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Aromatherapy Bath Bombs Recipe

I love bath bombs. Dropped into the tub, they fizz and release their nutritive and aromatic ingredients. They make bath time an even more special occasion to relax and cleanse. Children find bath bombs fascinating and fun to plunk into the tub. Adults love the aroma and visual appeal, and they make beautiful gifts.

Once you have made bath bombs a time or two, you will find them quite easy to make.

By making them yourself, you'll know exactly what's in them. Not all commercial or artisan-made bath bombs are all-natural, but you can make virtually all-natural bath bombs at home that fizz amazingly well. Making them yourself will also save you at least half the price of what equivalent bath bombs cost from artisans and bath bomb specialty stores.

AromaWeb's Bath Bomb Recipe, shown below, contains a few ingredients not yet described elsewhere on AromaWeb.

Citric Acid: Citric acid is naturally found in citrus and other fruits/vegetables. As its name implies, it is acidic. Citric acid acts as a natural preservative and natural antioxidant and is found in an array of skin care products.

Baking Soda: Baking soda is the common name for sodium bicarbonate or bicarbonate of soda. Sodium bicarbonate is a naturally forming salt, but is most commonly manufactured synthetically. Because it is a salt that exists in nature, it's often considered natural, regardless of manufacture, and is used in natural products. In personal care, baking soda is known for its deodorizing and cleansing properties. Baking soda is a alkali that reacts wonderfully with citric acid in bath bombs.

Pearlescent Micas: Bath bombs don't need to be colored to be fun, and effective, but color can add an aesthetic touch to your creations. FD&C and D&C dyes have risks associated with their use, so I prefer to use pearlescent micas when I color my bath bombs. Pearlescent micas contain naturally forming mica powder colorized with minerals like iron oxides and titanium dioxide. Pearlescent micas can have synthetic color additives, so its best to purchase it from a reputable source and check the ingredients of each particular mica that you use.

AromaWeb's Bath Bomb Recipe also includes essential oils, carrier oils and hydrosol. Click on each of these links if you'd like to know more about each of these ingredients.

Aromatherapy Bath Bomb Recipe:

• 1 cup Baking Soda
• 1/2 cup Citric Acid
• 1/4 tsp. Powdered Herbs or 1/8 tsp. Pearlescent Mica for color and visual appeal (optional)
• 15 drops Essential Oil*
• 1/4 - 1/2 tsp. Carrier Oil, preferably use a more stable oil like Jojoba since this recipe contains no preservatives (optional)
  Hydrosol or water (ideally in a spray bottle)

*Adjust essential oil quantity if using strong oils like geranium and be sure to avoid oils that are strong skin sensitizers like cinnamon (or be sure to only use a drop or two of such oils).

Equipment:
I use large and small melon ballers (see photo) to form my bath bombs, but you can also experiment with ice, soap and candy molds of various sizes and shapes.

Directions:

• In a large, clean mixing bowl, add your dry ingredients. If possible, use a sieve or sifter when adding your dry ingredients to the bowl to ensure they are free of clumps. Mix well.
  
  
• Add your essential oil, drop by drop and stir into the dry ingredients. It is normal for the mixture to fix a little.
  
  
• Slowly add your carrier/vegetable oil while mixing the ingredients with your hand.
  
  
• Slowly add your hydrosol to the mixture while simultaneously blending it with your hands. Use a spray bottle to add the hydrosol or water to the mixture slowly, or add the liquid drop by drop if you do not have a spray bottle available.
  
  
• It does not take much liquid to dampen the mixture to the degree that you need to form bath bombs. The mixture should stick together when pressed firmly. Be careful not too moisten the mixture too much.

Forming Your Bath Bombs:
Press the mixture into molds, or use melon ballers to form your bath bombs. Set them onto wax paper to dry. Allow them to dry at least a day, depending on the time of year, temperature and humidity.

To Use:
Drop one or two of the bombs into your bath for an aromatic and fizzy bath.

Storage:
Keep your bath bombs in an air tight container or bag otherwise they won't fizz as well at bath time. Also keep your supply of citric acid in an air-tight container or it will lose its "fizzing" power.

Shelf Life:
If you included carrier/vegetable oil in your bath bombs, they should hold up just fine for six months or so. If you did not use any oil, they will last a bit longer as long as they have been carefully stored away from air and humidity.

For More Inspiration and Great Bath Bomb Ideas:
Through From Nature With Love, I discovered the book Bath Bombs by Elaine Stavert. It is full of amazing tips, ideas and photos. Learn more and purchase the book directly through From Nature With Love or from Amazon.

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	WANT MORE RECIPES? The Complete Book Of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood contains over 600 recipes and synergies plus a wealth of practical aromatherapy information. Read the detailed review or purchase this book directly from Amazon.com.