I have been so busy lately that “relax” is actually on my to do list. I’ve found that if I can relax while doing something mildly productive (like getting clean), I don’t feel guilty about it. (And yes, I understand how that statement reveals many of my neuroses.) I found this recipe about a month ago, and I’ve made it twice. In its original form, it’s great, but I tweaked it a little to suit my taste. It smells like coconut cream pie, and it makes your skin glow. I use one of these about 2 to 3 times a week. Grab your classiest plastic wine glass, turn on an audiobook about the history of American regional food, and relax (that’s how everyone does it, right?).

Vanilla Coconut Bath Bombs
adapted from Bakingdom

• 1C baking soda
• 1/2C citric acid (I found it at Sprouts, but any sort of crunchy granola store should have it in the bulk area–this is the stuff that makes Sour Patch Kids sour)
• 1/2C cornstarch
• 2T Epsom salts (don’t get this at the crunchy granola store–it’s $5 for 4lbs. at Walgreens)
• 2T coconut oil
• 5-6t liquid (to make these vanilla bath bombs, I used 3t water and 2t vanilla extract)
• food coloring (optional, if you want them to look fancy)

Combine the baking soda, citric acid, cornstarch, and Epsom salts. Cut in the coconut oil with a fork (like it was butter in a cookie recipe). Add the liquid one teaspoon at a time. I added 5t this time, but I think I’ll only use 4t next time so they don’t poof so much while they dry. They will probably poof a little.
The desired texture is ever-so-slightly damp sand. Make sure your hands and molds are bone dry or you’ll make everything fizz prematurely. (Beware premature fizz.) Squish this firmly into the mold of your choice (ice cube trays work well, or chocolate molds). Let dry at least 4 hours before using.
To use, draw a nice hot bath and drop one of these in there. It’ll fizz up and dissolve, after which it will not be fizzy. I think it’d be creepy to bathe in fizzy water, but champagne might be okay.
You could add any extract you like. Almond or lemon would be great. These make cute gifts, or just make a batch for yourself. This recipe made about 12 good-sized bombs, each good for one wonderful bath.