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Looking for a natural and relaxing way to unwind after a long day? Try making your own DIY bubble bath with castile soap. This recipe is so easy to make and it really works!
This post was updated in March 2023 with a revised recipe.
I have been trying to make a bubble bath recipe that actually bubbles for quite some time now. Let’s just say there were many failed attempts before I finally found the magic ingredient that makes bubbles last!
So light some candles, get a good book, and sink into a warm, bubbly bath. You deserve it!
Best of all, this bubble bath recipe doesn’t come with the hefty price tag of most natural baths.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Easily customizable: You can put your finishing touches on this recipe by customizing your favorite scents!
- Cost-effective: Enjoy a guilt-free bathtime without breaking the bank.
- Natural and gentle: Not only will you save money, but you can also feel good about using natural and eco-friendly ingredients.
- Easy to make: No special equipment required! Just a few ingredients and an airtight container are all that you need to get started.
Ingredients
- Castile soap: A plant-based soap with a natural lather, castile soap is the perfect base for this recipe. I use unscented so I can add my own fragrance as desired.
- Vegetable glycerin: This contributes to the frothy bubbles we are looking for! I use it in my homemade body wash for a nice lather.
- Decyl glucoside: I know this isn’t an ingredient you are likely familiar with, but it is a naturally derived surfactant that is non-toxic and gentle on skin. Decyl glucoside is essential for big, fluffy, long-lasting bubbles. I’ve made bubble bath without it and the bubbles just don’t form well.
- Aloe vera gel: Aloe vera gel will give this bubble bath gentle moisturizing and soothing properties.
- Lavender essential oil: I like to add lavender essential oil because of how calming and relaxing it is. A lavender bubble bath is the perfect way to wind down before bed!
How to Make DIY Bubble Bath
Indulge in a calming and relaxing evening with this easy recipe for foaming bubbles. Be sure to follow the step-by-step instructions below and let the relaxation begin!
Step 1. Add the castile soap, vegetable glycerin, and decyl glucoside to a pourable container, such as a mason jar, and stir well.
Step 2. Stir in aloe vera gel.
Step 3. Add the essential oils, if using.
Step 4. Secure the lid and gently shake to combine. Add to warm baths and enjoy!
How to Use DIY Bubble Bath
When you are ready, just add about 1/2 cup (or adjust to your liking) to your bathwater and enjoy the luxurious bubbles.
I always pour it under the running water, but you can simply pour it directly into the bath!
If you want to make a bigger batch of bubble bath, simply double the recipe! First, mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl or container and store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
Recipe Notes
- While this recipe is fun for both kids and adults, it’s important to note that it’s not tear-free. To be safe, avoid using it on very young children and be careful not to get it in your eyes.
- Expect plenty of bubbles! If you follow the recipe carefully, you can expect lots of luxurious bubbles.
- For safety, be sure to rinse out your tub after each bubbly bath. This will help remove any residue and prevent the tub from being slippery.
- This recipe uses gentle ingredients, but everyone’s skin is different. If you have sensitive skin, consider consulting a dermatologist before using this bubble bath.
- For added peace of mind, you can create a small amount of the bubble bath solution and apply a dime-sized amount to the inside of your elbow. Wait 24 hours to see if there’s any redness or irritation before using a full bath.
- Feel free to switch up the essential oils in the bath, but be sure not to use any hot oils (cassia, cinnamon, oregano, clove, or thyme).
What is Decyl Glucoside?
Derived from renewable plant-based sources, decyl glucoside is a widely used surfactant in natural personal care products.
Its ability to create a rich and stable foam, coupled with its gentle cleansing properties, makes it a perfect ingredient in bubble baths.
I know most of you won’t have this ingredient on hand, and trust me when I say I have tried using common ingredients for this recipe, but none worked as well as when I added decyl glucoside.
Who is This Recipe For?
Bubble bath is great for adults and children alike! I love adding this to my baths just as much as my kids do, and the gentle ingredients mean we can all enjoy them.
Keep in mind, that you don’t want to use too many drops of essential oils in products for children, so don’t add more than the recipe calls for. This recipe is also not tear-free, so use caution accordingly.
I don’t know if I just spoiled my kids or if it’s just how it is, but a few of my kids absolutely hate regular baths. Turns out, there’s a simple solution – add bubbles or homemade bath bombs!
FAQs
Keep it in an airtight container out of direct sunlight for up to a week or in the fridge for two weeks.
To get the bubbles, you will need to use some sort of foaming agent. While castile soap can create some foam when mixed with a small amount of water, it may not be enough for a full bath.
Several recipes call for egg whites to create stronger bubbles, but not so much more bubbles. This will be a great option if you have soft water.
The amount of bubbles in your bubble bath can be affected by the type of water you have. If you have hard water, you may notice fewer bubbles. However, if you have soft water, you can use this recipe without decyl glucoside and still get some bubbles, although not as many as you would otherwise.
Most gentle essential oils such as geranium, frankincense, lavender, and chamomile are safe for use in the bath.
Avoid hot oils as they can burn the skin when mixed with water.
Takeaways
Making a bubble bath is a simple and cost-effective way to create a relaxing, personalized bath experience.
You’ll love that this recipe uses only natural ingredients that are gentle on the skin and can be easily customized to suit your needs.
So, next time you want to indulge in a luxurious bath, try this natural bubble bath recipe!
What to Read Next
- DIY Bubble Bath Bars – a fun, moisturizing alternative
- Moisturizing Bath Truffles Recipe – the bath bomb for adults!
- Homemade Rose Bath Salts – perfect after a long day
- Milk Bath Recipe – perfect for dry skin
- Coconut Milk Bath Recipe – nourishing and moisturizing
If you tried this DIY Bubble Bath or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
DIY Bubble Bath That Really Bubbles!
Equipment
- Storage container
- Tall spoon for stirring
Ingredients
- ¼ cup castile soap, 2 oz
- ¼ cup vegetable glycerin, 2 oz
- 1 tablespoon decyl glucoside, 0.6 oz
- ½ tablespoon aloe vera gel, 0.25 oz
- 4 drops lavender essential oil, optional
Instructions
- Add the castile soap, vegetable glycerin, and decyl glucoside to a pourable container such as a mason jar and stir well.
- Stir in aloe and the lavender essential oil if using.
- For best results, slowly pour into a warm bath under the stream of water.
- Enjoy!
Is there a bubble bath recipe that works regardless of water hardness? My kids have sensitive skin and I love the simplicity of this but to our disappointment, we did not get any bubbles despite adding more than 1/4cup into the bath.
I made this today! Can’t wait to try it! Thanks for the recipe 💜
The bubbles lasted maybe a minute. I used vegetable glycerin, Raw and Rare, and Dr. Bronner’s lavender Castile soap. I used the measurements instructed but the results were disappointing. Any suggestions?
The recipe can be affected depending on if you have hard or soft water in your home.
Add a couple of egg whites to the mixture. They will help make bubbles and make them last longer.
I like to violently mix the mixture in with both hands while the tub is filling , that also helps make good bubbles!
Followed this recipe but unfortunately no bubbles, even under running water
This didn’t Bubble for me at all. Is this ok for body wash instead? Using in kids too?
Thank you Kayla
Sorry, it didn’t work for you! Many readers informed me that it depends on your water (hard or soft) for the mixture to bubble. You can definitely use it as a body wash!
In most people’s water, castile soap won’t work for bubble bath. It COULD work but require an impracticably large amount of soap. And even if your water is “soft” enough to make a bathtub sudsy with castile or any other actual soap soap, the result is very soapy water — like laundry or dish water. I recommend that instead of adding soap to the bath water, that you cover the bather with suds by forcing your breath thru a soapy washcloth, or the technique used in Turkish baths (hamam).
If you want to make a fluff of suds on top of the bath water, you’re much better off using the chemicals they use to make commercial bubble baths (foam baths), because they foam at much higher dilution, more or less regardless of water “hardness”, so you aren’t turning the bath into a detergent solution the strength of laundry or dish water. Some are milder than others, of course, but they’re just about all milder than using soap in this way.
I did learn with lots of comments on this that it depends a lot on your water being hard and soft.
Thank you for sharing this DIY bubble bath recipe. This will be a perfectly safe & natural one to use for my grandchildren.
By chance, would you have another suggestion for a more economical buy on the vegetable glycerine than the one highlighted in this article? I do like the Castile Soap you suggested and use it quite a bit with other DIY recipes you’ve provided.
Thank you in advance, Laura.
Irene
That is the kind I use, but I am sure you can find a lot more options on amazon. 🙂