This step-by-step tutorial has all you need to know for how to make beautiful homemade pumpkin spice latte bubble scoops: DIY bubble scoop ingredients, tricks for making the best bubble bars, a lovely pumpkin spice essential oil blend, tips for packaging, storing and gifting. You’d never guess how easy this natural bath truffle recipe is!

Pumpkin Spicy Latte Bubble Bars with Essential Oils

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DIY pumpkin spice latte bubble scoops – Easy bubble bars recipe

Last year, I created easy lavender bubbling bath truffles, which you enjoyed so much that I also made a peppermint version. And to today, I’m excited to share my DIY pumpkin spice latte bubble scoops recipe with you!

Bubble scoops, aka bubble bars or bath truffles, have always been one of my favourite DIY beauty recipes. They look gorgeous, produce lots and lots of foam and bubbles, and are much easier to make than bath bombs!

These pumpkin bubble scoop bars are packed with skin-loving, natural ingredients, have a warming, sumptuous scent, and it’s so satisfying to see the luscious foam and suds. They are made with pumpkin powder, milk powder and a pumpkin pie spice inspired essential oil blend.

How to make bubble scoops

How do you make a bubble scoop? DIY bubble bath scoops are easy to throw together, and the active time is just 20 minutes. Let me show you how to prepare this simple recipe for bubble scoops:

Mix dry ingredients – Sift all dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl and whisk slowly until the ingredients are well combined. Baking soda and citric acid tend to clump, and it’s important to remove all lumps. Tip: SLSA is a very fine dusty powder, so put on a face mask to avoid inhaling any.
Melt cocoa butter – Melt the cocoa butter in a warm water bath or the microwave. Set aside for 10 minutes, then stir in the emulsifier and essential oils.
Make bath truffle mixture – Pour the melted oil mixture over the dry ingredients and knead with your hands. The mixture should have a consistency similar to cookie dough.
Form bubble bath scoops – Pack and press the mixture tightly into the ice cream scoop. The backside of the bath truffle should be flat. Squeeze the sides of the handle together to release the bath truffle onto a lined board/tray.
Chill and dry the bubble scoops – Let the bath bomb scoops dry for at least 4 hours or overnight at room temperature. If you live in a hot climate and don’t have air condition, cover the tray loosely with plastic wrap/cling film and let the bath truffles solidify in the fridge for 2 hours before allowing them to dry at room temperature.

Bubble scoop ingredients

Now that we know how to make bubble scoops, let’s take a closer look at the materials. There are just 8 ingredients + essential oils in this bubble bath truffle recipe:

Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) and citric acid

Baking soda is used for many household purposes, including baking as a raising agent, natural cleaning, and beauty products. Always purchase pure baking soda, some brands sell baking soda mixed with cornstarch.

Citric acid is a dry powder and a weak organic acid. Citric acid, together with baking soda, causes the fizzing reaction of the solid bubble bath. This ingredient is available online or in the preserving/canning aisle of some supermarkets.

SLSA (sodium lauryl sulfate)

SLSA is derived from coconut and palm oils and creates the beautiful bubbles in these bubble scoops. This ingredient is not to be confused with SLS, which is a harsh chemical that can cause skin irritation.

Because SLSA is a fine dust, I recommend wearing gloves and a face mask to avoid breathing it in.

Pumpkin powder

Pumpkin powder is made of actual pumpkins. The ingredient gives these bath truffles an incredibly realistic pumpkin latte scent and soft orange hue. The powder is a rich source of vitamins, enzymes, beta carotene and antioxidants beneficial to skin care.

I also used the ingredient in my pumpkin pie bath bomb recipe.

Milk powder

For this recipe, I used goat milk powder, which is packed with nutrients such as lactic acid, minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium, as well as vitamins A and D.

It helps to moisturise the skin and hair. Water reconstitutes the milk powder, giving the bathwater a lush and silky texture.

Use coconut milk powder to keep the recipe vegan.

Cacao butter

Cocoa butter provides structure to the bubble bombs and acts as a carrier oil for the essential oils. The plant butter is an excellent emollient and helps to soften and hydrate the skin. Plus, cocoa butter gives the bath truffles a wonderful white chocolate scent – so yummy!

Emulsifier

An emulsifier helps to disperse and emulsify the ingredients into the bathwater. It’s needed to prevent a coloured ring of dye or fat when you drain the water, and makes the surface less slippery.

I recommend either Polysorbate 80 or PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, which is a natural, coconut-based emulsifier.

Orange mica or annatto powder (optional)

Pumpkin powder gives the bath truffles a soft orange hue. Use orange mica, which is a fine cosmetic powder, or annatto powder, a natural colourant made from the seeds of the achiote tree, to give the bath scoops a stronger colour.

Homemade Bath Truffle Recipe with Natural Ingredients

Pumpkin spice essential oil blend for solid bubble bars

The bubble scoops are scented with a natural pumpkin spice essential oil blend. This blend not only smells like pumpkin spice latte, but it’s also beneficial to relax your mind and body. Let’s have a look:

cinnamon leaf essential oil – Cinnamon leaf essential oil provides a warm and uplifting scent. The oil is also said to have a cleansing effect, which makes it a good addition to homemade bubble scoops.
vanilla oleoresin – Vanilla oleoresin has a delicious vanilla aroma. The scent is incredibly relaxing, which is perfect to wind down in the tub after a busy day.
nutmeg essential oil – Nutmeg has a spicy, warm aroma. It is said to have a balancing effect on the mind and may be helpful in easing achy joints.
ginger root extract – Ginger root extract is known for its warming action, stimulating blood flow and helping to alleviate joint and muscle aches.

Please note that cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger are not suitable for sensitive skin and not safe during pregnancy. Instead, I recommend scenting the bath truffles with 40 drops copaiba essential oil and 30 drops vanilla oleoresin.

Pumpkin Spice Latte Bath Truffles Recipe

Homemade bubble scoops FAQs

What are bubble scoops?

The little beauties resemble scoops of yummy ice cream, and a cookie scoop is used to form them. You may also know them as bubble bath truffles, bubble bath bomb scoops, bubble bars, sundae bath truffles, bubble bath bars, solid bubble bath, bubble bomb, or bath fizzy.

They fizz when you drop them in the tub, create beautiful bubbles and foam, release nourishing oils into the water and give off a heavenly scent of white chocolate and spices – just like pumpkin spice latte!

Bubble scoops vs bath bombs – What’s the difference?

Don’t like fussing with bath bombs? Then this easy pumpkin bath melts recipe is the perfect DIY skincare product for you!

Because these pumpkin spice latte bath truffles contain more oils than regular bath bombs, they are easier to form and can be made even in a humid environment. And since we’re shaping them with a cookie scoop, you don’t have to fiddle with bath bomb moulds either.

How many does the recipe make?

The recipe makes about 15 bath truffles. I used a medium-sized cookie scoop. If you use a smaller or larger one, you will get more or less than that.

Is this bubble scoop recipe all natural?

Yes, these are made with essential oils and natural ingredients that have been approved by Ecocert. If using Polysorbate 80, the recipe won’t be all natural, but Poly 80 is more widely available than PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate.

Bubble scoops without SLSA

As I already mentioned, SLSA is not the same as SLS, and it safe to use in homemade bath products. However, if SLSA isn’t available to you, simply replace it with the same amount of baking soda (bicarbonate of soda).

The SLSA free bubble bar recipe will produce fewer bubbles than DIY bath truffles containing SLSA, but the milk powder still creates a lovely foam.

Can you shape bubble scoops in a silicone mould?

Yes, you can make my pumpkin bath truffles in a silicone mould, too. You should press and pack the mixture tightly into the mould, especially when it’s a detailed mould.

Then chill in the fridge until hard. After unmoulding, let the bath truffles dry at room temperature for a few hours.

How to decorate bubble scoops

These DIY bubble scoops are pretty as they are. But if you want to decorate them further, I have a few ideas:

pumpkin pie spice – Sprinkle the bath truffles with a dash of pumpkin pie spice to amp up the fall flair.
biodegradable glitter – You can also accentuate your pumpkin spice bath truffles with a dash of biodegradable glitter.
star anise pods – Press a whole star anise into the truffle after forming and let harden as described above.

How to use DIY bath bubble bars

How do you use bubble scoops? It’s super easy! For mild foam and bubbles, simply drop one pumpkin bath truffle into the water and let it dissolve like a bath bomb.

For mounds of bubbles, crumble the solid bath scoop under running water to create foam and bubbles. Use your hands to agitate the water for even more bubbles.

Be careful when getting in and out of the tub – the oils in these bubble bath bar scoops can make the surface slippery.

Bubble scoops storage instructions and shelf life

How to store bubble scoops

How do you store DIY solid bubble bath bars? Bubble scoops dissolve if exposed to moisture. So keep your foaming bat truffles in an airtight container or jar in a dry, cool place, away from heat and direct sunlight.

Please also store the bubble scoops out of reach of children. Kids might mistake the bath truffles for sweets and try to ingest them.

How do you package bubble bars?

For the best shelf life, wrap each bath truffle in plastic wrap before putting them in an airtight container. You can also package them with shrink wrap.

How long do foaming bubble scoops last?

The shelf life of bubble scoops recipe is 6 months if stored correctly.

Gift giving

Pumpkin spice DIY bubble scoops are an adorable homemade gift idea for fall, Thanksgiving and the holiday season. Natural beauty lovers and pumpkin spice everything gals will enjoy this easy DIY gift.

Mason jars, mugs or small baskets are eco-friendly and reusable packaging options. Add a big bow, and you have a beautiful present.

Of course, you can also make the bath truffles of a wellness basket. Check out my DIY spa kit, pamper hamper and self care package for more inspiration.

If you need favours for an autumn wedding or celebration, package the bath truffles individually in small cellophane bags.

To finish, decorate your gift with these free printable fall gift tags. Or browse our collection of free printable gift tags, which have ideas for many holidays and occasions.

Tools to make bubble bars

Tab or click the links below to see the items I used in this foaming bath truffles recipe:

sieve – A fine-mesh sieve removes any lumps in the dry products and helps you to achieve beautiful homemade bubble scoops.
glass mixing bowl – I love this set of glass mixing bowls and use it often for my DIY beauty recipes.
cookie scoop – You need an ice cream scoop with a trigger release to form and portion the bath truffles. I used the medium-size scoop from this set of three ice cream scoops.
nitrile gloves – I recommend wearing nitrile gloves to protect your hand nails because citric acid can dissolve nail polish.
facemask – SLSA is a fine, airborne powder. Wearing a face mask ensures that you don’t accidentally inhale the product.

How to make bubble scoops with an ice cream scoop

More pumpkin spice inspired beauty DIYs

If this pumpkin spice bath truffle scoop recipe is appealing, here are some of my other pumpkin spice-inspired beauty recipes and craft ideas:

DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte Bubble Scoop Recipe

Yield: 1 bubble scoops

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Active Time: 20 minutes

Drying Time: 4 hours

Total Time: 4 hours 40 minutes

Difficulty: easy

Materials

Tools

Instructions

Sift all dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl and whisk slowly until the ingredients are well combined. Baking soda and citric acid tend to clump, and it’s important to remove all lumps.
Tip: SLSA is a very fine dusty powder, so put on a face mask to avoid inhaling any.
Melt the cocoa butter in a warm water bath or the microwave. Set aside for 10 minutes, then stir in the emulsifier and essential oils.
Pour the melted oil mixture over the dry ingredients and knead with your hands. The mixture should have a consistency similar to cookie dough.
Pack and press the mixture tightly into the ice cream scoop. The backside of the bath truffle should be flat. Squeeze the sides of the handle together to release the bath truffle onto a lined board/tray.
Tip: You need an ice cream scoop with a trigger release to form and portion the bath truffles. I used the medium-size scoop from this set of three ice cream scoops.
Let the bath bomb scoops dry for at least 4 hours or overnight at room temperature. If you live in a hot climate and don’t have air condition, cover the tray loosely with plastic wrap/cling film and let the bath truffles solidify in the fridge for 2 hours before allowing them to dry at room temperature.

Notes

Essential oil safety

Please note that cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger are not suitable for sensitive skin, kids under 10 and not safe during pregnancy. Instead, I recommend scenting the bath truffles with 40 drops copaiba essential oil and 30 drops vanilla oleoresin.

Over to you!

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Irena xx