Exactly When Do Bath Bombs Expire?

Just like food, bath bomb ingredients have a recommended shelf life with expiration dates. Shelf life refers to the allowable time for any product can be stored without it losing its effectiveness. The average shelf life of bath bombs is around six months. 

Bath bombs are a compacted mix of natural ingredients such as sodium bicarbonate(baking soda) and citric acid. Both Ingredients have a long shelf life, but citric acid starts to lose its potency over time. The good news is that you can preserve citric acid's potency by storing it in airtight containers. 

Bath bombs are designed to create an acid-base reaction when exposed to moisture or water. Therefore, the longer they are exposed to the moisture in the air, the faster they lose their fizzy impact, and as time goes, they begin to lose their effectiveness. Jack Constantine (the head of product development at Lush) explains that the fresher they are, the better they work, and the faster they fizz. 

Though, some people like to store away their fizzies in tight bulk bath bomb containers for extended periods of time. Even if someone did this and saved them for two years, they can still be used, but they won't work as well as fresh ones. Some will not fizz at all and just slowly dissolve and crumble when submerged into the water. 

The key is to use your fizzy bomb while it's still fresh. The same shelf life issue can be applied to the fragrance. The aroma won't smell as nice or potent because some of the essential oils will begin to evaporate while in storage. Some might even begin to deteriorate if there are natural ingredients mixed such as fresh fruit extracts, juices, petals, or other fresh herbs. 

Store Fizzies to Extend Their Shelf Life with Bulk Bath Bomb Containers.

Bath bombs should be stored in cool and dry places like cupboards or basements. Premature fizzing of bath bombs is mainly due to the moisture in the air. If you live in an area with a humid climate, a dehumidifier can help you with storing your bath bombs properly

Like all the other beauty and bath products, you may also store your bath bombs in the bathroom. However, they will be highly exposed to steam and moisture. Storing your fizzies in airtight bulk bath bomb containers such as a mason jar or tupperware will help protect them from the moisture in the bathroom. Another factor to take into consideration is fizzies with fresh ingredients like petals and natural oils. As mentioned earlier, they might go bad over time. Here is a small guide on the shelf life of some bath bomb ingredients even when using bulk bath bomb containers. 

Shelf Life of Common Bath Bomb Ingredients:

1. Avocado Oil can last up to one year
2. Apricot Kernel Oil last from six months up to one year
3. Canola Oil lasts 1 to 2 years
4. Castor Oil lasts up to a year
5. Coconut Oil lasts more than a year
6. Coffee butter-1 year
7. Olive oil lasts up to 2 years
Learn more about different ingredients and their shelf life. If you are buying wholesale bath bombs, you can always ask the distributor.

Now that we know the answer to 'when do bath bombs expire' just remember, freshness is the key to making your bath bombs work their best. Don't forget to also use bulk bath bomb containers for storing them. You can display them for decorative purposes but don't expect them to work perfectly when you finally decide to use them.