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Hidden Color Bath Bombs on Soap Queen TV

Filed Under: Bath & Body Tutorials, Bath Fizzies

Difficulty: Intermediate
Time: 1-2 hours (up to overnight)
Yields: 4-5 bath bombs

These bath bombs look plain white, but once you throw them in the tub they release a hidden color!
Bath bombs are one of my favorite projects. They are fast and easy to make and, they give the gift of instant gratification because you can use them right away. The combination of fizzing, color and scent creates a fun bath experience. These Hidden Color Bath Bombs introduce the element of surprise – on the outside these mondo bath bombs are white, but once you introduce them to the tub they reveal a hidden color!

The idea for these bath bombs came to me in 2013, right before I found out the gender of my second child, Lily. Check out the original blog post here. These fizzies make the perfect activity or gift for a gender reveal party. You can use pink for a girl or blue for a boy. But don’t feel limited to these colors! You can use any La Bomb Colorant in the center of these fizzies, or you can use a combination of colors for a unique shade.

What You’ll Need:
3 cups Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
1.5 cups Citric Acid
12 mL Baby Powder Fragrance Oil
Teal La Bomb
Rosy Pink La Bomb
Witch Hazel (in a spray bottle)
Droppers with Suction Bulb
2-3 Stainless Steel Bath Bomb Molds


Click here to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!

These bath bombs look plain white, but once you throw them in the tub they release a hidden color!

What is your favorite bath bomb project? Check out the Bath Fizzies category of the blog for more ideas =)

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35 Comments

  1. Hi There! You used to have a tutorial by putting a bath bomb inside a bath bath bomb for the surprise color…does that one still exist?

  2. I know some types of oils are not as good for skin as others. What is the best fragrant oils for keeping skin soft? What are their base made of?

    • You may find this blog post all about various oils and butters helpful. It has a bit more information on their properties.

      Guide to Common Soapmaking Oils: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/free-beginners-guide-to-soapmaking-common-soapmaking-oils/

      Which oil you use will also depend on your skin type, and how it’s being used. For example you will want to use a different blend of oils for a lotion than you would cold process soap.

      If you’re wondering about fragrance oils, the ingredients do not have full ingredient disclosure; they fall under ‘Trade Secret’ status with the FDA and so simply putting “Fragrance” on an ingredient list will suffice. They are not meant to have any real benefits to the skin other tha fragrancing your products.

      -Amanda with Bramble Berry

  3. Hi there!

    I am using this idea to make party favors for a mom-to-be. I’ll be making about 35 bombs in the plastic bath bomb mold Bramble Berry sells. Instead of the surprise center, I am going to color them blue with Cornflower Blue La Bomb. I am also going to add coconut oil & polysorbate 80 (like the recipe for the Easter Egg Bath Bombs, I loved the way that one felt in the bath!). I’m wondering if you can help me formulate measurements for the ingredients for that many bombs? Or if you have a calculator that can help me?

    The following are the ingredients I will use:
    35 Bath Bomb Mold & Packages, Plastic
    Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
    Citric Acid
    Coconut Oil
    Polysorbate 80
    Baby Powder Fragrance Oil
    Cornflower Blue La Bomb
    Witch Hazel (for spraying)

    **side note: I would like to add enough colorant so that it dyes the water a good blue!

    I really appreciate your help and the ongoing of new fragrances, recipes, and inspirations! Bramble Berry has changed my life!

    • Bath bombs are such a great ideas for party favors, guests will love them. I’m not entirely sure baking soda and citric acid you’ll need for 35 bath bombs. But, I can give you a starting point for the ingredients. I would recommend starting with at least 6 cups of baking soda and 3 cups of citric acid (that ratio is always 2:1). For oil, we recommend about .5 oz. per 1.5 cups of fizzy mixture. Polysorbate 80 is about .1 oz per cup of fizzy mixture, fragrance oil and color are to your preference. Just keep adding drops until you get a color and scent you like. How much witch hazel you add depends on how wet the bath bomb mixture is. This post talks all about how to make bath bombs: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/bath-bomb-questions-answers/

      Even if that batch is too small, it will give you an idea of how much you’ll need for 35 bath bombs, so it’s a good starting point.

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  4. Hello,
    What are your suggestions on storing the bath bombs once they’re made? I was thinking an air tight container but I’m worried about them drying out and cracking.

  5. I would like to add empson salt and corn starch to my recipe what would the usage rate be. thank you

    • I would recommend starting with about 1/4 cup of each. Keep in mind, if you live in a humid climate, Epsom salt can absorb moisture and make the bath bombs wet. In that case, you’ll want to use a smaller amount. Too much corn starch can inhibit fizz, so starting with less is a good idea. You may also need more witch hazel to wet it, as there is more powder in the recipe. 🙂

      Get more bath bomb tips here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/bath-bomb-questions-answers/

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  6. hi! I am doing some bath bomb with some of your recipes and directions but I found some trouble mixing well the labomb color, I tried mixed with the dry ingredients and some times there are some spot that I noticed when I used the bomb… any additional tips? also I tried micas and left mark on the top any proportion to follow? how do get black? maybe with charcoal or should mark? last question my bomb are NOT floating in the water they sink? I not even using corn starch just your recipe above … any tips? thanks! I love all your videos and products.. thanks for sharing, Mary

    • Hi there!

      La Bomb Colorants do take quite a bit of mixing! Typically it takes 5 minutes or so to get them fully mixed in. To get rid of the speckles, I like to pinch the mixture in between my fingers and crumble it up. That helps break up the speckles a bit. See that technique in this bath fizzy video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgODHmkSTqQ

      You can use Luster Black Mica in your bath bombs! Keep in mind, it will appear gray in the mixture. If you add enough to make it black, it will likely transfer to the tub. I would recommend starting out with just 1/8th tsp. per cup of fizzy mixture. Then, you can mix it and add more if you like. I would also recommend making a small test batch. That way you can see how much color to add and if it transfers to the tub!

      Also, bath bombs can sink to the bottom of the tub, especially if they’re a bit heavier. As they fizz they should float back up to the top. Are your fizzies staying under the water the whole time? Let me know and I can help you troubleshoot! 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

    • Are bath bombs safe to use in bath tubs with jets? Will these ingredients in this recipe clogg up the jets? Just checking before we create a big repair expense. Yikes

      • Hi Tracy!

        Citric acid and baking soda tend to fizz and dissolve pretty quickly, so there isn’t any residue leftover in the tub. However, extras like oils, lavender buds, flower petals, etc may get caught in the jets. I would recommend contacting the bath tub manufacturer to be extra careful. That way you know for sure. 🙂

        -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  7. If I twist my bombs they dont stick together. I press hard only without twisting and it NEVER breaks in half and gets released easier from the mold. Also if theyre too wet they get stuck in the mold but they will be rock hard! im buying a few colorants to make a multicolored one =)

    • That’s awesome, thanks for the tip Vanessa! Also, the multicolored bath bomb sounds amazing. Thanks so much for your order. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  8. I’m a bit concerned about using any sugar in my bath products, as I’m terrified of inflicting yeast infections on my customers, from soaking in sugar. Is this something I shouldn’t be concerned about? If so, is there anything I can substitute in place of the sugar?

    Thanks!

    • I just realized I was commenting on the wrong post…. This comment is for the fizzy cupcake frosting! haha

      • Hi Greta!

        We haven’t had any problems with these bath bombs in the tub, but you can talk to your doctor with any concerns you may have! Also, adding the frosting is definitely optional. You can leave it off if you like. That’s one of the great things about making your own bath and beauty products – the ability to customize! 🙂

        Bath Bomb Cupcakes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBvC1RnWqrE

        -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  9. I made these and they worked great. I did notice that a few I made and didn’t use right away (Say maybe 2-3 weeks later) were cracking in the middle were the color is. Is there something we can do to prevent that?

    • Hi Autumn!

      So glad the bath bombs worked out great! I’m wondering if the bath bombs may be getting a bit dried out, which can cause the cracking. How are you storing the bath bombs? Let me know and I can help you troubleshoot. 🙂

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  10. Hi!

    Can I use cornstarch in this recipe? If so how much do I use per cup of bicarbonate of soda?
    Also, can cornstarch substitute kaolin clay?

    • Hi Tammy!

      You can add corn starch to this recipe if you like! I would recommend adding the same amount as the citric acid (1.5 cups).

      Keep in mind that corn starch can affect the fizzing of the bath bombs – we found recipes made with it don’t fizz as much. I would recommend making a small test batch with the corn starch to see if you like the way it fizzies. If not, you may reduce the amount of corn starch or try kaolin clay. Corn starch and kaolin clay both add structure, but we’ve found kaolin clay doesn’t affect the fizzing as much. 🙂

      Get more bath bomb tips in this post: https://www.soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/bath-bomb-questions-answers/

      -Kelsey with Bramble Berry

  11. Hi!
    How many bath bombs does this make and would you add the same amount of Apricot Freesia fragrance oil as the Baby Powder one?
    Thank you!
    Emmeline

  13. Hello!(: I was wondering if the type of glitter that I use in my bath bomb matters? can I use regular glitter from the craft store? or is that not safe?

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