Bath bombs are packaged against humidity: moisture in the air starts the fizz early, and a bomb that has half-reacted on the shelf disappoints in the tub. So the first layer is a seal, a shrink bag heated tight around each bomb, which also keeps the scent in and the surface clean. Over that, the choice is presentation: a cello bag with a ribbon at a market, a kraft box with a window that protects the shape from chips in a gift shop, or a gift box of four for the holidays, each bomb still shrunk inside. A bath bomb is a cosmetic, so its label lists the ingredients in order and the net weight, with your name and place. In the example below, a Kailua skincare maker prices four options: 15 to 62 cents a bomb. Below are the options, the label, the example, and a free cost calculator.
The short version
- Humidity starts the fizz; seal every bomb.
- Shrink bag and label: the cheapest seal, and the base layer under anything else.
- Markets: a cello bag tied tight with a ribbon.
- Gift shops: a kraft box with a window, which protects the shape.
- Holidays: a gift box of four, each bomb shrunk inside.
- Label the ingredients in descending order, the net weight, and your name and place.
- Count the package in the cost; a window box is more than three times a shrink bag.
- TaroStack keeps each batch's lot and date, and the packaging in every batch's cost. More below.
The options
| Option | Seals out humidity | Protects the shape | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shrink bag and label | Yes | Some | Shelves, wholesale |
| Cello bag and ribbon | If tied tight | No | Markets |
| Kraft box with window | Only with a shrink bag inside | Yes | Gift shops, spas |
| Gift box of 4 | With each bomb shrunk | Yes | Holidays, gifts |
The label
A bath bomb is a cosmetic, not a food or a drug, unless it claims to treat something. Its label carries the product's name, the net weight, the ingredients in descending order of predominance, and the name and place of business, and its maker has the federal cosmetic duties MoCRA added, with a small business exemption. How cosmetic labels work is in cosmetic labeling requirements, and the small business rules in MoCRA small business.
An example: four options for a skincare maker
Hoʻola Botanicals, the made-up skincare maker in Kailua, Oʻahu, I use in these examples, makes plumeria, coconut and lilikoʻi bath bombs in a dehumidified workspace, about 210 a week, for two markets, online, and gift shops and spas:
| Option | Parts | Per bomb | 210 a week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shrink bag and label | Shrink bag 10¢, label | $0.15 | $31.68 |
| Cello bag, ribbon and label | Bag 6¢, ribbon, label | $0.20 | $41.33 |
| Kraft box with window | Box 45¢, label | $0.51 | $107.10 |
| Gift box of 4, per bomb | Box $1.80, crinkle, label, shrink bag | $0.62 | $130.74 |
Every bomb is shrunk; wholesale bombs go out shrunk and labeled, gift shops that want boxes pay for them, and the gift box of four is the holiday product. On a wholesale bomb at $4.25 against a $2.10 cost, a 51-cent window box would take nearly a quarter of what's left. What the line earns is in bath bomb business plan, and starting out in starting a bath bomb business.
Get the calculator
Download the bath bomb packaging calculator. Two sheets: components, each part of each option with its pack price, units, how many a bomb uses and waste; and compare, each option's cost per bomb and per week at your volume, with notes. It's an ordinary Excel file with no macros, and it works in Google Sheets, LibreOffice and Numbers.
Where this stops working
Thirty shops and spas, three scents, a best-by date on every bomb, and a holiday run of gift boxes: a cost sheet doesn't say which batch went to which spa, or how many boxes are left.
How TaroStack does it
TaroStack keeps each batch's lot and date, and the packaging in every batch's cost.
Each batch dated. A batch of bath bombs gets a lot with its production and best-before dates, and lot labels print with it.
Packaging in the recipe. The shrink bag, box and label are items in each product's recipe, so every batch uses them up at the price you paid.
Where it went. Each shop's order records the lots it got, so one recall report shows every shop a batch reached.
| The job | Notebook | In TaroStack |
|---|---|---|
| The best-by on a bomb | Written by hand | From the batch's lot |
| Boxes left for the holidays | Counted when you run out | Used by every batch |
| Which spas got a batch | Invoices | One recall report |
Lots, expiry, recipes and batches are on every plan, from $49 a month. The first 30 days are free, with no credit card. If you'd like a hand setting up, ask, and we'll do it with you.