Ring bombs — bath bombs that dissolve to reveal hidden jewelry — are popping up all over Facebook and Instagram in promoted posts and video ads. Which ones are worth your money? Find out by following along as I try out and review ring bombs from all over the Internet! Find all Ring Bomb Bonanza posts here.
The Company: Scented Treasures
One of the newer players on the bath bomb scene, Scented Treasures lists a founding date of March 1, 2017 on its Facebook page. Like Charmed Aroma, Scented Treasures keeps its product line pretty straightforward: The website offers candles, bath bombs, and “bubble bombs” (which I’m dying to try, but I ordered regular bath bombs for the sake of an apples-to-apples comparison. The sacrifices I make for science). Unlike most of the other jewelry bomb companies, Scented Treasures sells some of its rings on their own (sans candle/bomb) as well.
Scented Treasures also offers a rewards program through which you can earn points to redeem for free rings by doing things like reviewing products, following social media accounts, and referring customers (speaking of which, click my link and get $10 off your first order!).
I ordered three ring bombs (#SorryNotSorry, Glamour, and Stars & Stripes, regularly $14.95-$15.95) using a three-for-$40 discount code. Sometime during the checkout process, the discount code dropped off my order, and I ended up being charged full price. I sent an irritated Facebook message, and to their credit, customer service responded less than 18 hours later with an apology and a prompt refund. Shipping was a little slower than some of the other companies I ordered from, but definitely not the slowest.
The Bombs
Let’s talk about packaging first, because you have to with this brand. Each bomb came shrink-wrapped inside an individual box featuring a design unique to the fragrance inside. These are so perfect for gifting I just can’t even. Slap a bow on top and you’re done.
I had to try Glamour first because it was too pretty to resist with its dusting of rose gold shimmer. Once it hit the water, the shimmer dissipated in a shining cloud, revealing a fizzy white bomb with a strong, glorious rose scent. The scent faded somewhat after the initial splash, but the bomb was bubbly and moisturizing and took a nice long time to dissolve.
Stars & Stripes, I’m sorry to report, arrived completely demolished inside its plastic wrap and crumbled immediately into the tub in pieces and powder. Too bad, too, because the outside was really cute (check out those stenciled stars. It’s the little things). The bomb, which had a very sweet berry scent, was extra foamy, although that could be because the whole thing bombed at once due to its smashed-up state. It did seem like it would have had a decent lifespan had the shape not been DOA; there were small pieces of bomb that held up for quite a long time in the tub. The fragrance was long-lasting, and the bomb was very moisturizing.
I sent a note to customer service about the state of my Stars & Stripes bomb, and again they came through beautifully; I got a shipping notice for a replacement bomb even before I got the email apologizing for the inconvenience. Two for two on customer service.
#SorryNotSorry had a pleasant jasmine scent (at least I thought it smelled like jasmine… the website says it has top notes of bergamot, mandarin orange and petitgrain, whatever that is) that got softer as the bomb dissolved but was still nice. Nice and fizzy with a decent lifespan, this bomb was as moisturizing as the other two — all in all, three very nice baths.
The Rings
While the bombs from Scented Treasures knocked it out of the park, the rings were a little hit-or-miss.
Glamour yielded a ring with a black center stone surrounded by clear accent crystals. (Basically a silver version of this ring.) It’s a pretty enough ring, although I don’t love a black crystal as a featured stone in a traditional setting like this one. The prongs also seem a little bit too long for the stone and they’ve already snagged several times even though I’ve worn the ring for a grand total of maybe fifteen minutes.
Stars & Stripes contained a large, blingy ring with lots of emerald-cut clear stones. It is really not my jam — definitely a style that seems like it would resonate with a slightly more mature crowd. (OK, I looked at it and thought it looked like it came from the costume department on “Dynasty.” But I’m sure there’s someone out there who would just love it.)
#SorryNotSorry’s ring initially seemed a little disappointing, but it didn’t take me long to come around on it. If I’ve learned anything over the course of a summer of pulling rings out of bath bombs, it’s that large, cheap stones are rarely a great idea, and the pink stone in this ring is definitely large. I like the pink and black, though, especially compared to the string of bland, clear stones I’ve popped out of some other bombs lately, and it might go nicely with a pair of Betsey Johnson earrings I got from Little Black Bag years ago. There is a similar version available in the ring store for $25.
The Gimmick
Believe it or not, Scented Treasures offers a chance to win a valuable ring when you enter a redemption code! (Forgive my cheek… at this point, I’m running out of creative ways to talk about the way these companies work.) Enter your code in the Treasure Chest for a chance to win a ring valued at $100, $1,000, $5,000, or $10,000.
Like the vast majority of people who order ring bombs, I did not win a valuable ring — just a message letting me know my code was “not a winner.” As a nice touch, however, each ring redemption code is printed on the back with a fortune, like “Stop worrying about how it’s going to happen and start believing it will.” (Advice that is probably not applicable to searching for diamond rings in bath products.)
Scented Treasures has had one $10,000 ring winner, Sammi Monta; this video has a behind-the-scenes look at the presentation of her custom sapphire ring.
The Bottom Line
For me, Scented Treasures falls toward the front of the ring bomb pack. In the FAQs on their website, the company says they think their bath bomb quality and packaging are top of the line, and I’m inclined to agree with that — the bombs were excellent and nicely packaged. Their customer service is extremely responsive and courteous, and I was really impressed by my interactions with them, so that’s a big check in the plus column, too.
If I’d loved the jewelry as much as I loved the bath bombs, Scented Treasures would have been a total home run, but the rings themselves were a mixed bag. I’m not a fan of two of the three I got, although I like the third. I was inclined to wait to order from them again until they have a ring collection out that’s more my style… but as I wrote this review, I also had a 4 for $40 discount code burning a hole in my pocket, so there’s already another Scented Treasures order heading my way.
Want to try Scented Treasures? Click here to save $10 on your first order!
