DIY Shower Steamers {Easy Tutorial with Video}

Transform your shower routine into a refreshing aromatherapy experience with these DIY shower steamers infused with citric acid, baking soda, and essential oils.

These scented shower steamers are perfect when you need relaxation but have no time to bathe or have a bathtub. It relieves a stuffy nose and calms you, but it also invigorates. Moreover, these shower bombs are so easy to make with ingredients you may already have in your pantry. Enhanced with herbs, these shower steamers will turn your daily shower into a spa experience. 

Whether we like it or not, today’s world keeps speeding up, and so do we sometimes.

While filling the bathtub and a pleasant lie in the warm water takes about an hour, the shower can be done in a few minutes – ideally ten to fifteen. To achieve the right relaxing effect, make your shower steamers, place one tablet in the shower corner or on the bottom of the bathtub, and start the shower. If you feel tempted, it is a time to learn how to make these shower fizzies.

Why you will love these DIY shower steamers?

• Crafted from natural ingredients found in your pantry
• Ideal for those without a bathtub, providing a spa-like experience in the shower
• Simple and cost-effective to make compared to store-bought alternatives
• Easily customizable to cater to your specific preferences
• It makes for a thoughtful and personalized gift
• Elevate your daily shower routine with the soothing power of aromatherapy

What are shower steamers?

Shower steamers, also called shower tablets, fizzies, or melts, are small, aromatic, effervescent tablets designed to dissolve and release fragrant essential oils in the shower. Typically crafted with citric acid, baking soda, and a high concentration of essential oils, these essential oil shower steamers introduce aromatherapy into your daily shower routine.

Unlike bath bombs, which primarily nourish your skin, shower melts work directly on the senses and sinuses when exposed to water and steam.

How do shower steamers work?

The steam and hot water in the shower activate the fizzing reaction, releasing the aromatic essential oils infused within. The steam from your shower helps carry these fragrances into the air, creating a pleasant aromatherapy atmosphere in the bathroom. Depending on the selection of the oil, you can make diy aromatherapy shower steamers of various effects. 

While peppermint essential oil is perfect for relieving nasal congestion, lavender oil offers calming properties. 

Ingredients to make Homemade Shower Steamers

Baking soda and Citric acid

Citric acid combines with baking soda to produce the fizz that activates the release of aromatic essential oils. This action turns your shower into a shower aromatherapy, engaging the senses without direct skin contact.

Witch hazel or Alcohol

Witch hazel or alcohol serves as a binding agent in the recipe. While baking soda and citric acid are dry powders, we need something to bind them together. Some recipes call for water; however, it can cause a premature fizzing reaction. Additionally, we need a liquid that will easily evaporate to help the shower steamers to dry. Witch hazel or 40% alcohol are good choices that meet these requirements. However, spraying them in small quantities is important to distribute them evenly.

Vegetable Oil

Just two tablespoons for each batch do wonders. I made the first batch without and had fragile and crumbly steamers.

The oil helps bind the ingredients together and contributes a smoother texture, making the steamers more durable and less prone to breakage during handling or storage. 

Any oil (sunflower, almond) will work; just start with one tablespoon and more if needed.

Essential Oils

Essential oils are the aromatic essence of the shower steamer, released through the effervescent reaction. Using high quality essential oils is essential to achieve the right effect and fragrance.

You can use up to 200 drops per batch of shower steamers or at least 20 drops per tablet to get the aromatherapy effect. 

Add essential oils to achieve various effects:

To relieve nasal congestion

Rosemary essential oil + Eucalyptus Essential Oil.

Check these homemade shower bombs I made with menthol to relieve sinuses.

Refreshing

Peppermint essential Oil + Orange Essential Oil

Calming

Lavender essential oil + Cedar essential oil

Dried herbs – roses, calendula and lavender for decoration

Natural Colorants

I have been using three natural colors – Indigo – blue, Chlorela – light green and Spirulina – dark green color.

Indigo derived from the leaves of the indigo fera plant is a natural colorant, giving a bright blue color.

Chlorella is a green freshwater microalga that contributes bright green tones.

Spirulina is a blue-green algae that contributes dark green hues.

How to make Shower Steamer

First step: Combine dry ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, combine baking soda and citric acid to make the mixture.

Second step: split the mixture into three smaller mixing bowls

If you want to make three different colors of shower steamers with three different essential oils, split your mixture into three bowls.

Third step: Add the Essential Oils

Add your natural colorant and your chosen essential oils into the dry mixture. Mix well to evenly distribute them. Add 1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and mix it well. 

Fourth step: Spritz with Witch Hazel

Put on your gloves and use your fingers to o carefully blend the mixture until it reaches a consistency resembling damp sand. Using a spray bottle, lightly spritz the dry mixture with witch hazel. Start with a few spritzes and mix quickly. Repeat until the mixture holds together when squeezed in your hand but is not overly wet. Don’t spray them too much, as this can cause premature fizzing you don’t want before you use them in the shower.

Fifth step: Test the shower steamer mixture

Take a small amount of the mixture and squeeze it in your hand. It should clump together without crumbling. If it’s too dry, add a couple more spritzes of witch hazel and mix again.

Sixth step: Mold the Shower steamers

Use a spoon or your fingers in gloves to add and press down firmly the mixture to the shower steamer molds, 

Seventh step: Dry the shower steamers

Allow the shower steamer tablets to dry and harden overnight. Once completely dried, gently remove them from the mold and store your shower steamers in an airtight container. 

tips to make the best shower tablets for aromatherapy shower

1. Opt for natural ingredients and essential oils to eliminate harsh chemicals and toxins from shower steamers.
2. Begin with a small batch and adjust the recipe if needed. 
3. Use a spray to distribute the water or witch hazel evenly
4. Use a silicone mold for the best results — shower steamers can be fragile, and these molds make easy removal
5. And most importantly, enjoy it! 

Shower steamer recipe without citric acid

Most DIY shower steamer recipes contain citric acid to create a fizzing reaction that enhances the release of aromatic essential oils. In addition, shower steamers without citric acid are more fragile and crumblier. While it is a popular ingredient, it is not strictly necessary for making shower steamers. Remember that omitting citric acid may produce less fizz, but the shower steamer can still provide a pleasant aromatic experience. In this recipe, you can replace 1 cup of citric acid with 3/4 cup Epsom salt and 1/4 cup cornstarch. 

How long do shower steamers last?

When stored properly, unused shower steamers can maintain their quality for several months or even up to a year. While still usable after a year, the initial “wow” factor may diminish.

How to make shower steamers last longer in the shower?

To make shower steamers last longer in the shower, place the shower bomb in an area of the shower where it receives minimal direct water flow. This helps to extend the fizzing process and allows the essential oils to be released slowly.

Another way is to incorporate oils like castor oil or butter like cocoa butter into the mixture. They will solidify the shower steamer, slowing down the fizzing reaction. 

What’s the shelf life of shower melts?

Shower steamers can last up to a year if you store them properly, in an airtight container in a cool, dry place. 

How to use a shower steamer?

 The warm water and steam activate the shower steamer and release the aromatic essential oils. Place the shower steamer on the bottom of your shower floor, away from the direct stream of water, ideally in the corner of the shower or on a shelf where it can be lightly splashed by water and exposed to steam. Otherwise, it would disappear in the siphon as if by waving a magic wand.

Step into the shower and allow the steam to activate the shower steamer. As the steamer fizzes and dissolves, it releases the aromatic essential oils into the air, turning the shower into a giant spa.

Take deep breaths and inhale the fragrant vapor of essential oils in your senses and sinuses.

Equipment and supplies

Can I use shower steamers as bath bombs?

The difference between shower tablets and bath bombs is their approach to incorporating essential oils. Shower steamers are highly concentrated in essential oils, which can be unsafe for the skin and body if soaked in the bath for a long time.