These bath bombs are inspired by the soft texture of rose petals. Flowers are painted on each bath bomb using a mixture of mica and 99% isopropyl alcohol. The technique takes a little practice, and some minor painting skills come in handy. After a few tries you’ll get the hang of it – each bath bomb will have your own personal spin.
They’re made with Wild Rose Fragrance Oil, which is a fresh take on a classic scent. A touch of lotus flower extract gives the bath bombs moisturizing and skin-loving properties. Polysorbate 80 is an emulsifier that helps the oil and micas mix into the bath water.
This project is easy to customize with different colors or designs. We recommend inviting a few friends over – the recipe makes a lot of bath bombs, so they’re fun to paint with a group.
All Bramble Berry colorants are cosmetic grade and safe for use on the skin or in soap. Recently there has been some confusion about which colors are safe for use in bath bombs. The FDA has a list of approved colorants, but whether colorants for bath bombs fall into the external use category is unclear. Because our colorants are skin safe and bath bombs are heavily diluted in water, we feel safe using them in our recipes.
If you plan to sell your products or if you want to be extra careful, you should avoid any colorants that fall in that gray area. This generally includes colorants with green oxide or ultramarines. Each description on Bramble Berry will note whether the product contains external use only ingredients. For this recipe, that would mean not using the Evergreen Mica or Shamrock Green Mica.
What You Need: Mica Painting: Click below to add everything you need for this project to your Bramble Berry shopping cart!Painted Rose Bath Bomb DIY
About 28 Disk Bath Bomb Molds
64 oz. Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
32 oz. Citric Acid
1 oz. Lotus Flower Extract
1 oz. Wild Rose Fragrance Oil
0.6 oz. Polysorbate 80
Witch Hazel in a Spray Bottle
Fine-Tipped Paint Brush
99% Isopropyl Alcohol
Evergreen Mica
Shamrock Green Mica
Party Pink Mica
Raspberry Mica
ONE: In a large bowl, mix together 64 oz. of baking soda and 32 oz. of 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.
TWO: In a small glass container, mix together 1 oz. of lotus flower extract, 1 oz. Wild Rose Fragrance Oil, and 0.6 oz. of polysorbate 80. Use a spoon to mix all the liquids together.
THREE: Add the oil mixture to the baking soda and citric acid mixture. Use your hands to thoroughly mix the ingredients together.
FOUR: Test the consistency of the bath bomb mixture. The perfect consistency is similar to wet sand and it 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.
FIVE: Press the bath bomb mixture firmly into the molds. Only fill to the bottom lip or the lids won’t fit.
SIX: Allow the bath bombs to dry for several hours or up to overnight. Remove from the molds. It’s time to paint.
SEVEN: In small separate containers, mix together about 1.5 teaspoons of Evergreen Mica, Shamrock Green Mica, Raspberry Mica, and Party Pink Mica with 1 tablespoon of 99% isopropyl alcohol. Stir the micas together to get rid of clumps.
NOTE: As you paint, you may find that you need to add more alcohol or mica to the containers. Adding more colorant will make the mica paint more concentrated and thick. More alcohol will make it thinner and more likely to bleed. Feel free to adjust the mixture until you’re happy with the texture.
EIGHT: Dip the paint brush into the Raspberry Mica. Start painting small curved lines to create the center of the rose. Continue painting these lines outward in a circular pattern.
NINE: Use the same technique with the Party Pink Mica to create a full rose with plenty of petals. There’s no right or wrong way to paint the rose. Have fun with it!
TEN: Once you’re happy with the rose, use the Evergreen Mica to create a leaf. We chose to extend the leaf to the sides of the bath bomb as well.
ELEVEN: Use the Shamrock Green Mica to add a pop of color to the leaf.
TWELVE: Have fun experimenting with different looks and rose designs. Once you’re finished, gently place the bath bombs back into the Disk Molds for storage. Once you’re ready to use, place the bath bomb into a hot tub and enjoy.
- About 28 Disk Bath Bomb Molds
- 64 oz. Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
- 32 oz. Citric Acid
- 1 oz. Lotus Flower Extract
- 1 oz. Wild Rose Fragrance Oil
- 0.6 oz. Polysorbate 80
- Witch Hazel in a Spray Bottle
- Fine-Tipped Paint Brush
- 99% Isopropyl Alcohol
- Evergreen Mica
- Shamrock Green Mica
- Party Pink Mica
- Raspberry Mica
- In a large bowl, mix together 64 oz. of baking soda and 32 oz. of 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.
- In a small glass container, mix together 1 oz. of lotus flower extract, 1 oz. Wild Rose Fragrance Oil, and 0.6 oz. of polysorbate 80. Use a spoon to mix all the liquids together.
- Add the oil mixture to the baking soda and citric acid mixture. Use your hands to thoroughly mix the ingredients together.
- Test the consistency of the bath bomb mixture. The perfect consistency is similar to wet sand and it 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.
- Press the bath bomb mixture firmly into the molds. Only fill to the bottom lip or the lids won’t fit.
- Allow the bath bombs to dry for several hours or up to overnight. Remove from the molds. It’s time to paint.
- In small separate containers, mix together about 1.5 teaspoons of Evergreen Mica, Shamrock Green Mica, Raspberry Mica, and Party Pink Mica with 1 tablespoon of 99% isopropyl alcohol. Stir the micas together to get rid of clumps. NOTE: As you paint, you may find that you need to add more alcohol or mica to the containers. Adding more colorant will make the mica paint more concentrated and thick. More alcohol will make it thinner and more likely to bleed. Feel free to adjust the mixture until you’re happy with the texture.
- Dip the paint brush into the Raspberry Mica. Start painting small curved lines to create the center of the rose. Continue painting these lines outward in a circular pattern.
- Use the same technique with the Party Pink Mica to create a full rose with plenty of petals. There’s no right or wrong way to paint the rose. Have fun with it!
- Once you’re happy with the rose, use the Evergreen Mica to create a leaf. We chose to extend the leaf to the sides of the bath bomb as well.
- Use the Shamrock Green Mica to add a pop of color to the leaf.
- Have fun experimenting with different looks and rose designs. Once you’re finished, gently place the bath bombs back into the Disk Molds for storage. Once you’re ready to use, place the bath bomb into a hot tub and enjoy.
Mollie says
Can anything be substituted for the lotus extract? Like another essential oil?
Amanda says
Our lotus extract is dispersed in fractionated coconut oil, so another lightweight oil like avocado, chia, or sweet almond would work well. You could also remove it from the recipe completely.
Tiffy says
These hand painted bath bombs are pretty. I like how it adds an extra element of creativity. The only problem is that I see my recipients using them as decorative!
Kelsey with Bramble Berry says
Thanks Tiffy! We often have to convince people they feel as fun as they look. 😉
Ruth says
Hi.. can you tell which is better to use when making bath bombs.. distilled water or witch hazel??? I see both used. I have used water but I’m wondering about witch hazel.
Thanks Ruth
Jacqui says
i would use witch hazel so you have less bath bomb activation, the water will cause more fizzing.
Kelsey with Bramble Berry says
Jacqui is correct, we recommend witch hazel. Water can set off the fizzing reaction in your bath bombs.
Learn more about using witch hazel here: https://www.soapqueen.com/bramble-berry-news/sunday-night-spotlight-witch-hazel/
Heather says
I hate the ambiguity with the FDA and agree that the heavy dilution should be perfectly safe enough for it, but appreciate you addressing that gray area in your recipes and products now. All of you at Bramble Berry are awesome!
Kelsey with Bramble Berry says
Thank you Heather, your comment means a lot to us. 🙂