But according to Jana Blankenship, founder of Captain Blankenship Natural Products and author of Wild Beauty, store-bought bath bombs often include synthetic fragrances and colors that are not good for your skin, senses, or the environment. Enter DIY bath bombs. “Bath bombs are easy to make at home and you can change them up depending on what your skin and senses are craving,” says Blankenship. “It’s a great way to ensure no toxic ingredients are in your bath bomb. Plus, they make great gifts and are a fun crafting project to do at home.”

So, what exactly is a bath bomb?

A bath bomb is a mix of nourishing and therapeutic natural ingredients that are compacted into a mold and effervesce when you drop them into the water. The best part about DIY bath bombs is that they are customizable, meaning you can create many different variations with different scents, depending on your mood.

Are DIY bath bombs safe?

Well, it depends on the components. According to Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, you should think of a bath bomb as you would think of any bath additive—the right ingredients can help hydrate and soothe the skin turning the bath into a therapeutic treatment, but the wrong ingredients can cause dryness and irritation. “Using the wrong combinations of ingredients, like fragrances and essential oils, can potentially disrupt the skin’s acid mantle and lead to irritation,” says Dr. Zeichner. If your skin is inflamed or hyper-sensitive to fragrance, he recommends avoiding those ingredients and replacing them with soothing additives like hydrating plant oils instead.

How to make a DIY bath bomb

DIY Bath Bomb Recipes

  1. Matcha & Lavender Bath Bomb

1 bath bomb mold ($8; amazon.com) 1 cup baking soda 1/2 cup citric acid 1/2 cup corn starch 1/2 cup sea salt or epsom salt 2 tbsp coconut oil 1 tbsp matcha 20 drops lavender essential oil 1-2 tbsp witch hazel

  1. Hot Cocoa Bath Bomb

1 bath bomb mold1 cup baking soda1/2 cup citric acid1/2 cup corn starch1/2 cup sea salt or epsom salt2 tbsp coconut oil1/4 cup raw cacao powder10 drops Peru balsam essential oil, vanilla extract, or vanilla absolute1-2 tbsp witch hazel

  1. Spirulina & Lemongrass Bath Bomb

1 bath bomb mold1 cup baking soda 1/2 cup citric acid 1/2 cup corn starch1/2 cup sea salt or Epsom salt2 tbsp coconut oil1 tbsp spirulina20 drops of lemongrass essential oil1-2 tbsp witch hazel

  1. Smell the Roses Bath Bomb

1 bath bomb mold1 cup baking soda 1/2 cup citric acid 1/2 cup corn starch1/2 cup sea salt or Epsom salt2 tbsp sweet almond oil1/4 -1/2 cup powdered rose petals1-2 tbsp rose hydrosol witch hazeloptional: 10 drops rose geranium essential oil

Step-by-Step Tutorial