DIY BATH SALTS RECIPES

Learn How to Make DIY Bath Salts: A Simple Recipe for Relaxation and Gifting

Indulge in a luxurious spa experience at home with this easy DIY bath salts recipe. Whether you prefer to add your favorite essential oils or leave them out, making homemade bath salts is quick and simple. Plus, they make a thoughtful, personalized gift!

Making bath salts is incredibly simple, so much so that I skipped the step-by-step photos! All you need to do is combine the ingredients in a bowl, stir well, and transfer the mixture into jars.

If you prefer to make bath salts without essential oils, just omit them from the recipe. You’ll still enjoy the soothing benefits of Epsom salt and a relaxing spa experience. Adding colorant is an easy way to make your bath salts look even more luxurious!

COLORING

When adding color to your bath salts, make sure to use only food-grade colorant. Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and what you apply to it can be absorbed faster than the food you eat!

I personally recommend India Tree Colorant for its high quality. Just be sure to choose a reputable, food-grade colorant to ensure your bath salts are both safe and beautiful.

Facebook
Tweet
Pin
SHARES41k
Learn how to make DIY Bath Salts using this bath salts recipe. You can enjoy the luxury of a spa treatment at home or give it as a gift. Homemade baths salts are easy peasy! And, they can be made with the essential oils of your choice, or without essential oils.

Closeup of homemade bath salts on a wooden spoon in pink, blue and yellow.
Learning how to make bath salts is really very simple. In fact, it is so simple that I have skipped the photos showing the process. All you do is put the ingredients in a bowl, stir to mix well and put the bath salts into jars.

Making homemade bath salts without essential oils is easy – just leave them out and follow the recipe. You will still have all the benefits of Epsom salt with a relaxing spa experience. Using the colorant also adds a bit of fanciness to them.

COLORING
Be sure to use only food grad colorant. Remember, your skin is the largest organ in your body. What you put on your skin can be absorbed quicker than the food you eat!

I like to use India Tree Colorant because of its quality. Just be sure to use a good quality, food grade colorant.

CONTAINERS

I love using cute jars to store my homemade bath salts, but mason jars work just as well! You can get creative by wrapping them up or adding a ribbon around the jar for a cute, personalized touch. It’s an easy way to elevate your bath salts, whether you’re keeping them for yourself or gifting them to someone special.

TIPS

Get creative by experimenting with different essential oils and blends to make your bath salts unique! Want to add color? Soap colorants work perfectly and won’t stain your skin or tub.

These bath salts make fantastic gifts and can be placed in a variety of jars for a personalized touch. Don’t forget to add a cute printable gift tag for that extra special detail when giving them as a gift!

Here’s the ingredients you’ll want to incorporate:

EPSOM SALT

Epsom salt isn’t actually a salt—it’s magnesium sulfate, a compound that offers a variety of health benefits. It can be used as a laxative (commonly in gallbladder cleanses or to help pass kidney stones), but it’s also great for detoxifying your body and enjoying the health benefits of magnesium in your bath.

Magnesium is easily absorbed through the skin, making a bath with Epsom salt a fantastic way to reap its benefits. Some of these include:

  • Stress relief
  • Detoxification
  • Reduced inflammation
  • Improved nutrient absorption

BAKING SODA

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is the same ingredient used in baking, and like Epsom salt, it helps remove toxins from your body. Some of the benefits of adding baking soda to your bath include:

  • Detoxification
  • Helping to alkalize your body
  • Softening skin
  • Leaving your skin with a silky, smooth feel

ESSENTIAL OILS

Essential oils offer a wide range of benefits for your body, with each oil providing its own unique properties. For example:

  • Lavender is perfect before bed to help you relax and unwind.
  • Citrus oils are energizing and invigorating, helping to boost your mood and refresh your mind and body.
  • Eucalyptus is great for when you’re not feeling well or think a cold is coming on, as it helps clear your sinuses and promotes respiratory health.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to combining different essential oils to create the perfect blend for your bath!

EXTRAS

Spices like ginger and cinnamon make wonderful additions to your bath salts, adding both warmth and a pleasant scent. For extra moisturizing, you can also add oils like coconut, jojoba, almond, or argan—just 1 tablespoon is enough to enhance the nourishing benefits.

Sea salt is another great ingredient to consider. It contains about 21 minerals that naturally occur in our bodies, such as potassium, sodium, and bromides, which are depleted throughout the day. Adding ¼ cup of sea salt to your bath salts recipe helps replenish these essential minerals, detoxify, and cleanse your body.

CAN I LEAVE OUT THE BAKING SODA?

Absolutely! If you prefer not to use baking soda, feel free to leave it out. You will still have a wonderful bath salt that provides a luxurious and relaxing bath experience. Each ingredient adds its own benefits, so it’s completely customizable to suit your preferences!

RECIPE

DIY Bath Salts Recipe
Makes 12 ounces

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Epsom salt
  • ½ cup baking soda
  • 5-10 drops essential oil
  • Colorant of choice (add a couple of drops and mix until the desired color is reached)
  • Optional:
  • 1 tablespoon oil of choice (coconut, jojoba, almond, argan)
  • 1-2 tablespoons dried spices (like cinnamon or ginger)
  • ¼ cup sea salt

Directions:

  1. Combine all ingredients in a medium-sized bowl, stirring well to ensure the baking soda and essential oils are thoroughly mixed.
  2. Divide the mixture into jars as desired.
  3. Use immediately or store in an airtight container.

To Use:
Add ¼ to ½ cup per bath for a relaxing soak.

This bath salts recipe is not only easy to make but also makes great gifts! If you’re looking for more DIY beauty ideas, check out my Sugar Scrub, Whipped Body Butter, and Homemade Sunscreen recipes for more self-care goodness.

CONCLUSION

Making your own DIY bath salts is simple, customizable, and a great way to indulge in a luxurious spa experience at home. With a few basic ingredients like Epsom salt, baking soda, and your choice of essential oils or colorants, you can create the perfect bath soak for relaxation, detoxification, and skin benefits. Optional additions like oils, spices, and sea salt can enhance the experience further. Whether you’re using it for yourself or gifting it to someone special, homemade bath salts are a thoughtful and easy way to enjoy a spa-like treatment anytime.

HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN BATH BOMS

Discover how to make bath bombs with this easy and fun recipe. Create vibrant, spa-like experiences right at home with these colorful homemade bath bombs!

DIY Bath Bombs

Bath bombs are a simple and enjoyable way to indulge in self-care. When you drop these fizzing “bombs” into your bath, they dissolve and release ingredients that relax muscles (Epsom salts), detoxify the body and soothe itchy skin (baking soda), hydrate the skin (almond oil), and promote relaxation (essential oils).

For our bath bombs, we selected a fresh grapefruit scent, but feel free to use calming lavender for a nighttime bath or orange blossom to ease anxiety. You can create single-color bombs or go for a fun multi-colored effect like we did, or even skip the color for a classic white bomb.

Homemade bath bombs also make thoughtful gifts. Simply place a few in a cellophane bag and tie it with a ribbon. Making bath bombs is a fun and easy activity for both adults and kids (with supervision).

Here’s what you’ll need:

You can find the full printable instructions at the end of this post, but here’s a list of similar products available on Amazon and Target that you can use for making bath bombs:

  • Baking Soda
  • Citric Acid
  • Epsom Salt
  • Cornstarch
  • Mica powder
  • Sweet Almond Oil
  • Essential oil
  • Bath bomb molds

Where can I buy supplies to make DIY bath bombs?

You can find citric acid in grocery stores, typically in the canning or baking section. Epsom salt is commonly available at pharmacies or Walmart in the bath and body aisle.

Bath bomb molds and mica powder are sold at Michaels or other craft stores. Essential oils can be found in the home decor section of Walmart, while sweet almond oil is available in pharmacies or Walmart in the beauty or hair care aisles.

And, of course, Amazon is a great one-stop shop for all of these items!

Can you make bath bombs without a mold?

While bath bomb molds are the most straightforward way to shape your bath bombs, there are plenty of creative alternatives you can try! With a little imagination, you can make bath bombs without molds and still get great results.

There are many items you can use to make bath bombs without traditional molds. Try muffin tins, silicone baking molds, silicone muffin liners, ice cube trays, candy molds, measuring cups, plastic Easter eggs, or even cookie cutters—the possibilities are endless!

If you’re looking for a quick and simple method, you can also press the bath bomb mixture tightly in your hands. While it may not be as perfectly shaped, it will still work beautifully in the bath!

What if I don’t have sweet almond oil?

In our bath bomb recipe, sweet almond oil serves both as a moisturizer and a binder for the dry ingredients. However, you can substitute it with almost any oil, such as olive oil or canola oil.

Other great options include jojoba oil, avocado oil, rosehip oil, baby oil, or sunflower oil. You can even use melted coconut oil, shea butter, or cocoa butter for a more luxurious touch.

How do I colour my homemade bath bombs?

We used mica powder to color our bath bombs. Mica is a natural mineral with a metallic sheen, commonly used in cosmetics and soap for its vibrant hues.

Alternatively, you can use a water-soluble liquid colorant to add color to your bath bombs. These dyes, often used for bath bombs and soaps, are skin-safe and won’t stain your bathtub, making them a great choice for a colorful touch without the mess.

Bath Bomb Recipe

Learn how to make bath bombs with this super easy recipe! Pamper yourself with bath bombs that not only look beautiful but smell incredible too.

MATERIALS:

  • 1 cup Baking soda
  • 1/2 cup Citric acid
  • 1/2 cup Epsom salt
  • 3/4 cup Cornstarch
  • 3 tablespoons Sweet almond oil
  • 10-20 drops Essential oils 
  • 1/2 teaspoon Mica powder 

EQUIPMENT:

  • Mixing bowl(s)
  • Spoon
  • Bath bomb mold

INSTRUCTION:

Step 1: Make the Bath Bomb Mixture
Add all the dry ingredients to a mixing bowl and stir them together until well combined.

Slowly pour in the sweet almond oil, mixing continuously to ensure it’s evenly incorporated into the dry ingredients.

Add the drops of essential oil to the mixture, stirring well to evenly distribute the fragrance throughout.

Stir the mixture thoroughly, breaking up any clumps to ensure it’s smooth and evenly combined.

The mixture may look dry, but when you pick it up and squeeze it together, it should hold its shape and stick together.

Step 2: Add Color
If you want to create bath bombs with multiple colors, divide the mixture into several smaller bowls. Add your chosen mica powder color to each bowl and mix well until no white streaks remain.

We divided the mixture into four portions and added just 1/8 teaspoon of mica powder to each. The more mica powder you add, the more vibrant the color of your bath bombs will be.

Step 3: Form the Bath Bombs
Spoon the mixture into one half of the mold. You can use one color or combine several. Press the mixture firmly into the mold using the back of a spoon or your fingers to pack it tightly.

Once the mold is full, press down on the mixture to pack it in tightly, ensuring it’s compact and holds its shape.

Add another scoop of the mixture on top of the packed layer, letting it mound over the top of the mold without packing it down.

Repeat the process with the second half of the mold, adding the mixture and pressing it down lightly, then mounding it up without packing it.

Repeat the process with the second half of the mold, adding the mixture and pressing it down lightly, then mounding it up without packing it.

Carefully pull the molds apart. If the bath bomb doesn’t come out easily, gently tap the outside of the mold with a spoon to help loosen it.

Unmold the second half of the bath bomb in the same way, gently pulling the mold apart and tapping it with a spoon if needed to release the bath bomb.

Place the bath bomb on a baking tray or another dry surface and let it dry overnight to harden.

Your homemade bath bomb is now complete! Enjoy your relaxing, fizzy creation in the bath!

Helpful Tip:

Troubleshooting

  • Bath bombs won’t come out of the molds: This usually means the mixture is too wet. Try adding a little more cornstarch to the mixture. Remember, this recipe does NOT require any water.
  • Bath bombs crumble after coming out of the mold: This happens if the mixture is too dry or wasn’t packed tightly enough. Try pressing the mixture into the mold more firmly. Overflow the molds with extra mixture and press the sides together tightly. If that doesn’t work, add a few more drops of oil to the mixture to help it bind better.

Learning how to make a bath bomb at home is a fun and creative activity! Drop your DIY bath bomb into the water and enjoy the bubbles and fizz as you unwind with a relaxing soak from the bath bomb you made yourself!

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, making your own bath bombs is a simple, enjoyable, and rewarding activity that allows you to personalize your bath time experience. With just a few ingredients, you can create colorful, fragrant bath bombs that not only look great but also offer relaxation and skincare benefits. Whether you’re treating yourself or gifting them to others, homemade bath bombs add a special touch to any self-care routine. Enjoy the fizzy fun and the satisfaction of using something you’ve crafted yourself!