Sometimes after a tiring day, I like to take a nice long shower. Shower steamers are a great way to make it even more relaxing! They are similar to bath bombs, but you use them in the shower. Here's how to make different scented shower steamers for a spa experience at home.
These have a more concentrated scent than most of my skincare recipes as they are not meant to go directly on the skin. It's a great way to get the benefits of aromatherapy while you take time for self-care. Shower steamers also make nice Christmas or birthday gifts.
What are shower steamers?
Also known as shower bombs or shower melts, they are kind of like bath bombs. I will put one on the side of the tub where the shower water can reach and release the scent.
Homemade shower steamers activate after getting wet and release a nice smell in the shower. Unlike bath bombs which also provide skin benefits, these are more about aromatherapy benefits.
Ingredients of shower steam
Shower gels are made with a number of ingredients which usually include baking soda, Epsom salts, citric acid, essential oils and witch hazel. You'll also find clay, botanicals, food coloring, fragrance oils, and mica powder or coloring (depending on the recipe).
My recipe uses baking soda and citric acid as a base. The Epsom salts help harden them and the castor oil acts as an emulsifier so they're less likely to crumble. Kaolin clay also makes them stronger and can add a nice color. If you want, you can also add some mica powder or natural food coloring.
How to use shower steamers
If you use a mini muffin tin, the shower steam should last for a regular length shower. For smaller molds, you may need two.
You'll want to put it in the shower where the water can reach them, but not wash them right down the drain. If they're on the shower floor, they'll only last a few minutes (if that). The best place is the bathtub ledge or shower shelf. If your only option is the shower floor, make sure it's as far away as possible shower head as much as possible.
Different aromatic ideas
To make life easier, you can just use a pre-made mix from one of mine favorite essential oil companies. However, I came up with a few recipes that have a ton of benefits and smell great!
Breathe Better Blend
This invigorating mixture helps open up the sinuses. Not safe for little ones, but older kids and adults feel free to enjoy it! For a kid-safe version, this one Odor blocker mixing is a good alternative.
Spring mix
Uplifting and helps with seasonal allergies. Lemon brightens the mood and helps thin congestion. Lavender is soothing and also acts as an antihistamine. Even if you don't have allergies, it's definitely worth a try!
Ground mixture
This blend also lifts the mood and also helps ground the emotions. Some studies show that just smelling grapefruit can help promote a healthy weight! Bergamot is used to relieve feelings of anxiety and stress. Cedarwood helps with nervous tension, stress, coughs and mucus.
Shower steamer recipe
Add one of these to your next shower for a relaxing, aromatherapy experience. They also make great gifts.
Yield: 7 steam shower
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In a glass bowl mix all the dry ingredients together with your hand. I wore a glove for this. You can either press out any lumps with your hands or sift the baking soda before adding it to the mixing bowl.
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Add drops of essential oil and castor oil and mix well with your hand until the mixture resembles wet sand.
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If the mixture is too dry, then use a fine mist spray bottle filled with vodka or witch hazel to moisten the mixture. Only do 2 sprays at a time to avoid getting too wet.
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Once you can squeeze the shower steam mixture into a ball that holds its shape, it's ready.
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Immediately press the mixture into your molds, pressing down firmly.
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Allow to air dry for 24 hours before demoulding and using.
This recipe makes 7 steamers per shower if you use a mini muffin pan. If you use a silicone mold, the exact yield will depend on the size of your molds.
How to FAQ for Shower Steamers
While the recipe uses simple ingredients, it can be a bit difficult to make a DIY shower steamer if you are a beginner. I found a few tricks to make the recipe work better in case you need to troubleshoot!
Add enough liquid
The citric acid is what gives the recipe its fizzy, foamy action. However, if it gets too wet while mixing, it will activate prematurely and your shower steamers will not stay together.
You can use either 80-proof vodka or witch hazel to add enough moisture to hold the steamers together. I wet the dry ingredients enough that they will stick together, but the alcohol also dries a bit to prevent it from getting too wet.
Get out of the piles
Make sure the powder is thoroughly mixed before adding the wet ingredients. You can sift the dry ingredients together first to make this easier (minus the Epsom salts).
Can I just use water?
Witch hazel has a bit of alcohol in it, which makes it work here. Vodka is another good option. Don't worry, the alcohol smell goes away as they dry. I don't even notice as I'm pressing them into the molds.
My shower steamers fell apart
Don't pop them out of the molds too early or the shower steamers will crumble. They need 12-24 hours to dry completely at room temperature. Using too much liquid will cause them to separate.
If your environment is really humid, like in the summer or in certain climates, you'll need less vodka or witch hazel. Dry ingredients will attract moisture from the air. So adjust the liquid used as needed.
What are your favorite scents to use for DIY bath and shower products? Have you ever taken a steam shower before? Leave a comment and let us know!
