The 6 best bath bomb recipes for every mood
Customise your bath bomb
Few natural remedies are as effective for hitting your internal reset button as a hot bath. By customising the bath bomb recipe below with a variety of essential oils, you can soothe everything from frayed nerves to achy muscles, says intergrative health expert Dr Tasneem Bhatia. Keep reading to see how.
Basic bath bomb recipe
Here’s what you’ll need:
2 cups baking soda
1 cup citric acid
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1 tablespoon almond or olive oil
Essential oils
Water
Packing moulds (If you don’t have food moulds, ice cube trays, hollow plastic Easter eggs, or Christmas tree ornaments that snap open and closed will do.)
Directions:
Mix baking soda, citric acid and Epsom salt in a bowl. Add almond or olive oil and essential oils. Add water slowly (the mixture might create a small foaming reaction. If that happens, pour even more slowly). The mixture should be just moist enough to hold a shape. Pack mixture into moulds for a few minutes, then tap to release. Allow bath bombs to dry for about five hours. To use, simply drop one in the bath. Enjoy!
Note: Bath bombs should be used within three weeks.
A bath bomb for when you’re feeling stressed
To soothe the senses when you’re stressed out, try a bath bomb infused with 10 drops of bergamot (use one labelled bergaptene-free) and 10 drops of clary sage. The citrusy-flower bergamot mixed with clary sage calms the nervous system and clears the mind.
“Bergamot is an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic and its aromatic scent has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety,” says Dr Bhatia, echoing the findings of a review of studies published in 2019 in Food Science & Nutrition. “Clary sage also reduces stress and acts as an antidepressant.”
A bath bomb for when you can’t fall asleep
Settle into a more restful state by creating a bath bomb that includes 10 drops of chamomile, 10 drops lavender and 10 drops mandarin.
“Both lavender and chamomile are calm- and relaxation-promoting herbs, while mandarin is known to be calming and promote joy,” says Dr Bhatia.
A bath bomb for when your muscles ache
Soothe sore muscles with a bath bomb infused with 10 drops lavender and 10 drops rosemary, which reduces inflammation.
“Lavender is calming, while rosemary is known to increase blood flow, helping muscle soreness,” says Dr Bhatia. For even more of a treat, add extra Epsom salt to your bath before you hop in. The magnesium sulfate works as a natural muscle relaxant, pulling fluid out of the muscles and reducing swelling.
A bath bomb for when you need a pick-me-up
Need a bath bomb to help you overcome that 3pm gotta-have-a-nap feeling on days you work from home? Add 10 drops grapefruit oil and 10 drops bergamot oil.
Keep in mind: “Citrus oils can sting a bit so you have to be careful with them,” says Dr Bhatia. If the grapefruit-bergamot combo doesn’t do the trick, soak a cotton swab with peppermint essential oil and take a whiff whenever you need an extra zap of energy.
A bath bomb for setting a romantic mood
Floral scents like rose oil and ylang-ylang are great for setting the mood for romance, if only because “they’re soothing scents that promote calm and relaxation,” says Dr Bhatia.
Try a bath bomb made with 10 drops of each. Add a pinch of vanilla for an added kick.
A bath bomb for indulging the senses
For an all-purpose bath bomb that will indulge the senses no matter the mood or the moment, try this fresh-floral mix: 10 drops rose or lavender oil, 10 drops of lemon and 5 drops of patchouli. “This is a combo of stress relief and a bit of a pick-me-up,” says Dr Bhatia. “Like many citrus oils, lemon is stimulating while patchouli and lavender are relaxing and provide skin relief.”
Written by Juliana LaBianca. This article first appeared in Reader’s Digest. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, here’s our best subscription offer.
Image: Getty Images