There’s something about December that makes me want everything to smell like chocolate and orange. It’s from the Terry’s Chocolate Orange my mom used to leave in my stocking, it completely took over my brain this year when I was brainstorming handmade gifts.

These DIY chocolate orange bath bombs recipe is simple enough that you don’t need any fancy equipment, just a mixing bowl, a circle mold, and a little patience 🙂

The result is a bath bomb that smells absolutely incredible, fizzes beautifully, and looks like something you’d actually want to unwrap on Christmas morning!

Here is how to make it yourself!

Ingredients

Baking soda is the backbone of any bath bomb. It softens water and is genuinely gentle on the skin. Citric acid is what creates the fizz when baking soda meets water. Together they make the fizzing reaction that everyone loves!
Epsom salt is a staple in my bathroom cabinet. It’s magnesium sulfate, and a warm soak with it is one of the best things after a long day on your feet. So many people use it regularly for that heavy, tired feeling in their muscles.
Cornstarch rounds out the base and gives the bath water a silky feel on the skin. It also helps hold the bomb together while it’s drying, which honestly makes a difference when you’re packing the molds.
Cocoa powder is what gives this bomb its rich brown color AND that gorgeous chocolate scent. It’s a completely natural colorant, which I love. No synthetic dyes going into the bath 🙂
Orange essential oil is where the holiday magic comes in. It’s one of the most cheerful, uplifting scents I know, bright and citrusy and warm all at once. Orange oil pairs with the cocoa in a way that genuinely smells like a chocolate shop. It’s SUCH a good combination!!
The carrier oil, whether you use sweet almond, jojoba, or fractionated coconut, adds a light moisturizing layer to the bath so your skin doesn’t feel stripped afterward. I used my homemade vanilla infused oil.

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DIY Chocolate Orange Bath Bomb Recipe

Makes: approximately 4 to 6 bath bombs depending on mold size

Ingredients

¼ cup (1 oz) cornstarch
½ cup (3.9 oz) baking soda
¼ cup (2 oz) Epsom salt
¼ cup (2.1 oz) citric acid
4 teaspoons vanilla infused oil
10 drops orange essential oil
10 drops vanilla essential oil
1 tablespoon (0.2 oz) cocoa powder
Circle mold

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine cornstarch, baking soda, cocoa powder, and Epsom salt. Stir until evenly mixed.

In a small bowl, combine the carrier oil and essential oil.

Drizzle the oil mixture into the dry mix a little at a time, stirring constantly. The texture should resemble damp moon sand, able to hold its shape when squeezed.

Gently fold in the citric acid. Be careful not to overmix or add moisture too quickly, it can activate the fizz.

Pack each mold tightly with the mixture.

Wait 24 to 48 hours until it is dry. Then add to a glass jar to gift!

Notes

Work quickly once the oils are added to avoid premature fizzing. If your mixture starts activating, just slow down and keep stirring gently.
Humidity in your kitchen can also affect how the bombs set, so a dry day works best!
I used vanilla infused oil, but any carrier oil works.

How to Use It

Drop one bath bomb into a warm (not scalding) bath and let it fully dissolve before getting in. The oils will disperse through the water as it fizzes.

One bomb per bath is plenty. Store extras in a cool, dry place, away from humidity. They’ll keep for several weeks. Gift them in small sealed jars to protect them and keep them looking pretty until they’re used.

DIY Chocolate Orange Bath Bomb for Christmas

Yield: approximately 4 to 6 bath bombs depending on mold size

A simple homemade bath bomb scented with cocoa powder and orange essential oil that fizzes beautifully and smells like a luxury chocolate shop. Makes a wonderful handmade Christmas gift.

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Ingredients

¼ cup (1 oz) cornstarch
1/2 cup baking soda
¼ cup (2 oz) Epsom salt
¼ cup (2.1 oz) citric acid
4 teaspoons carrier oil
10 drops orange essential oil
1 tablespoon (0.2 oz) cocoa powder
Circle mold

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine cornstarch, baking soda, cocoa powder, and Epsom salt. Stir until evenly mixed.
In a small bowl, combine the carrier oil and essential oil.
Drizzle the oil mixture into the dry mix a little at a time, stirring constantly. The texture should resemble damp moon sand, able to hold its shape when squeezed.
Gently fold in the citric acid. Be careful not to overmix or add moisture too quickly, it can activate the fizz.
Pack the mold tightly.
Place bath bombs on a flat surface to dry undisturbed for at least 24 hours. Then remove from mold.

Notes

Work quickly once the oils are added to avoid premature fizzing. If your mixture starts activating, just slow down and keep stirring gently.
Humidity in your kitchen can also affect how the bombs set, so a dry day works best!
I used vanilla infused oil, but any carrier oil works.

Final Thoughts

I wrapped a few of these in kraft paper with a little ribbon and they looked SO good! I can’t wait to gift them.

Next time I want to try adding a tiny bit of gold mica powder on the outside just for a festive shimmer. But honestly, even plain, these are exactly the kind of gift I’d want to receive myself 🙂

Let me know if you make a batch this Christmas!