Bath bomb making became trendy DIY craft and side hustle 2017-2020, with makers creating fizzing bath products using baking soda, citric acid, and essential oils, though market saturation and Lush domination made profitable businesses challenging.

The Lush-Inspired DIY

Bath bombs’ popularity rode LUSH Cosmetics’ success, with DIY makers attempting to recreate similar products at home. Basic bath bombs required simple ingredients (baking soda, citric acid, Epsom salt, essential oils, colorants) mixed, molded, and dried. YouTube tutorials and craft blogs taught techniques, while Instagram showcased elaborate designs: galaxy swirls, embedded flowers, surprise toys inside, and themed collections. The satisfying fizz and relaxation associations made bath bombs popular gifts and self-care products.

The Side Hustle Illusion

Bath bomb making was heavily promoted as “easy $50K side hustle,” leading thousands to launch businesses. Reality proved harsher: materials cost $1-$3 per bomb, time investment added labor costs, packaging and shipping ate margins, and Etsy/Instagram competition drove prices down ($4-$8 per bomb). Additionally, cosmetic regulations varied by location—some required business licenses, cosmetic manufacturing permits, or insurance. Most bath bomb businesses operated at losses or minimal profits, ultimately becoming expensive hobbies rather than income sources.

The Environmental Questions

Bath bombs’ ingredients raised sustainability concerns: glitter/mica created microplastic pollution, synthetic fragrances and dyes potentially irritated skin, and single-use products generated packaging waste. Eco-conscious makers used biodegradable glitter, natural colorants, and reusable/recyclable packaging, though this increased costs further squeezing already thin margins. By 2021-2022, bath bomb popularity declined as consumers moved to other self-care trends, leaving market even more saturated for remaining sellers.

Sources:

• The Guardian: The bath bomb business boom
• [Forbes: Bath bombs as side hustle reality check](https://www.forbes.com/ tinarogers/2019/04/11/bath-bombs-side-hustle/)