Looking for a gentle way to help your kids relax before bedtime? As you may already know, a calming bubble bath is often just the trick. But what you may not know is how to make bubble bath right at home—spoiler alert: it’s super easy!
Whether you are avoiding chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin or don’t have any bubble bath on hand, this simple DIY is about to be your new favorite thing to make! This homemade bubble bath has simple natural ingredients, including 2 relaxing essential oils.
Plus, it’s incredibly easy to put together too! You can whip up a bottle of Calming Homemade Bubble Bath in just a couple of minutes. I’ve made this at the end of the day when I’m tired. Just breathing in the relaxing essential oils helps ME wind down for the night too!
In short, this is the perfect way to wind down after a busy day for both kids AND parents!
Erika Bragdon is a Certified Essential Oil Coach from the Essential Oil Institute.
Supplies
Okay, let’s chat about how to use a few other simple ingredients to make the best bubble bath ever! Take a look at the recipe card at the bottom of this post for exact quantities of everything needed.
- Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap
- Organic vegetable glycerin
- Lavender essential oil (see more info below)
- Vetiver essential oil (see more info below)
- 16oz empty plastic container to hold the bubble bath – I just used an old shampoo bottle I had on hand!
The best essential oils for a calming bath
My kids love this bubble bath – and so do I. It’s truly a family favorite! I’ve made this DIY dozens of times, and it always turns out perfect. While there is something relaxing about a bath in general, the aromatherapy really takes it up a level.
I chose lavender and vetiver essential oils for this homemade bubble bath because both oils are known for their calming benefits.
Lavender essential oil is also wonderful for the skin and may even have a beneficial effect on insomnia (according to this study). Vetiver essential oil may help calm anxious nerves, slow down a racing mind, and help bring on a good night’s sleep.
Vetiver essential oil
Vetiver isn’t your typical essential oil. There’s nothing flowery about this heavy, smokey-scented oil. In fact, the first time I took a sniff of it, I was quite taken aback. On its own, vetiver can be a lot.
But, when you pair it with another oil, that’s where the magic happens. It brings out this lovely, earthy side of floral oils that I can’t get enough of!
Plus, it’s well-known for its ability to help you feel relaxed and grounded, making it the perfect EO for this homemade bubble bath!
Lavender essential oil
Vetiver + lavender is my favorite combination lately. I diffuse this one at night, too, and carry a roller ball of it in my purse for those hard days.
Lavender on its own is a lovely, bright floral scent. It promotes peaceful sleep and reduces anxiety and tension. This is seriously a must-have oil!
If you have other favorite essential oils, you can choose to use those instead or your own favorite combination of oils.
Wondering what the best essential oil brand to use is? Don’t worry, I’ve got an entire post for you (the answer will likely surprise you). Here’s what you need to look for when buying essential oils.
Also, make sure to follow the essential oil safety guidelines, particularly since you are using this on children’s skin.
How to make bubble bath
Start by pouring 1 cup of Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap into a pourable measuring cup. I like to use a glass Pyrex measuring cup.
Thenm add 1/3 cup of vegetable glycerin. The glycerin will help create bubbles in this bubble bath.
Next, add in 10-15 drops each of lavender and vetiver essential oils. Use the lesser amount for smaller children.
Stir your calming homemade bubble bath mixture together, then pour into a 16-ounce empty bottle. You may want to use a funnel for easier pouring.
How to use homemade bubble bath for kids
When it’s time for your kids’ nighttime bath, add one or two tablespoons of your calming homemade bubble bath into their bathwater. For the best results, add while the water is still running.
This bubble bath is not super bubbly – but enough for the kids to enjoy.
Let your children play, relax, &/or soak, and while they do, they will enjoy the benefits of lavender and vetiver essential oils that may help them relax and calm down for the rest of the day. You’ll enjoy them too!
Caution: This is not a tear-free bubble bath, so warn your children to keep the bubbles away from their eyes. However, because 1-2 tablespoons is not very much, I haven’t had any issues with my children getting their eyes irritated.
How to use homemade bubble bath for adults
Moms, make sure you get in on this relaxing bubble bath too! When I use this for myself, I add a bit more bubbles than I do for my kids, and sometimes will even add some calming bath salts to the mix, too!
Want to amplify the effect? Grab a homemade essential oil spray and give your towel or bathroom a few sprays for even more aromatherapy!
Enjoy a relaxing bath time as well and sleep like a baby—especially if you moisturize your skin with this calming body butter after you get out of the bath!
Follow the bath with a nice warm cup of chamomile tea, and you will be ready to end your day with the peaceful calm that your body has probably craved all day. 😉
FAQs
How long does homemade bubble bath last?
Homemade bubble bath solution lasts for about 2-3 months if you store it properly. Keep it in a bottle with a screw-top lid somewhere that is dark or dry for the most longevity. I personally keep ours in our bathroom cabinet, but a medicine cabinet can work too!
Before you use it, make sure to give it a swirl to mix all the ingredients back up in case of any separation.
How do I make my bubble bath extra bubbly?
First of all, since this is a homemade bubble bath, it’s not going to be as bubbly as the ones you can buy. That being said, there are absolutely things you can do to increase the amount of bubbles!
- Add more solution. More bubble bath = more bubbles!
- Add the bubble bath directly under the stream of water pouring from the tub spout.
- Use a hand whisk to whip up bubbles even more—this is a fun activity for the kids to do as they sit in the tub! You can also use a hand-held shower head to “stir up” the bubbles too.
Enjoy!
More homemade DIY bath products:
- Calming Bath Salts for Kids
- Homemade Body Butter Recipe with Calming Essential Oils
- Natural Homemade Foaming Face Wash
- Homemade Coconut Shaving Cream
- Homemade Peppermint Sugar Scrub
Pin the image below to save the bubble bath recipe for later.
Calming Homemade Bubble Bath with Essential Oils
This calming homemade bubble bath has simple natural ingredients, including 2 relaxing essential oils.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap
- 1/3 cup of Organic Vegetable Glycerin
- Lavender essential oil
- Vetiver essential oil
- 16oz empty plastic container to hold the bubble bath. I used an old shampoo bottle, but you can purchase your own empty bottles over here.
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Instructions
Pour 1 cup of Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap into a pourable measuring cup.
Then add 1/3 cup of vegetable glycerin.
Next, add in 10-15 drops each of lavender and vetiver essential oils. Use the lesser amount for smaller children.
Stir your calming homemade bubble bath mixture together, then pour into a 16-ounce empty bottle.
Notes
This bubble bath is not super bubbly – but enough for the kids to enjoy.
Caution: this is not a tear-free bubble bath, so warn your children to keep the bubbles away from their eyes. However because 1-2 Tablespoons is not very much, I haven’t had any issues with my children getting their eyes irritated.
hollym says
This looks amazing! I need to try this with my son. You should checkout my blog for some good tips as well:
http://www.imperfectmomma.blog
Micah | Home Faith Family says
This will be perfect for those crazy days when the kids are cranky and ready for bed. I love how calming lavender is (especially for certain family members of mine), but I’ll definitely be adding peppermint to my personal bottle. 🙂
Robert says
Unfortunately in most people’s waters, this won’t just not be super bubbly, it won’t bubble at all. You want real bubble bath, you need real bubble bath ingredients, not soap.
katie says
unfortunately there were no bubbles at all for us either i am very dissapointed that homemade stuff work work for us. if you have any ideas on how I can get bubbles let me know please!
Christine says
Hi Katie! I think it depends on your water too. My hard water left us with no bubbles, just the nature of hard water. When we did have a water softener, it created enough bubbles to entertain, not a thick layer of bubbles for sure.
Suzanne says
This looks so good! What a great gift to make for friends or to enjoy yourself!