Teach Soap

Hi all,

I'm having an issue and I was wondering if you could help me.

I've been making bath bombs successfully for awhile now using the same recipe. Then not too long ago, I read about the benefits of dendritric salt and how it can help keep your scent around longer. Since my husband likes a well-scented bath (oh yes, he does love the bath bombs! ), I decided to pick up some of this stuff and work it in.

For some reason, this batch came out really weird. It's like it just never got wet enough to pack, no matter how much extra liquid (in the form of witch hazel spritzes) I gave it. It just kind of stayed dry. Eventually I got them packed but then the next morning they were all cracked and when I went to pick them up, they crumbled and fell apart in my hands. They never hardened, which they normally do overnight. I tried to dampen the mixture again and re-pack, but the fizz was gone.

Here is the recipe I've been using successfully thus far. I find that this makes about 4 bath bombs, which is the amount I like to make per scent.

1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup sea salt

1 1/2 tbsp carrier oil
about 3/4 tbsp water
about 1 tsp fragrance oil
witch hazel spritzer as needed

So that's the recipe I've been using with no problems. This last time I added a small amount of dendritic salt (about 2 tablespoons) with the FO mixed in, then mixed that into the batch. I understand that dendritic salt is supposed to be more absorbent, so the only thing I can think of is that maybe the salt + cornstarch together absorbed all the liquid, making me need a lot more and eventually destroying the whole mix? I'm a little unsure about cornstarch altogether. I've heard that it's softening but I've also heard that it can make the bombs more difficult to construct. I'm not sure. Anyway, if anyone has any thoughts on this I would REALLY appreciate it! I live in a dry climate, BTW, if that helps at all.

Thanks!

Did you leave your sea salt amount the same? I might try dropping the salt amount to account for the dendretic salt you're adding and see if that helps. I have hardening problems sometimes using salt - the bombs seem to pull the moisture from the air and never quite set up, so maybe the change has something like that happening to you.

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Yes, I left the sea salt amount the same. I was actually thinking about trying to omit the corn starch because I'm guessing that's the most absorbent ingredient of all of them?

I haven't had issues with any of my bombs not hardening; they're always hard as a rock after about 24 hours. This is the first time. One thing I did notice when pushing my hands through the mix is that it felt really soft, softer than usual, as though I had put a lot of corn starch in. Maybe it just absorbed all the excess liquid.

Do you use corn starch in yours?

Yes, I use corn starch - usually about the same proportion as you do. I've tossed in more when my bombs were too wet during the mix, and it didn't cause any hardening problems, so I'm not convinced that it's your cause. Hmmmm.....

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The thing that was weird was that after I had mixed in all my wet ingredients, it was still too dry so I kept spritzing with witch hazel. And spritzing and spritzing...and it never seemed to get wet enough to hold together. I eventually went through almost half the spritzer bottle (which holds about 2 oz). The funny thing is, I almost never have to use the spritzer at all. Usually the wet ingredients are enough.

yeah, the whole thing is odd, there.

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http://www.magichands.etsy.com
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Do you have any fractionated coconut oil? A couple of drops might be enough so the mixture stays together.

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

Well, thank you for your help anyway!

I'd pull everything out and start at the beginning and then add ingredients back in if this ends up being an ongoing problem for you.

So, 2 parts Baking Soda to 1 part Citric Acid, wet with Witch Hazel and add fragrance.

Then, if that works, try, 1 part Baking Soda, 1 part Citric Acid, 1 part Cornstarch, wet with Witch Hazel and add fragrance.

Then, if that works, add in the salt ... and then ... and then ... and then ...

You get my drift. Lots of experimentation but you'll get to the bottom of it. At first glance, there does not appear to be anything wrong with your recipe that I can see causing it to get so dry and absorb moisture so quickly.

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Happy Soaping!

Anne-Marie
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