Inspired by the crescent moon, these moon bath bombs feature plenty of sparkle and sultry scent. The dark purple hue is created with Plum Dusk Mica and Queen’s Purple Mica, with a touch of Fine Iridescent Glitter. Coconut oil gives the bath bombs shape and firmness, while polysorbate 80 helps disperse the oil and micas in the bath water.
Once the bath bombs completely harden, they are removed from the mold. A combination of Gold Sparkle Mica and 99% isopropyl alcohol create a “mica paint” that is used for the crescent moon shape. Check out our trick for creating a crisp and even moon shape below!
Because these bath bombs contain quite a bit of mica and sparkle, they may leave behind some color on your tub. Mica clings on to dirt and grime on the tub, so giving your bath a quick wipe down before use will help prevent this. The polysorbate 80 also helps the mica disperse throughout the water rather than pooling on top. We don’t recommend skipping the polysorbate 80 for this recipe.
What You’ll Need:
7-8 Disk Mold & Packages
2 cups Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
1 cup Citric Acid
2 oz. Coconut Oil
0.2 oz. (about 9 mL) Polysorbate 80
9 mL Bramble Berry’s Alien Type Fragrance Oil
1 tsp. Queen’s Purple Mica
1 tsp. Plum Dusk Mica
1/2 tsp. Fine Iridescent Glitter
1 tsp. Gold Sparkle Mica
Witch Hazel in Spray Bottle
99% Isopropyl Alcohol
Dropper
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ONE: Melt the coconut oil in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts. Pour 2 ounces of coconut oil, 9 mL of the Bramble Berry’s Alien Type Fragrance Oil, and 9 mL of polysorbate 80 into a small, fragrance oil-safe container. Use a spoon to fully mix the ingredients together.
TWO: In a large bowl, mix together the baking soda and citric acid. To get rid of clumps in the mixture, you can push the powders through a sifter or break them up with your fingers. Citric acid has a tendency to take off nail polish, so wear gloves to protect your manicure. Thoroughly stir the ingredients together. Add the Plum Dusk Mica, Queen’s Purple Mica, and Fine Iridescent Glitter to the powders and stir to incorporate.
THREE: Add the oil mixture to the powder mixture. Use your hands to fully mix the ingredients together.
FOUR: Test the consistency of the bath bomb mixture. The perfect consistency for molding is a texture similar to damp sand that holds its shape when squeezed. If it’s too dry, use one hand to spritz the mixture with witch hazel and one to mix. Continue spritzing until the mixture holds its shape when squeezed. 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.
FIVE: Fill the Disk Mold and Packages with the bath bomb mixture. Firmly compact the mixture into the mold to create a solid shape. Only fill each mold to the inner lip, or the lid will not close shut. Allow the bath bombs to dry and harden for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. If unmolded too quickly, they may fall apart.
SIX: Once the bath bombs are completely dry and hard, remove them from the molds. Mix 1 tsp. Gold Sparkle Mica with 1 Tbsp. 99% isopropyl alcohol to create a “mica paint.” Place the bottom of mold on top of the bath bomb to create a crescent moon shape and paint on the gold. If you find the mica paint is bleeding, add more mica to thicken. If it’s too thick, add a bit more 99% isopropyl alcohol to thin.
SEVEN: Continue this process with each bath bomb. Allow the paint to fully dry. The painted moons on top of the bath bombs will transfer mica when touched, so handle carefully. To use, place the bath bombs into a hot bath and enjoy!
NOTE: Because these bath bombs contain quite a bit of dark mica, they may leave behind some color on your tub. Mica clings on to dirt and grime on the tub, so giving your bath a quick wipe down before use will help prevent this. The polysorbate 80 also helps the mica disperse throughout the water rather than pooling on top.
- 7-8 Disk Mold & Package
- 2 cups Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
- 1 cup Citric Acid
- 2 oz. Coconut Oil
- 0.2 oz. (about 9 mL) Polysorbate 80
- 9 mL Bramble Berry’s Alien Type Fragrance Oil
- 1 tsp. Queen’s Purple Mica
- 1 tsp. Plum Dusk Mica
- ½ tsp. Fine Iridescent Glitter
- 1 tsp. Gold Sparkle Mica
- Witch Hazel in Spray Bottle
- 99% Isoproyl Alcohol
- Dropper
- Melt the coconut oil in the microwave using 30-60 second bursts. Pour 2 ounces of coconut oil, 9 mL of the Bramble Berry's Alien Type Fragrance Oil, and 9 mL of polysorbate 80 into a small, fragrance oil-safe container. Use a spoon to fully mix the ingredients together.
- In a large bowl, mix together the baking soda and citric acid. To get rid of clumps in the mixture, you can push the powders through a sifter or break them up with your fingers. Citric acid has a tendency to take off nail polish, so wear gloves to protect your manicure. Thoroughly stir the ingredients together. Add the Plum Dusk Mica, Queen's Purple Mica, and Fine Iridescent Glitter to the powders and stir to incorporate.
- Add the oil mixture to the powder mixture. Use your hands to fully mix the ingredients together.
- Test the consistency of the bath bomb mixture. The perfect consistency for molding is a texture similar to damp sand that holds its shape when squeezed. If it’s too dry, use one hand to spritz the mixture with witch hazel and one to mix. Continue spritzing until the mixture holds its shape when squeezed. 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.
- Fill the Disk Mold and Packages with the bath bomb mixture. Firmly compact the mixture into the mold to create a solid shape. Only fill each mold to the inner lip, or the lid will not close shut. Allow the bath bombs to dry and harden for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. If unmolded too quickly, they may fall apart.
- Once the bath bombs are completely dry and hard, remove them from the molds. Mix 1 tsp. Gold Sparkle Mica with 1 Tbsp. 99% isopropyl alcohol to create a "mica paint." Place the bottom of mold on top of the bath bomb to create a crescent moon shape and paint on the gold. If you find the mica paint is bleeding, add more mica to thicken. If it's too thick, add a bit more 99% isopropyl alcohol to thin.
- Continue this process with each bath bomb. Allow the paint to fully dry. The painted moons on top of the bath bombs will transfer mica when touched, so handle carefully. To use, place the bath bombs into a hot bath and enjoy! NOTE: Because these bath bombs contain quite a bit of dark mica, they may leave behind some color on your tub. Mica clings on to dirt and grime on the tub, so giving your bath a quick wipe down before use will help prevent this. The polysorbate 80 also helps the mica disperse throughout the water rather than pooling on top.
May I ask why so much coconut oil is used? I’ve read that to much oil can cause for a bath bomb that does not dry properly. Is this because coconut oil hardens at room temperature? Does that addition help set the bath bomb?
Thank you!!
Coconut oil helps wet the bath bomb so it holds its shape and it also adds moisturizing properties. You can add less if you like, but you may need to use more witch hazel depending on how wet the mixture is. You want it to feel like wet sand and hold its shape when squeezed.
Hello! I’m having trouble painting my bomb~
I used a citric acid/baking soda/kaolin clay/sea salt bomb mixture, and I used part witch hazel part isopropyl alcohol to mix with the mica for the “paint”.
Whenever I go to paint on my bomb, the bomb just divets inwards and the bomb powder gets transferred onto the brush with no paint transferred to the bomb. Any suggestions?
Instead of mixing the mica with witch hazel, we recommend mixing it just with 99% isopropyl alcohol like we did in the tutorial. That way the paint sits on top rather than sinking in.
How would you suggest packaging these bombs if the gold mica likes to transfer as it saids in the how to steps?
You can package them right in the disk molds. Some of the mica will transfer, but the design should stay intact. It may help to make the bath bombs a bit shorter, that way they’re not in direct contact with the lids and may avoid some transfer.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Thank you!
You’re welcome!
Is there a way customers can suggest post ideas? I ask because i would like too see how to make little tabs you put inside bath bombs or use on there own to change the bath water colour
Absolutely, we love suggestions. We will definitely keep yours in mind. Also, this video shows you how to make a Hidden Color Bath Bomb using La Bomb Colorants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bjpsQXt6NU&t=1s
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Can you use 91% alcohol? I cannot find 99% locally. Thanks.
That should be just fine. The 91% alcohol has more water, so only spray a light layer on the bath bomb. You can also find 99% isopropyl alcohol here: https://www.brambleberry.com/99-Isopropyl-Alcohol-16-oz-P5682.aspx
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I love the recipe, but I just wanted you to know there is a typo in the first step and it says oi instead of oil.
We got that fixed, thank you!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
These are lovely! I’m having issues with my bath bombs. They come out beautiful, and harden just fine. However after about a week or so they soften and expand. My round bath bombs are not softening only the cylinder shaped ones as shown here. Any tips you can give me would be great.!
Sounds like those bath bombs are absorbing moisture from the air. That can happen, especially in humid climates. To prevent that, we recommend wrapping the bath bombs tightly with plastic wrap and storing them in a cool, dry place. If you have a fan or dehumidifier you can use those in the room. Learn more here: http://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/how-to-store-handmade-bath-products/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
now you measure the cops by volume potential use a glass measuring bigger or a dry measuring cup sometimes my bath fans are too soft and I’m wondering if it’s how I’ve been measured
We like to use dry measuring cups for the bath bomb mixture. If you find your bath bombs are too soft, they’re likely too wet. That can happen if too much liquid is used or you live in a humid climate. Can you tell me more about your recipe and how you’re storing the bath bombs? Also, is it humid where you live?
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Hello! I have used several of your recipes, Holly Port’s recipe, and Dean Wilson’s. Regardless of the recipe, the seem to either stay soft or become soft. I wrap them in bags after about 48 hours and store with silica packs nearby before I gift them. I have more problems with recipes that contain salt.
Adding salt to your bath bomb can be tricky in humid climates. Salt absorbs moisture from the air and can draw it to your bath bomb, making it soft. You may try adding less salt to the recipe or skipping it altogether. It also helps to add less liquid like witch hazel or oil. Another ingredient that can make them soft is cornstarch, so you can add less or skip that if you’re using it now.
Get more tips in this post: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/bath-bomb-questions-answers/
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry