Did you know you can diffuse essential oils in the shower? These shower steamers can be used daily to reap the aromatic benefits of essential oils while you shower. You only need a few ingredients to make them!
I love taking baths (especially detox baths), but I don’t get to enjoy them as often as I’d like with three kids and a busy schedule. I miss relaxing in the bath with Epsom salts and essential oils. The combo relaxes me and helps me to sleep better at night.
Recently I started using shower steamers in my shower, and I have to say I like them a lot! Though I don’t get the benefits of the Epsom salts, I do get the benefits of the oils, and it’s incredible! All you have to do is place a shower steamer on the shower floor and let the hot water diffuser the oils.
Shower steamers can be used daily to support respiratory health. They also come in handy when you’re fighting off the sniffles or want some respiratory support. The heat from the shower helps to open up the nasal passage, while the essential oils offer support to help clear congestion in your sinuses.
I also like to add peppermint shower steamers to my shower when I wake up in the morning and lavender shower bombs when I want to relax and unwind in the evening. Shower steamers are versatile and can be customized to support your needs!
Essential Oils for Shower Steamers
Below are some of my favorite essential oils to use to make homemade shower steamers:
- Peppermint & Eucalyptus: This combination is called eucalyptus mint and is my go-to when I have a stuffy nose. Use 10-15 drops of each oil in the recipe.
- Lavender: Lavender promote restful sleep and is a great oil to use in your daily routine.
- Vanilla & Lavender (15 drops of Vanilla and 10 drops lavender essential oil), this mix is very relaxing and helps with stress relief.
- Grapefruit & Lime (15 drops each). Â This smells AMAZING!! This blend of scents is invigorating and energizing!
- Use your favorite essential oil blends to make your shower steamers! Please use pure essential oils and avoid using synthetic fragrances.
How To Use
Place the shower steamer tablet at the bottom of your bathroom shower. As the hot water hits it, the essential oils will diffuse in the shower steam. If you don’t use the whole diffuser disc, you can store the wet disc in a container and reuse it.
Related Recipes:
Print
Aromatherapy Shower Steamers
DIY essential oil shower steamers recipe is made with natural ingredients so you can enjoy a spa like experience every time you take a shower!
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups baking soda
- 2 Tablespoons corn starch
- Water or witch hazel
- Essential Oils
Instructions
- Mix the baking soda and corn starch in a bowl, ensuring there aren’t any clumps.
- Slowly add water to the mixture, one tablespoon at a time.
- The baking soda and starch mixture should be a thick paste. I added a little over 1/3 cup of water. Note: Witch hazel or hydrosol can also be used instead of water.
- Add 15-20 drops of essential oil(s) of choice to the mixture.
- Mix well and pour into silicon baking cups, mini muffin tins, or use your favorite mold.
- Let the shower steamers dry for 24 hours.
- Store them in an air-tight container or ziplock bag to keep freshness.
Originally published on September 21st, 2015 and updated with new images on May 11th, 2022.
Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same
How can I get these to last longer? They dissolved completely in seconds
I was quite disappointed. These disks took about 48 hours to dry (not 24) and they instantly dissolved upon placing them on the shower floor. From the description, I understood them to slowly diffuse throughout the length of a shower. In your experience, have you had any similar issues? Did I do something wrong?
★★
I’m sorry that they didn’t turn out for you, Elizabeth. That’s not the experience I had. They took a few showers to melt and they only took 24 hours to dry. I’m not quite sure what went wrong in your case.
Hey guys, I own a bath and body company and have some insight on this. When making things like this, and candy, you have to be very aware of the air temperature and humidity in your curing environment. Too much humidity will cause the product to take longer to cure AND crack. You want your air temp to be around 72 degrees (give or take) and humidity to be, ideally, zero. That is very difficult to achieve outside a controlled environment. We started making bath bombs from home and found that in Tennessee from Fall to Spring the best cure time was about 4-5 hours and then immediately shrink wrap. You obviously do not want a lot of moisture to be sealed inside, so you may have to make a batch and wrap them in one hour intervals to see which yields the best results. Thats all from me for now. I am charging next time.
Great! The cubes look so great and cute! I love taking relaxing hot bath. It’s the best gift ever for a whole busy day. And now I also have your wonderful recipe. Thank you very much. But I have one question, is it OK for using for children also? I hope my kids can also enjoy it.
Mine disappeared in seconds when the water hit also…are they supposed to last longer?
I just made these using ice cube trays. They came out somewhat in tack but really crumbly. A little too much water maybe? I scented with 20 drops of eucalyptus oil. My daughter just tried one n she said it disappeared quickly n the scent wasn’t strong enough. I do use Young Living. Any suggestions Tiffany? Thank you, Marti
I made these but they are very delicate and crumble easily. Any suggestions?
I haven’t made it yet but I am going to try adding some glycerine to make it less delicate.
Hello Tiffany, the post is awesome. One query, how long this diffuser will last?
Can you use this kids especially when they are congested or lavender to help them sleep. do I have to adjust the amount of EO please let me know. Thanks
why can’t I print this?
Here’s how I printed it:
left click and hold, then scroll over the entire recipe–should highlight it
right click, select print—print window should open
choose: selection
print
Hope this helps 🙂
Hi Tiffany, just wondering what the Epsom salts to water & essential oils ratio would be for the detox bath.
Love your site, thx
I jus love this recipe !!!
Your link for the muffin pan goes to a search page. Did you use a certain one? 12 or 24 for your recipe?
Can you use different kind of starch instead of corn starch…like arrowroot starch or tapioca starch? Have corn allergies so don’t have corn starch but have plenty of the other kind.
Yes, arrowroot works in place of corn starch in this recipe. 🙂
Can you bake them “plain” without oils and add the oils at the time of the shower, depending on what oil you want at the time?
You mentioned peppermint to wake up, lavender to relax, but what is suggested for respiratory support?
when people around me were getting sick, I used peppermint, lemongrass, and eucalyptus
Yes, that will work too!