I noticed that on the craft and soaping boards, this has frustrated a lot of bath bomb makers who are just starting out. It seems like you can't get citric acid anywhere! So, here's a partial list of places to get it, arranged by price.
Buy Citric Acid Online
Online is cheapest, even with shipping, but you do have to wait for it. If you want instant gratification, order some online right away, and then buy a small amount in physical stores listed. This will tide you over until your shipment comes in.
You may want to team up with a few local bath bombers and go in together on a 50 lb bag. It'll at least give you an excuse to meet other bath and body DIY-ers in the area!
- MMS - $2 / lb or less. 1 pound minimum. Located in Utah.
- Bramble Berry - $2.25 / lb or less. 1 pound minimum, next size up is 10 pounds. Located in Washington.
- Coastal Scents - $2.56 / lb or less. 3 pound minimum. Located in Florida.
- Chemistry Store - $3 / lb or less. 2 pound minimum. Located in South Carolina.
- Mountain Rose Herbs - $3.25 / lb or less. 1 pound minimum. Located in Oregon.
Citric Acid on Ebay
This is pretty safe. Normally, I'd advise against getting soapmaking supplies on Ebay because you just never know what you're going to get... but there's not a whole lot that can go wrong with citric acid. And you can buy from other crafters, which is always nice.
Sam's Club / Costco
I've heard of people finding 5 pound buckets of citric acid at Sam's Club or Costco. Can anyone confirm this?
Home Brewing Stores
Citric acid is used by home brewers, and you can find it for a pretty penny. I've heard reports of $.42 / oz.
Health Food Stores
Whole Foods by my apartment has citric acid for $.62 / oz (!)
The Grocery Store
Citric acid goes by the name Sour Salt - it's in disguise! You can find it in the Kosher section or the spice section, and buy a few bottles of it because you don't get very much in one bottle. It's expensive, so I would only go this route in emergencies. As an added minus, it comes in heavy glass bottles that I don't want to throw out. I think, "Surely, I can use them for something..."
Auto Garages, Landscapers, Lawn Care, and Other Businesses That Use Chemicals
I was looking online for a reader who needed 50 pound bags of citric acid, and I found out something that might be of use. Many businesses, such as auto garages and lawn care services, use citric acid. Why is this? Just like us, they use it to alter the Ph balance of various things (like soil.) If you ask around, I'm sure you'll find some leads. And it saves having to pay for shipping!
The Pharmacy
I've heard rumors of people finding citric acid at the pharmacy, but I don't know what size package it comes in. I haven't checked this out, but I will inquire at the local CVS.
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