I created this recipe for someone who can’t use bath bombs because she has an allergic reaction to all scents, including essential oils, EXCEPT for vanilla.  I call it my oatmeal, milk, and honey, but it smells like a yummy cookie!  I used vanilla oleoresin from Eden’s Garden, and while it’s not a true essential oil, and is a bit costly, it’s a good alternative for those who need something that doesn’t leave them sneezing, or who just want to smell like a yummy cookie after the bath!

FIRST, A LITTLE ABOUT THE INGREDIENTS

Don’t be tempted to add extra honey – I’ve been down that road and it can make for a soft bath bomb because honey is a humectant and will draw water from the air.

Colloidal oats are nothing, but finely ground oats.  You can do it yourself, but I’m all about easy and so I purchase mine from Brambleberry.  Same with the goat’s milk.  I can find goat’s milk locally, but not in the powdered form, so I prefer to just load up my cart online and get what I need all at one time.

You can find the large boxes of baking soda at Walmart in the same aisle as the cleaning products.  In my Walmart it’s with the washing soda on the bottom shelf at the very end of the aisle.

Citric acid is something you’ll likely have to purchase online.  There are several options, including Amazon.  My favorite is Millard brand.  Citric acid should always be stored in a sealed container because the longer it’s exposed to the air the less potent it will be when it comes time to use it.  And, this is doubly important if you live in a humid area.

I like to buy my shea butter, cocoa butter, and jojoba oil from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Regular oats can be used to garnish the bath bombs.  Just sprinkle a pinch into the bottom of the mold.

INGREDIENTS

Oatmeal, Milk & Honey Bath Bomb

2 ½ cups baking soda

1 ¼ cups citric acid

1 ¾ cups powdered goat’s milk

1 cup cornstarch

1 cup colloidal oats

Measure the following on a digital kitchen scale:

2 Oz shea butter

1 Oz cocoa butter

½ Oz jojoba oil

½ Oz warmed honey

1 Oz vanilla oleoresin

.75 Oz witch hazel

6 mL polysorbate 80

DIRECTIONS

In a large mixing bowl of a stand mixer, add all dry ingredients EXCEPT the citric acid.  Place a clean tea towel over mixer and bowl to prevent a dust cloud.  Using whisk attachment, turn mixer on to speed 1 or 2 and mix until thoroughly combined. Change whisk attachment to paddle attachment.

Use a digital kitchen scale and a heat safe container to measure the butters and jojoba oil – I use a glass measuring cup.  Heat in the microwave on 30 second bursts, stirring between each burst, until melted.  Add honey and stir again.  Set aside to cool.

In a separate container measure the vanilla, witch hazel, and polysorbate 80.

Once the oils, butter, and honey mixture has cooled slightly, add the vanilla and witch hazel mixture.  Stir.

Turn the mixer on speed 2 and with a slow, but steady stream, add the liquids.  Turn up to speed 3 if necessary.  Continue mixing until thoroughly combined.

With mixer still on, add the citric acid ¼ to ½ cup at a time.  If the mix starts to react – bubble and fizz – turn the speed up until it stops.  Continue to add citric acid until it’s all been incorporated.

Mold and let dry 24-48 hours until each bath bomb is hard.  I shrink wrap mine afterward using a hand sealer heat sealing machine and a heat gun.  I used to use a hair dryer.  Either works just fine.

Package them up for gifts.  Sometimes I wrap them in foil after they’ve been shrink wrapped and place them in pretty boxes with crinkle paper shred.

P80 helps to disperse the butter and oils so they don’t stick to the tub, but please always use caution when entering and exiting so you don’t slip.

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