Making Bath Bombs Questions and Answers

So you have decided to make your own bath bombs with your very own bath bomb recipe. Making them is a little bit science, common sense and an art form at the same time, they don’t always turn out perfect. Thats why we have put together this little guide to help with your bath bomb making.

First, the basics. Bath bombs are made with 2 parts baking soda and 1 part citric acid. That causes the fizzing reaction when they’re dropped in water. then you will need a binder to hold all your dry ingredients together.

Now for the Questions and Answers

1. Why is my bath bomb too soft?
   1. There may be too much moisture. Try adding more baking soda or citric acid to balance it out. Make sure the room you are setting the bombs in is not to humid. You can also add about 1 teaspoon of kaolin clay per cup of powder. It helps bath bombs harden and hold their shape.
2. Why is  my bath bomb cracking and crumbly?
   1. It’s probably too dry. You want the mixture to feel like wet sand and hold its shape when squeezed. Use one hand to spritz with and one hand to mix until it’s the right consistency. If your bath bomb cracks after it’s out of the mold, it’s likely too wet. You can prevent that by using less witch hazel, or by using witch hazel instead of water. We don’t recommend water because it makes bath bombs fizz too early.
3. Do you have to use witch hazel to make bath bombs?
   1. By far, 91% isopropyl alcohol is the most trouble-free way to moisten your bath bomb mix. It wets your mixture while only contributing a minimum of water to set off your reaction. We like to measure out the rubbing alcohol directly into the liquid ingredients of my recipe as opposed to spritzing it from a spray bottle. This eliminates the guesswork of judging how much to use. You may see recipes that call for spritzing witch hazel as a moistener over your dry ingredients. Witch hazel contains ~85% water and introduces an unneeded element of risk in your bath bomb making. If you spray in too much witch hazel, your bath bombs will become warty from the bath bomb reaction being triggered. Oils are also a great way to moisten bath bombs and add skin-loving properties.
4. Why does my bath bomb have lumps, bumps and warts on the surface?
   1. This is usually a result of clumps in the dry ingredients or not fully mixing in the fragrance oil. We recommend sifting all your dry ingredients so they’re nice and smooth. Then, add in your wet ingredients and mix with your hands for 1-2 minutes to ensure everything’s incorporated fully. If that does not fix the problem then try sifting all your dry ingredients before adding any liquids.
5. What hardeners can you use to make bath bombs?
   1. Many recipes use either a starch, a clay, or cream of tartar to harden the final product. Some recipes use tapioca starch, you can also use bicarbonate of soda, and cornflour
6. Why is there no fizz in my bath bomb?
   1. Try increasing the amount of citric acid so there’s a 2:1.5 ratio. You can also decrease the amount of oil/butter and store the bath bombs in a cool, dry place with a dehumidifier or a fan running. You may also want to remove cornstarch from your recipe. At the start we did say its part science, part art so keep testing until it is right.
7. My is bath bomb mixture oozing out of the mold’s?
   1. Probably because the mixture is too wet and its starting to react with the dry ingredients which causes expansion. You could use witch hazel rather than water or you could try 99% isopropyl alcohol but it is difficult to source. If it is humid where you live it may be worth investing in a dehumidifier.
8. What colourants can I use?
   1. When you think about adding colours also think about what effect colours have on the mind. You can use food colouring and liquid colourings. You could use micas if you don’t mind a bit of cleaning afterwards. Micas are not water soluble and can leave a ring around your tub. Powdered colorants are oil based, so they can pool on top of the water and get on your skin. To help, add polysorbate 80. It’s an emulsifier that mixes the colors into the water. Start with about 0.2 ounces per pound of bath bomb mixture. Comparing the different colourants.
9. How much colourant should you use when making bath bombs?
   1. Start with about 1/8 teaspoon of powdered color per pound and go from there. Keep in mind, the more color you add, the more likely it will stain the tub. We recommend using no more than 2 teaspoons of mica per pound of bath bombs, and using polysorbate 80 to help the colour distribute more evenly.
10. How Do You Stop The Bath From Staining
    1.  There are 2 ways you can guarantee no stains on the bath, firstly do not use any colourant. Secondly purchases your organic bath bombs from Luxury Organics. We have some tips on reducing the risk of staining the bath.
11. How much essential oils or fragrance should I use?
    1. You can use either fragrance oils or essential oils in bath bombs , you need to learn how to safely blend and use essential oils. Use a generous amount (about 3%) of fragrance in a bath bomb because the fragrance is dispersed in an entire tub of water. If you want to use less fragrance in your creation, simply make up the difference with a neutral carrier oil
12. How much oil and butter should you add?
    1. Start with about 0.5 ounces per pound. If you’re working with a hard oil or butter, make sure it’s melted before it’s added to the powders. You may want to add polysorbate 80 to help the oil mix into the water, rather than pooling on top. That will also make the tub less slippery when you’re getting out.
13. Do bath bombs discolour?
    1. Yes, they can if you use a fragrance with vanilla. It can take longer to appear, or it may never turn brown. You can add Vanilla Color Stabilizer, but it may not work. Use a fragrance that doesn’t discolour to be on the safe side. Of course unless you just adore the aroma of vanilla.
14. What are the best mold’s when making bath bombs?
    1. Plastic or stainless steel mold’s are a great option, or you can use silicone mold’s. However, make sure to use a recipe with less moisture and pack them it in tightly so the bath bombs don’t stick. When using a silicone mold make sure that nothing close by compresses the mold.
15. How long should they stay in the mold to retain their shape?
    1. At least 4 hours or up to overnight. If you try to remove the bath bomb before it’s fully dry, it will probably crumble.
16. Why are my bath bombs not sticking together in the stainless steel bath bomb mold?
    1. Try adding 5-10 drops of cyclomethicone in both sides of the bath bomb mold and swirling it around. Then, let the molds drain on a paper towel. That helps the bath bombs slide out easily. Having the correct texture helps too, make sure the mixture feels like wet sand and holds its shape when squeezed.
17. How do you store bath bombs?
    1. We recommend wrapping them tightly with plastic wrap and storing them in a cool, dry place. Once completely dry then you can package them anyway you want to.
18. How long will bath bombs last?
    1. They are best used between 3 and 6 months. bath bombs last for 6 months.

We hope that we have answered all the possible questions around making bath bombs, if we haven’t drop us an email and we will be happy to answer. [email protected]. If you think that its going to take too much effort and time you could just buy our organic bath bombs.

https://luxury-organics.co.uk/product/cocktail-bath-bomb-gift-box/