Let’s take a closer look at what makes a bath float, or sink, and when we might be looking for one or another when buying our next bath bombs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bathbombguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/float-or-sink-bath-bombs-4-1-1024x683.png\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat Makes A Bath Bomb Float? (All reasons)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ingredients with less density than water as well as not packing the mix too tight into the mold is key to ensuring your bath bombs float during the dissolving process. If you are making bath bombs yourself, Epsom Salt and Cornstarch are both good ingredients to help your bath bomb float.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When making bath bombs for the first time or when you first start creating these products at home, the tendancy is to pack as much of the mixture into the mold as possible, to avoid crumbling or cracking when removing the mold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can work against you when creating a bath bomb, especially, if you want to avoid, extensive drying times or more importantly, something that enters the water and floats like a brick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be a little more reserved when packing that mold, and ensure you have used less dense ingredients like Kosher salt and cornstarch, and you find it more likely your bath bomb will bob on top of the water n release lots more later on the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The lack of air pockets and densely packed, heavy ingredients, will cause a bath bomb to sink when placed in the water. Pack more softly, use light ingredients and light oils for more floating success, and avoid the sinking feeling.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I may be, you’ve been making a few bath bombs and you find they crumble when you try to remove them from the mold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Quite often people will misdiagnose the cause as not packing the mixture into the mold tight enough when actually the reason for crumbling is in the recipe with a lack of binding happening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the diagnosis out of place, the next cause of action is usually to pack as much of the mixture into the molds<\/a> next time, removing from the mold and drying completely like a huge cannonball, and then finding the bomb dropping disappointingly to the depths of the bathtub when introduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It doesn’t matter, a bath bomb may both float or sink \u2013 and it might not be an indicator of their quality at all. The thing is both types of bombs may contain beneficial ingredients and smell good, so while watching the bath bomb float is fun, the bombs that sink aren\u2019t exactly a waste of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the vast majority of bath bomb users would prefer to see their proud purchase or merchandise floating on top, releasing that lovely colored and scented wonder in perfect view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So let’s take a look at how we can best prepare ourselves to ensure that our bath bobs float each and every time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether the bomb floats or sinks depends in large part on the ingredients used in making it. The weight<\/a> and density of the ingredients used may make the bomb sink \u2013 but that doesn\u2019t mean those ingredients are \u201cbad\u201d and the bomb \u201clow-quality\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, a bomb made with Epsom salt and cream of tartar<\/a> will likely sink, while a bomb made with kosher salt and cornstarch will float. This is because the combination of Epsom salt and cream of tartar weighs more than kosher salt and cornstarch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And then there\u2019s ingredient density to consider \u2013 if the bath bomb contains many ingredients with higher bulk density than water, it will inevitably sink. That doesn\u2019t make the bomb low-quality \u2013 but if you want to enjoy the show of your bath bomb floating and dissolving on the surface of the bathtub, you should check the ingredients carefully and choose the bath bomb that contains as many ingredients with lesser bulk density as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Shape of the bath bomb also plays a role in whether it will sink or float (though lesser than the ingredients).<\/p>\n\n\n\n The flatter the bath bomb, the higher the chance that it\u2019ll float, simply because it displaces a larger water surface area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This doesn\u2019t mean the round bomb cannot float \u2013 this is where the importance of ingredients comes into play \u2013 but a bomb with a flat shape will have a considerably easier time doing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The best way to get the scents and colors of a bath released in the foam is to have it floating on the top of the bath and preferably spinning too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can get a flat bottomed bath bomb to spin<\/a>, spherical is best, so yeah, always go for the traditional round bath bombs. More info on how to make your bath bomb spins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Last but not least, the way the bomb has been molded and how long it\u2019s been let to dry will also play a role in its \u201cfloating\u201d ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the things that allow the bath bomb to float is the presence of air pockets in the dough \u2013 the more air pockets, the better the floating. So if the bath bomb \u201cdough\u201d has been \u201ckneaded\u201d too tightly and there\u2019s little to no air left before it\u2019s left to dry \u2013 there\u2019s little chance the bomb will float, even if the ingredients have been optimized to benefit its floating ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another thing that will influence the bomb’s ability to float is\u2026 dryness. Again, this goes back to the ingredient density \u2013 the oils, alcohols, etc. are close in density to water and influence the bomb\u2019s floating. The more time the bomb has to dry out the liquids the better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is a common mistake for a lot of DIY recipes you\u2019ll see on the internet \u2013 the majority of them call for the bomb to be left to dry for 24 hours because that\u2019s how long LUSH\u2019s famous bath bombs are left to dry. But those recipes forget to take into account how long packaging, distributing, and selling those bombs takes. So if you decide to make a bath bomb yourself (or decide to purchase a hand-made one) \u2013 make sure it\u2019s left to dry for at least two weeks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Flat](\"https:\/\/bathbombguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/float-or-sink-bath-bombs-2-1024x683.png\")
What Makes a Bath Bomb Sink? (And how to avoid it)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Packing](\"https:\/\/bathbombguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/float-or-sink-bath-bombs-1-1024x683.png\")
Should a Bath Bomb Float or Sink? What’s Right?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Things to consider to make your bath bomb float<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Ingredients<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Cornstarch](\"https:\/\/bathbombguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/float-or-sink-bath-bombs-5-1-1024x683.png\")
2. Shape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Spherical Bath Bombs are Still The Best<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
![\"A](\"https:\/\/bathbombguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/float-or-sink-bath-bombs-3-1024x683.png\")
3. How It\u2019s Made<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"Floating](\"https:\/\/bathbombguide.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/float-or-sink-bath-bombs-6-1-1024x683.png\")