The 6 Best Bath Bomb Recipes for Every Mood

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Few natural remedies are as effective for hitting your internal reset button as a hot bath. By customizing the bath bomb recipe below with a variety of essential oils, you can soothe everything from frayed nerves to achy muscles, says Tasneem Bhatia, MD, a board-certified integrative health expert in Atlanta, and author of Super Woman Rx. Keep reading to see how.

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Here’s what you’ll need:

2 cups baking soda

1 cup citric acid

1/2 cup Epsom salt

1 tablespoon almond or olive oil

Essential oils

Water

Packing molds (If you don’t have food molds, ice cube trays, hollow plastic Easter eggs, or Christmas tree ornaments that snap open and closed will do.)

Directions:

Mix baking soda, citric acid, and Epsom salt in a bowl. Add almond or olive oil and essential oils. Add water slowly (the mixture might create a small foaming reaction. If that happens, pour even more slowly). The mixture should be just moist enough to hold a shape. Pack mixture into molds for a few minutes, then tap to release. Allow bath bombs to dry for about five hours. To use, simply drop one in the bath. Enjoy!

Note: Bath bombs should be used within three weeks.

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A bath bomb for when you’re feeling stressed

To soothe the senses when you’re stressed out, try a bath bomb infused with 10 drops of bergamot (use one labeled bergaptene-free) and 10 drops of clary sage. The citrusy-flower bergamot mixed with clary sage calms the nervous system and clears the mind.

“Bergamot is an anti-inflammatory and antiseptic and its aromatic scent has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety,” says Dr. Bhatia, echoing the findings of a review of studies published in 2019 in Food Science & Nutrition. “Clary sage also reduces stress and acts as an antidepressant.” (As an alternative, find out if CBD bath bombs can help you relax.)

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A bath bomb for when you can’t fall asleep

Settle into a more restful state by creating a bath bomb that includes 10 drops of chamomile, 10 drops lavender, and 10 drops mandarin.

“Both lavender and chamomile are calm- and relaxation-promoting herbs, while mandarin is known to be calming and promote joy,” says Dr. Bhatia. 

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A bath bomb for when your muscles ache

Soothe sore muscles with a bath bomb infused with 10 drops lavender and 10 drops rosemary, which reduces inflammation.

“Lavender is calming, while rosemary is known to increase blood flow, helping muscle soreness,” says Dr. Bhatia. For even more of a treat, add extra Epsom salt to your bath before you hop in. The magnesium sulfate works as a natural muscle relaxant, pulling fluid out of the muscles and reducing swelling.

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A bath bomb for when you need a pick-me-up

Need a bath bomb to help you overcome that 3 p.m. gotta-have-a-nap feeling on days you work from home? Add 10 drops grapefruit oil and 10 drops bergamot oil.

Keep in mind: “Citrus oils can sting a bit so you have to be careful with them,” says Dr. Bhatia. If the grapefruit-bergamot combo doesn’t do the trick, soak a cotton swab with peppermint essential oil and take a whiff whenever you need an extra zap of energy.

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A bath bomb for setting a romantic mood

Floral scents like rose oil and ylang-ylang are great for setting the mood for romance, if only because “they’re soothing scents that promote calm and relaxation,” says Dr. Bhatia.

Try a bath bomb made with 10 drops of each. Add a pinch of vanilla for an added kick.

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A bath bomb for indulging the senses

For an all-purpose bath bomb that will indulge the senses no matter the mood or the moment, try this fresh-floral mix: 10 drops rose or lavender oil, 10 drops of lemon, and 5 drops of patchouli. “This is a combo of stress relief and a bit of a pick-me-up,” says Dr. Bhatia. “Like many citrus oils, lemon is stimulating while patchouli and lavender are relaxing and provide skin relief.”