How to Make Shower Steamers
Looking for an easy bath product to make? Here’s how to make shower steamers.
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If you’ve been following me lately, you know I’ve been playing a lot with essential oils and making bath products. I love making bath products. It’s nice to give them away as gifts, favours or even just to treat yourself!
My Other Posts in This Series
What is a Shower Steamer?
A shower steamer is similar in concept to the bath bomb, but you use it when you have a shower. It still fizzes and when using essential oils, adds a nice aroma to your shower.
What do You Need to Make a Shower Steamer?
As mentioned, this is very similar to a bath bomb but uses fewer ingredients.
shower steamers
Supplies
- baking soda
- citric acid
- essential oils
- witch hazel in a fine mist spray bottle
- mica powder for colour (optional)
- half sphere mould (half of a regular bath bomb mould)
Amazon Links
baking soda
citric acid
witch hazel
spray bottle
bath bomb mould
What Essential Oils to Use
The world of essential oils is a big one. It can quite overwhelming to know where to even begin. Here are some of my favourites to get you started.
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How to Make Shower Steamers
As I mentioned, shower steamers and bath bombs are similar. So if you know how to make bath bombs, you know how to make shower steamers.
Similar to a bath bomb, the proportions of baking soda to citric acid are the same. For every 1 cup of baking soda, you will need 1/2 cup of citric acid in order to achieve the reaction of the fizz. Add these to a mixing bowl. If adding mica powder, put it in now as well.
As the process is similar to that of making bath bombs, I’ll be sharing some of those photos. You can check out the full blog post for making bath bombs here.
How to Make Bath Bombs
I like to use my hands to mix and so I wear gloves. Some have said that citric acid can be hard on a manicure. I don’t have a fancy manicure but just prefer using gloves.
Once it is well mixed, add in your drops of essential oils. I like to use lavender. Wild orange and peppermint are also favourites of mine. The beauty of essential oils is that you can any combo that you like. You can change it up each time you make a batch as well.
Now the somewhat tricky part – adding in the witch hazel. This is not too bad. I dispense my witch hazel from a fine mist sprayer. It gives me much more control. Like bath bombs, you can’t have too little or too much moisture.
Spray your mixture with the witch hazel and mix. Keep in mind that the spray is only hitting the top so you’ll have to do this a few times to get it evenly distributed.
Keep spraying and mixing until your mixture can hold together when squeezed in your hand. Sometimes it holds at first, but then it falls apart – you’re close! You just need a little more witch hazel.
You’re good to go.
Then, similarly to the bath bomb, you’re going to fill your mould. However this time, it is only half a mould. You don’t need a spherical shape – it’ll roll all over your shower! You just need a half-sphere so that it can sit on the floor of your shower.
Pack your mixture into half of your circular mould. Gently pack it in – think of how you pack brown sugar.
Gently remove the mould and it should hold its shape. I leave mine on waxed paper to dry.
Allow to dry for several hours, or overnight. Make sure that it does not come into contact with any moisture as it will start fizzing.
Keep in an airtight container in order to maintain the scent. That said, over time, the scent will fade – even while drying you will lose some scent. You could always add an extra drop or 2 of essential oil on the bottom just before gift-giving or just before adding to your shower if you want to freshen up the scent.
Here’s a video showing you how to make shower steamers.
On My YouTube channel:
How to Use a Shower Steamer
Get your shower going first. You want the scent of the essential oils to mix with the steam of the water. If you put it in too soon, it’ll fizz away to nothing before the steam really starts and you won’t get the full effect.
I like to keep my shower steamer by my feet. You don’t want the water directly hitting the steamer as it will fizz quickly and be done. If you put it on the far end, it’ll fizz slower and you’ll get more time with it.
Shower Steamers
Add a shower steamer to the floor of your shower and get the benefits of aromatherapy from essential oils.
Ingredients
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup citric acid
- 15-20 drops of your choice of essential oils
- Mica powder for colour (optional)
- Witch hazel in a fine mist spray bottle
Instructions
- Mix the baking soda and citric acid together in a bowl.
- If using mica powder for colour, add it to the dry ingredients and mix.
- Add the essential oils and mix to evenly distribute throughout the dry mixture.
- Spray your dry mix with the witch hazel and mix. Do this several times until it resembles the texture of damp sand. You should be able to clump it together in your hand and it should hold its shape.
- Heap into your mold and gently pack it in.
- Remove the mold.
- Place on wax paper and allow to dry for several hours.
Notes
Pack it up in an airtight container so that the scent is not lost. Some scent will naturally fade away. You could always add an extra drop or two of essential oils just before using in order to freshen up the scent.
If using mica powder for colour, a little goes a long way. Err on the side of less to start with - you could always add more. Keep in mind that when it becomes "wet", the colour intensifies.
As mentioned, these shower steamers are easier to make as they have fewer ingredients. These make great gifts and are perfect for those who don’t take baths. They get similar benefits as a bath bomb, just in the shower.
I’ve read that these should not be stored in an airtight container as they could explode – any thoughts on that?
Oh – interesting. I have not heard that. The reasoning for the airtight container is not only to help keep the scent of the essential oils but also because most likely they will be stored in the bathroom, the humidity could potentially start it to slowly start fizzing. That said, I keep mine in a container under the bathroom sink and they get used up within a timely manner. I suppose there could be an issue if stored over a long period of time. I’m sorry I don’t have an exact answer, but hopefully this gives you some insight.
Can I use the molds that I use to make hot chocolate bombs for shower steamers?
Hello. The molds are similar. However, I would not want to use them for chocolate after making the steamers as there may be some residual ingredients from the steamers, regardless of washing. Ideally, you would have separate molds.
How many fizzies does this recipe make?
Hello! I made 5 half spheres out of this recipe. It all depends on the size of your mold.
Hi, I tried to make these but after a successful initial mold, I left them to dry and they flattened on the pan! Any idea what might have caused this?
Oh no! Did they look a bit bubbly? I’ve had some do that due to humidity in the air. It was just enough for a slow reaction.
can i use silicone mold as i use for my mini sugar scrub bars for my soaps and if so will they dry properly
I personally haven’t had much luck with silicone molds as I find them fiddly. Perhaps I tried to remove to early. That said, there are many that use silicone molds with great success. Perhaps it depends on how humid your climate is.
Hi Westcoastmom,
I can’t get witch hazel locally and want to make shower bombs sooner rather than later so can’t wait for any to be delivered if I order online. Could I use something else in the spritzer water?
Unfortunately I don’t know of a good substitute for witch hazel. If you figure something out be sure to let me know.
How long do these last in storage?
If stored in an airtight container, it should last quite a while. You just don’t want to expose them to any moisture (like humidity) as it will slowly disintegrate. Hope that helps.