The formula for bath bombs is pretty simple. A little baking soda, a dash of citric acid, a few spritzes of witch hazel – that’s all you need for a good bath bomb. But adding special touches set your recipe apart. These Rose Gold Bath Bombs illustrate what a few simple ingredients can do.
What You’ll Need:
10 Disk Mold & Packages
2 cups Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
1 cup Citric Acid
1 cup Extra Small Pink Sea Salt
3 oz. Coarse Pink Sea Salt
¼ tsp. Rose Gold Mica
3 oz. Coconut Oil
9 mL Rose Quartz Fragrance Oil
0.3 oz. Polysorbate 80
Dropper
Witch Hazel in Spray Bottle
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ONE: Mix the coarse pink sea salt with Rose Gold Mica. Add a small amount of the salt to the bottom of the bath bomb molds and set aside.
TIP: Don’t add too much salt to the bottom of the molds, or a large majority of it will fall off when the bath bomb is removed from the mold.
TWO: Sift together the baking soda and citric acid. Add the extra small pink sea salt and mix to fully incorporate.
THREE: Add the remaining coarse pink sea salt to dry the ingredients. Mix in thoroughly.
FOUR: Melt the coconut oil in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts. In a separate fragrance oil-safe container, mix together the coconut oil, Rose Quartz Fragrance Oil, and polysorbate 80.
FIVE: Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture. Use your hands to fully mix together all the ingredients.
SIX: The perfect bath bomb texture is similar to damp sand, and holds its shape when squeezed in your hand. To achieve this texture, spritz the mixture with witch hazel with one hand and mix with your other hand. How much witch hazel you add will depend on your climate.
SEVEN: Once it’s the correct texture, add the mixture into the bath bomb molds. Press the mixture firmly and use your hands to smooth the back. Fill up each mold and allow the bath bombs to harden for at least 3-4 hours, up to overnight. Remove from the molds and enjoy!
- 10 Disk Mold & Packages
- 2 cups Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
- 1 cup Citric Acid
- 1 cup Extra Small Pink Sea Salt
- 3 oz. Coarse Pink Sea Salt
- ¼ tsp. Rose Gold Mica
- 3 oz. Coconut Oil
- 9 mL Rose Quartz Fragrance Oil
- 0.3 oz. Polysorbate 80
- Dropper
- Witch Hazel in Spray Bottle
- Mix the coarse pink sea salt with Rose Gold Mica. Add a small amount of the salt to the bottom of the bath bomb molds and set aside. TIP: Don't add too much salt to the bottom of the molds, or a large majority of it will fall off when the bath bomb is removed from the mold.
- Sift together the baking soda and citric acid. Add the extra small pink sea salt and mix to fully incorporate.
- Add the remaining coarse pink sea salt to dry the ingredients. Mix in thoroughly.
- Melt the coconut oil in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts. In a separate fragrance oil-safe container, mix together the coconut oil, Rose Quartz Fragrance Oil, and polysorbate 80.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture. Use your hands to fully mix together all the ingredients.
- The perfect bath bomb texture is similar to damp sand, and holds its shape when squeezed in your hand. To achieve this texture, spritz the mixture with witch hazel with one hand and mix with your other hand. How much witch hazel you add will depend on your climate.
- Once it's the correct texture, add the mixture into the bath bomb molds. Press the mixture firmly and use your hands to smooth the back. Fill up each mold and allow the bath bombs to harden for at least 3-4 hours, up to overnight. Remove from the molds and enjoy!
Hi! I wanted to try to add Cocomidopropyl Betaine to make these float, how much do you recommend adding?
We haven’t ever tried that with that particular ingredient but if that tends to float in water I would recommend trying about 1/8 of the total amount of citric acid to start.
A couple of questions: Could you make these in the round metal mold? And could you use English Rose fragrance oil instead?
The bath bomb mixture would definitely work in the Stainless Steel Bath Bomb Molds. Though the decorative salt may not turn out quite the same or stick quite as easily. To give it a try I would recommend springly some of the salt in one half of the metal both then press your bath bomb mixture nito that as hard as you can, then adding the other half.
Stainless Steel Bath Bomb Molds: https://www.brambleberry.com/Stainless-Steel-Bath-Bomb-Mold-2-pieces-P4670.aspx
You could also try dipping part of the bath bomb in the salt like we did in this Crystal Bath Bomb Recipe: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/diy-crystal-bath-bombs/
You can definitely use a different fragrance oil in this recipe instead, like the English Rose FO.
https://www.brambleberry.com/English-Rose-Fragrance-Oil-P3860.aspx
Can Polysorbate 80 be replaced with SLSA to make in the same amounts? I’m not using oils aside from essential oils. So I’m thinking I can forego Polysorbate 80?? Thanks in advance for any advice!
You can leave out the Polysorbate 80. Just keep in mind that if you are using any colorants they will most likely float on the surface of the bathwater, as well as any oils used since the Polysorbate helps emulsify them. SLSA would not be a replacement for Polysorbate 80. SLSA will help add more bubbles but it will not help emulsify.
Polysorbate 80: https://www.brambleberry.com/Polysorbate-80-P4438.aspx
Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate (SLSA): https://www.brambleberry.com/Sodium-Lauryl-Sulfoacetate-SLSA-P5244.aspx
hi
I love this bath bomb, and so my client ,but I want to know is how to make them not to hard and dry up.
Eventually the bath bombs will dry and harden. Are yours powdery or falling apart?
I’m sorry I didn’t make it clear,
I own a nail salon and I used this bath bomb for the service during the valentine season, it come out the mold perfectly, but now I would love to used this recipe again in loose powder version, which of those liquid make it hard up.
many thank
To keep the bath bombs as a loose powder, you can skip the witch hazel. It’s what wets the bath bombs so they hold the shape. Just pour the ingredients here into a bowl, mix, and spoon into jars.
Hi, I’ve tried to make this and I left it for 2 nights. And I successfully took those from a silicon mold, but when i grab the bath bomb, it breaks easily. What did I do wrong?
Does it feel dry and powdery, or more soft and wet?
What would cause my bath bombs to expand and look like muffins in the mold? Possibly they were too wet? Please help!
Thank you
Ellen F
Yes, usually that happens when they’re too wet or if they absorb moisture from the air. Did you add any water to the mix? Is it pretty humid where you are?
I figured that is what it was. I did not add water but I did add witch hazel. It is fairly humid where I live.
Once your bath bombs are dry, I’d recommend wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap before placing them back in the molds. That acts as an extra layer to protect against moisture in the air. Then, store those molds in a cool, dry place. If you have a fan or a dehumidifier, you can use that on the bath bombs to keep them dry.
I am new at making these products. i attempted this recipe but even after waiting 2 hours, they crumbled in my hand. they could not be picked up!! what did i do wrong?
Was the mixture dry and powdery, or more wet and crumbly?
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
wet and crumbly. did i not let them dry long enough?
They may need a bit more time to dry. You can leave them overnight in a cool, dry place and they should harden then. You can run a fan over them or use a dehumidifier to speed that process up a bit.
They may also be a bit too wet. What did the consistency feel like when you made it?
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
how long can bath fuzzies last before being used?
Once the fizzies are dry and hard, they’re ready to use. That takes a few hours or up to overnight. They work best when used within 3-6 months and stored in a cool, dry place. Learn more about storing bath bombs here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
This is a wonderful recipe! The Rose Quartz fragrance is Devine. Thanks Anne-Marie and Brambleberry!
You’re welcome Lisa, glad you like it. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
You are the best ever!
Thank you so much.
Thanks Anwar!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hello! Newbie here with a couple questions! What is the best substitute for coconut oil? I’m not a huge fan of its scent. I’ve tried melting down avocado butter but it quickly clumped in the dry ingredients. I have some grapeseed oil but worry it would make the tub too slick.
Also, if I do decide to stick with coconut oil, is fractionated coconut oil substituted equally?
Thanks so much for these tutorials!
Grapeseed oil would work well, along with any liquid oil like avocado, fractionated coconut oil, or sweet almond. You can use them at the same amount as the coconut oil. They help wet the bath bombs and moisturize the skin, and the Polysorbate 80 is an emulsifier that helps the oil mix in with the water so the tub isn’t as slippery.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Grapeseed oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Grapeseed-Oil-P6029.aspx
Sweet almond oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sweet-Almond-Oil-P3205.aspx
Fractionated coconut oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/CaprylicCapric-Triglycerides-Fractionated-Coconut-Oil-P4957.aspx
Avocado oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Avocado-Oil-P3198.aspx
Thank you!
Could emulsifying wax be used in place of the polysorbate 80?
We don’t recommend wax because it will change the texture of the bath bombs. It can make them chunky or waxy. Polysorbate 80 works best.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi,
These look so sophisticated. I’d prefer to use essential oils, how do you alter the recipe? For example with Rose Geranium.
Cheers,
Kate
You don’t need to alter any of the other ingredients, just leave the Rose Quartz Fragrance Oil out. Then, when you add the liquids, start with a few mL of rose geranium. Keep adding mL until you like the way it smells. This recipe is a great base that you can customize with your favorite scents and colors.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi, I have a question about the poly80. We have tried hard NOT to use chemicals in our products, but it seems everyone is using this chemical in bath bombs to help disperse the oils and colorants even though the research on this chemical is less than stellar. Is there anything out there that does the same thing without using any of the polysorbates?
We haven’t found another product that helps disperse oil and color as well as Polysorbate 80. However, you can leave out the oil in the bath bombs and use La Bomb Colorants. They’re dispersed in glycerin so they mix easily into the tub and you don’t have to worry about a lot of oil pooling on top.
La Bomb Colorants: https://www.brambleberry.com/For-Bath-Bombs-C50.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
These are so pretty!
Thanks Teri, glad you like them. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry