Pink Himalayan Salt Bath Bombs

A few weeks ago I picked up Himalayan Pink Salt – it’s pretty incredible stuff that’s high in minerals and nutrients. It works super to make bath bombs and can be substituted for Epsom Salt in the basic bath bombs recipe.

Bath bombs are so incredibly expensive to buy in store – and they are one thing that’s really easy to make yourself at home. The tricky part of bath bombs is getting them “not” to fizz while you make them.

We’ve attempted bath bombs SO many times, but every time I make them I get too overzealous and add too much liquid… then I wake up in the morning to find that the fizzies have taken over my kitchen. It’s quite a sight.

Instead of adding liquid to the main ingredients (a ratio of 2:1:1 for baking soda, salt and citric acid), I opt for a small spray bottle, and I cautiously spray until the main ingredients are just moist enough to push into a silicone mold. Once in the mold, I lightly spray again as I push the mixture in to form the hearts.

These bath bombs are heart shaped.

But you can really make them any size that you would like. You can pick up the spherical halves on Amazon and make round bath bombs. OR you can use heart shaped cookie cutters and mold your bath bombs like that too. Whatever works best for you, given what you have.

I use a silicone mold, the same mold that I use to make my Essential Oil Lotion Bars, and my Lavender Chamomile Bath Melts. I mix up, then let them sit on the counter for 12-24 hours to dry thoroughly.

Then I pop out (carefully) and store in an airtight container.

How to make Bath Bombs

Making bath bombs is tricky – if you add too much liquid, then they will fizz up and overtake your mold and kitchen before you can even turn around. You can keep them as is – a light pink color that comes with the Himalayan Pink Salt. Or you can opt to add food coloring to give them a little color.

I purchased my Citric Acid on Amazon (5 lbs for $15, or 1 lb for a little more per pound) – as it was easier to grab there than travel to a store. Some people have mentioned finding citric acid in the canning supplies section at Walmart but I haven’t ever seen it there (or any grocery store for that matter).

I used Lavender Essential Oil in my bath bombs – my kids love using Lavender in their bath, and it’s gentle on their skin. The fragrance is perfect for these – my kids could literally toss a million of these in the bath if I let them (so I have to stand there and monitor!)

Be careful with using cheap fragrance essential oils – they are often times made with synthetic ingredients. 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 C. Baking Soda
• 1/4 C. fine grain Pink Himalayan Salt
• 1/4 C. Citric Acid (5 lbs or 1 lb bag)
• 20 drops Lavender Essential Oil 
• A small spray bottle of Witch Hazel or Water
• Spherical Halves (Amazon) or Silicone Mold (Amazon)

This mixture above made 9 heart-shaped bath fizzies for us.

Stir the dry ingredients and set aside.  Add the essential oil and food coloring – then mix well.  Spray the dry mixture lightly with the spray bottle (whether it’s filled with water or, with witch hazel). I find the spray bottle to be the easiest way to moisten the mixture without adding too much liquid.

You want the salt mixture to stick together without crumbling. You won’t need that much water… spray lightly just until it’s wet enough to stick together.  It may fizz a little and that is OK – as it will do that.

If you add too much liquid, however, it will puff up – if that happens to you then you have added too much moisture. That IS salvageable by adding more baking soda, salt and citric acid (2:1:1 ratio).

Once the mixture gets to the perfect point where it sticks together without being crumbly, shape into the mold – whether a cookie cutter, silicone mold or mini muffin tin. 

Allow that mixture to sit in the mold or cookie cutter for a few minutes – then push out and allow to dry for up to 24 hours. Store in an airtight container.  

If you liked these bath bombs you might love these recipes too!

 Stress Away Bath Bombs

 

Lavender Bath Bombs