I’ve never been one to buy traditional gifts like roses or chocolates for loved ones. I usually try to come up with something more personal, so they know how much they mean to me.

My gal pals are big fans of pretty, natural bath and body products. (Aren’t we all?!) So when trying to decide what I wanted to make them this year, I knew they would adore flowery, fizzy bath bombs.

I currently love the floral fragrance of Ylang Ylang essential oil and put it in my diffuser every night before bed. Since Ylang Ylang oil has also been known to uplift mood and relax the body, I knew it would be a wonderful element to include in hopes of creating a luxurious bath experience for my friends.

I chose to add dried Hibiscus petals, not only because they are beautiful to look at when dropped in the tub, but also the Hibiscus flower is rich in antioxidants and has a reputation for reducing signs of aging skin.

Bath bombs that cause glowing skin, a lovely aroma, and fizzy bath water … what’s not to love?

What You’ll Need (Makes 3-4 Bath Bombs):

• 3 tablespoons baking soda
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• 2 tablespoons Epsom salt
• 2 tablespoons citric acid
• 1 tablespoons coconut oil, warmed (or olive oil)
• 3-5 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
• 1/2 tablespoon water
• Dried flower petals (I used Hibiscus)
• Bath bomb mold

To Make:

Mix baking soda, cornstarch, Epsom salt, citric acid and dried Hibiscus in a bowl.

Note: Proceed with caution when using citric acid as it may cause irritation. I recommend wearing a face mask when pouring and mixing dry ingredients together to prevent breathing in dust.

For Hibiscus, add a small amount of dried petals to a baggie and break apart with your hands until pieces are less than ½ inch in size. Do not grind into powder, as this will create more of a blue color when added to the bath bombs. Instead, leave beautiful red-colored chunks in your dry mixture.

In a separate bowl, mix together coconut oil, water, and Ylang Ylang essential oil. Add this mixture to the bowl of dry ingredients, VERY slowly, continuously stirring until combined. It helps to have two people during this step, one stirring and one slowly adding wet mixture so that the liquids don’t set off the chemical reaction and fizz early.

Fill molds with as much of the combined mixture as possible. The fuller the mold, the better your bath bomb will hold together. Once your bath bombs are formed in the molds, gently remove them and let them sit overnight (at least 12 hours) to dry.

 Note: In moist environments, you will not need as much liquid. Only add as much as you need for the mixture to start clumping together.

What Valentine’s Day inspired bath and body products are you crafting this year? Share with us in the comments.

The information provided on flourish is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat any medical condition. Content is based on personal research and experiences and is meant for entertainment purposes only. We are not licensed nutritionists or medical professionals. You should always consult with your doctor.

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