Bath truffles are a great way to add skin-loving oils to your bath water and your body. Bath truffles are made with more oils or butter than the typical bath bomb, but still produce plenty of fizz. Made with shea oil, cocoa butter and Creamsicle Cybilla Fragrance Oil, these Orange Creamsicle Bath Truffles smell absolutely delicious. Inspired by a classic creamsicle ice cream treat, they are easy to make and fun to use. They do pack a powerful punch of skin-loving oils which can (and does) leave your tub oily so be careful when exiting the tub!
When you’re ready to use, place the bath truffle into the bath and allow to melt and fizz in the tub. The oil and butter will soon appear in the tub water, giving the skin hydration and moisture. Because of the extra oil, bath truffles do make the tub slippery, so be careful when stepping out of the tub. I also keep a washcloth nearby so I can wipe down the tub (really, it is *that* luxuriously moisturizing) after I’m done bathing to clean it up right then and there. If you’d like another recipe for bath truffles, check out this Soap Queen TV video.
What You’ll Need:
24 oz. Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
12 oz. Citric Acid
3.5 oz. Shea Oil
2 oz. Cocoa Butter
5 mL Creamsicle Fragrance Oil
Coral Orange LaBomb Colorant
Disk Mold and Package, Plastic (10 molds)
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ONE: In a large bowl, mix together the baking soda and citric acid. Use your hands to break up any clumps.
TWO: In a heat safe container, combine the cocoa butter and shea oil. Melt in the microwave using 30 second bursts. Be careful when removing the container from the microwave, it will be hot.
THREE: Pour the melted oil and butter into the baking soda and citric acid mixture. Using your hands, mix together until the liquid is fully incorporated with the dry ingredients.
FOUR: Add the Creamsicle Fragrance Oil, and use your hands or a spatula to fully incorporate.
FIVE: Split the bath truffle mixture into two equal containers. To one, add drops of the Coral Orange LaBomb Colorant, and begin incorporating the colorant in with your hands. Continue adding drops of the colorant until you have reached a pale orange color.
SIX: Fill half of the mold with the orange bath truffle mixture, pressing the mixture down to become smooth and compact in the mold. Fill the empty half of the mold with the white mixture and press down to fill the mold completely.
SEVEN: Press the mixtures down firmly to ensure the two colors connect to create one disk. Smooth the top with your fingers, and place the cap on top. To use, place the bath truffle into the tub, and allow to fizz and fill the tub with luxurious oil and butter. You may find that half of one truffle is plenty for your tub!
Have you tried a bath truffle before? They leave your skin feeling so silky smooth, and there is no need to put on moisturizer after your bath.
- 24 oz. Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
- 12 oz. Citric Acid
- 3.5 oz. Shea Oil
- 2 oz. Cocoa Butter
- 5 mL Creamsicle Fragrance Oil
- Coral Orange LaBomb Colorant
- Disk Mold and Package, Plastic (10 molds)
- In a large bowl, mix together the baking soda and citric acid. Use your hands to break up any clumps.
- In a heat safe container, combine the cocoa butter and shea oil. Melt in the microwave using 30 second bursts. Be careful when removing the container from the microwave, it will be hot.
- Pour the melted oil and butter into the baking soda and citric acid mixture. Using your hands, mix together until the liquid is fully incorporated with the dry ingredients.
- Add the Creamsicle Fragrance Oil, and use your hands or spatula to full incorporate.
- Split the bath truffle mixture into two equal containers. To one, add drops of the Coral Orange LaBomb Colorant, and begin incorporating the colorant in with your hands. Continue adding drops of the colorant until you have reached a pale orange color.
- Fill half of the mold with the orange bath truffle mixture, pressing the mixture down to become smooth and compact in the mold. Fill the empty half of the mold with the white mixture and press down to fill the mold completely.
- Press the mixtures down firmly to ensure the two colors connect to create one disk. Smooth the top with your fingers, and place the cap on top. To use, place the bath truffle into the tub, and allow to fizz and fill the tub with luxurious oil and butter. You may find that half of one truffle is plenty for your tub!
Isn’t this GIF fun? Rainbows and unicorns go hand-in-hand! Lookout tomorrow for a cold process recipe tomorrow inspired by the color yellow.
Hi! I was wondering if I use Shea butter instead of the Shea oil, would I use the same amount?
I would recommend starting with about 2 ounces of shea butter. Because shea butter is solid at room temperature and shea oil is liquid, the solid shea will affect the consistency a bit. So, you can start with the 2 ounces and squeeze the mixture in your hand. If you want more moisture, you can add more shea from there. 🙂
Shea butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
If I wanted to use cocoa powder as the colorant how much and when should I add to the recipe? Thank u!!
You can use cocoa powder as the colorant in this recipe! It will also add a subtle chocolate scent to the truffles.
I would recommend starting out with about 1/4 tsp. of cocoa powder. If you want it a bit darker, you can add more from there. Also, to make it a bit easier to incorporate, you can mix the cocoa powder with the fragrance oil before adding it to the mix. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank u they turned out great! I used vanilla and cherry fragrance oil and called them chocolate cover strawberry bath bombs. With the cocoa powder and cocoa butter it really smells good enough to eat! My husband grabbed one and I had to tell him they Were NOT edible lol
Yum, that sounds amazing! I bet they feel really great too (definitely better than they taste!) 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I do not have the disk molds yet, am I able to use an ice cube tray? Or just hand shape them? What could I use? Thank u!!
Hi Amanda!
You can use any plastic or silicone mold you have on hand! Plastic or silicone are best because they are flexible enough to unmold the bath truffles. So, you can use an ice cube tray if you like, or small tupperware containers. Make sure to pack the truffle in tightly so it holds its shape. We didn’t test those out, so a small test truffle would be a good idea. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I have a silly question..how would you package the truffles? With them containing oils/butter, would they more likely to melt or “sweat” if in a cellophane or plastic type wrap? Again my apologies if my logic is off.
Hi Chetara!
The great news about these molds is that they double as packaging as well! So, you can pop the lid on and store them that way. 🙂
They store best in a cool, dry environment. That will help prevent the butters in the recipe from sweating at all. If you like, you can wrap them tightly and plastic wrap and pop them back in the molds. Either way will work fine!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Could I use Bentonite Clay in place of Kaolin Clay in your Natural Lavender Bath Truffle?
You can! Bentonite clay adds a nice silky feeling to handmade products. We didn’t test that recipe with bentonite clay, so I would recommend making a small test batch with the bentonite clay to see what you think. 🙂
Bentonite clay: https://www.brambleberry.com/Bentonite-Clay-P4059.aspx
Making Bath Truffles on Soap Queen TV: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/bath-fizzies/making-bath-truffles-on-soap-queen-tv/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can I use refined deodorized shea butter verses shea butter oil in this recipe?
Hi Jamie!
You can definitely use shea butter in this recipe if you like! It’s nice and moisturizing and would feel great in the tub.
The shea butter is solid, while the oil is liquid, so overall the bath truffles may be a bit more firm. I would recommend making a small test batch to check the texture with the substitution. 🙂
Shea butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I just made these and did 2 batches. Both had exactly the same weighted ingredients but one was more wet than a regular bath bomb (which I am to assume is normal), but the second batch was way more wet. Any ideas why?? I’m worried these won’t unmold and stick together come tomorrow. I’m in a dry climate and no humidity today.
Hi Jennifer!
Hmm! I wonder if temperature played a role. Both shea butter and cocoa butter are very temperature sensitive. If the oils were hotter the second time, they would be more liquid-y and more “wet.” If this is the case, they should still harden up just fine once the butters cool :). I would just give them a full 24 hours to harden and remove. I hope this helps!
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
Should this harden like a bath bomb? There is quite a bit of give, like soft fondant. I placed them in the disk molds you sell, and placed the lid on. Should I let them air dry without the lid or are these a lost cause at this point?
I think I fixed them 🙂 I added some SLSA, Kaolin Clay to dry it out a little and Polysorbate 80 which brought it to a great consistency to hold it’s shape in and out of the mold and still be a tad pliable. The look so much better and smell fantastic! I used cranberry fig for a pink color and vanilla for the white portion.
Yay, I’m happy to hear that Jennifer! You did exactly what I was going to suggest…add more dry ingredients :). I’m so glad they worked out for you!
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
Hey there,
I just tried this recipe with Polysorbate 80 and I would like to troubleshoot a little.
I quartered the original recipe and added 18 grams of the polysorbate to the melted butter and oil. I used Sweet Almond oil instead of Shea oil (out of shea oil). I also used a silicone mold with about 1 1/2 squares for the trial run.
I made the mixture last night and this afternoon I tried unmolding them so they could dry better but some parts stuck to the inside of the mold. How long do I need to let it sit in the mold and how long does it take for them to dry a bit?
The other thing was last night I used a bit of some of the bath truffle mixture to see what it looked like in the water. It foamed as expected and made the water look milky. There wasn’t any oil floating to the top because of the polysorbate, which is what I am wanting. But it didn’t feel moisturizing enough? Like when I rubbed my fingers together there was drag and almost a squeaky clean feel, I was hoping for a slightly oil, moisturized feel but not an oil slick either.
Did I use too much polysorbate 80? If so, how much do you recommend me to use for the second trial run? Would it be better to try a heavier oil with the polysorbate at 18 grams? Or to use the lighter oil and use less polysorbate 80?
Hi Alura!
We didn’t test Polysorbate 80 in this recipe, so I’m not 100% sure! It may take a little bit more tinkering on your part to get your perfect recipe. 🙂
With the original recipes, we left them overnight and were able to unmold them. We used them right away, or wrapped them up for later use. We didn’t notice any residue in the molds. I’m thinking it may help to decrease the Polysorbate 80 amount. You may try halving the amount at first and adjusting from there. That may help your skin feel more moisturized, and may help the truffles unmold a little more easily.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Polysorbate 80: https://www.brambleberry.com/Polysorbate-80-P4438.aspx
Hi guys, I LOVE this recipe. My 13 year old daughter tried one (she has severe eczema)and she can’t believe how much it softened her skin. She says these and bath bombs are bath toys for adults.
On an aside, I made her a bubble bar and followed the recipe exactly (we use a scale) and for 3 days it was beautiful but after noticed deep, huge cracks, so I’ve made it again-this time wrapping half at the 3 day mark to see how it faired and both the wrapped and unwrapped still have the same deep cracks.
Did I do something wrong?
Hi Jenny!
So glad you love the recipe, and I’m glad to hear your daughter’s skin is feeling soft!
Cracks can form for several reasons, including the recipe being too wet and expanding, being too dry and cracking, or not packed into the mold tightly. Can you tell me a bit more about your recipe, including the consistency? For instance, did it hold together in your palm when you squeezed it? Let me know and we’ll get this figured out. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hey there,
I am wanting to make this recipe with an emulsifier to help reduce the oil residue on the tub. I am wanting to be able to gift some of these to my mother because she loves the Lush bath melts. I’m concerned that these will leave her tub too slippery and make it hard for her to get out of the tub.
In a previous response someone asked about using polysorbate 80 and you said ” It’s recommended to use at about 6% or below in your recipe. I would recommend making a small test batch first to see what you think! In the meantime, we can definitely look into creating a bath bomb recipe with polysorbate 80 :)” Exactly how much would 6% be for this recipe? Like 1 oz or 1 teaspoon? I am completely new to anything like this but would love to be able to make these a bit safer for use.
Would a different emulsifier be better to use instead of polysorbate 80? If so, which one and exactly how much should I use for this recipe? 1 Teaspoon or .5 oz?
Also for future reference, when you say 6%, is that just for the oils or the whole recipe including the basking soda etc. Do you also a calculator I could use to find out the exact amount of emulsifier to use for future recipes ?
Hi Alura!
The 6% refers to the weight of the recipe. So, if you add Polysorbate at 6%, that would mean it makes up 6% of the total weight of your recipe, including oils, baking soda and citric acid.
To find the percentage, add the rest of the ingredients up. For this recipe, that total weight is 41.5 ounces. Then, to make it easy, I type in “6% of 41.5 ounces” in a search engine. That gives you 70 grams, or 2.5 ounces. 🙂
Also, I think Polysorbate 80 would work the best in this recipe. However, we didn’t test it so I’m not entirely sure! I think a small test batch would be very helpful.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Made this tonite with wonderful results! Very easy to follow recipe (I did it by weight) and my whole kitchen smells great! Of course, I couldn’t wait to try them out! I have dry skin (especially on my heels) and am sensitive too–this bath truffle performed great and my skin feels wonderful! The dry skin on my heels is noticeably softened. Anne-Marie is right when she cautions about the tub being slick–that’s a lot of oil! I kept a spare towel nearby and cleaned it right afterwards. I am very happy with how they turned out and can see taking a bath with them once a week. Thank you BB and A-M!
Hi Patti!
That’s awesome, I’m so glad you like the recipe Patti! When I was testing them out I could definitely feel a difference on my skin. Also, I agree, I just love the Creamsicle Cybilla Fragrance Oil. 🙂
Have fun using them in your bath each week!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hello! I’ve seen that some recipes call for rubbing alcohol vs witch hazel to moisten the mixture. Is that okay or not?
Hi Jill!
We have tried using isopropyl alcohol to moisten bath fizzies with not so great results. We found that the fizzies fell apart or had cracks when we used alcohol.
I definitely recommend using witch hazel. It helps your fizzies stay together nicely and prevents any cracking. 🙂
Sunday Night Spotlight: Witch Hazel: http://www.soapqueen.com/bramble-berry-news/sunday-night-spotlight-witch-hazel/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Since citric acid is similar to ascorbic acid can I use it instead? ( I have a couple pounds of the ascorbic acid)
Hi Shari!
We haven’t tried this recipe with absorbic acid, so I’m not entirely sure! I did a quick internet search and it looks like absorbic acid and citric acid are similar, but not the same thing. From what I understand, absorbic acid is the chemical name for vitamin C, while citric acid is not a vitamin.
I would recommend making a small test batch with the absorbic acid to see if it gives you the nice fizzing action! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi,
Yesterday I tried this recipe with essential oil and french pink clay. To get the right consistency I used witch Hazel and then allowed it to set it in silicone molds. I left it dry and after sometime it started oozing out and over flown out of the mold. What would have gone wrong? Please help…
Hi Haritha!
It sounds like those bath bombs may have started to go off prematurely! If you live in a humid climate, the bath fizzy can react to the moisture in the air.
To prevent that, you can run a fan over your bath bombs as they cool. You can also use a dehumidifier. Then, once they’re dry, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap to protect them from moisture. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can Polysorbate 20 or 80 be added to this to reduce the amount oil left over in the tub? As I understand it, both of them (greater advantage with P.-80) help emulsify the oils with water, Please correct me if I am wrong 😉 Thanks!
Hi Christina!
That’s a great idea! While polysorbate 20 and 80 were not tested in this particular recipe, polysorbate 80 can be used as a wetting agent in bath bomb recipes in order to prolong fizzing and help eliminate some of the leftover oil. It’s recommended to use at about 6% or below in your recipe. I would recommend making a small test batch first to see what you think! In the meantime, we can definitely look into creating a bath bomb recipe with polysorbate 80 🙂
Polysorbate 80:
https://www.brambleberry.com/Polysorbate-80-P4438.aspx
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
This looks great! Two questions! First, are the ingredients by weight or volume? (I’m a newbie!) Second, can I sub another oil (like sweet almond) for the Shea Oil? Thank you!!
Hi Sarah!
So glad you like the recipe! This recipe is measured by weight. We feel that’s a more accurate way to measure ingredients. 🙂
A Guide to Weight vs. Volume: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/a-guide-to-weight-vs-volume/
Also, you can substitute sweet almond oil! Any lightweight moisturizing oil would work well for this recipe. 🙂
Sweet almond oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sweet-Almond-Oil-P3205.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can I use the round bath bomb molds for this mixture?
Hi Madiecakes!
Absolutely! Those molds would work great for this recipe. After you take the top off, I would recommend leaving the bottom part on for about 15-30 minutes. That way it has time to set up and will slide off easily. 🙂
Stainless Steel Bath Bomb Mold: https://www.brambleberry.com/Stainless-Steel-Bath-Bomb-Mold-2-pieces-P4670.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I am just ordering supplies to make these orange creamsicle truffles. Can you tell me how to store/package them? How long do you leave them in the mold?
Thanks!
MT
Hi Mary Therese!
The great thing about these molds is they double as packaging as well! You can just pop the top on and store or give them away.
Disk Mold and Package, Plastic: https://www.brambleberry.com/Disk-Mold-Package-Plastic-P5914.aspx?ItemId=36534825&Options=9272
If you plan to use the truffles right away, I would recommend letting them harden and set up overnight. Then, crumble them into your tub. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I am really new to soap making Do I have to wait for a trace when using the the melt in pour or do I use just the kit that you sell. Please don’t laugh I really new don’t want to make a lot of mistakes because it will discourage me and I will have to find something else to do in my spare time thanks.
Hi Frederica!
No worries! Soaping is very complex and we are happy to answer any questions you may have. 🙂
Because melt and pour has already turned into soap, it doesn’t need to be stick blended. All you have to do is melt it, add color and fragrance and pour into molds. We have some great resources on melt and pour, including how-to videos, that may be helpful for you. I’ll include a link below.
Beginning Soaper Resource Roundup: http://www.soapqueen.com/bramble-berry-news/beginning-soaper-resource-roundup/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi,
Is there any alternative for witch Hazel?
Hi Haritha!
We’ve found that witch hazel is the best ingredient for holding the bath bombs together without causing them to go off prematurely. However, you can also add extra cocoa butter and shea oil to this recipe. The moisture from the oils helps hold the bath bomb ingredients together. It also adds some extra moisturization for your skin! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I’ve used the sweet truffle recipe many times. I love it and so do my customers! I’m looking forward to trying this recipe as I have several of the disk molds and was looking for a fun way to use them.
I had one question. Do you think this recipe will work if I use 6 oz. of SLSa and 6 oz. of citric acid instead of the full 12 oz. of citric acid? I’m assuming it would, but wanted to get your opinion.
Hi Christian!
So glad you like the truffle recipe! I love the way it feels in the tub. 🙂
Also, we would recommend using a 2:1 ratio of baking soda and citric acid. Then, you can add the same amount of SLSA as the citric acid. We’ve found that gives us the best bubbles!
SLSA: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sodium-Lauryl-Sulfoacetate-SLSA-P5244.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Just wondering, how come this recipe didn’t call for witch hazel? Isn’t it a must for bath bombs/ bath truffles?
Hi Sherwin!
That’s a great question! The added shea oil and cocoa butter make this truffle nice and moist, meaning it doesn’t need witch hazel to help it stick together. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi,
I tried this recipe. When i removed from the mold, it product broke and became powder. I followed the same recipe which is mentioned. What would have gone wrong?
Hi Haritha!
Oh no, I’m sorry about that! Depending on your climate, these bars can be a little drier. Because we live in humid Washington state, the bars we made were moist and held together. If yours are on the drier side, you can add a bit more cocoa butter and shea oil. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can I sprinkle some water to make it little damp before putting in to the mold?
Hi Haritha!
Water can actually cause those fizzies to go off prematurely, so I wouldn’t recommend adding water. You can use witch hazel to help them clump together though!
Witch hazel: https://www.brambleberry.com/Witch-Hazel-P4212.aspx
Squish the mixture together in your hand. If it clumps together, it’s ready to go into the mold! If not, spritz with witch hazel, mix together and try again. Repeat this process until that mixture sticks together. You can see an example of the desired consistency in the Lavender and Clay Mondo Bath Fizzy post: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/bath-fizzies/lavender-clay-mondo-bath-fizzy/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Is there any substitute for witch hazel?
Hi Haritha!
We have found that witch hazel works best for holding the bath bombs together without setting them off prematurely. Adding more cocoa butter and shea oil will help these truffles stick together as well. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Sounds yummy! I am curious, why use shea oil instead of shea butter though. I have seen similar recipes, but they have used cocoa and shea butters. It seems like using a liquid oil would make the truffles really oily on the outside, or would the powders absorb it? Just trying to figure that out before I try it!! Thanks!
Hi LuAnn!
We love the moisturization properties and silky feeling that shea oil adds to the recipe! We found that the powders absorb the oil and they don’t feel oily. You can use shea butter if you like though!
The recipe will be a little firmer, so it may help to make a small test batch to see if you like the consistency. 🙂
Shea butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Shea-Butter-P3220.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Finally! I’ve been looking for a bath truffle recipe to try but I haven’t found anyone with a recipe to share! I’ve also been looking to use up my 2 oz bottle of creamsicle fragrance.
Hi there!
That works out perfectly! Have fun making and enjoying the truffles. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry