Fizz Boom Bath! Read online

  EQUIPMENT

  Pretty much every time we dive into a new project, we end up having the most fun during the planning phase. What supplies will we use? Will we need to purchase something new, or can we use what’s already on hand in a creative way? (As we mentioned in the introduction, when we first started making bath bombs, we used a plastic snowball maker to mold them!) And how long will it take our mom to figure out we raided the utensil drawer? Nothing beats that lightning bolt moment when a great idea sparks. Think of this section of the book your formal invitation to channel your inner hunter-gatherer and scour your home for some useful materials!

  BOWLS AND OTHER CONTAINERS

  Head to the kitchen and grab some small and medium mixing bowls. You’ll need them to mix together various products. In many cases, you’ll also need a container to store the finished product. For masks and scrubs, you can just use plastic containers with lids, like Tupperware. But you may want nicer (glass) containers if you’re giving your creations as gifts or if you just want to pamper yourself. For items like lip balms, you may need to buy small containers, like empty lip balm tubes, online to pour the hot balm in to harden. For sprays, search online for empty atomizer (spray) bottles.

  PAINTBRUSHES

  When using mica powder to make your bath bombs extra sparkly, you’ll need a paintbrush to paint it on.

  PIPETTES

  Pipettes are liquid droppers. They’re used for transferring some hot homemade beauty products (like lotion bars before they’ve hardened) into molds and are essential for adding oils and other products to your creations when they don’t come with droppers. They’re also great for stirring, because you can throw them away and don’t have to worry about the product hardening on your kitchen utensils.

  MOLDS

  Molds are vital for making solid bath bombs as well as other solid bath products like bath jellies and lotion bars. They come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. We recommend reusable rubber or metal molds for bath bombs and rubber for lotion bars. Unless otherwise noted, the sphere-shaped bath bombs in this book were made with tennis ball–sized molds approximately 2.75 inches (7 cm) in diameter. This size will yield 3 to 4 bombs in a batch. As usual, we think experimenting with different shapes is part of the fun, but we’ve also given you some different examples throughout using just about every shape of mold we could find. Don’t hesitate to look around your house for items you might have on hand that could work well. Kitchen staples like cookie cutters, muffin pans, and even small measuring cups can make great molds!

  PART ONE

  BATH BOMBS

  HOW TO MAKE A BATH BOMB

  OKAY, PEOPLE. THIS ISN’T ROCKET SCIENCE, but there is chemistry involved and it never hurts to understand the basics. The two main ingredients in a bath bomb are baking soda and citric acid. When you mix them together and combine them with water, carbon dioxide gas is released, hence the “fizz.” This is called an acid-base reaction, and it’s pretty fun to watch. To make the bomb stick together, most people use what’s called a “binding agent.” Our binding agent of choice is oil. We also include cornstarch in our recipe, because it’s a natural water softener and the color and fragrance are fun bonuses! Though there’s virtually no limit to the ingredients you can add—think kaolin clay, cocoa butter, shea butter, Epsom salts—we like to keep it simple. Below is an easy, basic bath bomb recipe that you can use as a starting point. Part of what we find so much fun about making bath bombs is experimenting with different fragrances, shapes, color combos, and even oils—so feel free to switch things up and don’t be afraid to end up with a few misshapen or crumbling bombs that are just … bombs. That’s part of the fun! For dozens of specific ideas and recipes, see the following pages.

  MAKE 3–4 BOMBS

  21/4 CUPS (497 G) BAKING SODA

  11/4 CUPS (288 G) GRANULAR CITRIC ACID

  1/4 CUP (24 G) CORNSTARCH

  3/4 CUP (180 ML) CANOLA, COCONUT, SWEET ALMOND (OUR FAVORITE), OR OTHER OIL

  1 TEASPOON FRAGRANCE OR ESSENTIAL OIL

  1/2+ TEASPOON LIQUID COLOR (ADD MORE OR LESS TO ACHIEVE YOUR DESIRED COLOR; SEE HERE FOR MORE DETAILS)

  3–4 MOLDS

  1 In a large bowl, mix together the baking soda, citric acid, and cornstarch.

  2 In a separate bowl, combine the oil, fragrance, and liquid color.

  3 Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with your hands until the mixture becomes the consistency of wet sand. (If you don’t like to get your hands messy, you can wear rubber gloves for this part.) The more vigorous your mixing style, the better the ingredients will be distributed, so don’t be shy.

  4 Five minutes of stirring, compressing, and kneading should do the trick.

  5 Next, press the mixture firmly into your molds, and then let the bombs dry for about 24–48 hours. (It sometimes takes more or less time, depending on the temperature and humidity of the air.)

  TIP: If you’re using a mold with two halves and the halves aren’t sticking together, try overfilling each half before pressing the pieces together firmly. If the mold is spherical, you can also twist the halves back and forth slightly as you press them together for a nice, well-formed shape.

  6 Once they are completely dry, remove them carefully from the molds. If you only have one mold, you can also gently remove the bombs as you make them and lay them out to dry on a flat surface. Try not to touch them until they harden.

  7 Once they’re ready, the real fun begins. Get into the tub, have a seat, and drop one bomb per bath.

  NOTE: If you want your bath bombs to bubble, simply add 1/2 teaspoon of SLES powder (see here) to the dry mix. You can find a more detailed recipe shown here.

  FRUITY FRAGRANCES

  WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU COMBINE THE UNIQUE THRILL OF A FIZZING BATH BOMB WITH THE TOTALLY SATISFYING AROMA OF FRESH FRUIT? COMPLETE BATH BLISS, OF COURSE!

  ◁ TANGERINE TEMPTER

  WHO DOESN’T LOVE THE TANGY FRAGRANCE OF A FRESH, RIPE TANGERINE? THIS VIBRANT FIZZER WILL HAVE YOU CANCELING YOUR EVENING PLANS IN FAVOR OF A SOAK!

  MAKES 3–4 BOMBS

  21/4 CUPS (497 G) BAKING SODA

  11/4 CUPS (288 G) GRANULAR CITRIC ACID

  1/4 CUP (24 G) CORNSTARCH

  3/4 CUP (180 ML) OIL

  1 TEASPOON TANGERINE FRAGRANCE

  1/2 TEASPOON ORANGE LIQUID COLOR

  3–4 SPHERE-SHAPED MOLDS

  1 In a large bowl, mix together the baking soda, citric acid, and cornstarch, and divide into two equal parts.

  2 Separately, combine the oil and fragrance, and divide into two equal parts, coloring half orange and leave the other half uncolored.

  3 Add the oil mixtures to each batch of dry ingredients and combine.

  4 Mix each batch separately with your hands until each mixture becomes the consistency of wet sand. Wash and dry your hands between each mixing segment. (If you don’t like to get your hands messy, you can wear rubber gloves for this part.) The more vigorous your mixing style, the better the ingredients will be distributed, so don’t be shy. Five minutes of stirring, compressing, and kneading should do the trick.

  5 As you press the mixture into the molds, gently swirl the orange and white mixes together with a spoon handle.

  6 Press the mold halves together and let the bombs dry for 24–48 hours.

  7 Once they are completely dry, remove them carefully from the molds. If you only have one mold, you can also gently remove the bombs as you make them and lay them out to dry on a flat surface. Try not to touch them until they harden.

  ◁ SUPER-STAR

  THIS ZESTY, LEMON-SCENTED BOMB HAS POPPING CANDY INSIDE FOR A FUN SURPRISE, MAKING IT A GREAT GIFT FOR THE SUPERSTAR IN YOUR LIFE. WARNING: MAY ATTRACT PAPARAZZI.

  MAKES 3–4 BOMBS

  21/4 CUPS (497 G) BAKING SODA

  11/4 CUPS (288 G) GRANULAR CITRIC ACID

  1/4 CUP (24 G) CORNSTARCH

  3/4 CUP (180 ML) OIL

  1 TEASPOON LEMON FRAGRANCE

  1
/2 TEASPOON YELLOW LIQUID COLOR

  3–4 STAR-SHAPED MOLDS

  1 TABLESPOON POPPING CANDY

  1 TABLESPOON SILVER MICA POWDER

  2 DROPS RUBBING ALCOHOL

  1/2 TEASPOON ECO GLITTER

  1 In a large bowl, mix together the baking soda, citric acid, and cornstarch.

  2 In a separate bowl, combine the oil, fragrance, and liquid color.

  3 Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix with your hands until the mixture becomes the consistency of wet sand. (If you don’t like to get your hands messy, you can wear rubber gloves for this part.) The more vigorous your mixing style, the better the ingredients will be distributed, so don’t be shy. Five minutes of stirring, compressing, and kneading should do the trick.

  4 Sprinkle the mix into a star-shaped mold, filling halfway.

  5 Place 1 teaspoon of popping candy in the center of each bomb and top it off with more bath bomb mix, pressing firmly until the mold is filled completely.

  6 Let stand until the bombs are hardened, 24–48 hours.

  7 Once they are completely dry, remove them carefully from the molds. If you only have one mold, you can also gently remove the bombs as you make them and lay them out to dry on a flat surface. Try not to touch them until they harden.

  8 Combine the mica with a few drops of rubbing alcohol and mix until a paste forms. Paint the mixture onto the surface of the bomb, covering it completely. Sprinkle eco glitter on top for a finishing touch.

  ◁ THE HEART-BREAKER

  AS MUCH AS WE HATE TO ADMIT IT, LOVE DOESN’T ALWAYS LAST. ENTER THE HEARTBREAKER. THIS FRUITY FIZZER WILL LIFT YOUR SPIRITS AND HELP YOU GET YOUR MIND OFF YOUR WOES. (FOR THREE TO FIVE MINUTES, AT LEAST.)

  MAKES 3–4 BOMBS

  21/4 CUPS (497 G) BAKING SODA

  11/4 CUPS (288 G) GRANULAR CITRIC ACID

  1/4 CUP (24 G) CORNSTARCH

  3/4 CUP (180 ML) OIL

  1 TEASPOON GRAPE FRAGRANCE

  1/4 TEASPOON PINK LIQUID COLOR

  1/4 TEASPOON PURPLE LIQUID COLOR

  3–4 HEART-SHAPED MOLDS

  ALUMINUM FOIL

  1 In a large bowl, mix together the baking soda, citric acid, and cornstarch, and divide into two equal parts.

  2 Combine the oil and fragrance, and divide them into two equal parts, using the pink pigment to color the first part and the purple pigment to color the second part.

  3 Add the oil mixtures to each batch of dry ingredients and combine.

  4 Mix each batch separately with your hands until each mixture becomes the consistency of wet sand. Wash and dry your hands between each mixing segment. (If you don’t like to get your hands messy, you can wear rubber gloves for this part.) The more vigorous your mixing style, the better the ingredients will be distributed, so don’t be shy. Five minutes of stirring, compressing, and kneading should do the trick.

  5 Create a divider down the center of the molds using a piece of aluminum foil folded lengthwise a few times and cut to size. This will create the broken heart effect. Then fill the mold and let the bombs dry for 24–48 hours.

  6 Once they are completely dry, remove them carefully from the molds.

  7 Next, imagine your crush ditching you. Now go ahead and cry a little bit. Yeah, girl. Let it all out. We feel you.

  ◁ BLUEBERRY BLITZKRIEG

  BEHOLD, THE POWER OF BLUEBERRY. WE SUPERCHARGED THIS EYE-POPPING FIZZER WITH A BOLD, JUICY FRAGRANCE AND TOPPED IT OFF WITH A VIBRANT MIX OF GORGEOUS COLORS. POW! TAKE THAT!

  MAKES 3–4 BOMBS

  21/4 CUPS (497 G) BAKING SODA

  11/4 CUPS (288 G) GRANULAR CITRIC ACID

  1/4 CUP (24 G) CORNSTARCH

  3/4 CUP (180 ML) OIL

  1 TEASPOON BLUEBERRY FRAGRANCE

  1/2 TEASPOON BLUE LIQUID COLOR

  1/4 TEASPOON PINK LIQUID COLOR

  1/2 TEASPOON PURPLE LIQUID COLOR

  3–4 SPHERE-SHAPED MOLDS

  2 TEASPOONS GOLD ECO GLITTER

  1 In a large bowl, mix together the baking soda, citric acid, and cornstarch, and divide into two equal parts.

  2 Next, take one of those parts and separate it into three more equal parts.

  3 Separately, combine the oil and fragrance, and divide as above, coloring the largest part blue, and two of the smaller parts pink and purple. Leave the fourth part uncolored.

  4 Add the oil mixtures to each batch of dry ingredients and combine.

  5 Mix each batch separately with your hands until each mixture becomes the consistency of wet sand. Wash and dry your hands between each mixing segment. (If you don’t like to get your hands messy, you can wear rubber gloves for this part.) The more vigorous your mixing style, the better the ingredients will be distributed, so don’t be shy. Five minutes of stirring, compressing, and kneading should do the trick.

  6 Add a pinch of pink, purple, and white mix to the molds. Sprinkle the perimeter generously with gold eco glitter.

  7 Next, cover each half completely with the blue mix, press the mold halves together, and let the bombs dry for 24–48 hours.

  8 Once they are completely dry, remove them carefully from the molds. If you only have one mold, you can also gently remove the bombs as you make them and lay them out to dry on a flat surface. Try not to touch them until they harden.

  ◁ ZUMBA NIGHT

  ISABEL WAS NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO HER SCHOOL ZUMBA UNIT—WHO WANTS TO LEARN TO DANCE IN FRONT OF RANDOM PEOPLE? BUT, MUCH TO HER SURPRISE, SHE BUSTED OUT SOME CRAZY ZUMBA MOVES AND ENDED UP LEADING THE CLASS! THIS BOMB IS PERFECT FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS TO PSYCH THEMSELVES UP FOR A NEW CHALLENGE. (AND IF YOU AREN’T CURRENTLY CHALLENGING YOURSELF, MAYBE YOU SHOULD!)

  MAKES 3–4 BOMBS

  21/4 CUPS (497 G) BAKING SODA

  11/4 CUPS (288 G) GRANULAR CITRIC ACID

  1/4 CUP (24 G) CORNSTARCH

  3/4 CUP (180 ML) OIL

  1 TEASPOON STARFRUIT FRAGRANCE

  1/4 TEASPOON RED LIQUID COLOR

  1/4 TEASPOON YELLOW LIQUID COLOR

  1/4 TEASPOON ORANGE LIQUID COLOR

  3–4 SPHERE-SHAPED MOLDS

  1 In a large bowl, mix together the baking soda, citric acid, and cornstarch, and divide into three equal parts.

  2 Separately, combine the oil and fragrance, and divide as above, coloring one part red, another part yellow, and the third part orange.

  3 Add the oil mixtures to each batch of dry ingredients and combine.

  4 Mix each batch separately with your hands until each mixture becomes the consistency of wet sand. Wash and dry your hands between each mixing segment. (If you don’t like to get your hands messy, you can wear rubber gloves for this part.) The more vigorous your mixing style, the better the ingredients will be distributed, so don’t be shy. Five minutes of stirring, compressing, and kneading should do the trick.

  5 Use a half teaspoon to scoop the mix, layering all three colors into the molds. Overfill each half before combining. Press the mold halves together and let the bombs dry for 24–48 hours.

  6 Once they are completely dry, remove them carefully from the molds. If you only have one mold, you can also gently remove the bombs as you make them and lay them out to dry on a flat surface. Try not to touch them until they harden.

  ◁ TIKI TIME

  CREDIT HARRY FOR ANOTHER GREAT IDEA. (HE’S OUR YOUNGER BROTHER.) CREATOR OF THE NINJA BOMB, HERO BOMB, AND SPORTY BOMB THAT WE SELL IN STORES, HE ALSO NAMED THIS ONE FOR US.

  MAKES 3–4 BOMBS

  21/4 CUPS (497 G) BAKING SODA

  11/4 CUPS (288 G) GRANULAR CITRIC ACID

  1/4 CUP (24 G) CORNSTARCH

  3/4 CUP (180 ML) OIL

  1 TEASPOON BANANA FRAGRANCE

  1/2 TEASPOON YELLOW LIQUID COLOR

  3–4 TIKI HEAD–SHAPED MOLDS (FOUND ONLINE)

  1 In a large bowl, mix together the baking soda, citric acid, and cornstarch.

  2 In a separate bowl, combine the oil, fragrance, and liquid color.

  3 Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and
mix with your hands until the mixture becomes the consistency of wet sand. (If you don’t like to get your hands messy, you can wear rubber gloves for this part.) The more vigorous your mixing style, the better the ingredients will be distributed, so don’t be shy. Five minutes of stirring, compressing, and kneading should do the trick.

  4 Next, press the mixture firmly into the molds and let the bombs dry for 24–48 hours.

  5 Once they are completely dry, remove them carefully from the molds. If you only have one mold, you can also gently remove the bombs as you make them and lay them out to dry on a flat surface. Try not to touch them until they harden.

  ◁ MEET ME IN TAHITI

  WE GOT TO VISIT SOME SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS RECENTLY, AND WERE AMAZED BY HOW FRAGRANT AND PERFECTLY RIPE THE FRUITS THERE WERE. WE ESPECIALLY LOVED THE GUAVA BECAUSE IT’S ONE OF THE LESSER APPRECIATED OF THE ISLAND FRUITS. WHY NOT BRING SOME OF THOSE FRESH, TROPICAL AROMAS INTO YOUR BATH? AE KOA! (THAT’S POLYNESIAN FOR “YES, PLEASE!”)