Fizzy Bath Salts are incredibly easy to make, pretty inexpensive, and nearly impossible to mess up! It’s a great thing to make for yourself, and they make a terrific holiday gift. (Of course I have a free printable you can use!). The only ingredients you’ll need are epsom salts (they’re widely available at drugstores, grocery stores, and Target-like places), peppermint essential oil (you don’t need anything fancy or expensive, I buy mine on amazon), baking soda, and citric acid. Citric acid can be found on Amazon, or often in stores like Walmart or even home improvement stores. It’s used in home canning and preserving, cleaning, and bath and beauty products. With all of these ingredients, you can also make some of my favorite Peppermint Sink Scrub!
I highly recommend slapping on a pair of rubber gloves while you make this–any residual moisture on your hands will make the salts fizz prematurely and if you have any tiny cuts or scratches or irritations on your hands, the straight-up citric acid isn’t going to make them feel better (don’t worry, it’ll be fine in the tub, partially because it’s diluted and partially because the fizzy reaction is actually the baking soda neutralizing the acid. Science, yo.)
Instructions
Pour the salts into a large and completely dry bowl. If you’re going to use food coloring, you’ll add it now. I actually like to make this without coloring. A fun idea if you’re not using food coloring is to put the plain white mixture in a pink jar! If you do want to add color (it’s super cute, pink) I don’t like to add a lot because I don’t want to cause any problems leaving a film on my or anyone’s tub. So maybe just go light on that. But do keep in mind that whatever color you have at this point will be diluted a bit since you’ve still got more ingredients to add. I went for a super pale pink in this batch. You’ll also add the essential oil at this point and mix in really well until completely combined.
Next you’ll add in the baking soda and the citric acid and mix until it’s completely combined. I like to use my hands, and I wear gloves. Transfer into containers. Note: I always keep these in glass jars. Someone commented that mixtures containing baking soda and citric acid can react and cause the glass to break or even explode if the mixture is introduced to moisture, which is good to know! I’ve never had that issue but I thought it was worth noting here to be aware, especially when stored in a bathroom where it could get wet. If you live in a particularly humid climate, or are worried about your ability to keep the mixture itself dry before using, it might be better to put in a breathable container, or plastic.
To use: You can use 1-2 cups of these salts if you’re doing a therapeutic epsom salt bath (epsom salts are actually a form of magnesium and, when you soak in them, some of the magnesium absorbs through your skin. Magnesium is great for aches, sprains, bruises, muscle cramps, and relaxation. Funny side note: I am a terrible sleeper and my doctor had me start taking a magnesium supplement at night. After a year of every prescription and over-the-counter sleep medication on the market, it is the only thing that helps me fall asleep and stay asleep, plus I don’t send weird texts or buy $300 worth of stuff from Etsy like when I take Ambien.) If you’d rather just add something fun and yummy-smelling to your bath, you can just use a few tablespoons.
Tie a cute string around it and add a label and you’ve got cute gifts for all your girlfriends!
Fizzy Peppermint Bath Salts
Ingredients
- 3 cups epsom salts
- 1/2 teaspoon red or pink food coloring optional
- 20 drops peppermint essential oil
- 2 cups baking soda
- 1 cup citric acid
Instructions
- I recommend using gloves.
- Pour the salts into a large and completely dry bowl. Add food coloring and essential oil and mix until completely combined. Add the baking soda and mix until combined. Add the citric acid and combine. Divide into airtight containers (glass is preferable).
- To use: You can use an entire cup of these salts if you’re doing a therapeutic epsom salt bath, or you can use a few tablespoons if you just want something to add to your bath.
- Edited to add: If you live in a dry climate, allow these to dry for a few hours before packing them up. If you live in a humid climate, you may want to try blow drying them on low for a few minutes to remove any excess moisture and then packaging them immediately.
Questions & Reviews
About how many of the small jars will one batch make?? Thanks!!
This will make 8 cups of salts, so if you’re using the small 4-ounce jars, you’ll get 16. Hope that helps!
Yes…..thanks!!
Just when I didn’t think I could love you any more, you make me L-O-L with your essential oils comment. I made the mistake of mentioning on Facebook that my ten-month old had a cough. Oh geez!
Just an FIY on the liquid food coloring, you might want to check that they do not contain any water because otherwise the salts will fizz… I’m talking from experience, trust me… And the bath bombs might be scary but they’re not if you do not use any water at all and use oil (like olive oil or any other kind). I had kids make them during a science summer camp and they all worked out well (and the kids were like 6 to 9 years old so if they can do it, so can everybody :))
Definitely pinned this one! I love this as a gift idea 🙂
Love this! (Love the Friends reference too!) =)
Thanks for sharing!
Love this idea! I too have toyed with the idea of bath bombs but been put off by their finicky nature. It looks like you’ve got a nice printable on top….wanna share??
I didn’t love how it turned out and I didn’t have time to change it, BUT I’ll send it to you and you can see if you want it or not, hahaha!
Great idea.
I totally want to try it!!!
By chance do you have any awesome dinner recipes hiding up your sleeve you will be sharing soon? It’s a hard time of year for dinner but for some reason everyone in this house still wants to eat :/
I have one coming next week, but it’s probably not an everyday kind of dinner. If you’re looking for something newish, try the beef tips and gravy recipe we posted a little while back–that’s my new go-to favorite! 🙂
i too thank you for the magnesium tip. I’m trying it tonight!
Kate! You are a genius! I have all the stuff to make bath bombs too…but I also got scared/weirded out about them. I am going to make these for sure :). Thanks!
Wow thanks for the tip on the magnesium, I’m going to get some today. I don’t sleep…at all. And after a year on and a VERY hard cold turkey off of Ambien I am anxious to try something…anything!!
Janet, make sure it’s one that’s bioavailable like magnesium citrate–it costs a little more, but your body will absorb much more of it. Magnesium oxide is cheap and easy to find, but it’s hard for your body to absorb. Also, be sure that you’re taking 100% of the recommended daily value; I take 3 of the capsules from my bottle to get 100%. It’s been amazing!! I hope it works for you, too!
Kate, have you tried Natural Vitality Natural Calm? It’s a magnesium citrate based powder you mix with water and it fizzes. It’s helped me sleep when I needed it, but it’s kind of sour though so beware! I get the raspberry lemon flavor.
I tried it, but I didn’t love how it tasted–I was better off with the horse pills, haha!
Hm, well maybe I’ll try the horse pills too because I have a hard time drinking it!
They make this in non-flavored as well. I just mix a little with warm water and after it fizzes, a little juice. Works great!
Both of you (you and the author of this blog)should check out gaba (Gamma-aminobutric acid) I like the powder form and put a little with some water or even a little yogurt right before bed. You can get in online or any vitamin place. Definitely look into it or google it, it helps with several things. Google benefits of butric acid❤️….I’m seeing this post is from several years ago but it’s worth mentioning if it helps anyone, sleep deprivation is not fun.