bath bombs

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/21/99 9:31:42 AM Central Standard Time, mwise@...

writes:

<< Cocoa ButterBall (extra cocoa butter) >>

This sounds wonderful! How much cocoa butter do you add per batch?

[Guest guest]

Did you put glycerin into the water which you're using to spritz your bath

bombs? That's what I do, and it helps them to bind.

I also don't add the citric acid until AFTER I've already spritzed and

mixed the water/glycerine in. This keeps them from activating too much as

I'm spritzing and mixing. :->

- Ela

(000)___(000) Ela Heyn

/ @ @ \ ferret@...

| |

======@====== http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5483

[Guest guest]

Hi ...

> Hi.. Iam new to this..I am having trouble keeping my bath bombs from falling

apart.. I have the recipe that calls for 3 parts bkg soda

> and 1 part citric acid..with some water spritzed in for hold..BUT htye are not

holding..if I out in more water..they start to activate and take on a life of

their own...help!!!!!!! thanks erin jeckl@...

I just made up 4 batches of bath bombs with this recipe... and they are lovely..

>Dry ingredients

>1 cup of Baking Soda

>1/2 cup cornstarch

>1/2 cup citric acid

>Wet Ingredients

>2 1/2 Tablespoons sunflower Oil (or any light oil - I use Sweet Almond Oil)

>3/4 Tablespoon of Water

>1 -2 Teaspoons Essential or Fragrance Oil

>1/4 teaspoon of borax (emulsifier)

>Sieve together to make a nice smooth blend (if I'm making a double or triple

>batch, I'll use my food processor)

>(after sieving I always add about a 1/4 - 1/3 cup of sea salt that I grind a

>little in a coffee grinder - makes the bombs rock hard and adds a little

>sparkle for one of my bombs, I also add some grated cocoa butter for even

>more richness)

>Place wet ingredients in a small jar and shake vigorously. Drizzle onto dry

>ingredients and stir thoroughly (expect some fizz - don't worry, just keep

>blending )

>Pack tightly into molds and slide out. Allow to dry overnight. (after

>struggling with molds, I've given up - I just grab a handful and squeeze

>squeeze squeeze it into a 1 1/2 inch diameter ball - I find that's a good

>size for these since they are so rich with oil. I love the giant bath bombs,

>but one that size would leave the tub WAY too oily.)

> I just did a faire last weekend and took over 150 bombs. I wrap them in

>iridescent cellophane tied with raffia and add my tags - I sold them 2 for

>$3, 7 for $10; five scents - Amber, Lavender (with lavender flowers),

>Vanilla Tangerine, Rosemary Mint, and Cocoa ButterBall (extra cocoa

>butter) - and I didn't bring any home with me. Lavender and Amber sold out

>first.

>I'm sure the ambient humidity is a factor for those living in humid areas,

>I'm lucky enough to live in Southern California where it isn't usually a

>problem.

From what I hear places to let them dry are dry warm places like a gas oven that

is turned off.. I tried a electric oven on low but that wasn't good.. now I just

leave them out for a day or 2..

--

-Anne

The only way to find the limits of the possible is to reach beyond it into the

impossible.

[Guest guest]

The bath bomb recipe I use and it has yet to fail:

3 cups baking soda

2 cups citric acid

Sift, sift, sift

To 1 cup dry ingredients:

2 TBL oil

Scent to preference

Color if desired

Mix all by hand, spritz with witch hazel, mix fast and push into molds.

Gail (happy with the list change)

[Guest guest]

Toni,

You make a great point. Do you even measure the fragrance and the binders by

weight too? Can you show us a sample recipe?

Kathy Munyon

[Guest guest]

One thing people should do with bath bombs is measure by weight. If you are

truly looking for consistency - Measure By Weight.......

I make literally thousands of these and do not experience these problems BUT I

measure by weight. Try measuring by weight 5 times a ½ cup of cornstarch - I

will bet you will get 5 different weights...... So....my tip for the day -

Measure By Weight if you want consistency, accuracy, and quality.

Toni

Countryside Soap

[Guest guest]

Try a beer and wine making store.

www.soapberrylane.com

<< Is there any place common to buy citric acid? Is there another name for it?

Like, maybe, pectin? Thanks! Jan >>

[Guest guest]

Go to the snowdrift farms website-www.snowdriftfarm.com-and look up Trina's

No-Fail Bath Bomb receipe. Most of the folks on this list have had great

success with this one. Hope that helps.

lynn

[Guest guest]

Is there any place common to buy citric acid?

Is there another name for it?

Like, maybe, pectin?

Thanks! Jan

Shygal38@... wrote:

>

> From: Shygal38@...

>

> The bath bomb recipe I use and it has yet to fail:

>

> 3 cups baking soda

> 2 cups citric acid

> Sift, sift, sift

>

> To 1 cup dry ingredients:

> 2 TBL oil

> Scent to preference

> Color if desired

>

> Mix all by hand, spritz with witch hazel, mix fast and push into molds.

>

> Gail (happy with the list change)

>

[Guest guest]

<<Is there any place common to buy citric acid? Is there another name for

it? Like, maybe, pectin?>>

I have *never* found a place (without a $200 min. order - chem supply) in

Houston to purchase it. None. No, it is not pectin. And using the fruit

fresh stuff by the pectin in the grocery store won't work either. On the

other hand, there are suppliers out there that carry it. I have purchased

it from Starrville Soapworks in the past. The last 25 lbs. I got were from

a co-op that we did here among the Texas Soapmaker's Association. We are

doing another one (thank goodness!) that is delivering at our January

meeting.

[Guest guest]

Angel's Earth has citric acid at a great price, too. They're in the

Toiletries Library. :->

- Ela

(000)___(000) Ela Heyn

/ @ @ \ ferret@...

| |

======@====== http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5483

[Guest guest]

<<but the citric acid is $8.75 for 5 pounds which is the cheapest you will

find any place.>>

Not if you buy it directly from the manufacturers - the minimums are high

($200 order) but if you are getting a lot and you live in an area with a lot

of soapers (Texas...) and there is a chem supplier right there by you (there

is) then we get it for less then $1 per pound normally. I am getting a 50lb

bag of Baking Soda for $11! (Just to brag...) and a 50lb bag of Citric

which I am sharing with others for less then $50 for the whole bag...

[Guest guest]

<<I just live in VERY HUMID Seattle, and have found out through trial and

error.>>

LOL... you think Seattle is humid, come visit us down here in Houston! But

you made some great points. I cut my oil in my recipe by half because it

seems to mold better for me *in Houston* this time of year.

Best tip I can give - find someone near you or in a very similar climate &

ask them what works for them. Also, ask people & test for yourself to see

what you like. I love how the oil feels in my bath water. There is nothing

I hate more then cleaning the tub afterwards. Ick... oil grime ring! Also,

test your FOs in them - I have had 2 scents " mutate " after about 5 weeks,

and they smell nasty in the bath bombs now. Glad I made a sample one to sit

around for this long so I could discover it before a customer did!

[Guest guest]

Hi! I, to am in Wa state and subject to high humidity.....I ended up

omitting the carrier oil from the recipe......just rose water and EO and

they do nicely! I did not like the slimey feel from the oil.....and the

bath-tub-scrub afterwards! Did I mention that ground up herbs look like

dirt floaties in the bath? Yuck!

.....thanks for taking the helm and re-directing our list to another

place.....without you we may have perished! Instead of wasting your time

and energy

complaining....you actually got out there and found a solution! A born

leader!

Missy in Steilacoom!

Re: bath bombs

> From: " " <christine@...>

>

> <<I just live in VERY HUMID Seattle, and have found out through trial and

> error.>>

>

> LOL... you think Seattle is humid, come visit us down here in Houston!

But

> you made some great points. I cut my oil in my recipe by half because it

> seems to mold better for me *in Houston* this time of year.

>

> Best tip I can give - find someone near you or in a very similar climate &

> ask them what works for them. Also, ask people & test for yourself to see

> what you like. I love how the oil feels in my bath water. There is

nothing

> I hate more then cleaning the tub afterwards. Ick... oil grime ring!

Also,

> test your FOs in them - I have had 2 scents " mutate " after about 5 weeks,

> and they smell nasty in the bath bombs now. Glad I made a sample one to

sit

> around for this long so I could discover it before a customer did!

>

>

>

> >

[Guest guest]

<<Humidity should have NOTHING to do with the recipe.........I use the same

recipe ALL Year - Our summers are extremely HUMID - in fact I make bath

bombs on RAINY DAYS...... the secret - get a dehumidifier - it will be the

best money you ever spent AND your soaps will love it too........>>

Not trying to argue here, but you need to come on down to Houston. Trina's

No Fail Recipe *FAILS* here, other recipes produce mushroom bombs. A

dehumidifier even does not do the trick in our humidity (and most of the

others I have talked with in Texas say the same thing) I *CAN NOT* use the

same recipe all year, the one that works in the winter doesn't work in the

summer. I can not make them on a rainy day normally, and in the

spring/summer/fall my air conditioner *MUST* be running when I make them.

Otherwise they never set up. Turn on the A/C - no problem.

Humidity plays a role. Scientifically it makes perfect sense that it would.

, Full Moon Victim & Feeling Fiesty!

[Guest guest]

I got citric acid off a place online for 6.50 a pound..........there was

a 25.00 minimum to spend but I was getting a fragrance sampler too so

that made up what I was spending........The company is

http://www.soapcrafters.com

I got the stuff pretty quick, they confirmed my order with an email and

it came ups!! I like the fragrance kit and they sent a free sample of

sandlewood for me. I know I was very satisfied.............mind you this

is my first time ordering anything online!!

sue

On Tue, 21 Dec 1999 18:40:26 -0600 " "

<christine@...> writes:

> From: " " <christine@...>

>

> <<Is there any place common to buy citric acid? Is there another

> name for

>

Sue Fragiacomo

Indep. DOTS Demonstrator

&

Stamp Addict

Fall River, Mass.

[Guest guest]

Oh, I totally agree! I live in a climate that is very dry in winter, and

very humid in summer. I have to alter my recipe quite a bit between the

two seasons to get it to come out the same way in summer and winter. And

I've also learned NEVER to make bath bombs when it's raining and 100%

humidity .. they just don't set up right. :-<

- Ela

(000)___(000) Ela Heyn

/ @ @ \ ferret@...

| |

======@====== http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5483

[Guest guest]

Hi...

Maybe your recipe is " Fool-proof " Would you mind sharing yours with the

list since you are sure it works well and people must enjoy it?

Thanks in advance,

Kelley

Bath Bombs

From: " Toni Meisberger " <tmeisb@...>

Nonsense - I just shipped 3,000 bath bombs last week to Texas - My biggest

customer - Humidity should not play a role in this.

Either recheck your recipe OR the ingredients you are using......

Toni

Countryside Soap

[Guest guest]

I too cannot get keep my bath bombs from falling apart. I do not use molds I

want to shape them into balls. But cannot even get them close to being a

ball. Any suggestions?

Thanks Cheryl inAZ

bath bombs

>Hi.. Iam new to this..I am having trouble keeping my bath bombs from

falling apart.. I have the recipe that calls for 3 parts bkg soda

>and 1 part citric acid..with some water spritzed in for hold..BUT htye are

not holding..if I out in more water..they start to activate and take on a

life of their own...help!!!!!!! thanks erin jeckl@...

>

>

>[Attachments have been removed from this message]

>

>>

[Guest guest]

I've had decent luck with a swedish meatball maker -- looks like a

pair of scissors with half domes on the end of each blade. It

doesn't solve the problem of keeping them from falling apart (I'm

still experimenting), and I don't get complete balls. I get two

halves (although with a sufficiently sticky formula, they would

probably stay together), but I pack them in twos.

>From: " Cheryl West " <rcwest@...>

>

>I too cannot get keep my bath bombs from falling apart. I do not use molds I

>want to shape them into balls. But cannot even get them close to being a

>ball. Any suggestions?

> Thanks Cheryl inAZ

> bath bombs

>

>

> >Hi.. Iam new to this..I am having trouble keeping my bath bombs from

>falling apart.. I have the recipe that calls for 3 parts bkg soda

> >and 1 part citric acid..with some water spritzed in for hold..BUT htye are

>not holding..if I out in more water..they start to activate and take on a

>life of their own...help!!!!!!! thanks erin jeckl@...

> >

> >

> >[Attachments have been removed from this message]

> >

> >>

[Guest guest]

I pack them really tightly into a snail-shaped candy mold. They pop

right out, don't swell, fall apart, or anything else. I have used the

" basic bath bomb " recipe from the library with great success using this

method to shape.

Jeanne Edna Thelwell wrote:

>

> From: Jeanne Edna Thelwell <thelwell@...>

>

> I've had decent luck with a swedish meatball maker -- looks like a

> pair of scissors with half domes on the end of each blade. It

> doesn't solve the problem of keeping them from falling apart (I'm

> still experimenting), and I don't get complete balls. I get two

> halves (although with a sufficiently sticky formula, they would

> probably stay together), but I pack them in twos.

>

> >From: " Cheryl West " <rcwest@...>

> >

> >I too cannot get keep my bath bombs from falling apart. I do not use molds I

> >want to shape them into balls. But cannot even get them close to being a

> >ball. Any suggestions?

> > Thanks Cheryl inAZ

> > bath bombs

> >

> >

> > >Hi.. Iam new to this..I am having trouble keeping my bath bombs from

> >falling apart.. I have the recipe that calls for 3 parts bkg soda

> > >and 1 part citric acid..with some water spritzed in for hold..BUT htye are

> >not holding..if I out in more water..they start to activate and take on a

> >life of their own...help!!!!!!! thanks erin jeckl@...

> > >

> > >

> > >[Attachments have been removed from this message]

> > >

> > >>

[Guest guest]

>I am new on the list but a toiletrie maker as all of you are.

>I was wondering, which would be a better oil to use in the bath bombs,

>Grapeseed or Almond?

>

>I was thinking Grapeseed as I thought I read that it is the lightest natural

>oil and will not leave a " slick' coating in the tub, am I correct here?

>Someone please let me know?

I think you can try just about any light oil. Sweet almond oil is just

easy for most people to get. I have also made bombs with light olive oil

and they worked fine.

>I really enjoyed the great instructions/photo's on the bath bombs !!

>that was great, nice to be able to see how things are done.

I'm glad you like it. The recipe is not unique to me but I had a hard time

when I first started making them because I couldn't find any detailed

instructions, so I decided to wing it and then write about it...I'm always happy

to hear that others find the instructions helpful. I too like this list a lot

and find

everyone to be very helpful and encouraging!

Home page: http://www.ncf.ca/~aj471

Illustrated bath bomb instructions: http://www.ncf.ca/~aj471/BathBombs.html

[Guest guest]

Thank you to everyone for their valuable info and links. You all are simply

wonderful!

Thank you,

[Guest guest]

Bath Bombs

> Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 18:11:25 -0400

> Message-ID: <000001bff685$468ea520$2506020a@...>

>

> I found recipes for bath bombs and they look great to try. My one

question

> is regarding the ingredient Borax. Is that the same as the Borax Arm and

> Hammer has in the grocery stores. I purchased it with second thoughts

about

> using it. Please advise. Thanks!

>

> Dailey

>

> My home e-mail is sandrad1@...

>

>

>

>

_______________________________________________________

Say Bye to Slow Internet!

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[Guest guest]

I just made bath bombs a few days ago and a few of mine cracked and others

didn't. I believe the ones that cracked were packed too hard. I think

there is a fine line between putting enough product in the mold and putting

too much in. Too little and it crumbles. Too much and it cracks during

drying. That's my theory anyway.

Bath bombs are touchy little creatures, aren't they!

--

Marcelle Karustis

mkarustis@... - email

(973) 776-3900 x7867 - voicemail/fax

---- francinec <francinec@...> wrote:

>

> Hi Everyone!

> I'm new to this list, although I have been making CP soap for 5 years.

> I just recently started making BB's and lotion bars as gifts. My bath

> bombs held together, but developed cracks in them during the drying

> process. Any suggestions as to what I am doing incorrectly? Also,

> my

> lotion bars were a little on the oily side - they were fine for me

> because I have extremely dry skin, and my test subjects liked them

> except for the fact that their hands felt a little greasy for awhile

> after using them. Any suggestions? I was using a mixture of sunflower

> oil, apricot kernal oil, jojoba oil, cocoa butter, shea butter & and

> a

> cap of vit e oil.

> Thanks much,

> Francine

>

>

>