Are you in the “yea” pumpkin spice camp, or the “nay” pumpkin spice camp? While I understand the desire to hang onto summer, I’m in the “YAY!” pumpkin spice category. I just love the change of seasons and crafting with fall-inspired scents. If you’re ready to celebrate fall, these Pumpkin Spice Latte Bubble Bath Bombs are the perfect way to do so. Why just drink a Pumpkin Spice Latte when you can bathe in one? Or better yet, maybe drink one while taking a bath! đ
These bath bombs have a lot of amazing things going on. They contain a small amount of Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate – SLSA in addition to the typical baking soda and citric acid mixture. The SLSA creates some bubbles in the bath in addition to fizz. If you prefer just fizz, leave out the SLSA and replace with more baking soda. Coffee butter adds a hint of coffee scent and skin-nurturing properties to the water. But wait, there’s more! Powdered Goat Milk is also in the recipe to give bath water milky properties. To help the coffee butter and the powdered colorants incorporate better in the water, I added Polysorbate 80 which can be omitted if you prefer.
What You’ll Need:
About 10-12Â Bath Bomb Mold & Package
3 1/2 cups Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
1/2 cup Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate – SLSA
2 cups Citric Acid
3 Tbs. Powdered Goat Milk
2 oz. Coffee Butter
6 mL Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil
5 mL Espresso Fragrance Oil
11 mL Polysorbate 80
Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
Sunset Orange Mica
Witch Hazel in Spray Bottle
3 Droppers
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ONE: In a large bowl, mix together 3 1/2 cups of baking soda, 2 cups of citric acid, 1/2 cup SLSA and 3 tablespoons of powdered goat milk. If there are any clumps in the mixture, you can push the powder through a sifter or break up the clumps with your fingers. Citric acid has a tendency to take off nail polish, so wear gloves to protect your manicure. SLSA is extremely powdery, so make sure you are in a well-ventilated room when adding it into the mixture. You may choose to wear a dust mask to prevent sneezing!
TWO: In a small heat safe container, add the 2 ounces of coffee butter. Place in the microwave and heat using 15-20 second bursts. Once completely melted, add the Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil, Espresso Fragrance Oil and Polysorbate 80. Use a spoon to thoroughly combine.
THREE: Pour the butter mixture into the dry ingredients. Use a spatula or your hands to thoroughly combine. I find it’s much easier to use your hands! =)
FOUR: Once all the ingredients are completely mixed, split them into three even-ish containers – it’s okay to eyeball it! I did find that I needed a little bit more of the white bath bomb mixture. If you use the same color pattern shown here, you may want to make one container slightly larger for the uncolored mixture. Just an extra handful or two of bath bomb mixture should do the trick!
FIVE: To one of the smaller containers, add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and use your hands or a spoon to completely mix in. To another container, add 1/4 teaspoon of Sunset Orange Mica and use a spoon or your hands to fully mix in. Leave the other (slightly larger) container uncolored.
SIX: Begin spritzing each container with witch hazel, while mixing with your hands or a spatula. Continue spritzing until the mixture is a texture that holds its shape when squeezed. I recommend spritzing each container from lightest to darkest (white, orange, brown) so you don’t mix the colors together. Below, you can see that the mixture forms a ball when squeezed. This means that the mixture will hold its shape in the mold as well.
SEVEN: Place several coffee beans into the center of one of the bath bomb molds. Then, place a small amount of white bath bomb mixture on top until the mold is about half full, and gently press with your fingers. Feel free to use any color order you’d like; I just liked this one best. =)
EIGHT: Cover the white mixture with brown bath bomb mixture, and firmly press to condense. Set aside.
NINE: Place a small amount of the orange bath bomb mixture into the opposite half of the bath bomb mold, until it’s about half full. Then, place more white bath bomb mixture on top and firmly press the mixture into the mold.
TEN: Add a little extra bath bomb mixture into each half, but don’t press it down. Slightly overfilling with “loose” bath bomb mixture helps the two sides to stick together better. Match up the eyelets of each mold, and press together. To avoid any imperfections on your bath bomb, make sure to direct pressure to the edges of the mold rather than the center. Allow the bath fizzies to harden in the mold for 24 hours. Remove from the mold once you’re ready to use, place in the tub and enjoy!
Note: Because these bath bombs contain powdered goat milk that has a shelf life of about 2 months, these bath bombs also have a shelf life of about 2 months and should be used within that time frame.Â
Here is an example of how these bath bombs react once introduced to water- check out the fizz and bubbles!
- About 12 Bath Bomb Mold & Package
- 3½ cups Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
- ½ cup Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate â SLSA
- 2 cups Citric Acid
- 3 Tbs. Powdered Goat Milk
- 2 oz. Coffee Butter
- 6 mL Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil
- 5 mL Espresso Fragrance Oil
- 11 mL Polysorbate 80
- Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder
- Sunset Orange Mica
- Witch Hazel in Spray Bottle
- 3 Droppers
- In a large bowl, mix together 3½ cups of baking soda, 2 cups of citric acid, ½ cup SLSA and 3 tablespoons of powdered goat milk. If there are any clumps in the mixture, you can push the powder through a sifter or break up the clumps with your fingers. Citric acid has a tendency to take off nail polish, so wear gloves to protect your manicure. SLSA is extremely powdery, so make sure you are in a well-ventilated room when adding it into the mixture. You may choose to wear a surgical mask to prevent sneezing!
- In a small heat safe container, add the 2 ounces of coffee butter. Place in the microwave and heat using 15-20 second bursts. Once completely melted, add the Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil, Espresso Fragrance Oil and Polysorbate 80. Use a spoon to thoroughly combine.
- Pour the butter mixture into the dry ingredients. Use a spatula or your hands to thoroughly combine. I find itâs much easier to use your hands! =)
- Once all the ingredients are completely mixed, split them into three even-ish containers. I did find that I needed a little bit more of the white bath bomb mixture. If you use the same color pattern shown here, you may want to make one container slightly larger for the uncolored mixture. Just an extra handful or two of bath bomb mixture should do the trick!
- To one of the smaller containers, add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder and use your hands or a spoon to completely mix in. To another container, add ¼ teaspoon of Sunset Orange Mica and use a spoon or your hands to fully mix in. Leave the other slightly larger container uncolored.
- Begin spritzing each container with witch hazel, while mixing with your hands or a spatula. Continue spritzing until the mixture is a texture that holds its shape when squeezed. I recommend spritzing each container from lightest to darkest (white, orange, brown) so you donât mix the colors together. Below, you can see that the mixture forms a ball when squeezed. This means that the mixture will hold its shape in the mold as well.
- Place several coffee beans into the center of one of the bath bomb molds. Then, place a small amount of white bath bomb mixture on top until the mold is about half full, and gently press with your fingers. Feel free to use any color order youâd like; I just liked this one best. =)
- Cover the white mixture with brown bath bomb mixture, and firmly press to condense. Set aside.
- Place a small amount of the orange bath bomb mixture into the opposite half of the bath bomb mold, until itâs about half full. Then, place more white bath bomb mixture on top and firmly press the mixture into the mold.
- Add a little extra bath bomb mixture into each half, but donât press it down. Slightly overfilling with âlooseâ bath bomb mixture helps the two sides to stick together better. Match the eyelets of each side up, and press together. To avoid any imperfections on your bath bomb, make sure to direct pressure to the edges of the mold rather than the center. Allow the bath fizzies to harden in the mold for 24 hours. Remove from the mold once you're ready to use, place in the tub and enjoy!
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Can Poly 20 be used in place of poly 80?
Polysorbate 20 is typically used when you’re emulsifying lighter fragrances. Because this recipe has coffee butter, the polysorbate 80 works better.
You can make a small test batch with polysorbate 20 to see if it gets the butter emulsified: https://www.brambleberry.com/Polysorbate-20-P3212.aspx
Hi there!
I was wondering if I have some leftover in a batch and not enough molds could I still use the batch the next day when the mold is free or will it dry up? âş
Bath bombs mold best when they’re freshly made – the next day they’ll probably be a bit too dry. You can put the leftovers in whatever plastic mold you have on hand, or bag up the loose powder. The powder still fizzies nicely, and you can use it as a tester or sell it as is.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
do you use unscented witch hazel? i’ve been using Humphrey’s and it overpowers the FO smell.
is it ok to use this one
I would recommend using that witch hazel because it’s water based. When you add it to the bath bombs they will react with the water and start to fizz. Instead, I’d recommend unscented witch hazel mixed with alcohol, like the one sold on our website: https://www.brambleberry.com/Witch-Hazel-P4212.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hello Kelsey,
Awesome recipe! Can I substitute SCI (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate aka babyfoam) for SLSA?
Thank you!
Donna
We haven’t tried SCI, so I’m not entirely sure! You may want to make a small test batch to see how it performs. The manufacturer may know more as well. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you!
Hello!
This recipe looks AMAZING and I was debating trying it out, but I had a quick question. Since the vallilan content in the fragrance oil is so high, do I have to worry about the bath bombs browning at all?
Thanks!
In soap, vanilla will always cause discoloration. However, it’s a bit more inconsistent in bath bombs. We noticed a few stayed this color, while a few did get a bit darker. The nice thing about this design is the browish tint fits perfectly with the color scheme! If you’re not a fan of that discoloration, you can use a vanilla-free fragrance to be extra careful. đ
Vanilla-free fragrances: https://www.brambleberry.com/Clear-Vanilla-Free-C491.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can I use lemon butter instead of coffe butter?
We haven’t tried that butter, but I think it would be OK! I would recommend making a small test batch to see what you think. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hello, would it be ok or a no go to add cinnamon powder for color and fragrance naturally to this? I’m concerned bc I know cinnamon can be sensitive oil wise but I’m not sure about the powder. Imy pretty sure people have used it in cp soap though I’m jot sure at what usage rate so I’m not sure at what amount to even guess here. Or could I try pumpkin pie spice? Thank you for your time and expertise.
Cinnamon can be an irritant on the skin, so we don’t recommend it in this recipe. The Pumpkin Spice Fragrance Oil does have some spicy notes, so it does give that authentic pumpkin spice feel. If you want to give the look of cinnamon, you can sprinkle in a little Cappuccino Mica! đ
Cappuccino Mica: https://www.brambleberry.com/Cappuccino-Mica-P3067.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you very Much! Not to self on not using cinnamon. Great idea.
You’re welcome! đ
Can I grind the coffee down instead? Or do you think it will loose it’s appeal.
You can use ground coffee to decorate the top if you like! I would recommend making a bath bomb with the grounds and testing it out. The ground coffee will float around in the tub so you can see if that’s OK with you. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can i keave the SLS out? I don’t have any. I was also thinking of using Argan oil and cocoa butter. What do you think? Guess i can just try it and see what happens….
You can use argan and cocoa butter and leave the SLSA out if you like! The bath bombs won’t bubble without SLSA, but they will fizz. With less powder in the recipe, you may need less oil/witch hazel to wet it. I would recommend melting the cocoa butter and mixing in the argan oil. Then, add that in small sections until your bath bomb mixture holds together when squeezed. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Argan oil: https://www.brambleberry.com/Argan-Oil-P5574.aspx
Cocoa butter: https://www.brambleberry.com/Organic-Cocoa-Butter-Cubes-P6365.aspx
If I swap out the goat milk powder and add a kaolin clay, do I need to make any other changes to the recipe? Also, because I won’t be using the goat milk powder, how long will the shelf life be?
I do not have a mold for these that could be used as packaging. Would little plastic bags work if I tied the tops?
The kaolin clay can make the recipe a bit more dry, so you may need a few more spritzes of witch hazel! If the mixture doesn’t hold together when squeezed, add a few sprays of witch hazel and mix until it holds together. Without goat milk, these bath bombs should last about 6 months to a year. Make sure to wrap them tightly with plastic wrap and store in a cool, dry place. Then, you can wrap them anyway you like! Plastic bags would look really cute. đ
Read more about storing handmade products here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
For this recipe how much kaolin clay would I use?
Could i substitute the goats milk for something like kaolin clay
You can use kaolin clay in this recipe! It helps make the bath bombs more sturdy. It may make the mixture a bit more dry than the goat milk powder, so make sure to squeeze the mixture in your hand before molding. If it stays together, you can pop it in the molds. If not, spritz 1-2 times with witch hazel, mix and test again. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I have plenty of success using the plastic molds, but I cannot seem to get them to come out in silicone molds. No matter what I try, they crumble. How can I fix this?
Hi Courtney!
Silicone molds don’t allow a lot of airflow. That means they won’t dry as easily and can crumble. I would recommend adding a few drops of cyclomethicone to the mold beforehand. Swirl that around and drain the excess on a paper towel. The cyclomethicone can help the bath bombs unmold more easily: https://www.brambleberry.com/Cyclomethicone-P4560.aspx
It can also help to add clay to your bath bombs! Clay adds structure to the bath bombs and makes them a bit more sturdy. That may help when it comes to unmolding. We recommend about 1 tablespoon per cup of fizzy mixture. Kaolin clay is a great option.
Kaolin clay: https://www.brambleberry.com/Kaolin-Clay-P3235.aspx
If you’re still not having luck, you may want to switch to plastic or stainless steel. We’ve found they work well for bath bombs. đ
Stainless Steel Bath Bomb Molds: https://www.brambleberry.com/Stainless-Steel-Bath-Bomb-Mold-2-pieces-P4670.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Do you think piercing the silicone molds with tiny pinholes might help air circulation in them? I have a mold that I can only find in silicone. I’ve only tried one (unsuccessful) batch of bombs in them so far, but if airflow is the issue, perhaps that would help…
To be honest, I’m not quite sure! The pinholes may help with airflow. You may try plastic or stainless steel molds instead. Because silicone is so flexible, it can be tough to pack the bath bombs in really tightly. The advantage with plastic and stainless steel is that they can be packed tightly so your bath bomb holds its shape, and they allow that airflow. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I am using a stainless steel ball two piece set for the mold. I only have one mold, and I need to remove each bomb after I make it. Will I be able to do that without having to worry about letting them harden inside the mold. I was wondering if I can let them harden on a foam pad.
Hi Maria!
A foam pad should work well! If they’re set on a hard surface they may flatten a little. A nice soft surface like foam or bubble wrap should be a nice cushion. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I use bubble wrap on a soft towel and it works great, no flat spots.
I wan’t to change this recipe into percentages, as I’m not looking to make 12 of these, but I can’t because the coffee butter was done by weight and everything else was by volume. How do I go about figuring this out by percentage?
Hi Erin!
That is a tricky one. I would recommend converting the cups to fluid ounces, then figuring out the percentage that way. The measurements may be a bit off, so I would recommend a small test batch. You may also try using parts! That may be an easier way to downsize the recipe. Learn how to do that in the Soapy Math post: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/math-soapers/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I tried making these and they wont stick together what so ever. I spritz with witch hazel and it hold after the spritz. but once it the mold it becomes powder again and just wont hold. PLEASE HELP!!!
I am beyond my patient level đ
I’m sorry about that Cassandra! Do you live in a fairly dry environment, or a fairly humid one? How much witch hazel are you using? Let me know and I’ll help you troubleshoot. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
well I live on Long Island NY so it can get humid. But I have never had issues with making bath bombs with a normal round mold. but in the mold I am using it doesn’t want to dry up or harden up enough to be taken out of the mold. I am not using to much witch hazel cause when squeezed the product stay together. just not in the mold
Are those bath bombs immediately falling apart after unmolding, or after a few days? How long are you letting the bath bombs sit before trying to unmold? Thanks for answering my questions!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Immediately falling apart after unmolding they dont hold shape at all. I left it over night in the mold, I tried “baking,” I tried freezing.
When they fell apart did they feel pretty dry, or more wet? I have some ideas about what may be happening!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Well I got it moist and put it in the mold and when i took it out it seemed to be super dry and crumbled to pieces. I tried the recipe again and it hardened up well. well enough that i thought it wouldnt crumble when unmolded and feel to pieces again but the inside was moist and the outside was hard.
Hi Cassandra!
Because the inside was still moist, it sounds like there might be too much witch hazel. I would also let it stay in the mold for a little bit longer. One day is usually enough, but if the bath bomb is too moist, it can take longer to dry and harden, especially when in a mold that is completely closed like these :).
-Amanda with Bramble Berry
I want to thank you two for helping me out! i actually got it to work out this evening!!!! no crumbling what so ever.
Yay that’s awesome, glad to hear that! đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I made these for the first time last night. I swapped out the coffee butter for equal parts cocoa butter and avocado butter and used organic powdered coconut milk for the goats milk. I had to play around with the best way to get the mix to work in the mold. I found the white wouldn’t stick the two together. I am curious if the coffee butter is softer than the oils that I used. I am going to try to use a liquid oil in my next batch to see if that makes a difference.
The fizz isn’t like that of the foot bombs. It starts to fizz and then a lovely luxurious bubble/lather erupts. I’m not sure how much of a fizz this is supposed to have.
Thank you,
Stacey
Hi Stacey!
Coffee butter is quite a bit softer than cocoa butter. It’s great for this recipe because it helps wet the bath bombs and help them stick. Liquid oil works as well, as does a few more spritzes of witch hazel! Also, because of the SLSA in this recipe, it will fizz and bubble really nicely. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hi Kelsey,
Thanks for your reply. I remade them with argan oil and added kaolin clay. They came out great! I also just used the metal molds and it was much easier than the plastic ones with this batch.
Thanks again!
Stacey
That’s awesome, glad to hear that Stacey! Enjoy. They feel so luxurious in the tub. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I made these the other night. They smell delicious. I changed out the Goat’s Milk powder for Coconut Milk Powder and didn’t use the Espresso FO. The issue I have is after two days they are still sticky and soft. What would cause this and will they dry eventually?
Do you live in a fairly humid environment? If so, the bath bombs may be absorbing moisture from the air, which makes them softer. I would recommend running a fan over them or using a dehumidifier. You can also place rice or silica packets nearby. That will help absorb excess moisture so they firm up. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I’m glad this recipe includes usage of polysorbate 80, I never know how to use it! I don’t have much luck using the plastic molds as packaging so I just use them as molds and wrap my bombs in plastic, they work really well for multiple uses.
Polysorbate 80 is great for bath bombs! It helps the oil and color mix into the bath water rather than floating on top. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I bet this smells amazing!
It smells so yummy! The only problem is I start craving coffee whenever I use one in the tub. đ
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry