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
Description
A fizzy, soothing, refreshing mix to drop into warm bath water.
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.
Notes
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. A cellophane bag with a ribbon or twist tie would be a good option as well. I just purchased these shaker lids, which I think is a great solution!
Questions & Reviews
Great use of the Friends reference! (everything can be compared to a Friends episode in my opinion). I think I need a bath now…
HELP! I made half a batch last night and today it is hard. What did I do wrong? Did anyone else have this problem? I’m supposed to be giving these away as gifts and can’t give them away like this.
Just dump them out onto a baking sheet and break them up with your hands and then put them back in the jars. The same thing has happened to me (I live in a very humid climate) and they still work. 🙂
I would also appreciate the printable. Great gift idea. Thanks!
I added it at the end! 🙂
Is there a printable for your jar label? Love this and just bought everything to make it!
I added it at the end! 🙂
Kate, thanks for this cute idea. Love it. I would really like to get the labels you used and noticed you emailed them to a couple of other commenters. Could you please email them to me as well? Thanks so much.
Added it at the end! 🙂
Great stocking stuffers—I am always looking for ones that people will actually use. These are inexpensive too, but look good.
Citric Acid = Vitamin C.
I’d love the label topper as well! 🙂 I agree with the others, I LOVE reading your posts. . .they crack me up! 🙂
Has anyone else tried it with regular food coloring? Someone mentioned it makes the salts fizz? I really want to make this but don’t want to spend the $ on the other food coloring. Thoughts?
I made these tonight with regular food coloring and they did not fizz at all! Bonus: your house will smell amazing.
You crack me up! I love this idea, but I am laughing even more at the truth behind the MLM companies! I hide things from my newsfeed all the time!
I would love the label topper too. Even if it’s not perfect, it is WAY better than anything I could do! :). Great post too, btw. Hilarious!
Wow. I just happen to have everything I’ll need to make the bath salts. Very grateful for the magnesium tip. I’m a terrible sleeper eager to get off of the Lunesta. Will try it and let you know how it goes.
Any chance you’d be willing to share the label you used?
Absolutely–I’ll send it to your email address. 🙂
Great idea…and you are the best humor blogger I’ve found anywhere on the foodie circuit! 🙂
Thank you, haha! 🙂
I totally agree with this comment 🙂
“If you’re in the market, just mention the words “essential oils” on Facebook and you’ll have 52 people wanting to sell them to you, and another 12 wondering if you might be interested in joining their Beach Body team or acquiring YouNique mascara).”
YES!!!
You are my favorite in the history of ever.
Also, insert this link for the next time you need to write “science, yo”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uMBbkSMppM
YES!!! I wanted to say “Yeah, science,” but without the video, it doesn’t have the same effect, hahaha!
Great gift idea! Would have even shared, pinned, etc if not for the slam on BeachBody. I’m a non-salesly/pushy Coach and have even shared ur recipes & ideas for the last couple years AND usually love your comments/humor. What happened?
Not all BeachBody coaches are pushy. And I’m not slamming BeachBody–I actually have and use tons of their videos. But I have some friends on Facebook and Instagram that I’ve had to unfollow because it’s waaaaay too evangelical. Being a non-pushy BeachBody coach, I’m sure you know the type I’m talking about. 🙂
Kate are the jar labels available to print or purchase? Those would make the perfect touch! Also where can your cute jars be purchased?
I’ll send you the labels if you want for free, I just didn’t love how they turned out. 🙂 And you can just get the jars in the canning department of any store that sells stuff like that (Walmart, Target, Amazon, etc.)
HAHAHA @the Ambien reference. SO true!! Thanks, both for the FABOO gift idead AND the magnesium for sleep tip…totally gonna try both!
Yay you’ve done it again! I’ve been lamely stressing about what to give my gal-friends and I’m totally gonna do this! Unless, of course, they all see this same post and we all end up doing the same thing (see jingle toes year, buttermilk caramel sauce year, and homemade vanilla year 🙂
Aside from the fact that this is a great idea, I have to say that your writing style cracks me up–your posts always make me laugh and have on several occasions made me snort Diet Coke through my nose. I’m pretty sure we were destined to be best friends! And I mean that in a very non-stalker way.
Hahaha! I’m so glad!! Next time I’m in SLC, you can stalk me with a Diet Coke. Unless you mean something totally different by SLC. 🙂
THANK YOU! for the recipe and the tip re: magnesium. I also am a horrible sleeper. I’ll have to look into that. And just yesterday I was looking for bath bombs for my kids stockings!
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.