A bath bomb is a palm-size ball or disc, generally made of baking soda, citric acid, oils, and dyes that dissolve in water. And it can transform a simple soak into the highlight of one’s day, calming nerves and softening skin while entertaining bathers with fantastic fizz, soothing scents, and captivating colors.
After soaking in data from 49 on-the-record baths involving bath bombs from 16 different brands, we’re certain that Lush makes the most luxurious bath bombs—they provide multisensory pleasure and effectively moisturize skin.
For a dye-free or added fragrance-free bathing experience, consider bath bombs from Old Whaling Co. If you’d prefer to spend less, Purelis Natural Bath Bombs, bought in bulk, provide a pleasurable bathing experience starting at around $1 each. We also think the Two Sisters Squishy Surprise Bubble Bombs gift set is a worthwhile splurge for kids.
Lush Bath Bombs
A luxurious, effervescent tub treat
Often imitated but not yet duplicated, Lush bath bombs “explode” as soon as they hit the water, filling your tub with gorgeous color, long-lasting fragrance, and skin-soothing oils.
Old Whaling Co. Bath Bombs
Bath bombs with dye- and fragrance-free options
These large, fizzy, long-lasting bombs come in a variety of options, including some that are dye-free and/or fragrance-free (yet still full of fun).
Purelis Natural Bath Bomb Gift Set
A lot of bath bomb for the buck
Starting at around $1 each, these comparatively affordable Purelis bath bombs fizz longer than the competition and smell great.
Two Sisters Squishy Surprise Bubble Bombs
A bath bomb with a surprise inside
For the kid or kid-at-heart, these long-lasting colorful bath bombs produce amazing fizz and pleasing scents, and they reveal a surprise toy as they dissolve in the tub.
The research
Who this is for
Why you should trust us
How we picked and tested
Our pick: Lush Bath Bombs
Also great: Old Whaling Co. Bath Bombs
Budget pick: Purelis Natural Bath Bomb Gift Set
Also great: Two Sisters Squishy Surprise Bubble Bombs
The competition
Who this is for
Like a lovely cloth napkin or the perfect pen, a bath bomb can elevate an everyday experience—here, a soak in the tub—into one that’s sublime. Although they differ from brand to brand, most bath bombs imbue bathwater with fizz, fragrance, and fun colors. Some also introduce bubbles, dried flowers, or flecks of biodegradable glitter.
As people slog away at their endless mountains of professional and personal tasks, taking the time to draw a bath instead of hopping into the shower may already feel like a radical act. For a few exhilarating moments, soaking with a good bath bomb serves as a metaphoric middle finger to time and responsibility, a personal fireworks display declaring victory in the name of self-care.
While many bath bombs offer a delightful experience, they aren’t all made equal. Some contain ingredients that may trigger allergic reactions or sensitivities, while others can leave stains on your skin and bathtub. It’s important to note that nearly all bath bombs include sodium bicarbonate. If you have a known sensitivity to baking soda, you might want to opt for a soothing bubble bath or nourishing bath oil instead. Always check the ingredient list to ensure a safe and enjoyable bath experience!
Bath bombs may not be suitable for you if you’re concerned about potential damage to your tub or skin, as staining can be a worst-case scenario—especially with highly pigmented or darker-hued options. Many of our selections, including Lush bath bombs, have garnered online reviews where buyers reported issues with skin and bathtub staining. Black bath bombs are particularly notorious for staining, whether it’s your tub or your manicure. While most tub stains are actually caused by colorants sticking to soap scum and grime (rather than the tub itself), certain bath bombs can leave behind stubborn stains that may take time to fade. If you’re eager to enjoy a colorful bath bomb but want to avoid damaging your tub—especially in a shared-bath situation where you don’t want to add post-soak cleanup stress—consider using a disposable tub liner for easy protection and quick cleanup.
Why you should trust us
Personally, I’ve enjoyed over 3,000 baths during the past 43 years, and with the added time spent bathing my two children, I’ve had ample opportunity to explore a wide range of soaps and soaks. I’ve been experimenting with bath bombs since before they became a popular trend, and while researching this guide, I dedicated hours to scouring listings for both the top-rated and often underrated bath bombs currently available. Additionally, I consulted New York dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, to gain insights into bath bomb ingredients and skin sensitivities. It’s worth noting that overall research on the efficacy and safety of bath bombs remains limited, so it’s important to choose wisely!
How we picked and tested
I waded through a sea of customer reviews to identify the best bath bombs available. I eliminated any options whose instructions included a sadistic post-bomb rinse or required an additional soak. From an initial list of over 50 possibilities, I narrowed it down to 16 carefully selected choices, considering factors like ingredients, price, and availability. I paid special attention to reports of negative experiences, such as tub or skin staining—a possibility with all bath bomb brands. My goal was to ensure that you can enjoy a delightful and worry-free bathing experience!
Once I had our finalists in hand, my kids and I indulged in weeks of bath-testing, subjectively evaluating factors like fizz, scent, and color strength, while also timing how long each bath bomb took to fully dissolve. This process not only provided delightful relaxation but also turned into an unexpected home-schooling math lesson, as my kids and I had a blast calculating the fizz-price-per-minute for each bath bomb we tried. It was a fun and engaging way to blend enjoyment with learning!
Our pick: Lush Bath Bombs
Lush Bath Bombs
A luxurious, effervescent tub treat
Often imitated but not yet duplicated, Lush bath bombs “explode” as soon as they hit the water, filling your tub with gorgeous color, long-lasting fragrance, and skin-soothing oils.
Truly, Lush offers the very best bath bombs, available in a stunning variety of shapes, colors, scents, and fizz options. Lush co-founder Mo Constantine is credited with inventing the bath bomb in 1989, inspired by Alka-Seltzer. Every aspect of the Lush bath bomb experience is undeniably lush, from the eco-friendly packaging to the instant and intense fizz explosion upon first contact with water. Plus, the result leaves your skin feeling baby-soft and rejuvenated afterward. It’s a luxurious treat for both the senses and your skin!
Lush bath bombs provide a truly multisensory experience. Unlike other bath bombs that take their time to dissolve, Lush bath bombs practically detonate once submerged. They fizz aggressively, creating a mesmerizing display as they fill the tub with vibrant color, enchanting fragrance, and a skin-softening blend of nourishing oils. On average, they fizz for about three minutes, with a fizz-price-per-minute ranging from $2 to $4—quite a contrast to our budget pick’s per-minute cost of roughly 20¢. The experience is well worth the indulgence!
As soon as they hit the water, Lush bath bombs practically explode with fizz. Pictured is Groovy Kind of Love.
There’s an incredible array of colors and scents to choose from. Selecting which Lush bath bomb to soak in can feel as challenging as picking a single piece of chocolate from a box: these beautiful bathing baubles come in dozens of whimsical shapes and playful names. Many fans find it nearly impossible to buy just one or even to settle on a single favorite—a delightful dilemma that fuels the brand’s passionate following. Some Lush enthusiasts curate their collections and review their bathing experiences with more detail and enthusiasm than top oenophiles display. Much like a fine wine, a Lush bath bomb is a luxurious, fleeting treat that you savor in the moment but fondly recall for a long time afterward.
A rainbow in your tub. Pictured here is Lush’s Intergalactic.
Unlike competitors that come wrapped in indistinguishable plastic, Lush’s bath bombs arrive “naked,” packaged in biodegradable bags and packing peanuts. You can often smell many Lush bath bombs even before fully unboxing them, as their fragrances are both strong and long-lasting. For three months, the delightful scent wafting from the now-unavailable Bathosaurus Rex bath bomb filled my bedroom with an intensity that outperformed many reed diffusers. Lush truly prioritizes both eco-friendliness and a captivating sensory experience!
To create an especially vibrant display in the water, most Lush bath bombs contain dyes. However, if you prefer a dye-free bath bomb experience, consider Lush’s Butterball or any of the three dye-free options from our also-great pick, Old Whaling Co. bath bombs. These alternatives offer a soothing soak without the added colorants, ensuring a relaxing and gentle experience for your skin!
Although the Lush bath bomb experience is frequently imitated by both luxury and budget competitors, no company has yet managed to replicate Lush’s unique extravagance. From their eye-catching designs to the rich, sensory indulgence they offer, Lush stands out as the gold standard in the world of bath bombs. Their unparalleled quality and attention to detail ensure a truly luxurious soak that others can only aspire to achieve!
Flaws but not dealbreakers
With even the least expensive Lush bath bombs priced at $6.50, and most ranging from $1.07 to $2.43 per ounce—at least four times the cost per bomb of our budget pick—Lush bath bombs are among the most premium options available. The investment reflects their exceptional quality, unique formulations, and luxurious experience, making them a sought-after choice for those who want to indulge in a truly extravagant bath.
On top of that, if you’re unable to get to a Lush store, you’re stuck paying for shipping on orders under $70.
As with all bath bombs, tub and skin staining is a possibility, most notably with the black, hot pink, and glitter varieties.
Also great: Old Whaling Co. Bath Bombs
Old Whaling Co. Bath Bombs
Bath bombs with dye- and fragrance-free options
These large, fizzy, long-lasting bombs come in a variety of options, including some that are dye-free and/or fragrance-free (yet still full of fun).
If you prefer more muted colors and scents, or if you’re seeking a dye-free or fragrance-free bath bomb, consider Old Whaling Co. bath bombs. These thoughtfully crafted options provide a gentle and soothing bathing experience, perfect for those who appreciate subtlety without sacrificing quality. Enjoy a tranquil soak with these delightful alternatives!
Old Whaling Co. bath bombs are nearly as impressive as Lush’s offerings. They deliver plenty of effervescence, fizzing for upwards of three minutes. The scented versions smell incredible, while the dyed ones infuse the tub water with gorgeous hues. For a more subdued, elegant bathing experience, their dye- and fragrance-free options fizz gracefully, reminiscent of good Champagne. In contrast, the Lush bombs we’ve tested create a more aggressive explosion, akin to popcorn kernels. Both brands offer unique experiences, catering to a variety of preferences!
There’s a delightful variety of colors and scents to choose from! Old Whaling Co. offers an impressive selection of sixteen scents, including an unscented version and four dye-free options. This extensive range ensures that you can find the perfect bath bomb to suit your preferences, whether you’re seeking something fragrant or a more subtle, elegant experience. Enjoy a customized soak that caters to your individual taste!
Flaws but not dealbreakers
At $8 apiece (approximately $1 per ounce), Old Whaling Co. bath bombs are indeed more expensive but also larger, making them a better value per ounce compared to most options from our top pick. This means you can indulge in a more substantial bath bomb experience while still enjoying a luxurious soak. The quality and thoughtful formulation justify the investment, providing a delightful treat for your bath time!
As with any bath bombs crafted from solid ingredients, there is a possibility of some post-soak flecks of oatmeal or spearmint leaves. However, in our experience, any debris is easily wiped away, ensuring that your bathing experience remains enjoyable and hassle-free. You can relax and unwind without worrying about a messy cleanup afterward!
Budget pick: Purelis Natural Bath Bomb Gift Set
Purelis Natural Bath Bomb Gift Set
A lot of bath bomb for the buck
Starting at around $1 each, these comparatively affordable Purelis bath bombs fizz longer than the competition and smell great.
For an investment of roughly $1 per bomb (depending on the arrangement), you can enjoy a bulk box of fizzy and fragrant Purelis Natural Bath Bombs. In fact, the fizz-price-per-minute of about 20¢ dramatically outperforms both budget and luxury competition. On average, these Purelis bath bombs fizz for an impressive five minutes before completely dissolving—nearly twice as long as Lush bath bombs. This makes them a fantastic choice for those looking to maximize both enjoyment and value during their bathing experience!
Though purchased in bulk, each Purelis bath bomb is individually wrapped, ensuring freshness and convenience. Given their lower price, these Purelis bath bombs allow you to transform an occasional splurge into a more frequent bathing ritual. While the bombs are uniform in shape and size, they come in a delightful set of 30 different colors and scents, offering a month’s worth of visual and olfactory bathtime adventures. Indulge in a variety of experiences that make each soak feel special!
By buying in bulk you can give yourself 30 fun, fizzy baths with bombs that typically cost around $1 a pop.
The experience with Purelis bath bombs is excellent for the investment. For those who may not be aware of the superior quality of Lush bath bombs, they wouldn’t feel as if they were missing out on anything with Purelis. Although these bath bombs take a second or two to activate in the water, they provide a satisfactory fizz factor that lasts a long time, creating beautiful colors in the tub. Additionally, they leave behind a subtle skin scent that, while short-lived, is still pleasant. Overall, they offer a delightful and enjoyable bathing experience!
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Unfortunately, Purelis bath bombs cannot be purchased individually; they only come in mixed sets. This means that if you discover a scent you especially love, you won’t have the option to buy it on its own. However, this variety allows you to explore and enjoy a range of different fragrances and colors, adding an element of surprise to your bath time. Embrace the adventure of discovering new favorites in each set!
As with all bath bombs, there is a possibility of tub and skin staining, most frequently with the Black Tea bath bomb in this set. It’s important to be cautious, especially with highly pigmented options, to avoid any unwanted marks. However, with proper care and a quick rinse afterward, you can still enjoy a vibrant and relaxing bathing experience without too much worry!
Also great: Two Sisters Squishy Surprise Bubble Bombs
Two Sisters Squishy Surprise Bubble Bombs
A bath bomb with a surprise inside
For the kid or kid-at-heart, these long-lasting colorful bath bombs produce amazing fizz and pleasing scents, and they reveal a surprise toy as they dissolve in the tub.
These pricey yet powerful surprise-filled bath bombs deliver a delightful one-two punch: a colorful, effervescent bath experience coupled with a “squishy” toy that’s revealed as the baking soda and citric acid melt away. Two Sisters Squishy Surprise Bubble Bombs come in various packs of six, making each bomb cost around $5. For the bath-loving and surprise-toy enthusiast—whether child or adult—these could truly be worth the splurge, adding an element of fun and excitement to every soak!
Although the Two Sisters bath bombs don’t quite match the Lush level of fizz, they do produce a large amount of foam and bubbles.
The bath bombs themselves offer a wonderfully fun experience. The fizz factor is top-notch, creating an engaging and lively bath, while the scents are sweetly playful without being overly saccharine. Like our budget pick, these bath bombs dissolve for a generous five minutes on average, ensuring a prolonged and enjoyable soak that keeps the excitement going throughout your bathing ritual!
Our kid testers were absolutely thrilled with the small toys hidden inside. While the squishy plaything is essentially a garden-variety gumball-machine toy, the surprise element adds a super fun twist, especially for young children. After the bath, the skin feels soft and the pleasant scent lingers for a few hours, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the experience. It’s a delightful combination that keeps the excitement alive long after bath time is over!
Flaws but not dealbreakers
These bath bombs can only be purchased in a set, meaning you’ll need to invest about $30 for a pack of six. Each bomb weighs 5 ounces, making them double the size yet five times the price of our budget pick, while offering a similar experience but with different scents and one of 71 “collectible” squishy surprises inside. If you’re not particularly motivated by the toy aspect, our main pick or budget pick would be a better choice.
Each bath bomb is wrapped in plastic, and there’s an additional plastic ball inside that must be opened and discarded. It can be quite tricky for slippery little hands to manage, so it’s best to stay close by or remind your child to call for you when it’s time to open the container. Otherwise, you might find yourself like me—mopping up a trail of foot puddles between your spot and the tub!
As with all bath bombs, there is a possibility of tub and skin staining, so keep that in mind when enjoying these vibrant options.
The competition
It’s tough to label a bath bomb that doesn’t irritate the skin or stain the tub as “bad,” but the LOL Surprise Bath Bombs come close to earning that designation. These bombs struggle to impress, sinking straight to the bottom of the tub and releasing a fizzless stream of color for a snooze-worthy three minutes. Unfortunately, they lack the vibrant fizz and engaging experience that bath time enthusiasts typically seek, leaving much to be desired for an exciting soak.
Although they contain baking soda and citric acid, the 1-inch diameter Kate McLeod Breathe Pebble bath bombs don’t deliver the same effervescent effects as our top picks. In various test baths, we found that using two or three of these “pebble”-size bombs resulted in minimal fizzing. However, the combination of nourishing oils effectively moisturized our skin, and the strong eucalyptus scent was particularly appealing to a tester who used these while recovering from a cold. Still, at just under $2 per bomb—costing $4 to $6 per bath—most people may prefer the truly luxurious experience offered by Lush bath bombs for a similar price.
The following bath bombs simply didn’t hold up against our top and budget picks due to their comparatively underwhelming fizz and muted colors: Bodycology Cherry Blossom Bath Fizzies (bag of eight), Da Bomb Bath Fizzers, Dove Milk Swirls Bath Bomb in Rosewater & White Chocolate (set of two), Dr. Teal’s Replenishing Pink Himalayan Ultra Moisturizing Bath Bombs (available in coconut, eucalyptus, or lavender, bag of four or five), Deep Sea Lavender Scented Bath Bombs (bag of five), Fizz & Bubble Unicorn Swirl Bath Fizzy, Hempz Triple Moisture Bath Fizzer, Love Beauty & Planet Argan Oil & Lavender Bath Bomb (set of two), Suave Flavor Factory Sweet Treats Bath Bombs (bag of five), and Two Sisters Eucalyptus Spearmint Bubble Bomb (currently unavailable). We also previously dismissed two discontinued bath bombs from Ulta Beauty and Village Naturals. Overall, these options fell short in delivering the vibrant, fizzy experience that bath enthusiasts crave.
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