Make Bath Bombs Without Citric Acid

Bath bombs can be super fun to make but can be a bit tricky to make well. One reason for that is because a typical main ingredient, citric acid, can be expensive and hard to find. This recipe addresses this issue by using cream of tartar, a common baking ingredient, instead of citric acid. These citric acid-less bath bombs will produce colorful baths and super smooth skin.

Ingredients

• 1 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup cream of tartar
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 cup salt (Epsom salts, sea salt, or non-iodized table salt)
• 2 teaspoons essential oil
• 1 tablespoon oil (any type of moisturizing vegetable oil, such as sweet almond oil, coconut oil, or olive oil) (optional)
• 1 or 2 drops of food coloring (optional)

Steps

Making Your Bath Bomb

1. Make sure you have everything you need on hand. Once the ingredients are all mixed together, you'll need to work quickly. You don't want to be digging through your pantry to find a mold last minute.
   • Keep in mind that this recipe will make approximately one large, softball-sized bath bomb. If you would like to make a different amount, adjust the recipe while keeping the proportions the same. (For example, if you wanted to make two softball-sized bath bombs, you would start with 2 cups baking soda instead of 1.)
   • Try organizing your ingredients by grouping the wet ingredients separate from the dry ones.
2. Add the dry ingredients to a glass or metal bowl. Place the baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, and salts into the bowl.
   • Avoid using plastic bowls and spoons, as plastic can soak up essential oils. This won't affect your bath bomb, but the plastic will probably smell like soap for a very long time.
   • You have a few different choices of which salt you can use. One common frugal option is Epsom salts. You can also use sea salts, which are more expensive. In a pinch, you can even use table salt, but it must be non-iodized.
   • Some hobbyists claim that cornstarch can cause yeast infections and leave it out of their recipes. However, studies have shown no correlation, and cornstarch continues to be a common ingredient in commercial bath bombs. If you don't want to use cornstarch, add an additional 1/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup salts. Keep in mind that cornstarch acts as a filler and slows down the fizzing reaction. Without it, a bath bomb will fizz much more vigorously but won't last as long.
3. Whisk the dry ingredients together. Take a metal whisk and use it to mix all the ingredients together well. If you don't have a whisk available you can improvise one with two forks or a set of chopsticks.
4. Mix the oils and food coloring in a bowl. Measure out the oils and food coloring into a second bowl. Whisk these ingredients together, but keep in mind that the food coloring and oil are unlikely to mix; the first ingredient in most food coloring is water.
   • Essential oils add fragrance to your bath bomb. Be careful when handling undiluted essential oils, as these can burn your skin.
   • The second oil is optional and acts as a moisturizer. Sweet almond oil, coconut oil, and olive oil all work well.
5. Add the mixture of wet ingredients to the dry ingredients gradually. Gently spoon the wet ingredients into the first bowl and mix well before adding more. Mix well as you go. If the mixture starts to foam, you may be adding the ingredients too quickly.
   • To keep from staining your hands, you may want to wear gloves. The best way to mix the ingredients at this stage is to knead them by hand.
6. Spritz the mixture with a water bottle as necessary. You will probably need to add some water to your bath bomb to blend the ingredients well. The exact amount of extra moisture you'll need will vary, so it's best to add it little by little as you work. In general, you'll need less than a tablespoon. Spray in some water whenever you have difficulty working the mixture.
   • You should end up with a mixture that is crumbly but holds its shape when squeezed together.
7. Fill the mold with the mixture. Pack the mixture in as tightly as you can. Pat it down to make a smooth and even surface.
   • If you're using the popular Christmas decoration option, overfill each half of the ball. Press the two together lightly.
8. Wait for your bath bomb to set before removing it from the mold. Allow your bath bomb to dry for at least a few hours and ideally overnight.
   • If you try to remove it prematurely, it is more likely to fall apart.
   • Rinse all metal tools carefully. Epsom salt can corrode metal over time.
9. Use your bath bomb. Once it's out of the mold, the bath bomb is ready for use. Simply fill up your bath tub with warm water, drop in your bomb, and relax.
   • It's best to use a bath bomb within a few weeks. Older bath bombs lose their effervescence.

Planning and Perfecting Your Bath Bombs

1. Pick a mold. Almost anything can be used as a mold, but plastic and glass items work best. You can pick something big enough to hold a few cups for one big bath bomb or use smaller molds for little bath bombs.
   • Plastics can soak up undiluted essential oil, but this is less likely to happen after you've mixed everything together.
   • The most popular "mold" is a spherical plastic Christmas ornament. Look for the two-part, snap-together type of ornament commonly sold at craft stores. It will make the round, softball-sized shape often seen in commercial bath bombs.
   • Chocolate molds come in many cute shapes that are perfect for making bath bombs.
   • Tart and cupcake tins also work well.
2. Choose and experiment with colors. You don't have to use dyes right out of the box. Try mixing them together to create you favorite colors.
   • A bath bomb that looks pretty when you make it may not necessarily make the best-looking bath.
   • Keep a record of which combinations you've tried and which work out best.
   • Make sure to always use dyes that are non-toxic, non-staining, and water soluble.
3. Find the perfect fragrance. Get creative with your bath bomb's scent. Blend Essential Oils for Soapmaking together to create your own unique aroma.
   • If you don't know where to start, you can look up essential oil "recipes" online for suggestions. You don't have to look specifically for bath bomb-making blends. Information for soap making and aromatherapy will also apply to bath bombs.
   • Some popular combinations include: 4 parts spearmint to 1 part patchouli, 2 parts orange to one part vanilla, 1 part patchouli to 1 part cedarwood to 2 parts bergamot, equal parts lavender and peppermint, and 1 part peppermint to 1 part tea tree to 2 parts lavender.
   • You can bottle and store larger amounts of your favorite blends for later use.
   • Be careful when handling undiluted essential oils. Some can burn or irritate your skin.

Tips

• Make sure to add the oils to the dry ingredients slowly. Going too fast may cause them to fizz prematurely, and your bath bomb won't work.
• Wrap bath bombs in clear cellophane and tie with a bow for a lovely handmade gift.
• If the environment is very humid, it will take longer for the bath bomb to dry.
• Try making smaller bath bombs if yours crumbles when removed from the mold.
• You can adapt most other bath bomb recipes to use cream of tartar instead of citric acid. Just make sure you use half as much cream of tartar as you would citric acid. Too much cream of tartar will make the mixture too thick to stir.

Things You'll Need

• 1 or more molds (depending on the amount of mixture you make)
• Whisk (alternatives: forks, chopsticks)
• 2 bowls (glass or metal)
• A measuring cup
• Measuring spoons (preferably metal)
• Small metal spoon
• Latex gloves (optional)
• Spray bottle filled with water

Related Articles

• Make Bath Bombs
• Make Vanilla Bath Bombs
• Make Cupcake Bath Bomb Fizzles
• Split and Store Your Bath Bombs

Sources and Citations

• Videos provided by Ashley Adkins

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