Unless you live under a rock, you’ve probably heard of bath bombs—a worldwide sensation that took off in the early 2000s. These colorful bath-time baubles are colorful, cost-effective, and easy to make, and can be customized in a variety of shapes and sizes. In this article, we’ll walk you through a brief overview of launching a bath bomb business in 2025.
Are bath bombs a good investment?
One might be tempted to think that bath bombs, which were first invented in 1989, are a thing of the past. Recent data, however, suggests that they’re as popular as ever. According to Global Market Insights, the bath bomb market is anticipated to reach USD 2.18 billion between 2024 and 2032. Experts attribute this to a growing interest in self-care, wellness, and stress relief, assisted by social media influencers.
There’s another reason why bath bombs tend to be more profitable than other cosmetic items: they’re used up quickly. A bath bomb fizzes away in just a few minutes, while a bar of soap, a bottle of lotion, or a tin of lip balm may take months to be fully depleted. That means that satisfied bath bomb customers will return over and over again, resulting in higher profits for you!
Do I need FDA approval to sell bath bombs?
If you were starting a home food business, the first step would be meeting the proper legal requirements for doing so. If you’re selling bath bombs, though, your path will be much easier. Bath bombs are classified by the FDA as cosmetics, not drugs, and do not require FDA approval.
With that said, it’s important to note that the FDA does regulate cosmetics. It could penalize you if:
- The product uses an illegal ingredient, especially an illegal dye
- The product is composed of a unsanitary or dangerous substance
- The product has been prepared or stored in unsanitary conditions
- The product’s label is misleading or inaccurate
- The product claims to improve health (this would classify it as a drug)
- The product endangers public health and safety in any way
As long as your product is made of safe ingredients and appropriately labeled, you should be in the clear—but make sure to review the FDA guidelines carefully, just in case.
Designing your bath bombs: be unique!
The downside of bath bombs is that, since they are so inexpensive and easy to make, a lot of people are making them. To help yourself stand out from the crowded marketplace, it will be helpful to make your bath bombs stand out. Consider using unique molds instead of the standard circle, or dyes that will turn bathwater into a beautiful spectrum of hues. The best way to get inspiration is to research what others have done. Eventually, someone else’s ideas is bound to spark one of your own.
Aside from a unique design, other ways to make your bath bombs stand out include:
- Special objects inside, like stones, rings, plastic dinosaurs, or something else
- Special skin-soothing ingredients, like aloe, oatmeal, lavender, or charcoal
- Special themes, like “horror” themed bath bombs that create blood-colored water
- Labels which say funny things, like “Leave me alone!”
Once you know what you want to create, you can move on to the next step.
Create a business plan
Everyone wants to have fun making crafts all day. Unfortunately, if you want to have a bath bomb business, you will need to do business-y things. A business plan is a great first step that outlines:
- Your business name, mission, target market, and Unique Selling Proposition
- Your brand colors, fonts, and personality
- The marketing sources you plan to use, and how much they will cost
- How much each bomb will cost in terms of materials, time, and labor
- How much each bomb will sell for, and the profit margins you anticipate
You should also outline where you plan to sell your bath bombs, and the cost of using those platforms. If you plan to sell your items at a farmer’s market or craft fair, you should research what those costs will be, including the cost of tables, chairs, display equipment, and transportation. If you are using an ecommerce website, you will need to pay for an ecommerce website. Even if you build the website yourself on a free platform like Squarespace, there will still be hosting costs and additional costs to consider. Finally, remember to consider the costs of packaging supplies and shipping.
Create your branding materials
Even if you do not want to sell products through a website, you should still have one. A website lets people learn about you and your products at any time of day or night, not just when they are interfacing with your booth or table! In addition to a website, you should also design a logo and business cards. All of these will help give your business an identity, which can help you stay top-of-mind for interested buyers.
When creating your website, make sure to use high-quality images, especially when displaying your products. This is a great time to invest in a professional photographer, or borrow some professional photography equipment and take a stab at it yourself. Many libraries will allow community members to check out camera equipment, which you can use and return.
If your bath bombs are very beautiful—or fascinating—when they dissolve, make sure to capture it on video! Videos can be embedded on your website, and shared on social media. They are a powerful selling tool, because they show potential buyers just how amazing their baths will look once your bombs are in them!
Market your bath bombs
There’s a popular phrase in the business world that applies to marketing: “You have to spend money to make money.” If you’re just starting out, and you don’t have any profits yet, it can be difficult to get the marketing ball rolling. Therefore, you will most likely want to concentrate your efforts on social media marketing, because it’s “free”—that is, it costs time instead of money. Once you start making more capital, you can invest in paid advertisements on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram which will show off your products to everyone within a certain radius.
Get everything your business needs at SSI Packaging!
SSI Packaging is a Richmond-based packaging company that offers everything small business owners need to grow their businesses. Whether you need boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, or peanuts, we’ve got what you need. We also offer more specialized items, like label machines and industrial printers. We hope that this article has helped you on the path to achieving your dream!