DIY Palm Springs Inspired Bath Bombs (Beginner Friendly!)

If you’ve been following on Instagram, you know it’s been quiet on the blog front as Kristen and I have been prepping for our DIY leather earring workshop! Lots of sourcing leather, testing jewerly findings, and trimming over 500 pieces. 😱Alt Summit is such an inspirtional, creative recharge, that I wanted to bring my A game and create a special, Palm Springs DIY to say hello! I reworked my favorite bath bomb recipe to make these citrusy, floral, and a touch woodsy, Palm Springs inspired bomb recipe so you can enjoy the same creative buzz!

Did we meet at Alt? Thanks for stopping by and say hello!

I altered my favorite base recipe that I’ve used for Holiday Drink and Mimosa bath bombs to make this extremely beginner friendly. By eliminating water as a binding agent, you’ll have an easier time getting the right consistency. I’ll also share 2 essential oil options, one that is my exact mix for the ones I made for Alt and smells more complex, and a paired down, 2 scent option that’s a little more budget friendly for anyone just getting into essential oil DIYs.

I used mini, 2″ molds for Alt to make them travel friendly but I also love the idea of filling an apothecary jar with a ton of colorful, smaller bombs to make your bathroom feel like a spa! If you’re looking to make a more traditionally sized bath bomb, my usual go-to molds are these ‘plastic treat domes‘ at Michaels or this assorted pack for mini all the way to large.

You’ll Need
bath bomb molds
1 1/2 c baking soda
1 c citric acid
1 c cornstarch
1 c Epsom salt
3 tbsp jojoba oil
1 1/4 tsp sweet orange essential oil
1 tsp lime essential oil
1/2 tsp cedarwood (Atlas) essential oil
1/4 tsp jasmine absolute
– or –
2 1/2 tsp sweet orange
1/2 tsp jasmine absolute

This recipe will make roughly 32 mini bombs, or 8 medium, or 3-4 large. If you don’t want to order a ton of small molds, you can seal the leftover mix with press and seal until you can reuse them.

Whisk the baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, & Epsom salt together until evenly mixed. In a separate container, mix the essential oils & jojoba oil.

Slowly incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry mix, whisking the whole time. It’s important to take your time- go too fast and bath bomb will activate and you’ll be left with a puddle. (Guilty ✋)

Your bath bomb mix should have the consistency of slightly wet sand. You should be able to clump it easily without it feeling mushy or soft. If you feel the mixture is too dry, slowly add more oil, if it’s too wet add more cornstarch. Just like baking, your environment will slightly affect your results, so it’s perfectly normal to experiment a bit!

Overpack each half and press & twist together. Give the mold a gentle tap around the edges and slowly twist the molds off the bath bomb, one side at a time.

Let the bath bombs dry for 24 hrs.

Saftey Notes
Essential oils are a great way to incorporate aromatherapy into your self care. Just be sure to take these basic precautions to get the most out of your experience!

1) Essential oils are highly concentrated. Be careful not to handle with your bare hands. If you do get some on you, DO NOT wash with water. Grab a neutral, carrier oil (like olive oil, jojoba oil, almond oil) and keep “washing” with it until the sensation goes away. A carrier oil is a neutral oil that makes essential oils more stable so you can use them for your body, hair, or room diffuser.

2) All linked oils are organic because this is meant to be absorbed by your skin. In past projects, like a room diffuser or yoga mat deodorizer, organic isn’t absolutely necessary but I’d highly recommend organic for anything made for your body.