Candy Cane Christmas Bath Bomb Recipe - Amazing Gift Idea! (2024)

FAQs

Why are my bath bombs cracking? ›

My bath bombs are cracking. What do I do? Your mixture is too dry. Add a dash of 91% rubbing alcohol and mix well.

Bath bombs can have a wide range of ingredients, including bath salts (which can help sooth muscles), food coloring, fragrances and other components. There are, however, a few key ingredients that most homemade recipes have: baking soda and citric acid.

The fastest method is oven drying. You can leave the bath bombs inside for about an hour if you're in a rush. But it's better to let them sit for about four hours. Another quick way to speed up drying is by adding kaolin clay, which is very helpful and will get your bath bombs dry in about 3 hours.

Bath bombs don't expire in the sense that a carton of milk does, but they will definitely lose their fizz and scent over time. After six months to a year, they'll be less effective, so it's best to use them within six months. If your bath bomb wasn't stored properly, though, you may want to skip out on using it.

Many bath bombs contain a straightforward combination of Epsom salt, citric acid and baking soda, which are not likely to cause any harm to a bath. If you are wanting to have bath bombs in your whirlpool bath, then a combination of these types of ingredients should not cause you any problems.

The Epsom salt provides a detox in the bath, helping the body in its process of removing toxins and harmful substances from the cells, which also relieves muscle aches and pains.

Two of the key ingredients to a bath bomb are citric acid and sodium bicarbonate. You might also know sodium bicarbonate by its more common name, baking soda. These two ingredients are what cause the impressive and delightful fizz when the bath bomb enters the water.

Bath Bomb Recipe Hardeners

Many recipes use either a starch, a clay, or cream of tartar to harden the final product. Our Bath Bomb and Fizzy Base contains cornstarch as a hardener. Some recipes use tapioca starch. I like to use a combination of Kaolin Clay and cream of tartar.

Witch hazel is a must-have for bath bombs. It wets the baking soda and citric acid enough to hold a shape, then evaporates in the finished product. You can use other methods, but we definitely prefer witch hazel.

Try adding more baking soda or citric acid to balance it out. If you live in a really humid area, we recommend investing in a dehumidifer to keep things dry while you work. You can also add about 1 teaspoon of kaolin clay per cup of powder. It helps bath bombs harden and hold their shape.

What holds bath bombs together? ›

Bath bombs are a combination of baking soda, citric acid, water or a light oil as a binder. Avocado, sweet almond or safflower. Some people put a little cream of tartar or corn starch in for a hardener.

Why is my bath bomb crumbly/cracking? It's probably too dry. You want the mixture to feel like wet sand and hold its shape when squeezed. Use one hand to spritz with witch hazel and one hand to mix until it's the right consistency.

If you see any type of mould growth on a bath bomb, then it's a clear sign it has expired. Some bath bomb recipes use natural ingredients like butter, milk and oatmeal, and these are more likely to go mouldy when left unused for some time. Bath bombs can also expire if they are exposed to water, oxygen or mould spores.

If your bath bombs aren't formed tightly when they are molded, they will tend to crumble. If that happens, your mixture is most likely too dry. Try adding more oil or water to moisten it and then let them sit again to dry. Remember to slowly add a little amount of liquid to it.

Well, on the RARE occasion that you have a bath bomb go wrong, we have the fix for you! Just wrap up the crumbled bath bomb pieces in water soluble paper and pop them in the tub! Bonus: They're so cute no one will know you ever “goofed” up a recipe!