Relaxing Essential Oils & Bath Bomb Recipe (2024)

Bath bombs are all the rage. You can find them almost everywhere, and there’s even an entire store devoted to creating unique bath bombs. Both kids and adults love them! If you want to experience the joy of a bath bomb without any toxins, try our homemade bath bomb recipe that includes essential oils. You’re in for a treat!

Table of Contents

  1. 3 Dangers of Drugstore Bath Bombs
  2. How to Relax Naturally
  3. 9 Essential Oil Blends for Baths
  4. Best Natural Bath Ingredients
  5. Fantastic Bath Bomb Recipe

3 Dangers of Drugstore Bath Bombs

Before we dive into the three dangers of conventional bath bomb, here are three fun facts:

  • Bath bombs were created in 1989 by the co-founder of Lush cosmetics. (1)
  • Rumor has it that Alka-Seltzer inspired her to create a product that fizzes in the bathtub!
  • Bath bombs fizz because of a reaction between citric acid and baking soda.

Bath bombs have increased in popularity, and many brands have created their own version. You can find a bath bomb in nearly any color or scent! In my opinion, bath products are one of the first things you should swap for clean options. Toxins linger on the skin, and long, luxurious baths allow chemicals to have more time to enter your system. Here are just a few dangers of drugstore bath bombs compared to our safe, natural homemade bath bomb recipe.

1. Synthetic Fragrances and Dyes

Many bath bombs on the shelves contain synthetic fragrances and dyes. Companies don’t have to tell you just what chemicals they use in their scent, so you never get the complete picture. (2) The FDA believes that holding companies accountable in this area will reveal their “secret formula,” so manufacturers could be putting virtually anything in their products.

A central selling point of bath bombs is the brilliant shades they color your bathwater. These vivid colors are created with toxic dyes. While sitting in the tub, these dyes can easily be absorbed into your skin and bloodstream. (3) Synthetic dyes are connected to behavioral problems in children, among other issues. (4) One fun bath isn’t worth long-term consequences! Essential oils create a relaxing, luxurious aromatherapy experience without any adverse reactions.

2. Talc

Talc is a critical ingredient in most bath bombs because it helps soak up excess moisture and creates a firmer result. Talc has been linked to a heightened risk of ovarian cancer, especially if it’s allowed to flow freely around intimate areas. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has fully classified this ingredient as carcinogenic or, in simpler terms, something with the ability to cause cancer. (5)

3. Parabens

Parabens help preserve beauty products. Ironically, they do everything but preserve your endocrine system! You can find parabens in most women’s products, which is odd considering their harmful to a woman’s unique genetic makeup. Parabens are known to disrupt hormones and affect the reproductive system. They’ve also been found in women who have breast cancer, leading researchers to conclude they may affect your chances of getting cancer. (6)

How to Relax Naturally

I’m sure all of this information was enough to make you rethink your choice of bath products. Don’t worry; I’ve created an all-natural bath bomb you can use in place of your old stand-by. Bonus: You don’t have to give up the delightful fizz, scent, or color!

Our homes should be a place of shalom, or peace. After traveling, I always feel a sense of relief and comfort coming home. I know my home is a toxin-free haven and my sanctuary! My homemade bath bomb recipe is a large part of my relaxation routine. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your bath.

  • Purchase a Himalayan salt lamp! It gives your bathroom a cozy glow and is excellent for purifying the air.
  • Meditate on Scriptures that speak about anxiety and stress. Speaking God’s Word changes your mindset and can instantly boost your spirit.
  • Invest in a quality towel and washcloth set. There’s nothing better than drying off with a warm, fluffy towel.
  • Create a playlist just for soaking. I like listening to classical, worship, and jazz music. I also love Wholetones healing frequency music. The frequencies in these songs can help with insomnia, calm your mind, energize you, and so much more. They’re a staple in our home!

9 Essential Oil Blends for Baths

This DIY recipe calls for 45 drops of essential oils. You can customize the scent to your liking, but I highly recommend going with the relaxation theme. Here are some great essential oil blends that can help you chill out.

Favorite Blends:

  1. Joyful Blend – orange and vanilla in equal parts
  2. Valentine’s Blend – 3 parts Orange, 2 parts lavender and vanilla, 1 parts geranium
  3. Passion Blend – 3 parts lavender, 2 parts jasmine and patchouli, 1 parts sandalwood, orange, and ylang-ylang
  4. Focus Blend – equal parts Hawaiin sandalwood, Indian sandalwood, patchouli, frankincense, lime, ylang-ylang
  5. Get ‘er Done – equal parts peppermint, vetiver, frankincense, and orange
  6. Stink No More – equal parts peppermint and cilantro
  7. Fall Leaves – 2 parts frankincense, 1 part pine, and cedarwood
  8. Holy Night – 3 parts white fir and orange, 2 parts bergamot, 1 part peppermint
  9. Forever Young – 1 part frankincense, sandalwood, lavender, myrrh, and rose (optional)

Best Natural Bath Ingredients

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Besides ingredients, you’ll need a spray bottle and metal bath bomb molds to make this recipe. You may be surprised to learn that most of the ingredients in this DIY are on your grocery store shelf!

Epsom Salt: This ingredient is found in any big-box store’s medicine or bath product section. Epsom salt is full of magnesium, which helps the body detox. (7)

Cornstarch: Talc is out, but our bath bombs still need a thickening agent. Cornstarch is a great substitute, and it creates the perfect texture.

Baking Soda: Baking soda is a budget-friendly ingredient that helps the bath bombs to have just the right amount of fizz.

Citric Acid: While once hard to find, citric acid is now located near the canning supplies at your local grocery store. When combined with baking soda, it creates a science experiment-worthy reaction!

Essential Oils: Relaxing essential oils are the icing on the cake! They allow us to get creative with this recipe and create a memorable aromatherapy experience.

Almond Oil: This is a great natural moisturizer! I love using almond oil because it gives your skin a hydrated feel that’s not greasy.

Natural Food Coloring: I recommend using ColorKitchen’s brand of food coloring. Their vibrant colors come from turmeric, spirulina, and beets!

Fantastic Bath Bomb Recipe

This recipe is so much fun to make! This is a great recipe to involve kids in, so don’t be afraid to let them get their little hands messy.

Fantastic Bath Bomb Recipe

Author: Mama Z

Ingredients

Supplies:

Instructions

  1. Mix the Epsom salt, corn starch, baking soda, and citric acid in a large bowl.
  2. Add almond oil and essential oils and gently mix by hand. If you have sensitive skin, wear gloves during this step.
  3. Once the ingredients are combined, lightly mist with water from the spray bottle and mix. Do not add too much water all at once, or it will get too soggy - that's why I recommend using a spray bottle. You'll need to do this step several times until the mixture reaches a molding consistency.
  4. Stop adding water when the mixture holds together.
  5. Separate the mixture into smaller bowls, one for each color you plan on using. Add 5 drops of coloring, mix, and add more food coloring if needed.
  6. Respray a little mist to ensure hold.
  7. Press the mixture into your bath bomb mold. Overfill each side of your molds. This is the fun part! Get creative and mix some colors if you desire.
  8. Press your molds together until you hear a click.
  9. Remove the bath bombs from the mold and let set overnight before use.
  10. Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.
  11. Now time for a bath!

Notes

* We love using lavender and Roman chamomile for this recipe. Nice gentle, calming oils. We also like to use hormone-balancing oils like clary sage, geranium, ylang-ylang, and fennel. Another great blend is my Joyful blend – orange and vanilla. Any citrus would be great paired with vanilla.

Some essential oils are hot and would not be suitable for application on the skin like this, such as cinnamon or wintergreen. Others, such as lemongrass, have a lower dermal limit, so you'd want to use less than 45 drops. Also, remember when using an essential oil that causes photosensitivity, you should avoid being outdoors in sunlight for the next day. (14)

Step One: Whisk Dry Ingredients

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Whisk the Epsom salt, corn starch, baking soda, and citric acid in a large bowl.

Step Two: Add Oils

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Add the almond oil and essential oils and gently mix by hand. If you have sensitive skin, wear gloves during this step.

Safety Tip: Some essential oils, like cinnamon or wintergreen, are hot and unsuitable for application on the skin. Others, such as lemongrass, have a lower dermal limit, so you’d want to use less than 45 drops. Also, remember when using an essential oil that causes photosensitivity, you should avoid being outdoors in sunlight for the next day.

Step Three: Mist with Water

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Once your mixture is combined, using the spray bottle, lightly mist with water and mix. Don’t add too much water at once, or your mixture will be too watery. You will repeat this step a few times until you reach the right consistency.

Continue misting and mixing until your mixture holds together. Don’t add additional water once it reaches this point.

Step Four: Add Color

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Here comes the fun part! Divide the mixture into smaller bowls, one for each color you choose.

Start by adding five drops of coloring and gently mix. If your mixture is drying out, lightly spray and combine until it holds together again. Add more food coloring if needed.

Step Five: Fill the Molds

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Place the mixture in your bath bomb mold. Overfill each side of your molds. If you’re feeling extra creative, you can mix colors! Firmly close your molds until you hear a click. Remove the bath bombs from the mold and dry overnight before using them. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Use as needed!

References:

Relaxing Essential Oils & Bath Bomb Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What essential oils should not be used in bath bombs? ›

Some essential oils, like cinnamon and peppermint, aren't recommended for bath bombs because they can cause irritation.

What essential oils are safe to bathe in? ›

Several essential oils are approved by our in-house chemist for bath use when mixed in the proper dilution with a carrier oil including Chamomile (Roman), Clary Sage, Eucalyptus, Frankincense, Geranium, Grapefruit*, Jasmine Absolute, Lavender, Lemon*, Lemongrass, Lime*, Myrrh, Neroli, Orange*, Patchouli, Rose, Rosemary ...

What essential oils are safe for skin? ›

Conclusion. Essential oils can be a great addition to any skin care routine. They are natural, safe, and can provide many benefits for skin health. Tea tree oil, lavender oil, rosehip oil, geranium oil, and frankincense oil are all great choices for skin care.

What is the purpose of coconut oil in bath bombs? ›

Thanks to a cupful of coconut oil and aromatic essential oil, your skin soaks up mega moisture and your senses are treated to a sweet escape.

What does rose essential oil do in bath bombs? ›

Whether you want to relax and reduce stress, a bath bomb with roses will help nourish and moisturize the skin. It will also help you enjoy the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy.

How do you add scent to a bath bomb? ›

The best way to add fragrance to your bombs is to use fragrance oils or essential oils. Essential oils are extracted from plants.

How much fragrance oil to add to a bath bomb? ›

We recommend no more than 20ml per 1KG of mixture of fragrance oil, a few drops of colour will be enough to begin with. Make sure there isn't too much liquid, or your dry mixture will just fizz.. Make sure there isn't too much liquid, or your dry mixture will just fizz.

What is the best coconut oil for bath bombs? ›

Choose 92 Degree Coconut Oil For:

Higher melting point oils are great options if your product (like the lip balm we talked about earlier) needs to be less sensitive to fluctuations in temperature. This coconut oil is best for: Whipped body butters. Bath bombs.

Can I use soap fragrance oil in bath bombs? ›

You can use either fragrance oils or essential oils in bath bombs (To learn how to blend and use essential oils safely, please Click Here to read our guide. Unlike in cold process soap, your choice of fragrance or essential oil does not affect the process of making bath bombs very much.

What's the best essential oil for a bath? ›

For a dreamy bath oil combination, try mixing ylang-ylang with lavender, rose, or sandalwood. With clary sage oil added to your bath, you'll instantly feel your layers of tension melt away. Try it after a stressful day at the office. Clary sage pairs well with orange, lavender, geranium, and sandalwood.

What binds bath bombs together? ›

Bath bombs also tend to include food coloring and a binding agent that keeps the ingredients packed together in the molded shape. Often this is some type of oil, or other ingredient like witch hazel, isopropyl alcohol, or water.

What is the most important ingredient in bath bombs? ›

Two of the key ingredients to a bath bomb are citric acid and sodium bicarbonate. You might also know sodium bicarbonate by its more common name, baking soda. These two ingredients are what cause the impressive and delightful fizz when the bath bomb enters the water.

Can you mix essential oils in bath? ›

Essential oils are not water-soluble, so they won't disperse into the water in your tub. Instead, they float on top and stick to your skin, which might be irritating. It's better to mix them with a carrier oil to dilute them. Jojoba and coconut oil are two popular carrier oils.

References

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