Essential Ingredients & Ratios

Basic Bath Bomb Formula

Ingredient Percentage Function Quality Grade Cost/lb
Baking Soda 40-50% Alkaline base, fizzing agent Food grade $1-$3
Citric Acid 20-25% Acid component, creates fizz Food/USP grade $3-$8
Cornstarch 10-15% Binding agent, smooth texture Food grade $2-$5
Cream of Tartar 5-10% Hardening agent, stability Food grade $4-$10
Essential Oil 1-3% Fragrance, aromatherapy Therapeutic grade $15-$100
Carrier Oil 2-5% Moisturizing, binding Cosmetic grade $5-$25
Colourant 0.1-0.5% Visual appeal Cosmetic grade $10-$50
Witch Hazel 1-2% Binding agent, activation Cosmetic grade $8-$15

Alternative Dry Ingredients

Ingredient Purpose Usage Rate Benefits Cost/lb
Kaolin Clay Skin conditioning 5-10% Gentle cleansing, smooth texture $8-$15
Epsom Salt Muscle relaxation 10-20% Therapeutic benefits $2-$5
Sea Salt Exfoliation 5-15% Skin benefits, texture $3-$8
Arrowroot Powder Binding agent 5-10% Natural alternative to cornstarch $8-$20
Tapioca Starch Binding agent 5-10% Gluten-free option $5-$12
Oatmeal (ground) Exfoliation 5-10% Gentle scrubbing, skin soothing $3-$8
Milk Powder Moisturizing 5-10% Skin conditioning $5-$15
Coconut Milk Powder Moisturizing 5-10% Vegan option, skin softening $8-$20

Carrier Oils & Moisturizers

Oil Type Skin Type Absorption Rate Shelf Life Cost/lb Properties
Sweet Almond All skin types Medium 1-2 years $8-$15 Mild, non-greasy
Coconut Oil Dry/Normal Fast 2-3 years $5-$12 Solid at room temp, antimicrobial
Jojoba Oil Oily/Acne-prone Fast 3-5 years $15-$30 Technically a wax, long-lasting
Olive Oil Dry/Mature Slow 2-3 years $6-$12 Heavy, very moisturizing
Sunflower Oil Sensitive Medium 1-2 years $4-$10 Light, vitamin E rich
Avocado Oil Dry/Mature Medium 1-2 years $10-$20 Rich, deeply moisturizing
Grapeseed Oil Oily/Combination Fast 6-12 months $8-$15 Light, non-comedogenic

Butter & Solid Moisturizers

Butter Type Melting Point Hardness Moisturizing Level Cost/lb
Shea Butter 86-104°F Medium High $8-$20
Cocoa Butter 93-101°F Hard High $10-$25
Mango Butter 86-95°F Medium Medium $12-$30
Murumuru Butter 91-95°F Medium High $15-$40
Kokum Butter 95-104°F Hard High $20-$50

Essential Oils & Fragrance

Blend Name Essential Oils Ratio Therapeutic Properties Cost/oz
Relaxing Lavender Lavender, Chamomile 3:1 Calming, sleep-inducing $8-$15
Energizing Citrus Orange, Lemon, Grapefruit 2:1:1 Uplifting, energizing $6-$12
Spa Eucalyptus Eucalyptus, Peppermint 3:1 Decongestant, invigorating $8-$15
Romantic Rose Rose, Geranium, Ylang-ylang 1:2:1 Romantic, floral $25-$50
Stress Relief Lavender, Bergamot, Frankincense 2:1:1 Stress-reducing, balancing $15-$30
Vanilla Comfort Vanilla, Sandalwood 2:1 Comforting, warm $20-$40
Fresh Mint Peppermint, Spearmint 1:1 Cooling, refreshing $10-$18
Tropical Paradise Coconut, Lime, Vanilla 2:1:1 Tropical, vacation-like $12-$25

Fragrance Oil Considerations

Fragrance Type Usage Rate Skin Safety Cost/oz Notes
Cosmetic Grade 1-3% Skin-safe $3-$15 Specifically formulated for bath products
Candle Grade Not recommended May irritate $2-$8 Not suitable for skin contact
Soap Grade 1-2% Usually safe $4-$12 Check IFRA guidelines
Body Safe 1-3% Skin-safe $5-$20 Tested for cosmetic use

Colourants & Visual Effects

Natural Colourants

Colourant Colour Range Usage Rate Fade Resistance Cost/oz
Spirulina Blue-green 1-2 tsp Fair $10-$20
Turmeric Yellow-orange 1-2 tsp Good $5-$15
Beetroot Powder Pink-red 1-3 tsp Fair $8-$20
Cocoa Powder Brown 1-3 tsp Excellent $5-$12
Matcha Powder Green 1-2 tsp Good $15-$30
Activated Charcoal Black-gray 1-2 tsp Excellent $10-$25
Rose Clay Pink 1-2 tbsp Good $8-$20
French Green Clay Green 1-2 tbsp Good $5-$15

Synthetic Colourants

Colourant Type Colour Range Usage Rate Advantages Cost/oz
Mica Powder Metallic shimmers 1-2 tsp Sparkle effects, stable $8-$30
Lake Dyes Vibrant colours 1/4-1/2 tsp Intense colour, water-soluble $10-$25
Oxides Earth tones 1-2 tsp Stable, non-bleeding $5-$20
Liquid Colourants All colours 2-10 drops Easy mixing, precise $5-$15

Molding Techniques & Equipment

Bath Bomb Molds

Mold Type Size Range Material Price Range Capacity Best For
Aluminum Spheres 1.5”-3” Aluminum $15-$40 2-6 bombs Professional finish
Plastic Spheres 1.5”-3” Acrylic/Plastic $8-$25 2-6 bombs Beginner-friendly
Silicone Molds Various shapes Silicone $5-$30 4-12 bombs Detailed designs
Stainless Steel 2”-3” Stainless steel $25-$60 2-4 bombs Durable, professional
DIY Molds Various Household items $0-$10 Variable Cost-effective

Molding Techniques

Technique Equipment Needed Skill Level Results Time Required
Traditional Packing 2-piece molds Beginner Round bombs 2-5 min/bomb
Hand Shaping None Intermediate Rustic look 1-3 min/bomb
Layered Molding Clear molds Advanced Colourful layers 5-10 min/bomb
Embedding Various molds Intermediate Surprise elements 3-8 min/bomb
Marbling Any mold Intermediate Swirled patterns 3-6 min/bomb

Recipe Formulations

Basic Bath Bomb Recipe (Makes 6-8 bombs)

Ingredient Weight Volume Percentage
Baking Soda 200g 1 cup 50%
Citric Acid 100g 1/2 cup 25%
Cornstarch 50g 1/2 cup 12.5%
Cream of Tartar 25g 2 tbsp 6.25%
Essential Oil 10g 2 tsp 2.5%
Carrier Oil 15g 1 tbsp 3.75%
Witch Hazel As needed 1-2 sprays Variable

Specialty Recipes

Recipe Type Special Ingredients Benefits Target Market
Moisturizing +Shea butter, oatmeal Dry skin relief Mature skin, winter
Energizing +Peppermint, citrus oils Morning boost Athletes, busy professionals
Relaxing +Lavender, chamomile Stress relief Evening routine, spa
Detox +Activated charcoal, clay Skin purification Oily skin, acne-prone
Exfoliating +Sea salt, ground oats Gentle scrubbing Rough skin, weekly treatment
Kids Formula +Mild fragrance, fun colours Gentle, fun Children, families
Sensitive Skin +Colloidal oatmeal, no fragrance Hypoallergenic Sensitive skin, eczema

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Formulation Problems

Problem Cause Solution Prevention
Bombs Fall Apart Too dry, insufficient binding Add more oil/witch hazel Proper moisture balance
Premature Fizzing Too much moisture Work in dry environment Control humidity
Cracking Drying too quickly Slower drying, humidity control Gradual temperature changes
Soft Bombs Too much oil Reduce oil content Precise measurements
Weak Fizz Old citric acid, humidity Fresh ingredients, dry storage Proper storage conditions
Colour Bleeding Water-based colourants Use oil-based colourants Proper colourant selection
Rough Texture Uneven mixing Sift dry ingredients Thorough mixing techniques
Mold Sticking Insufficient release agent Use light oil coating Proper mold preparation

Storage & Packaging Issues

Issue Cause Solution Prevention
Humidity Damage Moisture exposure Airtight storage Proper packaging
Fragrance Fading Oil evaporation Better sealing Quality essential oils
Colour Fading Light exposure Dark storage UV-protective packaging
Shape Distortion Pressure/heat Proper support Careful handling

Business Applications & Pricing

Cost Analysis Per Bomb

Component Cost Range Percentage of Total
Raw Materials $0.50-$2.00 40-60%
Packaging $0.25-$1.50 15-25%
Labor $0.75-$3.00 20-35%
Overhead $0.25-$1.00 10-15%
Total Cost $1.75-$7.50 100%

Pricing Strategies

Market Segment Price Range Profit Margin Volume Expectations
Budget/Mass Market $2-$5 50-100% High volume
Premium/Artisan $5-$12 100-200% Medium volume
Luxury/Specialty $12-$25 200-400% Low volume
Wholesale $1.50-$4 25-75% Very high volume

Market Opportunities

Sales Channel Order Size Price Point Customer Type Competition
Farmers Markets 1-20 pieces $4-$8 Individual consumers Medium
Online Marketplace 1-50 pieces $3-$10 DIY enthusiasts High
Spa/Salon 20-200 pieces $2-$6 Professional buyers Low
Gift Shops 10-100 pieces $4-$12 Tourists, gift-givers Medium
Subscription Boxes 100-1000 pieces $1.50-$4 Subscription services Low
Corporate Gifts 50-500 pieces $3-$8 Businesses Low

Packaging & Presentation

Packaging Options

Package Type Cost Range Shelf Life Visual Appeal Eco-Friendly
Shrink Wrap $0.05-$0.15 12-18 months Good Poor
Cellophane Bags $0.10-$0.30 6-12 months Good Fair
Kraft Paper $0.15-$0.50 3-6 months Rustic Excellent
Plastic Containers $0.25-$1.00 18-24 months Excellent Poor
Biodegradable Wrap $0.20-$0.60 6-12 months Good Excellent
Gift Boxes $0.50-$2.00 12-18 months Excellent Good

Labeling Requirements

Information Legal Requirement Marketing Value
Ingredients List Required (INCI names) Transparency
Weight/Size Required Consumer info
Manufacturer Info Required Brand building
Batch Number Recommended Quality control
Instructions Recommended User experience
Warnings Required (if applicable) Safety

Startup Costs & Equipment

Initial Investment

Equipment Category Basic Setup Intermediate Professional
Mixing Equipment $50-$100 $100-$300 $300-$800
Molds $50-$150 $150-$500 $500-$1,500
Scale $25-$75 $75-$200 $200-$500
Storage Containers $30-$80 $80-$200 $200-$500
Packaging Supplies $100-$200 $200-$500 $500-$1,000
Initial Ingredients $150-$300 $300-$800 $800-$2,000
Safety Equipment $50-$100 $100-$200 $200-$400
Total Startup $455-$1,005 $1,005-$2,700 $2,700-$6,700

Monthly Operating Costs

Expense Category Small Scale Medium Scale Large Scale
Raw Materials $100-$300 $300-$1,000 $1,000-$3,000
Packaging $50-$150 $150-$500 $500-$1,500
Marketing $50-$200 $200-$800 $800-$2,000
Utilities $25-$75 $75-$200 $200-$500
Insurance $25-$100 $100-$300 $300-$800
Miscellaneous $25-$100 $100-$300 $300-$800
Total Monthly $275-$925 $925-$3,100 $3,100-$8,600

Safety & Regulations

Safety Precautions

Safety Aspect Requirement Equipment Cost
Respiratory Protection Dust mask when mixing N95 masks $10-$30
Eye Protection Safety glasses Safety glasses $10-$25
Skin Protection Gloves Nitrile gloves $15-$40
Ventilation Adequate airflow Fan/ventilation $50-$200
First Aid Basic kit First aid supplies $25-$75

Regulatory Compliance

Jurisdiction Registration Required Labeling Rules Testing Requirements
FDA (USA) Cosmetic notification INCI names, warnings Voluntary
Health Canada Cosmetic notification Bilingual labels Safety assessment
EU CPNP notification Multi-language Safety assessor
Australia TGA notification Ingredient disclosure Safety assessment

Quality Control & Testing

Testing Protocols

Test Type Frequency Method Acceptance Criteria
Fizz Test Each batch Water activation 2-5 minutes fizzing
Hardness Test Each batch Drop test No cracking from 6”
Moisture Test Weekly Humidity meter <60% RH storage
Colour Stability Monthly Visual inspection No significant fading
Fragrance Stability Monthly Smell test Scent intensity maintained

Batch Record Keeping

Record Type Information Retention Period
Batch Sheet Ingredients, quantities, dates 3 years
Quality Control Test results, observations 3 years
Complaint Log Customer feedback, actions 3 years
Supplier Records Certificates, specifications 3 years

This cheatsheet provides comprehensive information for successful bath bomb making. Always prioritize safety, follow local regulations, and conduct proper testing before selling products to consumers.