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Bombe de Bain: the bath bomb business that’s making a splash

29.11.2022

Translation: Katherine Martin

As long as there’s the sound of bubbling liquid, a slight whiff of mustiness, and creative innovations, Irmgard Richel feels right at home. This is a tongue-in-cheek look behind the scenes of a growing bath bomb empire.

Steam rises from the test tubes on the shelf. Plastic cups and dye-filled pipettes come together in chaotic harmony, breathing life into the white Ikea tabletop in front of me. It’s this very table that serves as Irmgard Richel’s worktop. The creative lab – the term the 30-year-old amateur chemist uses to describe her dining table – is the birthplace of brightly coloured bath bombs. The air is laced with the scent of innovation. Or maybe that’s just the smell wafting from the overflowing cat litter tray in the corner. My nose isn’t quite sure yet. Time to find out.

Irmgard, although your start-up is still getting off the ground, I’m still seeing prominent figures in the world of social media posing with your products under the hashtag #BathtimeIsTheBomb on the daily. Seems genuine to me. How do you handle all the hype?

Irmgard Richel, CEO, CFO, COO and CMO of «Bombes de Bain»: It can be hard to relax within the cold, tiled walls of a bathroom. We – my vision and I, that is – want to help our customers create an oasis of well-being. One that appeals to all the senses. Given the extremely positive feedback we’ve received from our paid partnerships, we’re sure we’ve been successful in that. It’s mind-blowing.

No longer a hidden gem: Bombes de Bain has made waves with starfish lovers.
Source: Natalie Hemengül

I’m pleased for you guys. What sets «Bombes de Bain» apart from other start-ups?
We love what we do. And we do it in harmony with Mother Nature. Our products are vegan. And a significant number of them are green. Of course, we do carry other colours as well.

Bombes de Bain is taking a firm stand against the destruction of nature with their green bath bombs.
Source: Natalie Hemengül

How do you feel about people who prefer to shower because it’s more convenient?
It’s important not to judge anyone for their lifestyle choices. But such hectic lifestyles shouldn’t go unquestioned. In the long-run, living like that just isn’t healthy.

But it also saves water.
We often hear that argument, but I think the showerhead lobby is behind it. How else do you explain that the studies we’ve commissioned have produced totally different results? But I’d rather not comment any further on that. These tiles have ears.

As an investigative journalist, that sets my alarm bells ringing. Are we talking about a conspiracy here?
Let me share some confidential stuff from my Telegram archive later.

Thank you. I’m always on the lookout for trustworthy sources. Let’s get back to our main topic: what’s that smell?
That’s the smell of our two bestsellers. Two exquisite fragrances we add to our bath bombs: «Fruits d’Amour» and «Pinède». The bath bombs created in our laboratory are, in a way, the fruits of our love for chemistry. We wanted to express that in the «Fruits d’Amour» fragrance. «Pinède» or pine forest, on the other hand, is the antithesis of this. It’s kind of gloomy; melancholic with a hint of mustiness.

Irmgard Richel knows how to multitask. As she works, she ponders the dodgy dealings of the showerhead industry.
Source: Natalie Hemengül

Some claim that your approach to colour mixing is unique. Do you take the same view?
I wouldn’t go that far. My approach is minimalist. I can get a lot out of a little. All I need is yellow, pink and blue. The magic lies in the mixing process. It’s like dancing a frantic tango into the unknown. I never know where the next steps are going to take me.

Three’s a charm: Irmgard can conjure up a rainbow from these colours.
Source: Natalie Hemengül

Down to the drop: every colour has a secret formula. — Three’s a charm: Irmgard can conjure up a rainbow from these colours.
Source: Natalie Hemengül

Let’s talk about design: you seem to have a knack for innovative shapes.
The shapes we work with really are unique, just as the aspects of nature that inspired them are: starfish, shells, flowers and rainbows. Our bestsellers – the round bath bombs – owe their shape to the moon. I got the idea by looking at the night sky. With their hectic daily lives, our customers appreciate simplicity.

The shell as a symbol for the sea – Irmgard is a visionary.
Source: Natalie Hemengül

Working by hand, Irmgard painstakingly fills the spherical mould. Doing this, she manages to make up to two bath bombs per day. Uncanny! — The shell as a symbol for the sea – Irmgard is a visionary.
Source: Natalie Hemengül

What’s your typical process when creating a bath bomb?
As soon as I have a concept for a new collection, I put on my gloves. Most of the time, anyway. I then add unsullied doses of water and fragrances to baking soda, before adding some secret powder (that comes from a packet with a little warning label on it). Highly complex chemical processes and a little dye follow. Finally, I pour the mixture into our homemade moulds. Three to four hours later, the bath bombs are ready to be gift wrapped.

Sounds like child’s play.
Ha! Try it yourself first and we’ll see what you have to say then.

Craft sets

CHF31.90

Sentosphere Bombes De Bain

A cacophony of colour.
Source: Natalie Hemengül

This make-your-own bath bomb set was given to me as a Secret Santa gift by my teammate Laura Scholz. The goal? To write as creative an article as possible on it. In my case, a fictitious reportage. Want to read the articles my teammates wrote about their Secret Santa gifts? Here’s one by my colleague Michael Restin.

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Natalie Hemengül

Senior Editor

Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.ch

As a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.

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