If you have ever visited a bath products store, you have probably seen fizzy bath bombs. When added to bath water, these effervescent wonders release hundreds of bubbles along with the benefits of any extra skin-pampering ingredients. They have become popular in recent years for adults and children alike and make wonderful gifts or simple treats for yourself. What you may not know about bath bombs is that, although stores charge a high price for them, they are cheap and easy to make at home. If you would like to jazz up your next bath or create a novel present for loved ones, try creating fizzy bath bombs.
Ingredients
The basic items you will need to make bath bombs are all available at the super market or natural health store. These include cornstarch, baking soda, light vegetable oil, and citric acid powder. You probably have the first three in your cupboards already, but you may not be familiar with citric acid. It is most commonly used in cooking and canning, and for these purposes, it is more often called sour salt. Citric acid prolongs the life of canned goods, turns milk into cottage cheese, and is a key ingredient in sour candies. In the case of bath bombs, the citric acid is responsible for creating the fizzing effect. You are most likely to find a coarser grain of this product if you buy it in the canning department, so grind it with a mortar and pestle. This way, you will achieve optimum fizz and will have less trouble molding the bombs.
Recipe
Once you have assembled your ingredients, you can begin making your bath bombs. The following recipe will make about a dozen medium size bombs, but you can alter the recipe depending on your needs. Keep in mind that if you make more than you can use right away, you can store the extras away in plastic wrap. In this way, they will keep virtually forever. Start by mixing together four tablespoons of cornstarch, a half of a cup of baking soda, and four tablespoons of finely ground citric acid powder in a clean dry bowl. Next, pour in the oil and thoroughly mix everything until you reach a consistency like bread dough. Although any oil will work, popular choices include sunflower oil for its high vitamin content, olive oil for its skin nourishing properties, and almond oil for its pleasant fragrance and softening abilities. When everything is combined, roll the dough into twelve evenly sized balls and place them on wax paper or plastic wrap to dry. After two days, they bath bombs will be ready to use.
Scents
Although a bath bomb is delightful in its plainest state, adding fragrance will make it doubly enjoyable. Just combine your scent of choice along with the oil to give your bombs a delicious aroma. If you like, you can use common kitchen items like vanilla extract, lemon juice, or peppermint extract to scent your bomb. Just remember to add the contents of a vitamin E capsule for every two bombs to preserve ingredients prone to spoilage. Alternately, you may wish to choose a fragrance oil specifically designed for bath products. Many online stores offer such scents, which range from knock-offs of designer perfumes and bath products to food types like cinnamon bun and warm apple pie. You can find these providers by doing an internet search under "bath and beauty fragrances." A third option for bath bomb scenting is to use essential oils, which are concentrated plant extracts reputed for their emotional and cosmetic benefits. Check your local health food store for delightful choices like lavender, chamomile, and rosemary.
Colors
Like fragrance, color enhances the relaxing effect of bath bombs. Many hobby crafters enjoy choosing colors that compliment the scent of their products. If you do, the simplest method is to add two drops of food coloring to your batch. Remember that if too much is used, it could tint your skin, so use sparingly. On the other hand, there are cosmetic-grade colorants especially designed for bath products available online. A quick search will yield dozens of shops that sell them for reasonable prices and in a wide array of colors.
Extras
As a final personal touch, you can add extra ingredients to your fizzy bath bombs to achieve specific results. Common favorites are sea salts and Epsom salts, both of which are reputed to tone and purify the skin. A half to whole teaspoon of either is sufficient per batch of bombs. If you are interested in giving bath bombs as gifts, you can also add glitter or mica pigments, both of which will make the bath water shimmer after the fizz has died out. As your talents expand, you can include a tablespoon of your favorite herb (ground into a powder). Oatmeal, rose petals, and hops are great choices, but any others that you like will work just as well.
Bath bombs are easy to make and a perfect way to spice up bath time for the young and old alike. Keep them for yourself or give them as gifts. You can package your bathing treasures simply with plastic wrap and a bow, or try arranging several in a decorative basket with loofahs and soaps. They make an ideal present for any occasion and can be appreciated by anyone. While you may want to keep these fizzing bombs to yourself, they are so simple and inexpensive to make that you can afford to share with everyone.
