How to make handmade floral and oatmeal bath bombs with a secret cache of flower petals. As the bath bomb fizzes in warm water, the petals emerge! This rose petal bath bomb recipe also takes you through the full process of mixing the ingredients, molds, and troubleshooting.
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Bath bombs are fun to use and gift and relatively easy to make – you can even make them with kids! The main ingredients are citric acid and baking soda, and you can add clay, oatmeal, flowers, and essential oil for scent. Each of these additives is usually optional, but they make the finished product beautiful and a pleasure to use! The basic steps to blending them all together are to mix the dry ingredients in a bowl, then gradually mix in the wet until you get a damp consistency. Then, you press the mixture into molds, unmold them, and let them dry out for a day. Easy peasy.
In this recipe, the basic ingredients are complemented with oatmeal for added creaminess, dried flower petals, and a floral essential oil blend. The essential oils are simply gorgeous and are the perfect complement to their floral design. Not only do I show you how to create a flower petal decoration, but there’s a secret cache of flowers inside. You can’t see them in the finished bath bombs, but they’re released when the fizzy dissolves in the bath. Although the fizz is fun, the ingredient that makes these bath bombs especially great for your skin is oatmeal. Oatmeal turns your bath water silky and is wonderful for soothing dry or irritated skin.
Bath Bomb Molds
The one challenging part of making bath bombs is getting the right dry-to-wet consistency. If it’s too dry, the mixture won’t stick together. Too wet, and the mixture may fizz and expand or not want to come out of the mold. If this happens, keep a measuring cup or a silicone muffin tray on hand. If the mixture isn’t cooperating with your two-part molds, you can press it into the mold and save your batch. Alternatively, you can make your bath bombs inside a metal measuring cup, like the one below. When you’re finished constructing your bath bomb, you can turn the measuring cup upside down to remove the circular, yet flat, bath bomb.
Rose Petal Bath Bomb Recipe
Makes about three 2.25″ (6 cm) diameter round bath bombs. You can double or triple the recipe, but I don’t recommend making more than that in a single batch. The equipment you’ll need is basic, and almost everything you need is already in your kitchen cupboards. It doesn’t take very long to make them either, and the small batch below should only take you about half an hour.
- 1/2 cup (110 g) citric acid
- 1 cup (290 g) baking soda (bicarbonate of soda
- 1/4 cup (25 g) oatmeal (or colloidal oatmeal)
- 1/2 tsp rose geranium essential oil
- dried rose petals
- dried lavender buds (optional)
- witch hazel (in a spray bottle)
- bath bomb molds
Step 1: Sift the Dry Ingredients
Sift the citric acid and baking soda (bicarbonate) into a bowl. Sifting removes any clumps and will ensure a smooth and even consistency in your finished bath bombs. If you’re using a scale to measure your ingredients, place the bowl with your fine mesh sifter nested inside directly on top and pour the ingredients in.
Step 2: Add the Liquid Ingredients
Next, drizzle your essential oils onto the baking soda and citric acid and mix everything really well.I find that using my hand is far better than a spoon since I can break any clumps with my fingers and make sure that the fragrance is evenly dispersed. If you decide to do this, too, wearing gloves may be a good idea. Pour the oats in next and stir.
Step 3: Moistening the Mixture
Here comes the trickiest part to describe. You’ll want to spray the dry mixture with witch hazel until it reaches a slightly damp consistency. The best way to describe this damp beach sand that’s the perfect consistency for making sandcastles. When making bath bombs, I spray three squirts of witch hazel and then blend it in with my hand. I keep adding three more squirts and mixing until the consistency feels right. What you’re looking for is the mixture just being able to hold form when you squish it in your hand.
Step 4: Creating the Floral Decoration
Traditional bath bomb molds come in two pieces, with one side fitting inside the other. There are plastic ones like the ones in the photos, but metal is much better since it lasts longer. Take the half that has the lip that fits inside the other half and place a few dried flower petals at the bottom. These will be the pretty decoration you see on the top of the bath bomb so arrange the flowers in an attractive manner. If you use a measuring cup or silicone mold as your bath bomb mold, just sprinkle petals in the bottom of the cup or cavity.
Step 5: Secret Stash of Flower Petals
Take a handful of the damp bath bomb mixture and carefully sprinkle it on top of your flower arrangement. Use both of your thumbs to compact the mixture down, but leave a hollow in the center. Fill this hollow with more dried flower petals, and then sprinkle more bath bomb mixture on top. Leave this top dressing of mix loose and set this half of the mold down for a moment.
Step 6: Finish Molding
Take the second half of the mold in your hand and fill it with the bath bomb mix. Press down with your thumbs to compress, but don’t leave a hollow this time. Top it off with a bit more bath bomb mix, and like the other half, don’t compress this top layer yet. Carefully pick up both halves of the mold and place them together. Press firmly so that the mixture from both halves compresses together.
Step 7: Unmold the Bath Bombs
Pull the ‘bottom’ mold off your bath bomb, then gently slide it out of the second half. I recommend that you slide it out and directly onto a folded towel with a sheet of cling film on top. You can leave it there to dry. If the surface you dry your bath bombs on has fibers, they can stick to the bath bomb. Use bubble wrap or a non-stick surface like I’m doing here with cling film.
Step 8: Drying Bath Bombs
Depending on size, bath bombs can take anywhere from twelve to twenty-four hours to dry. After this, you’re able to pop them into your bath for fizzy and fragrant relaxation. If you’d like to save them for later, store them in an airtight container to help preserve the scent. The container will also help stop them from getting damp. Bath bombs have a long shelf life, but I’d recommend using them within a few months. Over time the rose petals may fade in color and you want to use the bath bombs when they’re at their best. Interested in more bath and skincare recipes? Here are a few ideas for you to check out next:
- Lavender Bath Bomb Recipe
- Rose Petal Skin Cream Recipe
- Oatmeal Soap Recipe (cold process)
- Christmas Tree Bath Bomb Recipe
