produce a wet or damp sand texture on the mixture.
- You should know that your mixture is good enough. If you clump a handful, drop it down so it doesn’t crumble. You can add water as needed, by tablespoon, if the texture doesn’t stick well.
- If you want to add color to your bath bombs, you may do so at this step. Commonly, you prepare two bowls, each containing half of the mixture. On one bowl, add drops of colorant then mix it thoroughly until you achieve the color you want. Do the same for the other bowl but using a different color.
- Now, you will need to press your mixture into molds. Put the optional items, like sprinkles and petals, on the mold before the mixture. Put some of the mixtures into one half of your mold. Press them down then continue adding more of the mixture. Continue doing this until you fill the mold with the pressed mixture. This will make sure that the bath bomb sticks well. Repeat for the rest of the molds.
- You can opt to refrigerate the mixtures for around 5 hours or let it sit dry for a full day. After this, your bath bombs should be ready for use or packed as a gift!
Conclusion
Even without citric acid, you can still make bath bombs for your bath time. It might not have the fizz of the traditional ones, but it will sure still make your bath time a relaxing and enjoyable experience.