Buy with Prime
Bath Goods
Bath Goods: Free Recipes for Bath Bombs, Salts and Milk Soaks
Bath goods are the products you add to the tub: bath bombs that fizz, mineral salts and soaks, milk baths and bubble baths. They are some of the easiest products to make at home, because most use dry ingredients that need no emulsifying and, when kept dry, no preservative. This page collects our free bath recipes so you can choose the right one for the bath you want.
Which Bath Recipe to Make
| Recipe | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| How to Make Bath Bombs | Baking soda and citric acid pressed into a mold; fizzes in water | Gifts, kids' bath time (fragrance free), a fun scented soak |
| Bath Salt Recipe | Epsom, sea or pink salts with oils and botanicals | A relaxing, unwinding soak at the end of the day |
| Milk Bath and Beauty Recipes | Milk powder soaks and masks | A creamy, softening bath for dry-feeling skin |
After the bath, seal in moisture with a rich balm from our bath and body collection, such as the Glow Up Whipped Tallow Balm ($19.95), on slightly damp skin.
Tips for Making Bath Goods at Home
- Keep everything dry. Moisture sets off the fizz in bath bombs early and can let microbes grow in salts and milk powders. Use dry, clean bowls and scoops, and store finished products in an airtight jar.
- Disperse essential oils. Oil floats on bath water. Blend essential oils into a carrier oil or a dispersant before adding them to salts, and follow the amount in each recipe rather than adding extra.
- Skip glitter and talc. Scripps Health advises avoiding talc in bath bombs, notes that glitter can be abrasive, and that plastic microbeads harm the environment.
- Make small batches. Dry bath products keep for a few months when sealed; label each jar with the date.
- Clean the tub. Oils can make the tub slippery, so rinse it after the bath.
Sensitive Skin and Kids
Fragrance and dyes are the most common reasons a bath product feels irritating. A Scripps Health physician recommends patch testing a bath bomb on the inner elbow for 48 hours, limiting baths to about 15 minutes, rinsing off afterward, and stopping if you notice skin or breathing irritation. For sensitive skin, make the fragrance-free and dye-free version of each recipe. For children, leave out essential oils and colors, and ask your pediatrician first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are homemade bath bombs safe?
For most people, yes, when you use simple ingredients and skip talc and glitter. People with sensitive skin should patch test first and choose a fragrance-free, dye-free recipe, because fragrances and dyes are the usual causes of irritation.
How long do homemade bath bombs and bath salts last?
Kept dry in an airtight container, they generally stay fresh for a few months. Bath bombs lose fizz once they absorb humidity, so store them away from the shower and use them within a few months.
How much essential oil do you put in bath salts?
Use the amount given in the recipe, and mix it into a carrier oil or dispersant first so it does not float on the water. If your skin is sensitive, use half the amount or leave it out.
How long should you soak in a bath?
About 15 minutes is a good limit. A Scripps Health physician recommends keeping bath bomb soaks to about 15 minutes and rinsing off in the shower afterward.
Can kids use homemade bath bombs?
Ask your pediatrician first. If you make them for children, leave out essential oils, dyes and glitter, and keep bath time short.
Sources
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
About the Author
Written by Kari Thomas, cosmetic formulator and founder of Skin Perfection.