Guide to Starting a Bath Bomb Business

If you are looking through articles on how to start with the bath bomb business, then, of course, you already know what bath bombs are. They are very popular and have become a global trend in recent years. Through its soothing ingredients that dissolve in water, bath bombs create a distinct bath experience that makes bathing more relaxing. 

Can you make money making bath bombs? Of course, you can! Many people start out making bath bombs for personal use, but because of its popularity, they find that it’s also a great way of turning a hobby into a small business. Making bath bombs is easy and inexpensive and can be highly profitable.

So if you’re wondering how you can start making and selling your bath bombs, you have come to the right place. This article will give you a step-by-step guide for this excellent handmade business idea.

What Are the Various Types of Bath Bombs You Can Make?

Each type of bath bomb falls under either a drug or cosmetic category. You must know whether your bath bomb is a drug or a cosmetic. It can be tricky, but it is important because it will tell you what type of licensing you will get for your bath bomb.

Your claims about your bath bombs determine whether they are drug or cosmetic. Your bath bombs are categorized as a drug if you claim they offer mental and physical benefits. Otherwise, they will be categorized as cosmetic. But most bath bombs are considered cosmetics because they are treated like soaps.

It is important to note that your products will need to be FDA approved if you plan on marketing them as having medicinal benefits. The requirements for registering your bath bombs may vary depending on the country or state.

Classic Ball Bath Bombs: These are the most general type. They are normally spherical and come in various colors and scents.

Crystal Bath Bombs: These bath bombs have added crystals, attracting many due to the belief that crystals have healing powers.

Jewel Bath Bombs: These lush bath bombs include jewelry—found once the bath bomb melts in water. You will find several small jewelry pieces, such as rings and earrings.

Shaped Bath Bombs: Instead of the traditional spherical shape, these bath bombs come in different shapes and sizes. Hearts, triangles, squares, and stars are popular choices for this bath bomb type.

Aromatherapy Bath Bombs: These bath bombs are formulated with therapeutic essential oils and relieve physical and emotional ailments such as stress and dry skin. They are categorized as drugs, not cosmetics, because of the essential oils added to them. Therefore, these bath bombs need to be approved by the FDA.

What Are the Main Ingredients for Bath Bombs?

Bath bombs are easy to make because they only require a few essential ingredients. You will be able to customize them to your or your customer’s liking once you familiarize yourself with making simple bath bombs.

To make a batch of bath bombs, you will need the following:

  • 8 ounces of baking soda
  • 4 ounces of citric acid
  • 2 ounces of cornstarch
  • 4 ounces of mineral salts
  • 2 tablespoons of essential oil
  • 2.5 tablespoons of light vegetable oil or olive oil
  • 1-2 drops of food coloring
  • shaping molds

How Do You Make Bath Bombs?

Although making bath bombs isn’t difficult, it takes some practice to nail the formula and the process itself. It’s worth practicing making bath bombs and testing them before you start selling them. That way, you can rule out any issues, ensure that your bath bombs are safe, and offer only positive results to your customers.

These are the basic steps to making bath bombs:

  • Mix the dry ingredients in a jar or bowl
  • Mix the wet ingredients separately in a bowl and blend till smooth
  • Then slowly add in the wet ingredients with the dry and whisk the mixture slowly to avoid foaming
  • Put the mixture tightly into the shaping molds once everything is mixed smoothly
  • Leave the mixture to solidify in the molds. This may take up to a day.

Once the mixture is solidified, you can de-mold and pack them—ready to sell!

Now, Create Your Bath Bomb Business Plan.

Once you finally found the right formula to your liking, it is time to start your bath bomb business! It can feel a bit daunting to start a new business from scratch can feel daunting, but a little guidance can help you get started.

Start testing out your products before creating a business plan. Get feedback from potential customers—this can be your family and friends. This will help you better understand the areas you can improve on.

You can start creating your business plan once you are set on your bath bomb products. Your business plan must include the ideas, tasks, and deadlines required to help you stay ahead of your business goals.

When creating a business plan, there are several factors you need to consider: where do you want to sell your bath bomb products, who is your target market, and how much are you selling them for. Not to mention your finances. Although the costs of making bath bombs are low, it is still important to know how much your profit will be. You will need to calculate your cost for the ingredients, production costs, shipping costs, and the cost of your time.

Where Can I Sell My Bath Bomb Products?

At this point, you have already created a business plan. Now it’s time to set up your online shop. There are several platforms you can choose to sell your products. If you are planning to sell your products online, you may want to look onto popular platforms so you can easily attract customers.

Use quality images of your products to stand out to potential customers. You may also want to consider putting videos of your products on your online store. This will be very helpful to customers, especially those new to bath bombs, to get an idea of what your bath bombs will be like when placed in the water.

Selling online paves the way to connect with other entrepreneurs, thus helping you build your network. It is important to create connections because this will help you create a social following and may even help you build an email subscriber list.

If you also want to sell your products in person, check out your local farmers’ market and pop-up shops.

Now that you already know how to start your bath bomb business, it’s time to launch! Have fun making bath bombs and becoming an entrepreneur!

Adam Hansen
 

Adam is a part time journalist, entrepreneur, investor and father.