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DIY shower steamers with essential oils
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DIY Shower Steamers

Learn how to make four different kinds of DIY shower steamers with essential oils: energizing wake up citrus shower steamers, eucalyptus shower melts for colds and congestion, rose shower steamers for relaxation, and lavender shower melts for sleep.
Cook Time20 minutes
Drying Time1 day
Total Time1 day 20 minutes
Course: DIY Bath and Body
Servings: 20 shower melts, approx
Author: Guest
Cost: $10

Equipment

  • Round silicone mould

Ingredients

Basic Shower Steamer Recipe

Citrus Wake Up Shower Melts

Eucalyptus Shower Steamers* (for adults, see kid-safe version below)

Uplifting Rose Shower Melts

Lavender Shower Steamers for Sleep

Instructions

  • Add the baking soda, citric acid, arrowroot powder, kaolin clay and desired colourant into a large, non-metallic mixing bowl and whisk until combined.
  • Drop the essential oils on the mixture and give the bowl a quick stir. The essential oils create droplets that will be dissolved in the next step.
  • Spritz the mixture with a little water and incorporate the water immediately into the mixture to avoid a reaction. If you don’t have a spritz bottle, you can also sprinkle water on the mixture using a teaspoon.
    Tip: Wear nitrile gloves to protect your hands when kneading the mixture. Citric acid removes nail polish and can irritate sensitive skin.
  • Fill a silicone mould with the shower melts mixture. Then, press firmly into the mould using your fingertips and pay attention to the edges.
    Tip: If using dried herbs or flowers, add them before filling the mould with the shower bombs mix. Try to keep larger decorations, such as dried rose petals, away from the edges as petals can cause breakage.
  • Let the shower steamers dry for at least 24 to 48 hours, the shower tablets should feel hard and solid. To unmould, carefully peel back the silicone and gently push the shower melts out of the mould.
    Tip: Making shower steamers can be affected by humidity. If you live in a humid environment, the drying time may be longer.

Notes

If making eucalyptus shower steamers for kids, use the following kid-safe essential oil blend:

Tips for the best consistency and troubleshooting

For perfect homemade shower steamers, it’s important to add the right amount of water. The DIY shower steamer should have the consistency of damp sand. The mixture should be wet enough to hold its shape when pressed together.
  • Too dry: If the mixture is too dry, the shower steamers will be crumbly and can fall apart. You can still save the batch by breaking and crumbling the steamers into a bowl, reconstituting with water and moulding again.
  • Too wet: If the mixture is too wet, the shower steamers will expand, and the fizzing reaction will be affected. You can tell that the mixture has too much moisture when you hear a fizzling sound, indicating that the ingredients are reacting prematurely. The problem can be fixed by adding more arrowroot powder, one teaspoon at a time, until the sizzling stops.

Storage and shelf life

Store DIY shower melts in an airtight container or jar, away from moisture, heat and direct sunlight. A dry cupboard is a good place to keep the shower steamers.
Shower melts can be stored for many months but may lose some fragrance over time. You can easily top up scentless shower steamers with a few drops of essential oils.