Life can be stressful, and it’s important to utilize wellness techniques to make sure we don’t let that stress get the best of us. A great way to relax after a long day is by taking a hot bath with your favorite scented bath bomb. And while bath bombs you buy at stores like Lush work great, they are actually easy to make right in your own home.
By making homemade bath bombs, you can customize some of the added natural ingredients based on your own preferences. This lets you put in your favorite essential oils to make for a luxury experience that perfectly aligns with your personal style.
Let’s take a look at how you can make your own DIY bath bomb at home and how you can use essential oils to spruce up your next self-care day.
What Ingredients Go In A Bath Bomb?
Bath bombs are really only composed of only a few main ingredients that you can buy in your local grocery or home goods store.
The first ingredients are baking soda and citric acid. This will create the base of your bath bomb. The baking soda gives it that fizz effect when dropped into the water, while the citric acid will help to hold all of the ingredients together once it is molded. These are really the only two ingredients that you have to use in a bath bomb, but there are a few other popular inclusions that will give you the best effect for a relaxing bath.
Epsom salt is another great thing to add to your bath bomb because of its natural healing properties. Stress can deplete magnesium in your body, which is important for regulating nerve function and blood pressure, among other bodily processes. Epsom salt can help to increase magnesium, so it’s great to incorporate.
We also recommend adding some coconut oil, as this is a natural moisturizer. Although commonly ingested, this is a great supplement for external usage. It is high in vitamin E, so using this in your bath bomb can leave your skin feeling nice and soft after bath time. It may even be able to boost heart health and reduce hunger.
Finally, you might want to consider adding some essential oils and a colorant as well. These are some of the best all-natural stress relievers, so they can be very helpful when added to your bathwater. We’ll talk more about them later.
For now, here’s how to make your very own bath bomb.
How To Make Your Bath Bomb
To begin, you will need to follow along with this bath bomb recipe:
- 1 cup of baking soda
- ¾ cups citric acid
- ¾ cup Epsom salt
- 4 Tablespoon of coconut, jojoba, or almond oil
- 10-12 drops of your favorite essential oil
- 8-10 drops of food coloring (optional)
- Bath bomb mold (optional)
- Combine baking soda, citric acid, and Epsom salt in a medium to a large bowl. Use a fork or spoon to break up any clumps that might form in your dry ingredients.
- In another bowl, combine coconut oil and your favorite essential oils.
- Slowly add these wet ingredients to the dry baking soda mixture. Make sure you don’t do this too fast—if you add it too fast, it might activate the fizzy baking soda reaction prematurely.
- If the mixture seems dry, you can add a few drops or spritzes of water from a spray bottle little by little.
- Slowly combine the ingredients until the mixture resembles wet sand.
- If you have a silicone bath bomb mold, pack the mixture into the mold tightly. If you don’t have one, that’s okay! Muffin tins or plastic molds like ice cube trays do an excellent job as well. You could even mold some with your hands; just make sure to wear latex gloves so that it doesn’t stick to your skin. This recipe should make about 3-4 bath bombs, depending on the size.
- Lay the molds out for at least 12-16 hours to dry and store them in an airtight container.
It’s that easy! These make perfect gifts for the people in your life, as well as the perfect companion for your next self-care evening. And the best thing about them is that you can change up the ingredients to your liking, as long as you remember to use baking soda and citric acid to get the fizzing effect.
What Essential Oils Are Best For Bath Bombs?
Essential oils are aptly named, as they are essential for relieving stress and maintaining positive moods. And while you can’t go wrong, each essential oil has a different set of benefits when used in your DIY bath bomb.
Lavender oil is one of the best essential oils for stress relief. Its aroma can help you relax, as well as promote healthy sleep. Studies have also shown that lavender relieves pain and improves blood circulation, making it one of the best essential oils to use anywhere. This is why lavender is one of the most popular scents on the market. It also meshes well with chamomile, so you could use this combo for an extra-relaxing soak.
Another great essential oil is peppermint because of its stimulating effects. If you’re congested and feeling a bit stuffy, peppermint is one of the best essential oils for clearing out sinuses. It can also make you feel revitalized, so this is a great option if you’re one to take a morning bath instead of one in the evening. It also promotes concentration, so you could use this before finishing your next big project. Lemongrass oil has similar stimulating effects.
If you suffer from nerves or anxiety, you may want to look into using rose oil, ylang-ylang, or geranium oil in your bath bomb. Studies have shown that this essential oil is able to lower blood pressure and heart rate, as well as control breathing rates during times of stress. Not to mention, rose oil has been used as a treatment for depression in small studies, and it has proven successful in relieving related symptoms.
Tea tree essential oil is another great essential oil, especially when used in a bath bomb. Tea tree has antifungal properties, meaning that it can eliminate finger and toenail fungus when applied to those areas. It can even help to fight acne when applied to the skin. This makes it a fantastic essential oil for soaking, so adding it to your DIY bath bomb would have amazing benefits. Eucalyptus oil has a similar effect, so consider that as well when crafting your perfect bath bomb.
Other Uses For Essential Oils
You won’t need too much essential oil to make your bath bomb, so there are a ton of other ways that you can use the rest of your bottle for a positive effect.
One of the most popular ways to use essential oils is in an oil diffuser. These products will turn any essential oil into a cool mist that fills the air in your home. Not only will it smell amazing, but you will feel the same positive benefits of the oils as you would if used in a bath bomb. Aromatherapy can help you have a good night’s rest and feel maximum relaxation after a long day.
The mist of a diffuser can also be very comforting to look at, and this is enhanced if your diffuser comes with changing color lights as well. This can make your room feel more soothing and comforting, and when combined with the scent of the oils, you will feel de-stressed in no time.
Oil diffusers can even be used as a natural insect repellent. You can use lavender and peppermint essential oils to create a mist that bugs won’t like but humans will still love.
You can also use essential oils in a cool mist humidifier. Humidifiers can eliminate airborne viruses, as well as create an environment that is just overall more comfortable. These will add moisture to the air, preventing dry nose and throat, as well as promoting healthy skin. This model comes with an essential oil tray, so you can incorporate your favorite oils into the air around you.
Humidifiers can also alleviate asthma or other respiratory ailments, so they are great, especially if you live in drier environments. They’re also great for combating seasonal allergies, making them a necessity for the fall and spring.
Regardless, having one of these tools at your disposal will ensure that the positive effects of your bath bomb don’t end after you leave the bathroom.
Conclusion
Bath bombs at your local store or beauty product retailer are great, but they can be expensive. Luckily, you can make your own easily and inexpensively, allowing you to customize the ingredients to your heart’s content. One of the best ways to add some flair to your bath bomb is by adding a few drops of essential oil.
Essential oils such as lavender, rose, or tea tree all have unique benefits that can ease anxiety and promote healthy living. By putting these in your bath bomb, oil diffuser, or humidifier, you can feel rejuvenated in no time.
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