• Working Time:

  • 5 - 7 minutes

  • Total Time:

  • 10 - 15 minutes

  • Yield:

  • Enough for 2 baths

  • Skill Level:

  • Beginner

  • Estimated Cost:

  • $5-10

Homemade bubble bath is just as fun as the kind you buy in stores—and it’s actually really easy to make.

The following DIY bubble bath recipes are ideal if you seek relaxation, a moisturizing and hydrating boost, or a muscle-soothing soak.

What You’ll Need

Tools/Equipment

  • Large mason jar or bowl
  • Large spoon for mixing
  • Measuring cups

Basic Ingredients

  • 2 cups
  • castile soap
  • 1/2 cup
  • glycerin or coconut oil
  • 1 cup
  • water

Instructions

The most important aspect of making your own bubble bath is deciding what kind you’d like for your needs and skin type. If you want something with as few ingredients as possible, you can simply combine castile soap, coconut oil, and water and have a bath—no need to add anything more. But if you want to reap the full relaxation, moisturizing, hydrating, and soothing benefits, follow these recipes.

Relaxing Bubble Bath

This is a super-simple recipe that helps reduce stress. In addition to the basic ingredients mentioned above, you’ll need:

Treehugger Tip

According to a study published in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews, the ideal bath water temperature is 104 F - 109 F. And for maximum relaxation benefits, you should take your bath 1-2 hours before bedtime.

  • 8-10 drops lavender essential oil1 cup Epsom salts

  • Measure and Mix Ingredients

  • Add water to your large jar (or bowl) first. Then, gently pour in the glycerin (or coconut oil) and castile soap. Combine ingredients by swirling in the jar—avoid vigorous mixing, as this may create bubbles.

  • This is your basic bubble bath recipe. Put it to the side while you draw your bath.

  • Add Soothing Ingredients

  • As you fill your tub with warm water, add the Epsom salts and lavender oil to the bath. Once the salts are dissolved, add half your homemade bubble bath mixture (a bit more than 1 cup—the amount doesn’t have to be exact).

  • If you wait until the tub is pretty close to the level you want it and add the bubble bath mixture then, you will get the most bubbles.

  • Set the Mood

  • Since the focus here is a relaxing bath, set the mood by lighting candles or dimming your bathroom light. Low light can really help make you feel calmer.

  • Make sure you have whatever else you need—a homemade mask, a loofah for scrubbing, and a towel to wipe your hands if you want to read a book or magazine.

  • Enjoy Your Bubble Bath

  • Relax in the bath for at least 10 minutes to reap the benefits of bathing, but feel free to extend that for 20-30 minutes if you like.

Hydrating and Moisturizing Tropical Bubble Bath

The addition of coconut milk to this bath makes it extra moisturizing. If you’ve never had coconut before and you’re not sure if you’re allergic, consider doing a patch test on your skin first, since it can be an allergen.

Measure and Mix Ingredients

Add water to your large jar (or bowl) first. Then, gently pour in the glycerin (or coconut oil) and castile soap. Combine ingredients by swirling in the jar—avoid vigorous mixing, as this may create bubbles.

This is your basic bubble bath recipe. Put it to the side while you draw your bath.

Add Soothing Ingredients

As you fill your tub with warm water, add the Epsom salts and lavender oil to the bath. Once the salts are dissolved, add half your homemade bubble bath mixture (a bit more than 1 cup—the amount doesn’t have to be exact).

If you wait until the tub is pretty close to the level you want it and add the bubble bath mixture then, you will get the most bubbles.

Set the Mood

Since the focus here is a relaxing bath, set the mood by lighting candles or dimming your bathroom light. Low light can really help make you feel calmer.

Make sure you have whatever else you need—a homemade mask, a loofah for scrubbing, and a towel to wipe your hands if you want to read a book or magazine.

Enjoy Your Bubble Bath

Relax in the bath for at least 10 minutes to reap the benefits of bathing, but feel free to extend that for 20-30 minutes if you like.

You’ll need the basic ingredients mentioned at the top of the article and a couple of additional ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup coconut milk8-10 drops orange essential oil

  • Prepare Bubble Bath

  • Make the basic bubble bath recipe following steps 1-2 above.

  • Add Moisturizing Ingredients

  • Fill your tub most of the way with warm water, then add the coconut milk and essential oils. Once that’s mixed in, add half your homemade bubble bath mixture.

  • Enjoy Your Bath

  • Soak for at least 10 minutes so your skin can absorb the coconut milk fats. When you exit the tub, pat dry to allow your skin to retain moisture.

Bubble Bath for Muscle Soreness

Studies have shown that Epsom salt can help with recovery from the soreness from exercise, and eucalyptus and peppermint oils have a refreshing effect.

Prepare Bubble Bath

Make the basic bubble bath recipe following steps 1-2 above.

Add Moisturizing Ingredients

Fill your tub most of the way with warm water, then add the coconut milk and essential oils. Once that’s mixed in, add half your homemade bubble bath mixture.

Enjoy Your Bath

Soak for at least 10 minutes so your skin can absorb the coconut milk fats. When you exit the tub, pat dry to allow your skin to retain moisture.

In addition to your basic bath recipe ingredients, you’ll need:

  • 1 cup Epsom salts1/8 cup mustard powder (opt for organic if you can)5-6 drops eucalyptus essential oil2-3 drops peppermint essential oil

  • Prepare Basic Bubble Bath

  • Prepare your basic bubble bath recipe with Castile soap, coconut oil, and water.

  • Add Soothing Ingredients

  • As your tub is filling, add Epsom salts and mustard powder to the bathwater near the faucet and mix it into the water so it dissolves. Then, drop the essential oils in. Let that mix well as the tub continues filling.

  • Once the tub is mostly full, add half your homemade bubble bath mixture. You’ll get lots of bubbles along with your moisturizing mix.

  • Relax Those Muscles in the Bubble Bath

  • Be sure to give yourself time to relax in the tub so your muscles can get the full benefit of the soak, at least 10-15 minutes. If you don’t like the smell of the mustard, you can rinse off afterwards.

Honey Bath for Extra-Soft Skin

A little bit of honey goes a long way in this soak. You’ll need a batch of your basic homemade bubble bath recipe plus the following ingredients:

Prepare Basic Bubble Bath

Prepare your basic bubble bath recipe with Castile soap, coconut oil, and water.

As your tub is filling, add Epsom salts and mustard powder to the bathwater near the faucet and mix it into the water so it dissolves. Then, drop the essential oils in. Let that mix well as the tub continues filling.

Once the tub is mostly full, add half your homemade bubble bath mixture. You’ll get lots of bubbles along with your moisturizing mix.

Relax Those Muscles in the Bubble Bath

Be sure to give yourself time to relax in the tub so your muscles can get the full benefit of the soak, at least 10-15 minutes. If you don’t like the smell of the mustard, you can rinse off afterwards.

  • 2 tablespoons honey1 teaspoon vanilla extract (the same kind you use for cooking)4-6 drops chamomile essential oil

  • Mix Your Basic Ingredients

  • Mix your basic bubble bath recipe ingredients and set aside.

  • Add Hydrating Ingredients

  • As your tub is filling, take a bit of the hot water from the faucet and add to a small bowl.

  • Add the honey and mix it into the water until it dissolves. Drop the essential oil and the vanilla extract into the honey water. Mix well. Then, pour that into the tub as it fills.

  • Once the tub is mostly full, add half of your basic homemade bubble bath mixture.

  • Enjoy Your Moisturizing Bath

  • Soak for at least 15 minutes to get all the benefits of the honey and the aromatherapy from the chamomile and vanilla. When you exit the tub, pat dry so your skin keeps the moisture in.

Mix Your Basic Ingredients

Mix your basic bubble bath recipe ingredients and set aside.

Add Hydrating Ingredients

As your tub is filling, take a bit of the hot water from the faucet and add to a small bowl.

Add the honey and mix it into the water until it dissolves. Drop the essential oil and the vanilla extract into the honey water. Mix well. Then, pour that into the tub as it fills.

Once the tub is mostly full, add half of your basic homemade bubble bath mixture.

Enjoy Your Moisturizing Bath

Soak for at least 15 minutes to get all the benefits of the honey and the aromatherapy from the chamomile and vanilla. When you exit the tub, pat dry so your skin keeps the moisture in.

  • Is Epsom salt drain-safe?
  • Salt is perfectly safe for drains and even sometimes used to break up clogs. Too much salt can lead to corrosion of pipes, but an occasional Epsom salt bath is relatively harmless.
  • Can you use body wash instead of bubble bath?
  • It’s not a good idea to use regular body soap in place of bubble bath because it could be wasteful—considering the amount you would need to create suds—and it isn’t likely to give you the same fluffy surface bubbles. A lot of body soaps that foam are made of toxic chemicals, anyway.

Salt is perfectly safe for drains and even sometimes used to break up clogs. Too much salt can lead to corrosion of pipes, but an occasional Epsom salt bath is relatively harmless.

It’s not a good idea to use regular body soap in place of bubble bath because it could be wasteful—considering the amount you would need to create suds—and it isn’t likely to give you the same fluffy surface bubbles. A lot of body soaps that foam are made of toxic chemicals, anyway.

  • Haghayegh, Shahab, et al. “Before-Bedtime Passive Body Heating by Warm Shower or Bath to Improve Sleep: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” Sleep Medicine Reviews, vol. 46, 2019, pp. 124-135., doi:10.1016/j.smrv.2019.04.008
  • Morgan, Paul M., et al. “The Acute Effects of Flotation Restricted Environmental Stimulation Technique on Recovery from Maximal Eccentric Exercise.” Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, vol. 27, no. 12, 2013, pp. 3467-3474., doi:10.1519/JSC.0b013e31828f277e