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    Home » Gifts

    Homemade Shower Steamers Tutorial

    February 15, 2022 by Patti Estep 9 Comments

    Jump to How-to Card
    Eucalyptus shower steamers.

    Make these shower steamers using essential oils for a wonderful aromatherapy experience. An alternative to bath bombs for shower lovers. Pretty enough for gift giving too.

    Shower steamers on the table and in a jar with lemon peel.

    I'm not a bath person. Maybe if I had one of those gorgeous deep soaker tubs, that sits just under a window with a beautiful view. But, my master doesn't even have a tub, and the hall bathtub is not very deep, nor does it have a view. 

    My girls love the bath and they loved the bath salts I gave them at Christmas, so I was thinking about making bath bombs. But, a recent common cold had me wanting something that I could enjoy in the shower. This is where some homemade aromatherapy shower steamers come in.

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    Eucalyptus scented shower steamers in jar.

    Nothing helps a stuffy nose or congestion like eucalyptus oil. The same or similar ingredients you find in vapor rubs and cough drops are in this pure essential oil. It really helps clear the sinuses for those of us with colds or allergies.

    I had a mini muffin tin and a plastic mini ice cube tray so I made two different batches. The first one was made with eucalyptus oil and the second with bergamot oil. Bergamot is the oil of an Italian orange and has an uplifting aroma.

    Making Shower Melts or Steamers

    This aromatherapy shower steamers recipe is super simple. There are many other fancy recipes that use epsom salts, citric acid, and fancy mica powders, but this one only uses baking soda, water, and essential oils.

    Supplies

    • 1 box Baking Soda (approx 1 1/2 cups)
    • 1/3 - 1/2 cups water
    • 1 teaspoon of essential oil (~80 drops) (i.e.eucalyptus, bergamot, peppermint, lavender)
    • a mold (I used a 12 mini muffin tin and  21 mini ice cube tray)
    Eucalyptus oil shower steamers in muffin tin.

    The Process

    • Start by using a large plastic bowl and plastic spoon, and stirring the water and baking soda together. You want it to mix easily but not become watery, the consistency of wet sand. This ended up being somewhere between 1/3 - 1/2 cups of water for me.
    • Add your choice of essential oils and mix well.
    • Scoop into the muffin tins that have been greased a little with oil. I used olive oil, but you can use coconut or vegetable oil. You could even try using paper liners but that seems like a bit of a waste.
    • Let them dry overnight. Then flip over the tin and tap out the steamers. 
    • Let them dry further (1-2 days more if necessary) until they are nice and firm, before storing them in a covered jar or other airtight container.
    Rubber ice cube tray filled with shower steamer mix

    This second batch of shower bombs barely had enough to fill the entire tray. This tray is nice because it has little bubbles on the bottom, making it easy to push the cube out of the tray. You can find silicone molds online and in craft stores that work well for this craft in the same way.

    I used bergamot oil in this one because it's my favorite fragrance, and makes an invigorating citrus scent in the shower. Grapefruit would be another good uplifting choice. You could try lavender oil for a relaxing effect or a blend of a few of your favorite aromatherapy oils. 

    I even added a little grated lemon zest on top for decoration.  Wouldn't they make a nice gift?

    Can You Use Fragrance Oils?

    You can use fragrance oils however you may not get the same aromatherapy benefits as you would with pure essential oils. However, if there is a scent such as lilac that's not practical to buy but you absolutely love the scent then I say try it.

    Two jars of shower steams in eucalyptus and bergamot scent.

    The Experience

    Simply set one or two shower fizzies at the bottom of your shower. Somewhere it will get wet but not pummeled with water, and let it fizz and dissolve. The water and steam from a hot shower will activate the essential oils permeating the air, giving you a home spa experience as if you have an essential oil diffuser in the shower.

    When you are done rinse any remaining bits down the drain or leave them for the next shower. 

    Patti signature

    More Bath and Body Tutorials

    • Foaming Hand Soap
    • Homemade Foot Scrub
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    • Blush Sugar Scrub
    Two jars of shower steams in eucalyptus and bergamot scent.
    Print
    4.41 from 20 votes

    Homemade Shower Steamers Recipe

    Learn how to make these quick and easy DIY shower steamers that have all kinds of aromatherapy benefits depending on the essential oils you choose.
    Prep Time15 minutes mins
    Active Time15 minutes mins
    Total Time30 minutes mins
    Course: Essential Oils
    Yield: 12 Shower Steamers
    Author: Patti Estep
    Cost: $10

    Equipment

    • NOW Essential Oils, Bergamot Oil, Sweet Aromatherapy Scent, Cold Pressed, 100% Pure, Vegan, Child Resistant Cap, 1-Ounce
    • NOW Essential Oils, Eucalyptus Oil, Clarifying Aromatherapy Scent, Steam Distilled, 100% Pure, Vegan, 4 Fl Oz (1 Count)

    Materials

    • 1 box Baking Soda approx 1 1/2 cups
    • 1/3 - 1/2 cups water
    • 1 teaspoon of essential oil ~80 drops
    • A mold I used a 12 mini muffin tin and a 21 mini ice cube tray

    Instructions

    • Mix the water and baking soda together in a large plastic bowl using a plastic spoon.
    • Add essential oils and mix well.
    • Scoop the shower steamer mixture into the muffin tins greased with a little oil.
    • Let them dry overnight.
    • Flip over the tin and tap out the steamers. 
    • Let them dry until they are nice and firm.
    • Store in a covered mason jar or other airtight container.
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    About Patti Estep

    Patti is the creator of Hearth and Vine, a home and garden blog filled with projects to inspire your creative side. She loves crafting, gardening, decorating and entertaining at her home in Pennsylvania. When she is not working on a project at home or searching for treasures at nurseries and thrift stores with her girlfriends, you’ll probably find her with family and friends, at a restaurant, or home party enjoying new and different food adventures.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Anna Ortiz

      January 24, 2023 at 8:39 pm

      Can dry lavender buds be added to the lavender bath steamers?

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        January 25, 2023 at 7:10 am

        Anna, you can add some lavender buds and that would be so pretty. Just know that they do not dissolve and will need to be washed down the drain.

        Reply
    2. Lucy

      December 21, 2018 at 3:21 am

      Hiya Patti, I do love these. Thank You for sharing with us all of your amazing ideas! You truly are a divinely inspired ANGEL 😇 on Earth! I used several oils in the shower fixers I made ~ Juniper berry, Frankincense, Rose Geranium & Sandalwood then added sage leaf for roughage and some lemon zest, but they turned brown upon drying. Must be the added sage do you think or too strong oils? The combo was perhaps too complicated? Midwintery Solstice Blessings to you and all X🌲💐🐬🌟🌙🎀

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        December 21, 2018 at 8:46 am

        Thank you, Lucy, for your kind words. I'm so happy to hear them. Regarding the shower melts, I do think the sage could be the culprit. Especially if it was fresh when you made the melts. But also I think Sandalwood may have a little color to it. You could test a drop of it on a piece of white paper to see. What a great combination idea. Maybe try using them anyway and ignore the color. It's the fragrance in the shower that you want anyway. Happy Solstice to you too!

        Reply
    3. Pat Schwab

      February 14, 2018 at 1:48 pm

      Which oil scents do you use when you make these? Thanks, Pat S

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        February 14, 2018 at 3:29 pm

        Hi Pat,

        The large ones are eucalyptus because I was all stuffed up with a cold, and the small ones are bergamot because that's my favorite scent.

        Reply
        • Pat Schwab

          February 14, 2018 at 4:37 pm

          I have never heard of bergamot but love eucalyptus and peppermint.

    4. Carole

      February 14, 2018 at 8:04 am

      This is a great idea Patti, hope you're feeling better and agree that eucalyptus oil is perfect for sinus relief. Essential oils are the best and really bring value to our overall health. Another great one and the presentation as always is perfect. Feel better!!

      Reply
      • Patti Estep

        February 14, 2018 at 8:30 am

        Hi Carole,

        Thank you. They came in handy and now I'm hoarding them. Better get to the store for more baking soda.

        Reply

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