Bath bombs, or bath fizzies, are addictive treats for the bath. When you drop them in water, the bath bombs fizz for a couple minutes, releasing scent and (usually) moisturizers. One of my readers calls them a grownup’s calorie-free candy alternative, which I thought was right on.

Bath bombs were invented – as far as I know – by Lush, the international bath chain; however, they have really caught on over the past 5 years with independent soap boutiques and soapmakers, and a couple other bath and body chains. These days, you can even find them at CVS, though I can’t vouch for their quality.

They sound simple, but once you try a bath fizzy or two, you may very well get hooked. If your spouse doesn’t understand your obsession with luxury bath products, just give him or her a bath bomb, and you’ll probably never have to hear about it again.

Lush is probably the most famous seller of bath bombs; in fact, they claim to be the originators. Most people are buying their bath bombs for $4 or more at Lush and other stores, but those in the know can make them for less than $1.

Making bath bombs is a little tricky, but you can learn to whip them up perfectly with the free Fast Guide, available right here.