Simple, Natural & Vegan-Friendly
If you’ve ever wanted to bring a bit of calm to your day—or make something thoughtful for someone else—these handmade bath bombs are a great place to start. With the scent of rose, softening cocoa butter, and gentle fizz, they turn an ordinary bath into something peaceful and skin-nourishing.
They’re easy to make using ingredients you can pick up at most natural food stores, and they don’t include any artificial dyes or heavy fragrances. Just clean, skin-loving components and a subtle scent that lingers in the best way.
Makes: 6 to 7 bath bombs
Prep time: About an hour
Drying time: Let sit overnight
What You’ll Need
- 2 cups aluminum-free baking soda
- 1 cup food-grade citric acid
- 5 tablespoons finely ground oats (organic if possible)
- 4 tablespoons cocoa butter chips (we use Santa Barbara Chocolate’s)
- 1 tablespoon tapioca starch
- 1 tablespoon beet powder (for a soft, natural pink tint)
- 10–12 spritzes of rose oil mist
- Optional for decoration: dried rose petals and pink Himalayan salt
How to Make Them
Step 1: Mix Your Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, sift together the baking soda, citric acid, ground oats, tapioca starch, and beet powder. Sifting breaks up any clumps so the texture turns out smooth, which helps the bombs hold together later.
Step 2: Melt the Cocoa Butter
Melt the cocoa butter slowly using a double boiler (or a heat-safe bowl set over a pot of simmering water). Once melted, pour it over the dry mixture and stir gently until everything is evenly coated.
Step 3: Add Rose Mist and Blend
Give your mixture about 10 to 12 spritzes of rose oil mist, then use your hands to blend everything together. The mixture should feel slightly damp—kind of like damp sand. If it sticks together when squeezed, you're good to go.
Step 4: Pack the Molds
If you’re decorating your bombs, place a few rose petals and a pinch of pink salt into one half of the mold before filling it. Then tightly pack each side with the mixture, pressing it in firmly. Press both halves together and hold for a few seconds. Set them aside in the mold to dry overnight.
Plastic molds tend to work best, especially if you leave them sealed while they dry. This helps prevent crumbling.
Step 5: Let Them Dry and Gently Unmold
Leave your bath bombs in the molds for 8 to 12 hours. When you’re ready to unmold them, gently tap around the edges with your fingers or the handle of a wooden spoon. Take your time—rushing this part can cause cracks.
How to Store or Gift
Once dry, these bath bombs can be wrapped in parchment paper, tucked into small gift boxes, or placed in fabric bags. They make great gifts for birthdays, holidays, or just to let someone know you're thinking of them.
If you're keeping them for yourself, store them in an airtight container in a cool, dry spot. Moisture in the air can cause them to fizz before you’re ready to use them.
Why Use Cocoa Butter?
Cocoa butter is rich, gentle, and melts nicely into warm bath water. It softens the skin without leaving a greasy feel, and it's a great binder for bath bombs. The cocoa butter from Santa Barbara Chocolate is food-grade, which means it’s pure and clean—something you want when it comes to skincare.
It also gives the bombs a nice texture, helping everything hold together during the molding process.
A Light Touch of Rose
Rose oil mist adds a soft, fresh scent that complements the natural aroma of cocoa butter. It’s subtle, not overpowering. The beet powder gives a hint of pink without synthetic dyes, so the look is natural and calm, just like the bath itself.
This combination works well for most skin types and doesn’t rely on perfumes or colorants. It’s more about the feeling you get from natural, gentle ingredients.
A Thoughtful DIY With a Personal Touch
There’s something satisfying about making your own bath bombs. You know what’s in them, you can tweak the scent or color to your liking, and they feel meaningful—especially when given as gifts.
Whether you're making these for yourself or putting together a handmade care package, this recipe is easy to follow and results in something that looks and feels special.
