Bath bombs are a fun and luxurious way to end the day. Bath bombs can be expensive and filled with questionable ingredients but when you make homemade bath bombs you can control the cost and the ingredients. Use this easy lavender milk bath bomb recipe as a starting point for making diy bath bombs.

Lavender milk bath bombs on wooden table with herbal book sits on a table. Text overlay reads: Lavender Milk Bath Bomb Recipe.

Ingredients for Bath Bombs

Bath bombs fizz as a result of the chemical reaction between a base (baking soda) and an acid (citric acid) that is activated by water. Since both of these are dry ingredients they can be mixed ahead of time and will only fizz when they get wet. You can also add oil for moisturizing, herbs and essential oils to the mix.

Baking soda
Citric acid
Shea butter, cocoa butter, or coconut oil
Herbs such as lavender, calendula, rose, chamomile, etc.
Dried milk, oatmeal, etc.
Essential oils such as lavender, chamomile, sweet orange, etc.
Witch hazel – this is optional but it helps moisturize the mixture without it reacting as it would with water

Supplies for bath bombs

Unlike soap making, you really don’t need separate supplies for making bath bombs, you probably already have the supplies in your kitchen.

Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Medium mixing bowl
Small mixing bowl
Spatula
Wax paper or parchment paper
String or thin twine
Scissors

Two pairs of children's hands mixing bath bomb ingredients in large metal bowl.

How to use a bath bomb

The great thing about making your own bath bombs is that you get to pick the size and fragrance of them. So unlike store bought bath bombs which can often be huge, there will be no need to cut them in half or get frustrated because you can’t find the fragrance you like. Making your own bath bombs is just one of many money saving bathroom ideas.

When using a bath bomb it’s best to fill your tub with warm (or hot) water – not so hot that you’re lethargic when you get out but hot enough to be relaxing. The heat will help the shea or cocoa butter dissolve.

When the tub is full, turn the water off and drop the bath bomb into the bathtub.

If the bath bomb has dried herbs added to it, you might want to put it in a muslin bag or wrap it with a piece of fabric to keep the herbs from floating in the water and going down the drain when you empty the tub.

Soak in the tub for at least 20 minutes.

When you’re exiting the tub be careful as the tub floor may be slippery from the shea butter.

After you’ve dried off, you can lock the moisture by immediately applying body butter or lotion.

Lavender milk bath bombs on wooden table with herbal book.

Lavender Milk Bath Bomb Recipe

This recipe is adapted from The Big Book of Homemade Products For Your Skin, Health, and Home by Jan Berry. This is my favorite basic book for homemade herbal type products. Jan does a fantastic job of laying out the basics and teaching the “why” behind them. This way, you can decide where to make changes based on your family’s needs and resources.

I love that all the recipes contain easy to find ingredients, many of which you can grow yourself. These ingredients are all safe and cost effective.

Along with homemade bath bombs, there are recipes for soap, moisturizers, hair care, laundry detergent, cleaning spray and other home and body care products.

Yield: 6 bath bombs

Easy Lavender Milk Bath Bombs

Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 20 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

2 cups baking soda
1 cup citric acid
1 tbsp dry milk powder
2 tbsp shea butter
22 drops lavender essential oil
Witch hazel in spray bottle (optional)

Tools

Measuring spoons
Measuring cups
Spatula
Medium mixing bowl
Small mixing bowl

Instructions

Cut 6 small pieces of wax paper or parchment paper for wrapping the bath bombs.
In a medium bowl, mix the baking soda, citric acid, and dry milk powder. If there are any clumps, break them up.
In a small bowl, melt the shea butter (either in the microwave for a few seconds or in a double boiler)
Add the lavender essential oil to the melted shea butter
Slowly pour the shea butter mixture into the dry mixture and mix well
You should start to notice that the mixture will start to stick together.
When you think the shea butter is mixed throughout, squeeze the mixture in your hand to see if it will stick together.
If it's not sticking together well, spritz it with witch hazel. Just one squirt at a time as too much moisture will cause the baking soda and citric acid to start reacting.
Pack the mixture into the bath bomb mold. I just use a 1/2 cup measuring cup. I find this is the easiest way to form them and get them out.
If you want to have some dried herbs for decorations on the outside of the bath bomb, put a bit in the mold before packing the bath bomb mixture in it.
Once the mixture is packed tightly, turn it out onto a piece of wax paper or parchment paper.
Allow the bath bombs to dry for several hours.
Wrap the bath bomb in wax or parchment paper and use twine or string to tie closed.
Store bath bombs in an air tight jar.

Notes

Bath bombs are best made on a day that isn't humid as the air humidity can cause it to have too much moisture.

Be careful exiting the tub after using bath bombs as the tub floor can be slippery.

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Lavender milk bath bombs on wooden table with text overlay reading: Super Easy Lavender Milk Bath Bomb Recipe.

Tips for making bath bombs for beginners

While bath bombs are fun to make, they can be a bit fussy. Because of that, we’ve complied our best beginner tips for making bath bombs to help you out.