Fizzy Bath Salts

Fizzy Bath Salts with a Message in the Bottle

For birthdays I tend to give lovely ladies homemade bath gifts. It's great because every woman deserves to pamper herself. My bath gifts are always non-toxic and completely edible. While I don't recommend eating them, I do this because I want my dogs (or someones children) to be safe in case they get a hold of something. I also use essential oils with specific qualities for specific people. Some people ask that I put positive intentions or prayers into their bath gifts so that they will feel the positive energy when they are used. These are all the benefits of making your own bath gifts--you can make them the way you want!

How cute!

I saw these cute bottles when I was shopping at Michael's yesterday. I had a coupon so I only paid $1 for each of them. They made me think of the kind of bottle one would find filled with sand and a love note. So I figured instead of sand I would make bath salts. However, the woman I'm making these for is still working her way through my last batch of bath salts, so I decided to make these ones with some fizz.
Fizzy bath salts are like a mix between bath bombs and bath salts. You can pour as much as you want and they exfoliate your skin like bath salts and they fizz in the bath and actually are able to soften the water like a bath bomb.

These are the ingredients for the base. Corn starch, citric acid, Epsom salts, and baking soda. I get citric acid when it's on sale in the canning section at Walmart, but usually it's cheapest at Sprouts or Whole Foods in the bulk spices section. 

Mix 1/8 cup of citric acid, 1/4 cup of baking soda, 1/4 cup of corn starch, and about 1/2 cup of Epsom salts. You can add more or less salt based on the texture you prefer.

Little clumps in the mixture can be pressed out against the wall of the bowl. You can also crush them with the spoon. We don't want any clumps.

Pick an essential oil. I chose sweet orange because I was going for a beach theme. Also, get some soap grade color. Food coloring can stain your bath tub. I got mine at Michael's for about $5 for three colors. Add the fragrance to a strength of your liking to the mixture in random places. I used 7 or 8 drops and I made a star pattern with them. The pattern doesn't really matter just as long as the drops are well spaced. 

Add the coloring of your choice to a spoon. I used ten drops of yellow and two drops of red. I recommend using a plastic spoon because you can see how the color will really look. I've used metal spoons before and it turned out okay, the color just looked different than I expected.

Use the spoon as a mixing bowl and combine the colors with a toothpick. If you don't like the color, add more one drop at a time. You can always add color, you can't take it out.

Dump the color in. It will fizz--don't be surprised. The color may look different once it is mixed in. If you don't like it, go ahead and mix another batch in the plastic spoon. Work in small batches so you don't get too dark. Use the same ratio of colors if you like the color so far. If you want to change it, do so slowly.

This is how the bath salts will look when you are done. At this point you can put them in whatever vessel you want. I recommend something see through so you can show off how pretty they are. I use jars for most of my gifts.

I used a funnel to fill the bottles about 1/4 of the way. If you don't want to include the message in the bottle, fill them to the top. 

To make the messages I cut a pretty sheet of card stock into 3"x2.25" rectangles. Choose a pattern that looks almost old and rustic so it looks like it belongs in the bottle. If you use bigger bottles, use bigger pieces of paper. 

To make my paper look aged and give it an antique feel, I sanded it on both sides. Be careful of the pattern side. On the white side you can be very aggressive. When you are done the paper should feel like leather and it should roll very easily.

I wrote a couple of different messages. Have fun and write your own message in a bottle. If you are making this for a lover, write something romantic. You can say something sweet for mom or a girlfriend. Or you can write a pirate joke if you want the recipient to get a good laugh. 

Roll up the papers so that the long end remains straight. The short side is the side being rolled, Roll them tightly so they can fit on the inside of the bottle. 

Put your message in the bottle. Use the salts at the bottom to help you position it the way you want. I wanted mine slanted, but they also look cool standing straight up. 

Top off the bottle. I made just enough to fill four bottles to just about the neck. Make sure the message is visible. If it's not, pour some out. When you have them all filled, go around the inside of the neck with a dry cloth to clean up any dust particles. This makes it easier to see through the neck. 

If you want, you can stop there and leave them how they are. I wanted to paint mine, so I wet a paper towel with rubbing alcohol and cleaned the outside of the bottles. Do this any time you paint glass. Then let dry. 

I always use Martha Stewart brand paints from Michael's for about $3/Bottle. I prefer them because they are the best in the dishwasher. Their metallic colors are also very stunning. The tips are very fine, so if you want to use them to paint straight on the bottle they work great. For the glitter one, I put some on a palette and used a brush to paint the bottle. 

Go ahead and paint. For small objects like these I keep a cap full of rubbing alcohol and Q-tips handy to clean off any mistakes. 

If I were to do this project again I wouldn't put glitter on the neck of the orange and green bottles because it makes it hard to see the message inside. However they are still beautiful, so I'm satisfied. Four of my friends are going to love their message in a bottle!!!

Fizzy Bath Salts
Fills four small bottles or makes just over one cup
time: 10 minutes

• 1/8 cup of citric acid 
• 1/4 cup of baking soda 
• 1/4 cup of corn starch 
• 1/2 cup of Epsom salts (You can add more or less salt based on the texture you prefer.)
• Essential oils and soap colors

1.  Mix together the citric acid, baking soda, corn starch, and Epsom salts, breaking down any clumps in the way
2.  Add drops of oils to the mixture in a well spaced fashion
3. Mix together the desired colors and add to the mixture
4.  Mix well to combine all ingredients
5. Transfer to a dry storage location
6.  To Use: Add preferred amount to bath or soak. Salts will fizz.

I hope you enjoy this practical project. I would love any questions or comments you may have. Keep creating and stay tuned for the next project of the day!