Simple kitchen recipe lets you make fizzing bath bombs at home

A straightforward, kitchen-friendly bath bomb recipe gives home makers a repeatable way to produce fizzing, scented bombs and troubleshoot common pitfalls. The method focuses on ingredient roles, careful mixing, and practical finishing tips so small-batch makers can get reliable results without specialised equipment.

Start with the basic dry ingredients: baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and citric acid provide the fizz when the bomb hits water. Add cornflour or cornstarch to give body and slow the reaction. Epsom salt is optional for a soothing mineral boost, while a light carrier oil such as coconut, almond, or sunflower adds a moisturising effect. Scent comes from essential oils or fragrance, and colour from food- or cosmetic-grade colourants. Use just a few drops of water or witch hazel to bind; too much liquid triggers the fizzing reaction early.

Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly to remove clumps, then prepare the wet mix by combining carrier oil, chosen essential oils and colourant in a small jar. Add the wet mix to the dry mix extremely slowly, a teaspoon at a time, while whisking. The goal is a final texture that clumps like damp sand and holds shape when pressed. Over-wetting leads to premature fizzing or crumbly bombs; under-wetting gives weakly formed, powdery results.

Press the mixture firmly into silicone or metal moulds, packing to remove air pockets. Place optional decorations such as dried petals or biodegradable glitter in the bottom of the mould before packing to keep embellishments intact. Dry bombs in a cool, dry place for at least four hours, overnight for best results, then unmould carefully to avoid breakage.

Practical handling and storage matter as much as the recipe. Store finished bombs in an airtight container to preserve scent and prevent moisture pickup. Test one finished bomb before gifting or selling to check tub staining, scent throw and dissolution time. Use cosmetic-grade colourants and biodegradable decorative glitter where possible to reduce the risk of staining and environmental harm.

This recipe is intended for safe home use and does not replace commercial regulatory guidance. Verify your ingredients and labelling if you plan to sell products, and keep batches small while you refine scent ratios and bath performance. By mastering the balance between dry structure and barely-there binding liquid, you’ll produce consistent fizz, reliable scent throw and fewer cracked or prematurely reacting bombs — good news for making gifts, market stalls or a soothing self-care shelf.