ONE: Combine the 16 oz of citric acid and 32 oz baking soda in a large bowl and mix well. Use your fingers to break up any clumps.
TWO: Once the mixture is smooth, add a heaping scoop of the red mica and mix well until you have a soft pink color. Again, you can use your hands if you prefer.
THREE: Once the color is mixed in, add your fragrance oil.
Tip: Make sure there are no clumps in your mixture. Clumps can result in wart like protrusions on your bath fizzy. Not attractive.
FOUR: Spritz with witch hazel until the mixture seems like it is staying together when you squeeze a handful in the palm of your hands (about 5 or 6 spritzes). Is it saying together? Then you’re ready for the mold.
FIVE: Fill each half of the mondo mold and pack the mixture as tight as you can. Then sprinkle on a little extra and place the second half of the mold on top. Squeeze the two halves together as hard as you can. If they are not packed hard enough, they could crack when drying. Trust me, it’s very disappointing.
SIX: Let the mixture rest in the mold for about 30 seconds then carefully slide it out of the mold onto a flat surface. Let it dry, undisturbed. You’ll be tempted to poke it, hold it or move it. Please don’t mess with it until it’s fully hardened, you’ll thank me later. This recipe yields 5 bath bombs.
Hi! I was wondering why some bath bomb recipes call for Borax and/or cornstarch to the mix. I decided to ask the experts, so I turned to Ann Marie. What exactly adds the Borax or the cornstarch to the bathbomb mix???? I guess it´s not absolutely necessary to add them and most basic bathbomb recipes don´t call for borax or cornstarch.
P.S. I am a regular reader of your blog ans twitter, a big fan. You can also find me at Twitter @nopuedoconeso. Thanks!
We’ve never used Borax in our bath bombs before. It isn’t necessary, but many people use it as a economical filler in their fizzies. If you are wanting to add something that will give you a similar feel, I’d suggest adding Cornstarch to your bath bombs as it adds a silky feel to the water. I hope that helps!
-Becky with Bramble Berry
whats a mondo bath bomb?
Hi Roxie!
A mondo bath bomb is just one that is larger then your typical bath bombs. The mold actually holds a bath bomb up to 7.5 ounces! 🙂
-Becky with Bramble Berry
Stainless Steel Bath Bomb Mold: https://www.brambleberry.com/Stainless-Steel-Bath-Bomb-Mold-2-pieces-P4670.aspx
I tried making these bombs on Monday and I seemed to have trouble getting the two sections to stick together. Then when I set them on the tin foil to dry they cracked and became misshapen because of their weight. What sort of clays can I use to make them more stable? When do you add the clay to the mix?
If the sections aren’t sticking together, the product is either too dry (entirely possible if they’re also crumbling) or you’re not pushing hard enough (also possible if your product is crumbly).
I use Bentonite Clay and add it with the Dry Citric Acid.
https://www.brambleberry.com/Bentonite-Clay-P4059.aspx
I hope this helps – that clay will help with structure and support =)
thanks courtney ,i thought i was doing someting wrong ,have you any idea what ingrediant makes the lush ones float ,could it be epson salts they put in ???
Hi Joanne! I actually was just talking to to Anne-Marie about your question and she gave us some advice. If you pack the bath bombs really lightly they will float. However, it’s really tough to get bath bombs to stick together if they are packed lightly so it’s a little bit of a double edged sword. And yes, you can add salts to bath bombs. The finer the better (so epson would be perfect). I hope this helps!
Courtney from BB
ive been makeing bath bombs lately but they just sink to the bottom of the tub and bubble where am i going wrong why arnt they floating around at the top,pls help xxx
These mondo bath bombs are too big to float. And generally speaking, bath bombs are not meant to float (unless they’re pretty small).
Courtney from BB
Every large commercial bath bomb I’ve ever bought floated. It is disappointing when you try to make your own and can’t mimic this. I have wondered if the commercial companies have technology to process them differently, like if they could aerate them somehow, or maybe use machines that somehow make a lighter mixture stick together.
It could also be different ingredients or extra additives in their bath bombs. We generally try to make our bath bombs with as simple ingredients as we can that will still give you a skin-loving moisturizing bath! =)
-Becky with Bramble Berry
I love Witch Hazel! It works fantastic for a wetting agent.
I always use witch hazel when I make my bath bombs. My customers love them.
Little pimples is usually from moisture – it’s usually from fragrance or
essential oil moisture – but it can also come from the air. Next time, make
sure there are no showers, dishwashers or running water in the house and
that the area that you make the bath fizzies in is as dry as it can be. It
might be the humidity/rain in Oregon right now. Being right next door in
Washington, I know we’re super wet and moist around here right now…
I used this recipe and the Bombs came out almost perfect! they are keeping their shape and stuck together with no problem but the thing that is happening are these lil pimples forming on them… I made sure to sift it really good so I dont know if I over sifted or what. and it only did it on the half that I left out. The side I left in the mold to dry is as smooth as a babies bottom. Is it my climate? Oregon or do I need to change my methods? any Ideas?
Sadly, the water starts the fizzing reaction early. The Witch Hazel smell dissipates pretty quickly and you shouldn’t be able to smell it after the fizzies are hard. =)
Witch hazel has an awful smell that overpowers the fragrance of the bombs. Will plain water work?
Just too much moisture or not enough stirring and mixing – try again, use a little less moisture and mix more. That should solve it =)
So I made my first batch of bath bombs and something didn’t go so right.
I got a bunch of bumps or pockets on them. So, I proceeded to push them back in and then over time they “grew” like the dickens. I wonder what went wrong?
Thanks so much for all you do Anne-Marie! 🙂
Yay! I’m delighted you tried the bath fizzies. They are totally fun and usable even if they’re not in the shape that you’d like.
Yes, the bath fizzy mixture can take off finger polish. It acts like a baking soda ‘scouring’ mixture (the same thing you’d use to cleaning grout or tile) so keeping your fingers pretty does use gloves.
I don’t much notice the dust but yes, a mask is definitely a good thing to use if you have sensitivities. It’s all food grade product so though it is irritating, it is not harmful to you.
Making bath fizzies is an art and like many crafts, doesn’t turn out perfect the first time. You’ll be bath bomb pro’s in no time with a few more practice tries =)
Definitely! You can use half of it and it will work just the same =)
I’ve been using these metal molds for a few weeks now and love them! Any thoughts on carrying a smaller 5 ounce version?
Thanks so much!
Layla
Of course, that makes total sense! I was thinking the soap stamps that BB carries and didn’t even remember the other stamping idea. That concept is just like this one here:
http://soap-queen.blogspot.com…
What a great tutorial…I am about to start making my own bath and body products; your tutorial will help me a LOT 🙂
I didnt think a stamp would work either, but you mentioned using one in the first paragraph along with other possibilities so I thought I’d ask?
I don’t see a stamp working on this – anything that has a stamp in it is probably an actual design that is custom molded into the mold. =)
Aw thanks Joanna! You are so sweet and nice to say that. It’s awesome of you to pop in with your suggestions because you’ve been in the trenches. I totally agree – start small! =)
thanks Anne-Marie. Glad to know I can make them in my plastic ball molds since I have so many of them!!! Yes I do pack them in tight too, when I get done my hand hurts I pack them so tight!!!
Thanks
Jan
thank you Anne Marie, I’ll remember!
Jan
And yes, you can totally cut this recipe in half. Just remember the key ratio of 1 part citric acid to 2 parts baking soda.
Yes, this recipe will work in your plastic ball mold. Just remember to pack them in tight!
Hi Anne Marie
Being out of work right now I’m trying to save as many as my ingredients as I can. Can this receipe be cut in half and still work the same? I really love this and want to make it.
thanks
Jan
I have made bath bombs before and thank God never had a problem. Will this receipe work in a plastic ball too? Thats what I have been making them in and they come out fine.
Thanks
Jan
I love, love love this tutorial A-M! I do have one question though, at what point would you use a stamp? And how? I keep visualizing my stamp and mallet and the fizzy crumbling.
oh! I have a trick if your bomb cracks directly in the center where the two halves meet when they are all dry and “cured”, you can rub your finger along the crack over and over until the bomb sort of fills in the crack.** Depending on the size of the crack, it disappears!
**trick doesn’t always work.
I have made these and they are fun, but a slight challenge. If you haven’t made bath bombs before, I’d definitely suggest starting with the smaller ones first because these require more muscle and focus (at least it did for me!) 😛
Now! Taking a bath with one of these bombs is a serious luxury. It goes on and on and on. No need to over scent this one because it fizzes forever.
Just my thoughts and experiences I felt I needed to insert as a b+b maker and user. Love ya, Anne-Marie!! Thanks for continuing to keep this going and making it fun every day. 😀
Joanna
1-2% – it’s not much. About a teaspoon in a 32 oz. batch.
For me? I like a 5 oz. size. The 10 oz. mondo bombs are SO big that I usually break ’em up and use them in parts but it’s definitely a personal preference thing. A lot of Lush’s bath fizzies are quite large, more the 10 oz. size than 5, and they do sell through a lot of them. =)
hi! Great post! I have a question about fizzies… how much is enough for a regular size bath tub filled with water? 3 oz, 5 oz, 10 oz? Thanks for your help! 🙂
That is a wonderful tip on using the clay Anne-Marie – thank you 😀
How much clay do you suggest? I’ve made bath bombs before and find it’s hit or miss. Sometimes they work great and other times they crack on me. My recipes is a bit different from yours though so I’ll see how yours works.
If your big bath bombs crack under their own weight, try adding clay to help improve their structural integrity and make the fizzies stronger. =)
Oh wow, I think you’re going to LOVE using witch hazel. It makes hard bombs that don’t start to fizz on you if you use too much liquid. =)) Let me know what you think.
Anne-Marie…you are amazing!
Thanks for this post..I have been in bath bomb exploratory mode for about 2 weeks now!
Great tutorial! I’ve tried making bath bombs before but they were a) in plastic moulds which cracked over time and b) made with water rather than witch hazel to hold them together. Might try your recipe!
xxx