Do bath bombs go bad

What is a Bath Bomb?

Bath bombs, also known as bath fizzers, are dry ingredients that are designed to effervesce once in contact with warm water. Once it hits the water, it releases Essential Oils, scents, colors, and bubbles to elevate your bath experience. Bath bombs can help condition the skin and soothe sore muscles. Additionally, they may help detox and relax the body and mind.

Ingredients:

• Baking soda
• Citric acid
• Epsom salts
• Fragrance oils
• Colorants
• Surfactants

How Does it Work?

The “bomb” aspect of a bath bomb is the fizziness. But what’s going on in those spheres that make them so fizzy? Two of the key ingredients to a bath bomb are citric acid and sodium bicarbonate. You might also know sodium bicarbonate by its more common name, baking soda. These two ingredients are what cause the impressive and delightful fizz when the bath bomb enters the water.
When sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) comes in contact with water, the sodium (Na) molecules break off from the bicarbonate (HCO3). At the same time, the citric acid is dissolving, with a single hydrogen ion (H+) separating from the rest of the molecule. When the released hydrogen ion from the citric acid encounters the bicarbonate from the baking soda another reaction happens! This time, carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is released as one of the end products. The carbon dioxide forms bubbles in the soap and bath water, and rushes to the surface with a delightful fizz.

Does Bath Bombs Expire?

As with food products, bath bombs too have ingredients with an expiration date and a recommended shelf life. The shelf life of bath bombs refers to how long you can store them, and they still maintain full effectiveness. A bath bomb has an average shelf life of about six months.

Common bath bomb ingredients include citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). While baking soda and citric acid both have long shelf lives, citric acid starts losing its potency as time passes. However, you can easily preserve the potency of the citric acid by storing it in a tightly sealed container.

When they are exposed to water or moisture, bath bombs tend to create an acid-base reaction. If they are exposed too much to the moisture in the air, they might not fizz anymore and would begin to lose their effective properties.

The fresher your bath bomb is, the faster they fizz, and the better they work. You can utilize tight bulk bath bomb containers to store your fizzies for a long time, and they'll still be usable, but they cannot work effectively as compared to fresh ones.

How Do You Tell If A Bath Bomb Is Expired?

Figuring out if your bath bomb has expired can be tricky. Unlike food items, cosmetics don't always have clear expiry dates printed on the packaging. However, there are a few telltale signs that indicate your bath fizzy may be past its prime:

Scent - A bath bomb that gives off an unpleasant or chemical odor is likely old and expired. If it smells rancid instead of its intended fragrance, it's best not to use it.

Lack of Fizz - The ingredients in bath bombs, like baking soda and citric acid, lose efficacy over time. An expired bath bomb won't react as strongly when placed in water, so if yours fails to fizz much or at all, its freshness is questionable.

Change in Color - Fading, dullness and discoloration happen naturally as bath bombs age. If yours looks significantly different shade-wise from when you first bought it, its time may be up.

Mold Growth - Mold and mildew can grow on old bath bombs, especially ones with natural additives like milk, oats or flower petals. This poses health risks, so moldy bath bombs should not be used.