Valentine's Day Sorrel Bath Bombs

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Pamper yourself or a loved one this Valentine's Day with a beautiful and simple DIY bath bomb. This is the perfect last minute Valentine's gift for those short on time, stuck to a budget or super forgetful. This quick and easy bath bomb recipe can be whipped up with ingredients you probably already have on hand in your kitchen and pantry. 

This bath bomb contains an ingredient you might not be familiar with unless you are an island girl like myself - Sorrel. Sorrel, also known as Roselle (scientific name Hibiscus Sabdariffa) is a species of the Hibiscus flower. In Antigua, as well as many Caribbean islands, Sorrel is typically used to make a chilled sweet beverage during Christmas. Sorrel can also be used for seasoning food and as a natural dye. Soaking sorrel in water produces a lovely pink/red colour perfect for a Valentine's Day soak.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup baking soda
  • 1/4 cup citric acid
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup epsom salts
  • 1 tsp coconut oil
  • 8 drops lavender essential oil
  • 3 tbsp crushed dried sorrel
  • 1/4 cup water

Supplies: 

  • large bowl
  • wooden spoon
  • measuring cups
  • spray bottle
  • heart shaped moulds. I also used silicone ice trays.

Directions:

  1. Add baking soda and citric acid to a large bowl and mix well.
  2. Next, add cornstarch and epsom salts to the bowl and stir.
  3. Gently warm coconut oil until in liquid form, wait for it to cool and then add to mixture.
  4. Add drops of lavender essential oil and mix well. I used 8 drops but you can use more or less depending on your scent preferences. 

5. Add 3 tbsp of crushed sorrel and stir until evenly distributed. Feel free to use more sorrel if you wish.

6. Add the water to a spray bottle and spray small amounts of water at a time. The mixture should be slightly moist enough that when moulded into a ball, it can hold its shape. It should feel similar to wet sand. If you use too much water, the citric acid will react with the water and start to fizz. 

7. Finally, add the mixture to the moulds. if you wish, you can add a little sorrel to the moulds before adding the mixture. This will create a beautiful design on the front of the bath bomb. Be sure to press bath bomb mixture into moulds well to avoid separation. Let sit for 6 hours to 24 hours until dry. I left mine to sit overnight. Note: Silicone and plastic moulds work better than tin moulds. The tin moulds will require a little effort to release the bath bombs.

8. ENJOY. Seriously, enjoy! These bath bombs are so simple and amazing. The coconut oil is very moisturising to your skin and the lavender essential oil add an aromatherapy effect that is sure to leave you feeling relaxed and pampered.