You can purchase bath bombs anywhere from $5 to $10, but why do that when you can custom-blend your own? Here's how.
Materials:
2 cups baking soda
1 cup citric acid
1 cup corn starch
8 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon borax
1-1/2 tablespoons water
5 tablespoons light oil--like olive, jojoba or almond
Essential oil--any desired aroma, such as lavender or chamomile
Steps:
- First, measure out all of the dry ingredients in a big bowl. Once you've mixed them, use a sifter to get out the lumps.
- Next, mix all of the wet ingredients together. Start with water, then add a little less than five tablespoons of light oil. Then add a few drops of essential oil to the mixture. Whisk until all wet ingredients are incorporated.
- Slowly drizzle the water and oil mixture over the dry ingredients a little at a time, and continue mixing with your hands. It takes a while for the ingredients to absorb into the oil and water. Keep the ingredients crumbly. You'll know the mixture is wet enough when it can hold its shape after being molded into a ball. If the mixture gets too wet, the citric acid will continue bubbling, which will zap the effervescence.
- Mold the mixture into tight, firm sphere shapes. Each batch will make about seven bath bombs. Let dry for 24 to 48 hours. Check them after a couple hours of drying. If they've expanded in size, remold them to their original size.
- Once the bath bombs are dry, store them in a decorative bowl or jar. Another option is to wrap them in tissue and cellophane.
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