This homemade sweet orange bath bomb recipe is made with simple ingredients. Bath bombs are the perfect luxurious gift to make. This post contains affiliate links.
Tips for making bath bombs:
- Do not make them on a humid day. The humidity will make the bath bombs react and get soft. Basically, don't make them on a rainy day. I learned this the hard way!
- Get creative with the molds that you use. You can use bath bomb molds or anything else that you might have on hand already like a muffin tin or silicone baking mold. You can even use plastic Easter eggs!
- Let them dry at least 24 hours. Once they are dry, they aren't brittle and can be packaged in cellophane for gift giving.
More Bath and Body Gift Ideas
Sweet Orange Bath Bomb Recipe
Inspired by this recipe.
DIY SWEET ORANGE BATH BOMB RECIPE
This homemade sweet orange bath bomb recipe is made with simple ingredients. Bath bombs are the perfect luxurious gift to make.
Cost: under $20
Equipment
- bowl
- whisk
- measuring cups/spoons
Materials
- ½ cup baking soda
- ¼ cup epsom salt
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ¼ cup citric acid
- 2 teaspoon coconut oil in liquid form
- 1 teaspoon essential oil I used sweet orange essential oil
- A few drops of food coloring
- A few spritzes of water
- bath bomb mold
Instructions
- Combine baking soda, cornstarch, and citric acid in a bowl. Whisk to combine.
- In a smaller bowl combine epsom salt with a few drops of food coloring.
- You can add your food coloring in with your wet ingredients to tint the entire bath bomb, but I liked the sprinkle effect that only coloring the salt gave mine.
- Add epsom salt to other dry ingredients and whisk to combine.
- In another small bowl, combine coconut oil and your essential oil.
- Add to the dry ingredients and whisk to combine.
- You want your mixture to feel like wet sand. Spritz your mixture with water, making sure to whisk in between spritzes, until it reaches the desired consistency. DO NOT add too much water. You just want it to come together slightly when you press your fingers into it.
- Fill both sides of your bath bomb mold with mixture and press together tightly. Let sit for about a minute. Tap mold with a spoon to loosen, then remove the mold one side at a time.
- Set on a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper and let dry for at least 24 hours. Then I let my bath bomb recipe dry for 36 hours before moving them too much.
Notes
A quick note about making bath bombs: DO NOT MAKE THEM ON A HUMID OR RAINY DAY. You can thank me later when your bath bomb recipe sets up nicely and you don't end up with piles of mush.
I purchased my mold online, but you can use a muffin tin, silicone molds, and a variety of other things to shape your bath bombs.
There's something so luxurious about bath bombs. These smell absolutely heavenly like orange sherbet!
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Brandy says
Hi everyone! Brandy here, and we just made another batch of bath bombs per my 8 year old's request. As always, these turn out great if you make sure to not use too much water. Just a spritz to dampen the mixture slightly.
Christine says
Thanks for a recipe that doesn’t tell you how much water to use I am so disappointed this recipe activated instantly
Brandy says
"Spritz your mixture with water, making sure to whisk in between spritzes, until it reaches the desired consistency. DO NOT add too much water. You just want it to come together slightly when you press your fingers into it." Not sure what else to say.
Jim says
How many does this make?
Brandy says
I think it made 3 bombs.
Donna says
Hi Brandy,
I tried making bath bombs but I'm from a very humid place, so even when it's "dry", it really isn't. Which means the bath bombs fizzed a tiny bit already before they dry out. We could still use them in the bath but they don't look very nice. Do you have any tips for what could be done to quickly dehydrate them after we put them in the mold? Thanks!
Brandy says
Hi Donna! I live in a humid climate too and often just wait until winter/early spring to make them. Summers in Virginia are "hit you in the face humid". When I make mine I use as little amount of water as possible. And only with a spray bottle. They seem dry at first, but hold together ok. I'll have to look up what can be done to keep them dry as they set up because I know exactly what you mean. They can start to fizz just sitting on the counter.
Michelle says
I love everything and anything orange. My one question is do you have to form it into a ball or can you leave it loose?
Thank you
Michelle
Brandy says
Hi Michelle! You can leave it loose and scoop it into your bath a few tablespoons at a time! 🙂
Jen says
Do you know the approximate shelf life for the bath bombs?
Brandy says
Hi Jen! I'm sorry, I don't. We used these within 3 months. In dry climates, I would imagine they'd last indefinitely! I haven't tried making them since moving to Virginia---I'm kind of afraid to since it's so humid here most of the year!
Rita C at Panoply says
Yummy delight for the senses in the bath, and beneficial too! Thanks for sharing - pinned!
Rita C at Panoply
Jennifer Wise says
How cool! I have never done anything like this before, but I could almost smell the orange essential oil as I was reading this! 🙂 These would be lovely. And the making the bag out of wrapping paper trick is pretty cool!
My says
What a fun DIY! I am new to Young Living essential oils and always looking for new ideas!!
Rebekah says
Love this! This would make an affordable gift for a roommate or to keep for myself.
Teri @ The Freshman Cook says
I love these! Homemade beauty items are the best, and these look awesome! Thanks for sharing at Celebrate it!
Maisy says
Those bath bombs are looking bomb 😛 (excuse the pun) Looks like the perfect gift for Mother's Day! Pinned. Thank you for linking up at the Friday Favorites linky party! 🙂
*Maisy
JESS44903 says
I bet these are amazing! 🙂
I would love for you to share this with my Facebook Group for recipes, crafts, tips, and tricks: https://www.facebook.com/groups/pluckyrecipescraftstips/
Thanks for joining Cooking and Crafting with J & J!
Cassie Smallwood says
Sweet orange is my favorite essential oil! I want to give these a try. I've never had much luck making my own bath products before. Maybe this will be the perfect recipe for me.
roseannmhampton says
I love homemade bath products! Pinning!
The Messy Mommy says
These look awesome! Combined with the lotion bars and lemon poppy seed soap, it should make a perfect Mother's Day gift. Thanks for the idea 🙂
The Messy Mommy says
This looks awesome! Combined with the lotion bars and lemon poppy seed soap, it should make the perfect Mother's Day Gift. Thanks for the ideas 🙂
Mandy Wijn-den Uijl says
These look lovely! Where did you buy citric acid?
Brandy says
Hi Mandy! I bought a bag on Amazon (Prime) for $6.99. It was a 1 lb. bag, and makes a decent amount of bath bombs. Great for starting out. They also sell 2 lb. bags. Here is a link: http://amzn.to/2py8xhu
Hope that helps! 🙂
Shekoofeh says
Hi i made bath bomb but its crock i dont make in rainy day or humid what is my problem???thanks for answering
Brandy says
Hi! Bath bombs are a bit of a science to make. Adding the liquid too fast can make them fizz too much and begin to react. It took me a few batches to get them right! Try adding the liquid super slowly, or even using a spray bottle. Mix it in really quickly and if it fizzes, stir those areas even more until it calms down.
Chelsea says
Hi! Where do you buy citric acid, I've tried my craft store but haven't had any luck! Also what brand of essential oil did you use 🙂 thanks for posting, can't wait to give them a try!
Brandy says
Hi Chelsea! I bought a bag on Amazon (Prime) for $6.99. It was a 1 lb. bag, and makes a decent amount of bath bombs. Great for starting out. They also sell 2 lb. bags. Here is a link: http://amzn.to/2py8xhu The essential oils were also from Amazon. I don't remember the brand, I just knew I wanted an orange one so I searched. So basically, I didn't use DoTerra or Young Living or any of those mainstream brands. Hope that helps! 🙂
Karen says
Most wine making stores sell citric acid too