Who doesn’t like soaking in the tub surrounded by decadent bubbles? Making bubble bath from a base is simple and fun to do. Your customers will love it!
Bubble Bath Bases
Crafter's Choice™ Bubble Bath - Clear - Best “all purpose” liquid wash. Upon use, it produces many slippery, creamy bubbles. Contains cocamidopropyl betaine which has antiseptic properties. This base works well for bubble baths and has a maximum heating temperature of 110º F.
Crafter's Choice™ Liquid Suspension Soap Base - Best suspension liquid wash. Formulated with a combination of ingredients that suspend items that typically float and/or sink. This base works as a bubble bath and has a maximum heating temperature of 120º F.
Bubble Bath Additives
Liquid Color - Liquid colors, such as liquid dye mix easily with bubble bath bases. Start with 1 mL per 16 oz. of bubble bath and go up from there.
Fragrance Oils - Fragrance oils are synthetic man-made aromatic ingredients that are used to scent soap and other products. Sometimes they can even contain natural essential oils. The typical usage rate is about 2% of the bubble bath base.
Essential Oils - Essential oils are considered a natural way to fragrance your soap and are concentrated hydrophobic liquids containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are extracted from plant materials (flowers, bark, seeds, peel, roots, leaves, etc.) by expression, steam distillation or solvent extraction. The typical usage rate is about 2% of the bubble bath base.
Sometimes fragrance oils and essentials oils do not mix easily into bubble bath. To help, you can use a fragrance oil modifier. There are two options:
- Crafter's Choice® FO & EO Modifier- Fragrance Oil modifier is a proprietary emulsifying agent that allows oil to dissolve with water. When used correctly, your end product will remain 100% clear. Thoroughly mix 4 parts FO Modifier to 1 part oil based FO. You have now created a new fragrance oil that will easily incorporate into water. Add 1% of the modified fragrance to water based products.
- Crafter's Choice® Polysorbate 20 - Allows fragrance and essential oils to bind with water-based products. Depending on your formula, your end product may be cloudy. Thoroughly mix 1 part polysorbate 20 with 1 part fragrance oil (equal parts) and add to the base.
What NOT to add to bases:Water - It is not recommended to add additional water to bases, as contamination can occur resulting in mold, bacteria or yeast growth.
Perishable Liquids - It is not recommended to add liquid goat’s milk, fresh milk, beer, wine, fruit juice, vegetable juice or other perishable liquids as they will spoil the base.
Too Much Additives - Adding over 5% of additives can render the preservative inactive resulting in mold, bacteria or yeast growth.
How to Formulate a Liquid Hand Soap Recipe
You can formulate your own bubble bath recipe by using the percentages below.
Start with your base:
- 100% Bubble Bath Base
Incorporate additives:
- Fragrance - 2%
- Liquid Dye - 1 mL per 16 oz. of base
Basic Bubble Bath Recipe
Yield: (4) 8 oz. bottles
Bubble Bath - Clear - 32 oz.
Fragrance - 0.6 oz.
Liquid Dye - 2 mL
Some Considerations When Making
Equipment Required- A heat-safe container
- Scale to weigh ingredients
- Spatula or spoon
- Funnel for bottling (optional)
- Hair net and gloves
PackagingMost bottles and tops are sold separately. This allows you to mix and match bottles with different tops to create a unique and specialized product. Note that different sized bottles also have different sized tops. Be sure to order the correct sized top. For example, a plastic bottle with "24/410" listed at the end of the product name will fit "24/410" tops.
Bottles- Plastic Bottles - There are numerous plastic bottles with different sizes, styles and colors that you can choose from to package bubble bath. Pair these bottles with a disc top cap, basic top cap or saddle pump.
- Plastic Jars - Larger plastic jars are useful for packaging bubble bath. Pair these with a a basic top cap.
Tops- Basic Top Caps - These are popular tops for bubble bath. They screw on the tops of bottles or jars. We prefer tops with liners to ensure the bubble bath does not leak out.
- Disc Top Caps - Pushing on the top rocks half the top up revealing an opening. Gently squeeze the bottle upside-down to release some bubble bath. Pushing the top back down creates a nice seal. These work wonderful with plastic bottles.
- Saddle Pumps - These tops allow customers to easily dispense bubble bath and work nicely with plastic bottles.
An Example of the Process
Heat the BaseBubble bath bases accept additives such as fragrances and colors better if heated. It helps to emulsify them into the mix. Heat your base to 110°F-120°F.
Heating to higher temperatures or heating for long periods of time will inactivate the preservative. To heat your base you can use one of two methods:
- Microwave - Weigh your base into Pyrex or other heat-safe container. Heat your base using 30-second increments until the temperature reaches 120°F. Be sure to stir often while heating to get rid of any hot spots. Overheating in the microwave can easily occur, so monitor closely.
- Double Boiler - The better method is to use a double boiler setup. Weigh your base into a double boiler on low heat. Heat until temperature reaches 120°F. Be sure to stir often and check the temperature as you heat.
You can use an infrared thermometer to monitor temperatures closely when heating. When taking the temperature, be sure to mix the base prior to checking the temperature as the infrared gun takes surface temperatures only.
Incorporate AdditivesAdd your additives, such as fragrance and color, and mix well to blend.
PackageOnce your additives are fully incorporated, you can now bottle your bubble bath. We recommend pouring slowly from a couple inches above the mouth of the bottle. Alternatively, you can use a funnel.
Do not cap your containers until the bubble bath has completely cooled as this may create condensation in the bottle.Once completely cooled down, cap your containers.
LabelLabel your product and include the following information:
- Product name
- Net weight size or net contents
- Warning statement (foaming detergent bath products need one of the warning statments below)
- For adult use only
- Keep out of reach of children
- Caution: Use only as directed. Excessive use or prolonged exposure may cause irritation to skin and urinary tract. Discontinue use if rash, redness or itching occurs. Consult your physician if irritation persists. Keep out of reach of children.
- Directions for use
- Ingredients in descending order of predominance
- Company name
- Contact information
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