Homemade Shower Steamers Tutorial

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.

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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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.

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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)

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.

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.

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. 

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4.34 from 36 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.