Easy Aromatic Bath Fizz Recipe -- Fizzy Fun for Kids and Adults

Baths are a wonderful way to enjoy the soothing physical and emotional benefits of essential oils.

Bath fizzes are a real treat for bath enthusiasts, but they can be pricey or full of synthetic ingredients. In this post I share a simple recipe for aromatherapy bath fizzes you can make at home. There are a lot of fancy recipes for bath fizzes out there but I like this one because its easy to make. I've used this recipe with young kid, groups of teens to make bath fizzes for a fundraiser, as well as adults. Unlike some bath fizz kits and recipes that can be kind of finicky, the recipe below has been a pretty foolproof one for me and my students.

Before we get to the recipe let's talk about fizz. So why do bath fizzes fizz? Well when the two main ingredients of bath fizzes: baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and citric acid combine with water a chemical reaction takes place:

In the presence of water, citric acid [C6H8O7] and sodium bicarbonate [NaHCO3] (aka baking soda) react to form sodium citrate [Na3C6H5O7], water, and carbon dioxide [CO2] (aka the "fizz")

C6H8O7 + 3NaHCO3 -----> Na3C6H5O7 + 3H2O + 3CO2

Ready for some fizzy fun? Let's get creating

Ingredients needed:

2 cups baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

2 cups citric acid

1 cup corn starch or arrowroot powder

1/4 tsp + mica for color (optional but fun)

1/2 cup+ light carrier oil (rice bran oil, apricot kernel oil, fractionated coconut oil, grapeseed oil etc.)

1 - 2 tablespoons polysorbate 20 or 80 (optional but it helps oils combine with bath water)

45 - 90 drops or 1.5 - 3 mls of skin safe essential oils (see suggested combinations below)

Large stainless steel or glass bowl

Medium size bath fizz mold or silicon molds

cookie sheet

parchment paper, wax paper, or foil to line cookie sheet

sifter

1 cup measuring cup

spoon or stirring rod

rubber scraper

mixing spoon

gloves to protect hands

1. Sift baking soda into bowl to remove lumps. Sift in citric acid and corn starch and add in mica if using. Mix well to combine.

2. Add carrier oil to the measuring cup along with polysorbate and essential oils and mix combine well.

3. Drizzle the oil mixture into the dry mixture and use the rubber scraper, spoon, or hands to work the oil mixture into the dry mixture to create a texture of wet sand.

4. Pack each half of the bath fizz mold with the fizz mixture and press the halves together. Squeeze and rotate the mold to compact the mixture into a ball and gently remove from the mold and set on a lined cookie sheet to dry for 24 to 48 hours.

5. Once dry you can store the fizzes in a glass jar or wrap individually in shrink wrap or essential oil safe plastic baggie.

6. Plop one fizzy into a warm bath to enjoy an aromatic and skin soothing treat.

Essential oil combinations:

While many essential oils smell wonderful some are NOT ideal for use in the bathtub. Warming (like cinnamon or clove) or cooling (like peppermint) essential oils may cause skin irritation and burning especially to sensitive areas. Be sure the essential oils you use are skin safe! Below are some suggested combinations for the recipe about -- we're aiming for 5 to 10 drops per bath fizz or per bath.

Relaxing Lavender Eucalyptus

22 - 45 drops Lavendula angustifolia (Lavender) essential oil

22 - 45 drops Eucalyptus globulus*

Muscle Soothing Blend

20 - 40 drops Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary) essential oil

20 - 40 drops Eucalyptus globulus* essential oil

5 - 10 drops Juniperus communis (juniper berry) essential oil

Deeply Relaxing Blend

40 - 80 drops Lavendula latifolia (spike lavender) essential oil

10 drops sustainably harvested Santalum album (sandalwood) or Chamaemelum nobile (Roman chamomile) essential oil

I hope you enjoy making some fizzy fun. Be sure to share your creations online and tag @aromatherapy_by_tricia on IG or FaceBook! And of course if you'd like a very special relaxing treat try our customer favorite CBD bath fizzes.

Aromatic blessings,

Tricia