Bath Bomb Basics

Bath bombs are a colorful way to add vibrant shades to your bath water while relaxing and soaking up the nourishing ingredients. These fun bath additives have immense benefits that make your skin feel soft and put your mind at ease. With simple and natural ingredients, bath bombs have lovely fragrances and positive effects on your mind and body. 

Bath bombs will help you relax, cleanse your body and feel silky smooth if you're looking for a great way to treat yourself to a spa night and practice self-care. You can find so many scents, colors and designs to choose from. Some will have glitter or petals, while others are neutral. Any bath bomb you choose can enhance your bath time experience and help you feel amazing the second you step in. 

How Are Bath Bombs Made?

Understanding the basics of bath bombs starts with how they're made. The two components in bath bombs are very simple. All they need to turn into a chalky ball of color is citric acid and baking soda. Baking soda is a white powdery substance that nourishes and softens skin. Citric acid is a natural compound in fruits and gives that sour taste to limes and lemons. Citric acid can even skin tone and protect your skin from germs. You can add essential oils and dyes to get luxurious fragrances and delightful colors. 

With the right amount of baking soda, citric acid and water, you can make a mixture that is just wet enough to mold. Too much water will dissolve the bomb before it's finished, and you don't want to add an overabundance of essential oils either. After molding the bomb into shape, let it sit for a few hours to harden and dry out. Once it's completely dry, you can package them, gift them to your friends or drop them into your tub. 

How Do Bath Bombs Work?

All you need is water and your favorite fragrant bomb. When you drop a bath bomb in water, it starts to fizz and release essential oils into the air that can help you relax, gain energy or soothe your muscles. Many people use bath bombs to unwind after a long day, help them fall asleep or treat themselves to a fragrant rejuvenating experience. 

As you prepare your warm bath water, you'll notice the water quickly changing color and delightful smells wafting from below. Your skin will soak up the nutrients, and you'll be able to indulge in the scent you've picked out for hours. Whether you use your bombs to wake up in the morning or relax after a challenging workout session, you're helping your skin become hydrated and giving yourself some well-deserved self-care. 

Benefits of Bath Bombs

Bath bombs are more than colorful balls of fun. There are a bunch of reasons people use bath bombs. They have many benefits for your body and mind, including:

• Calming your mood: Essential oils can affect your mood, and stress-relieving scents put your mind at ease. If you take your bath in the morning, the aromas will cling to you all day, and you'll feel their effects as you work, relax or run errands. A citrus scent like the Japanese orange of Satsuma will wake you up and keep you energized.
• Creating an atmosphere: The fragrances of bath bombs can also create a luxurious atmosphere. As you prepare your tub, you can light candles and turn on music that can make you feel like you're at the spa. The smell of tropical flowers, citrus and vanilla in the Florida Sunshine bomb will leave you feeling like treating yourself to the expensive vacation you deserve.
• Alleviating aches: Essential oils like peppermint or lavender are great for soothing body aches. These fragrances help restore your body to a neutral state and promote healing. Basin's Muscle Soother Bath Bomb refreshes your senses and is perfect after a long day or intense workout. 
• Improving sleep: A relaxing time with your bath bomb can make you tired and feel relaxed enough to go to bed. If you struggle to fall asleep, drawing a calming bath and enjoying a beautiful bomb might be the way to go. The Basin Sleep Bath Bomb uses lavender to help you relax and fall asleep. 
• Soothing skin: The ingredients in bath bombs nourish your skin and allow you to soak in moisture to hydrate your entire body. You'll feel supple, soft and silky after using a bath bomb, and your skin will thank you for the pampering. A bomb with sea salt like the Therapy Bath Bomb can exfoliate your skin as you soak. 
• Detoxing toxins: Bath bombs can repair and cleanse your body and help deodorize you. An anti-oxidant bath bomb will brighten and moisturize your skin while soaking up excess oils and helping release any stress you're holding. 

You can also use bath bombs outside of the tub because they have so many benefits. You can use them to air out your shoes and absorb stink-causing moisture or make a foot bath with a small tub before giving yourself a pedicure. You can use them as air fresheners for your bedroom and car or make fragrant, decorative bowels for display in your bathroom. Whichever way you use them, you'll always feel the benefits of these balls of wonder. 

Bath Bomb FAQs

If you've never tried a bath bomb, you might be wondering more about them. You've probably seen aesthetic videos of people dropping them in water and admiring how they fizzle out or received some from a family member or friend who wants to see you treat yourself. Either way, you're not the only one curious about the intricacies of bath bombs, and we understand you want to know more about the colorful ball you're thinking about putting in your tub. 

How Long Do Bath Bombs Last?

Bath bombs do expire. You can expand their lifetime by keeping them in airtight containers, but not by much. When you store them in the proper places, your bath bombs can last for up to a year. After about six months, you'll notice the fizzle effect isn't as explosive, and they'll start to lose their effectiveness and scent. 

Will Bath Bombs Stain a Tub?

A bath bomb won't affect your tub any more than a traditional soap or another cleanser. However, the dye in some bombs can stain spots on your tub. These stains are not permanent, and you can restore your bath to its former glory by giving it a good scrub. Keep your tub filled with water, pour some dish detergent in, let it sit overnight and unplug it in the morning for effortless cleaning, or use water and soap to scrub it off with a brush for quick cleaning after your soak. 

If you're worried about staining or don't want to need to clean frequently, you can opt for a colorless or neutral bomb. The Relaxation Bath Bomb is all white, so you can enjoy your bath in bliss without worrying about cleaning afterward.

Do I Need to Shower After Using Bath Bombs?

Your skin will absorb the scents from your bath bomb while you soak. You don't need to shower after using a bath bomb, but some people prefer to do so. If you decide to shower, rinsing under plain water will be enough to remove glitter, petals or other bath bomb extras. However, you would likely remove all of the oils and butters from your skin as well. 

Can People With Sensitive Skin Use Bath Bombs?

Bath bombs are great for everyone, but if you have sensitive skin or specific allergies, you'll need to take the extra steps to find a bomb with ingredients that won't irritate you. You probably won't want to use bath bombs with strong scents and can look for neutral bombs such as a Coconut Bath Bomb that will soften and moisturize your skin. 

How Many Times Can I Use a Bath Bomb?

You can enjoy most bath bombs only one time. Bath bombs immediately start to dissolve when you place them in water. There won't be anything left over to save for another bath. However, you could cut a larger bomb into pieces before getting in the tub and use it more than once. 

Keep in mind you'll have the best experience when you use the whole thing at once, but you'll still experience supple skin and delicious scents if you only use half of your bomb at a time.

If you plan to use your bombs frequently, you could opt for a bath bomb box and rest assured you have a few to get you through your next few baths or find some bath bomb marbles. The marbles work best when you use two or three at a time, but you can make them last for multiple sessions if you plop one in at a time.

What Makes Bath Bombs Fizz?

When citric acid and baking soda connect with water, they create a reaction and fizzle. Basically, some of the chemical elements will break apart from the others. The citric acid dissolves, making the bomb fizzle underwater, and the baking soda creates air bubbles that float to the water's surface. Those bubbles house the fragrance that flows through the air and make your bathroom smell delightful while relaxing in the water. 

How Long Does It Take a Bath Bomb to Dissolve?

Regardless of the size of your bath bomb, it will completely dissolve in a few minutes. A large bomb may take seven or eight minutes, while medium and small bombs will take a few less. If you use bath marbles or cut your bomb into smaller pieces to extend their use, it will likely take no more than five minutes for them to dissolve. 

Additionally, some ingredients may take longer to melt than others. Cocoa butter takes more time to soak into the water, but you can speed up the process by using warmer water. As long as you're comfortable stepping into the tub at the same temperature, you can make your water as hot as you want. 

Are Bath Bombs Good for You?

Along with providing oils and butters that soften your skin, bath bombs include cleansers that remove daily buildup, oil and dirt, meaning they clean your skin while you sit back and relax. They won't be able to get every spot of you clean if you need a good scrubbing, but you can use your regular bar of soap or body wash while you're in there. 

Bath bombs positively affect your mood, muscles, mind and body. Of course, you should always be sure that you're not allergic to any of the ingredients. Additionally, you should avoid soaking in the tub if you get too warm or cold. An hour is usually the perfect amount of time to dedicate to yourself in the tub, but you should hop out and dry off if you get uncomfortable. 

How to Use Bath Bombs

Using a Basin bath bomb is simple and easy. Start by filling your bath with water at the temperature you prefer. For the most relaxing tub time, you'll want the water to be a perfect balance that isn't too hot or cold. Warmer water will help melt ingredients like cocoa butter, so turn the temperature up when enjoying your bomb. 

When your bath is full, gently place the bomb into the water and watch it do its magic. Your bomb will take no more than seven or eight minutes to dissolve completely, and you can spend this time lighting candles, turning on music or preparing your latest read. After the water settles, step in and relax away. 

Shop Basin Bath Bombs

At Basin, we believe everyone should be able to indulge in self-care, which is why we create quality bath and body products at an affordable price. Whether you're looking to treat yourself or a loved one, we have something for everyone.

We want you to treat yourself with products that are good for you, which is why we make our bomb with high-quality ingredients that will rejuvenate and protect your skin. All of our products are free of mineral oils, parabens and alcohol, so you only get the best from us. 

Our bath bombs will create a relaxing atmosphere where you can practice self-care that brings relief to your sinuses and makes your skin feel supple. Our premium scents can match your mood or the time of the day. Whether you're trying to wake up, go to sleep or ease your mind, you can choose from our scents to find the best blend for you. 

Treat yourself to a natural, fresh and uplifting self-care routine with our bath bombs and experience a refreshing bath session that prepares you for the day ahead or a good night's sleep.