Bubble Bath Bar Formula and Method

Based on the ingredients you provided and the staff's advice, here is a guide to making bubble bath bars:

Ingredients (Approximate Percentages from your list)

• Sodium Bicarbonate: 41%
• Citric Acid: 12%
• SLSA (Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate): 21%
• Cream of Tartar: 4%
• Shea Butter: 10%
• Cocoa Butter: 7%
• Glycerin: 3%
• Polysorbate 80: 1%
• Fragrance Oil: 1%

Ingredient Functions

• Sodium Bicarbonate and Citric Acid: These are the key ingredients that react with water to create the fizzing effect when the bar is placed in the bath.
• SLSA (Sodium lauryl sulfoacetate): This is a primary surfactant that creates the abundant bubbles. The staff suggested alternatives like BabyFoam (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate) or AminoWash (Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate) which are also gentle foaming agents.
• Cream of Tartar: This ingredient helps to stabilize the foam and contributes to the hardness of the bar.
• Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter: These natural butters provide moisturizing properties, contributing to the soft and smooth feeling on the skin after use, as you experienced. They need to be melted and incorporated.
• Glycerin: Acts as a humectant, attracting moisture to the skin.
• Polysorbate 80: This is an emulsifier that helps to disperse the oils (like the butters and fragrance oil) throughout the water, preventing them from just sitting on the surface and helping to color (if added) disperse evenly.
• Fragrance Oil: Added for scent. You can choose your preferred fragrance. You also mentioned pheromones, which are typically fragrance components, but specific products would need to be sourced.

General Method

1. Combine Dry Ingredients: Mix the Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, SLSA (or alternative), and Cream of Tartar thoroughly in a large bowl. Ensure there are no clumps.
2. Combine Wet/Melted Ingredients: In a separate container, gently melt the Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter. Once melted, add the Glycerin, Polysorbate 80, and Fragrance Oil (and any other liquid additives like colorant). Mix well.
3. Combine Phases: Gradually add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients. Mix carefully, ideally using your hands (wearing gloves) or a stand mixer, until the mixture resembles wet sand and holds its shape when squeezed. Be careful not to activate the fizzing by introducing excess moisture.
4. Press the Bars: As the staff mentioned, a high-pressure press is typically needed to compress the mixture firmly into solid bars or shapes. This ensures they hold together well.
5. Dry: Allow the pressed bars to dry and harden completely in a cool, dry place for 24-48 hours or more, depending on humidity.

This formula provides a good starting point for creating bubble bath bars that fizz, foam, and leave the skin feeling soft and moisturized due to the inclusion of natural butters.