Homemade Bath Bomb Recipe

Make your own bath bombs as gifts for friends with this too-easy recipe. You'll need:

·         1 1/2 cups bicarbonate of soda.

·         1/2 cup citric acid powder.

·         Sieve.

·         Potpourri.

·         An essential oil such as peppermint, lavender, geranium.

·         Sweet almond oil.

·         Food colouring.

·         Rubber gloves.

·         Moulds from craft shops.

Instructions:

1.      To make the base mix: sieve the bicarb soda and citric acid powder into a large dry mixing bowl. This will make enough for four bath bombs.

2.      To make one bath bomb, transfer 1/2 cup of the base mix into a medium bowl and stir in the contents of a herbal teabag or other dry ingredient such as potpourri.

3.      In a small bowl, combine 6 drops of essential oil of your choice, 1/2 teaspoon of sweet almond oil and 8 to 12 drops of food colouring. Pour this mixture into the bowl containing the 1/2 cup of base mix and stir quickly with a teaspoon so things don't start fizzing!

4.      Wearing rubber gloves, continue to combine the ingredients with your fingertips until it starts to clump together when compressed in your hand.

5.      Wipe a little sweet almond oil inside the mould. Fill the mould with the mixture, packing it in firmly. Make the other bath bombs with the remaining mixture, working with 1/2 cup at a time. Leave the bath bombs in their moulds to set for at least 24 hours. After they have set, turn each mould over and bang it firmly once on a flat surface, then gently ease out the bath bombs.

Wrap individual bath bombs in clear cellophane and tie with a pretty ribbon to give as gifts. Remember, hot water activates the fizz in the bombs - cold water doesn't work.