Bath bomb 🛁

✅ You will need:

• 100g bicarbonate of soda
• 50g citric acid*
• 25g cornflour
• 25g Epsom salt (optional)
• 2 tbsp oil – such as sunflower, coconut or olive oil
• ¼ tsp essential oil, such as orange, lavender or chamomile
• A few drops of liquid food colouring
• Orange peel, lavender or rose petals, to decorate (optional)
• Mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Plastic moulds (see below for ideas)

🫙 Mould inspiration:

• Yoghurt or pudding pots
• Christmas tree decorations (bauble or star)
• Plastic packaging from toys
• Silicone cupcake cases
• Silicone ice cube trays
• Easter egg packaging
• Plastic biscuit cutters (place them on a tray)

✨ Quick wins:

⭐ Be sure to use liquid food colouring, not gels. Gels will clump together when you add them to the bicarbonate and it’s hard to mix them in. Be sparing (and check with an adult) as food colouring may stain.

⭐ Once you’ve added the liquid to the mixture, you need to work quickly to mix everything together and push it into the mould as soon as you can.

⭐ To allow your bath bombs to dry, leave them uncovered in a cool, dry place (away from taps and humidity). They will take longer to set in humid weather.

⭐ If you’ve got more than one colour, why not make a rainbow bath bomb? Layer up the different colours and they will blend together beautifully.

🥣 What to do:

Makes 4 half-balls

1️⃣ Put the bicarbonate of soda, citric acid, cornflour and Epsom salt in a bowl, then whisk until fully combined.

2️⃣ Pour the base oil, essential oil and food colouring in a small bowl. Mix together well, combining the oil with the colouring as much as possible.

3️⃣ Very slowly add the oil mixture into the dry ingredients a little at a time, whisking between each addition.

4️⃣ When all the oil is added, add a few tiny drops of water and whisk again (it will fizz when you add the water, so mix it in quickly). You’re looking for the mixture to slightly clump together when pressed in your hand and keep its shape – it shouldn’t be too wet.

5️⃣ If you’re adding peel or flower petals to decorate, drop them into the bottom of your chosen mould. Pack your mixture tightly on top, pressing down and smoothing out the top with a teaspoon.

6️⃣ Leave your bath bomb in the mould to dry for 2-4 hrs, then carefully remove it. It’s now ready to drop into the bath – watch it fizz away!

*Start by making half-shapes as it can be tricky to make a sphere that sticks together. If you want to make a complete sphere, you’ll need a two-sided mould. Slightly overfill each side with the mixture, then press firmly together and secure with elastic bands while it dries. Be very gentle when you remove them from the moulds.*

💡 Why it works:

Mixing the ingredients, choosing colours and scents, and shaping your creation can help you focus on the present moment and take a break from worries or stress. Using your bath bomb in a warm bath creates a calming multi-sensory experience. Watch it fizz, enjoy the scents, and let yourself relax, switch off and recharge.