Natural Bath Bomb Recipe for Relaxation

Most evenings, I enjoy a lingering soak in the bathtub as part of my self-care routine. The soothing, warm water relaxes me, so I easily drift off to sleep as soon as I hit the sheets. Sometimes, I add scented Epsom salts, a few drops of essential oils, or a bath bomb to the water for extra pampering after a long day.

Did you know you can make bath bombs at home? Simply follow this natural bath bomb recipe and form those little spheres of fizzy goodness using the eco-conscious ingredients you prefer, including your go-to relaxation scents of essential oils.

Why Use Bath Bombs?

Before mixing up a natural bath bomb recipe, you might be intrigued to learn that using spa-like additives in your bath can offer benefits for your mental and physical well-being.

As the bath bomb slowly fizzes and dissolves in the bathwater, it releases the fragrances you've added. Lavender aromatherapy specifically is recognized as a "beneficial mental relaxation therapy" by the International Journal of Cardiology. A study cited in the journal found that lavender aromatherapy reduced the stress hormone cortisol in study participants and may be beneficial for coronary (heart) circulation.

Many bath bombs contain plant oils as a binder. When applied topically to your skin, oils such as sunflower seed, coconut, argan, and jojoba may offer therapeutic benefits including the activation of wound healing and repairing of the skin barrier, according to a study in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Common Bath Bomb Ingredients

So, are you ready to jump in the bath and get your bomb on? Before heading to the store, consider making a homemade batch of bath bombs that you can customize to your liking for a fraction of the cost of buying them. For example, I prefer not to use artificial coloring or synthetic fragrances. Instead, I use essential oils and dried flowers or herbs to enhance the orbs.

Common ingredients in natural bath bomb recipes include:

• Baking soda
• Citric acid
• Colorings from plants (e.g., spirulina for green, turmeric for yellow)
• Cornstarch
• Epsom salts
• Essential oils
• Plant oils (coconut, almond, olive, etc.)
• Witch hazel

Easy DIY Bath Bomb Recipe

Here's a quick, easy DIY recipe for pretty pink bath bombs. You'll need two mixing bowls, a fork for mixing, and candy or ice cube molds in the shapes of spheres. This recipe will make two to three, depending on the size of your molds. Use one per bath.

Step 1

In the first bowl, mix together the dry ingredients:

• ½ cup baking soda
• 1 tbsp. beetroot powder
• ¼ cup citric acid
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ¼ cup Epsom salt
• Dried flower petals (optional)

Step 2

In the second bowl, combine the wet ingredients:

• 2 tbsp. plant-based oil of your choice
• 1 tsp. essential oil(s) of your choice

Step 3

Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the bowl of wet ingredients. The resulting bomb batter should be moist and stick together. If looks crumbly, add a little extra oil and stir with the fork until moistened.

Step 4

Fill your molds with the pink mixture, then refrigerate the bath bombs for an hour until firm.

After this, the bath bombs will be ready to use. Simply place one in the warm bath water, get into the bath, and watch the bomb bubble. As the ball dissolves, your water will turn pink as the room fills with the lovely essential oil fragrance you've chosen.

To amp up your self-care in the bath, consider trying a coconut oil hair treatment to hydrate dry locks or washing with a moisturizing body wash using a soft loofah to gently exfoliate and cleanse your skin.

You can make these easy DIY bath bombs for yourself or as a sweet gift for someone special. Want to learn more about the naturally derived ingredients you use in bath bomb recipes? Browse the Ingredients from Nature board from @tomsofmaine on Pinterest!

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