Teach Soap

I'm not sure why, but when I make bath bombs they will not go solid at all. They will stay put together, but they are easy to break apart and crumble really easily. Does anyone have a good recipie for bath bombs, that turn out great every time? So that they are rock solid, or at least so they are solid enough they wont crumble when touched.

& how is using a silicon muffin tray for as a mold, I tried it but I couldn't get them to stay together for taking them out.

Thanks!!

I don't know your recipe, but if they crumble easy, the could probably use more oil.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Maybe someone could help if you posted your recipe.

Malia

I actually use the first recipe on the site.

this one:

1 part citric acid
• 2 parts baking soda
• Witch hazel
• Coloring
• Fragrance oil

I put 1 cup of baking soda, 1/2 cup or citric acid, mix in the coloring and fragrance and then I spritz the witch hazel and I put about 2-3 teaspoons of olive oil. No matter how hard I try to pack it, it just will not work.

That seems like a lot of baking soda and not enough oil.

What recipe do you use to make yours?

Here's a recipe that I have tried from Coastal Scents:

1 cup baking soda
3/4 cup citric acid
2 TBSP white kaolin clay
1 TBSP Grape seed oil (I think you could use any oil of your choice here)
2 tsp PolySorbate 80
1 tsp Fragrance Oil
1/4 borax powder (I left this out)
1/4 tsp gel colorant
12 spritzers of alcohol ( I think you could use witch hazel with the same effect)

My bath balls got pretty firm. Only problem is, my hubby complained that our pantry where I stored them was too aromic for him, so I put them out in the garage (live in a humid area) and they turned to the consistency of marshmellows the following morning. I haven't tried to make any since, but I do know they were pretty firm when I put them outside.

Good luck!

If it's humid where you are, they will absorb the moisture and start growing on their own.

_________________
Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Okay, I'll try that one out!

Will it still turn out if I don't use Kaolin Clay and Polysorbate 80? I don't have those.

There's many different recipes for bath bombs, but I had success the first time with this recipe. I can't say that about other recipes I have tried. All my bath bombs have Kaolin Clay, but not necessarily the same oils in that recipe. Then I dry the BB's in a small room with a space heater for a few days. The clay really helps with the shaping and hardening, but more important has a lot of benefits for the skin.

I hope this helps!

Malia

Where would I find Kaolin clay? Could I find it at a regular store, or would I have to buy it online?

Thanks so much!

You can buy it on-line from Brambleberry or any other soap supplier. Not sure you can buy it at a regular store.

Brambleberry has very white clay. Some of the Kaolin Clays I've purchased from other suppliers is grey'ish in color, not a good color for bath bombs.

Malia