When I lived in England I had a real passion for making handmade bath products. When my niece Ashley came to stay with us, she got the bug as well and we set up a little home business selling our things at farmer’s markets. We didn’t earn a ton of money but we made enough to Prague where much merriment ensued.
I recently wrote a step-by-step article on making bath fizzies/bombs in the May/June issue of Hobby Farm Home (www.hobbyfarms.com), but there are many more things to make. Below are some tried and true recipes that Ashley and I perfected. Fair warning: making your own bath products is highly addictive and really fun. Plus your house will smell pretty nice. Source guide for buying supplies follows. Now go for it!
Bath Bombs
1 cup citric acid
3 cups sodium bicarbonate
Optional: 1 cups cornstarch (helps make the bombs float)
essential oil (as desired)
colorant (as desired but don’t use food coloring. Use pigment for soap making)
Hint: Don’t have molds? Plastic yogurt containers work really well. Just remember to pack the container tightly. You can also mold with your hands for a rustic look.
Combine ingredients, spray lightly with water until the mixture is damp enough to be molded in hands—you should be able to make a snowball. Press mixture into molds or mold with hands. Unmold and allow to set on paper towel. Or allow to set in mold.
Optional: you can add ground flower petals, a tablespoon of dried milk, glitter, grated cocoa butter or shea butter. Or try anything to see if it works!
Body Powder
¼ cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons sodium bicarbonate
1 tablespoon finely ground, dried flower petals (calendula, rose, lavender)
1-2 drops essential oil or scented oil
Combine and put in shaker jar. You can also add grated cocoa butter for moisturizing.
English Lavender Bath
1 cup dried English lavender flowers
2 cups oatmeal
½ cup sodium bicarbonate
Place in airtight container. Pour desired amount into bath.
Bath Salts
Dried flower petals
1 cups chunky sea salt
Essential Oil
Mix and use as is or grind mixture in food processor, blender, or coffee grinder until smooth. Place in airtight container. Pour desired amount into bath.
Fizzy Bath Kisses
¼ cup cocoa butter
¼ cup sodium bicarbonate
1/8 cup citric acid
3 tablespoons powdered oatmeal
A few drops of essential oil
Melt cocoa butter, add essential oil then add dry ingredients. Stir and place in molds. Put in freezer to set. One per bath
Almond Lip Balm
½ teaspoon grated beeswax
1 teaspoon cocoa butter grated
1 teaspoon almond oil (or olive oil, walnut oil, grape seed oil)
Optional: flavour oil or honey or vanilla. You can also melt in half a square of chocolate at the end of the cooking process (see below).
Melt in a heatproof container in the microwave in short bursts until melted (about two minutes) or over a pan of simmering water on the cooker. Pour into container.
Sources for Finding Supplies
The Chemistry Store www.chemistrystore.com
Bramble Berry, Inc. www.brambleberry.com
Majestic Mountain Sage www.thesage.com