Tea and Lavender Bath Bombs

This Earl Grey Tea and Lavender bath bomb recipe is so luxurious and so very English! It is the perfect bath bomb to celebrate all that we love about England and would be a fun party favour for a Tea Party or Royal inspired party. Or as a gift for Mother’s Day or Teacher appreciation. It is also incredibly calming, and a decadent treat after a long, stressful day. You will love this bath bomb!

Disclaimer: This article may contain commission or affiliate links. As an Amazon Influencer I earn from qualifying purchases.
Not seeing our videos? Turn off any adblockers to ensure our video feed can be seen. Or visit our YouTube channel to see if the video has been uploaded there. We are slowly uploading our archives. Thanks!

I was not born in England, but all of my family dating back as far as we can trace in our genealogy was born in or around London. I feel a strong connection to my heritage home, and when I finally made a trip to visit a England it was one of my favourite trips of all time.

Despite the fact that I discovered I was pregnant with my first son only hours before boarding the plane, and proceeded to discover all the best loos across England! Harrods wins by the way.

My greatest wish is to return to England with my kids one day. I think of it often. I feel so much connection to England, even though I have only spent 2 weeks of my life there.

That’s probably why I love this bath bomb sooooo much! It reminds me of England.

Tea & Lavender Bath Bomb Ingredients

2 cups baking soda
1 cup citric acid
1/4 cup cornstarch
4 tablespoons dead sea salts
1/4 cup kaolin clay
1/3 cup coconut oil
1 tablespoon polysorbate 80
Lavender soap colorant
4 tea bags or 4 tablespoons of Earl Grey Tea (or the tea of your choice)
1 tablespoon dried lavender
Stainless steel bath bomb molds
Spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol
1 large mixing bowl
1 microwave safe measuring cup or bowl
Lavender essential oil (optional if stronger scent desired)

 

How to make Tea and Lavender Bath Bombs

Create the bath bomb mix

When making bath bombs it is a lot like making cookies! First we mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. This includes the baking soda, citric acid, dead sea salts and cornstarch. Stir cautiously. Citric acid can be an irritant if it becomes airborne. Due to this, I always make bath bombs in a well ventilated area.

Next we mix up the wet ingredients in a microwave safe measuring cup. Start by melting the coconut oil in the microwave until it is just liquid. Add the polysorbate 80 and essential oils if you decide to add them (although they really are not necessary for this recipe).

Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well. Use your hands to break down any lumps and make sure everything is mixed in. At this point the citric acid won’t become airborne, so kids can really get in there and enjoy the sensory experience of mixing everything together. The mixture is perfect when it holds together when you press it into your hands and feels like wet sand.

Add 3.5 tablespoons of the Earl Grey tea and a 1/2 tablespoon of the dried lavender. Mix well.

Add 1 or 2 drops of the lavender colorant. Mix well. Continue to add 1 drop of color until you achieve the color you desire. A little goes a long way, so make sure you mix well. You may want to wear gloves for this step.

Now it’s time to pack the molds!

Add a bit of the tea and lavender mixture into one side of the mold and gently add the bath bomb mixture until the mold is overflowing. Fill the other side of the mold with the mixture and press molds together and grind to remove excess mixture. Gently tap each side of the mold to release the bombs.

If the mix starts to become a little dry while packing, spritz it with rubbing alcohol and mix before continuing the packing.

Allow to dry a minimum of 24 hours. If your climate is wet or cold, allow an additional 24 hours. My rule of thumb is that when it is hard to the touch, they are ready for the tub! Store in an airtight container until ready for use.

The Science Behind Why Bath Bombs Fizz

At it’s most basic, bath bombs fizz due to an acid-base reaction. The acid is Citric Acid and the base is Baking Soda. While dry they can mix without reacting. Once water is added, the chemical reaction starts. This reaction is called neutralization and one of the products is Carbon Dioxide gas, which forms the bubbles you see in the water.

We did a fascinating bath bomb science experiment exploring the effect of water temperature on bath bomb fizz. Check out our bath bomb experiment here.

Finally, make sure you don’t forget the polysorbate 80. It is an emulsifier which helps the oils mix with the water. This creates a much nicer bathing experience and helps prevent the colours and oils from sticking to you and the tub, which creates a big mess.

I hope you enjoy this very English bath bomb!

MORE DIY BATH BOMBS YOU WILL LOVE