The bath bombs market is booming, and it’s not hard to see why. These products create a relaxing & luxurious bath experience, and with more people embracing self-care techniques, it’s no surprise that more retailers and eCommerce stores are stocking them.
So, what exactly are bath bombs?
Bath bombs are single-use mixtures of calming, scented extracts and oils that are usually dropped in the tub before taking a bath. Their main components are sodium bicarbonate and citric acid, which react in water to provide an amazing fizzing sensation.
Once this reaction occurs, the bath bomb dissolves, releasing beautiful scents and moisturizing elements that soften the skin.
The market demand for bath bombs is steadily rising, and if you’re thinking of stocking these products in your store, this is the best time to do so.
But first, you need to learn:
- How bath bombs came to be
- The current market for bath bombs
- The rise in demand for bath bombs
- The rise of homemade and DIY bath bombs
There’s no doubt that bath bombs add fun to shower time, but little is known about their origins and rise to a heavily demanded product. So, here’s all you need to know about these products.
1 - History of Bath Bombs
In 1989, Mo Constantine, co-founder, and product investor of Lush, created the first bath bomb in her garden shed. It was then known as an Aqua Sizzler, and she merely wanted to find a way to make baths more luxurious and relaxing.
Mo was also looking for products that could soothe the skin, so she started combining ingredients that had such benefits, such as body butters and nourishing oils.
With time, Mo’s experiments became more advanced, and she started mixing scents and colors to form bath bombs as we know them—amazing products for an aromatherapy session.
Mo Constantine used a basic mixture of citric acid and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) to make the bath bombs bubbly. Since then, all bath bombs have been made using this original recipe and are often incorporated with custom ingredients based on the desired effect.
For instance, bath bombs that have lavender essential oil produce a soothing effect and are perfect for people with sensitive skin. The lavender scent is also calming and alleviates feelings of stress and anxiety.
Here’s a quick breakdown of other benefits of various essential oils on the skin.
| Essential Oil | Benefits |
| Peppermint |
|
| Eucalyptus |
|
| Lemon |
|
| Sandalwood |
|
It’s amazing how an experiment that started in a shed has now become a household item in most retail and eCommerce stores. Interestingly, it wasn't until 1995 that Mo Constantine launched Lush and started selling bath bombs to the public.
Currently, bath bombs have evolved so much that you can even get custom products, complete with your preferred scents, colors, and ingredients.
2 - An Overview of the Market Demand for Bath Bombs
The bath bomb market has been growing steadily over the past few years, and this growth is expected to continue from 2021 to 2028.
According to recent research, the global market size of bath products stood at $43.22 billion in 2020. This was a 4.6% growth compared to the year-on-year growth rate between 2017–2019.
These statistics are not surprising, since more people are embracing self-care, and luxurious baths seem to do the trick.
As Wirecutter perfectly put it:
“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.”
What’s the future like for bath bombs?
Well, projections show that the market size of bath and shower products is expected to grow from $44 billion in 2021 to over $60 billion by 2028. Bath bombs, in particular, are expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5%.
Based on these statistics, it’s clear that the market size for bath bombs will keep getting bigger and that retailers and eCommerce stores need to start stocking more of these products. They just need to partner with a reliable bath bomb manufacturer like AE Manufacturing Solutions that also offers custom products and packaging solutions.
3 - Why Is There a Demand for Bath Bombs?
Several factors have contributed to the increased demand for bath bombs worldwide. However, their market expansion is mainly due to the rising number of working women and their inclination towards relaxation and self-care techniques.
Most people—especially those in the finance, legal, political, and fashion fields—work long hours. By the time they get home, they mainly just want to relieve the anxiety and pressure of their jobs. This is where bath bombs come into play.
Due to their essential oils, and relaxing fragrances, bath bombs are a great way to unwind after a stressful day. They also add a fun element to bath time, making the entire experience exciting.
Other factors contributing to the rise in demand for bath bombs include:
- Their organic properties: Bath bombs don’t have chemicals with harsh irritants and are vegan-friendly. They can also be formulated for various skin types by swapping various ingredients such as essential oils.
- Lavish gifting: There has been a rising trend of people gifting their loved ones lush presents like spa retreats and products. This will definitely fuel the market expansion for bath bombs in the next few years.
- Their detox properties: In addition to being relaxing, bath bombs often contain cleansing agents such as hydrogenated castor oil that eliminate dirt and accumulate oils from the skin.
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Increase in personal spending: Statistics show that the average disposable personal income in the United States rose to $18,903.52 billion in 2022.
This increase has allowed consumers to invest time and money in self-care products, including buying bath bombs.
- Their aesthetic appeal: Bath bombs produce a tranquil environment. Their fizzy components like baking soda & citric acid, as well as nourishing ingredients like coconut oil pamper the skin, while the essential oils relax the mind.
The demand for bath bombs has also grown due to social media trends. TikTok has a big audience, and more people are posting videos of bath bomb reactions in the tub.
These trends are further being fueled by the fact that bath bombs are customizable, and buyers can get them in varying scents, colors, and shapes to make their bath experience more wholesome.
4 - The Rise of Homemade and Artisan Bath Bombs
Recently, bath bombs have morphed from a social media trend to an entire culture. With their layered colors, different textures, and additional components like lavender flowers, they’ve become the ideal self-care companion.
As a result, DIY bath bomb makers are taking advantage of this rising popularity to develop unique and engaging products. They’re also focusing on creating a social network around their products using creative packaging techniques.
For instance, some bath bombs come packaged in a single large box, with the bath bombs individually wrapped in artsy tissue paper, labeled with beautiful stickers, and tucked into a raffia bed.
Another raging trend is making inclusive bath bombs that contain LGBTQ colors. Some small businesses are even offering gender-reveal bath bombs. This just shows how versatile these products are.
If Anything, Bath Bombs Are Only Set to Increase in Popularity
Bath bombs have come a long way from the humble shed in which they were first made and have become a go-to self-care product.
They are a great addition to self-care regimens and are perhaps the best in creating a luxurious bath experience while at the same time soothing the mind and nourishing the skin.
AE Manufacturing Solutions offers custom-made and packaged bath bombs in bulk for retail and eCommerce clients. They pride themselves in being a reputable bath bomb manufacturer that provides cruelty-free bath bombs made in the USA.
AE Manufacturing Solutions is your one-stop-shop for all your bath bomb needs. They will walk with you through the whole journey of bringing your products to the market, from research & design to manufacturing & logistics.
Contact them today for all your bulk bath bomb orders, and bring your vision to life.
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