i’ve been taking in the last whispers of summer while feeling that unmistakable shift in the air ~
you too?
as we move into fall and the days start getting shorter, and a whole lot cooler, finding small ways to invite comfort and joy into our routines can be especially nice.
these do-it-yourself shower steamers/bath melts are affordable, easy to make (a great project for young hands), smell divine, and offer plenty of options for changing up the aromatics and botanicals to suit your personal preferences and the seasons — they’re a wonderful pick-me-up (and you’ll never have to fight to get your little one in the bath with one of these fizzies on hand!)
i’ve added epsom salt to the mix which makes these fragrant rounds suitable for both the shower and the bath (including a soothing foot bath); the idea behind epsom salt’s effectiveness is that magnesium and sulfate dissolve in warm water, absorbing through the skin in the bath and through inhalation (steam) in the shower, so both methods offer beneficial portals into the body.
for this batch, i decided to go with a combination of calming lavender and the earthy, slightly herbaceous fragrance of clary sage (it’s one of my favorite combinations, but you can change it up however you like, sweet orange is another great pairing with lavender).
i’ve also added calendula flower, known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, making it a nourishing addition for the bath ~ and calendula is just so, well, pretty… i love the vibrant pops of colour here.
the combination of ingredients is soothing and grounding, a perfect way to start your day or wind down at night; a little luxury to transform your every day soak into a delicious sensory experience.
Supplies & Ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe:
please note: many of these are inexpensive and will last a very long time (or forever) once acquired
- baking soda ✔️
- citric acid ✔️ a natural compound found in citrus fruit that helps create the fizzing reaction when the steamer comes into contact with water (available at grocery / hardware store where they keep canning/preserving supplies — you can also purchase online)
- epsom salt ✔️ (magnesium sulfate) — those wonderful salts used in the bath to release stress and relax muscles (available at pharmacies/ grocery stores or online)
- essential oils ✔️ i’m using lavender and clary sage — feel free to use any combination (or regular essential oil) you like!
- botanicals ✔️ entirely optional but they do add to the presentation ~ i’m using dried lavender and calendula flower threads
- witch hazel ✔️ (water-based solution distilled from plants) — witch hazel is used to moisten the mixture before you put it into each mold (you can sub rubbing alcohol) — witch hazel and alcohol are preferred to water as a moistener because they evaporate more quickly than water which prevents the mixture from fizzing prematurely – (witch hazel is available in department stores (target/walmart) and online)
- silicone molds ✔️ i’m using a tray of 12 x 2.1″ round molds
❥ for best results, please read through the full instructions before making these steamers/ melts
- ❀ 1 + ½ cups (350 g) baking soda
- ❀ ¾ cup (150 g) citric acid
- ❀ ½ cup (120 g) epsom salt
- ❀ 20 drops lavender essential oil
- ❀ 7 drops clary sage or sweet orange essential oil
- ❀ 2 Tbsp dried lavender (about 3 g)
- ❀ 2 Tbsp dried calendula threads (about 1 g - very light!)
- NB:
The default recipe uses 30 (ish) drops of essential oil for a gentle aromatherapy experience. To enhance the scent, especially for shower steamers, consider increasing the essential oil amount. In a bath soak, essential oils remain concentrated on the water’s surface, allowing their aroma to linger. In a shower, continuous airflow and ventilation disperse scent more quickly, so a stronger concentration may be needed for optimal fragrance.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine: baking soda, citric acid and epsom salt using a spatula to mix together and work out any clumps.
- Add approx ¾ (1.5 Tbsp) of the lavender and calendula flower to the dry mixture, stirring to combine -- the remaining flowers will be placed at the bottom of each mold cup (this ensures you have a pretty pop of color at the top of each steamer).
- Add essential oil (see notes on quantity in ingredients above) of lavender and clary sage or sweet orange to the mixture, mixing to combine.
- Now we'll need to moisten the mixture delicately (we want it to be barely damp not wet) -- using a small spray bottle, lightly spritz the mixture with witch hazel or rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) while continuing to stirring constantly - i like to use my hands for this part - you're looking for a sand like consistency, just moist enough to hold together when compressed but not lumpy/wet (which will prematurely activate the fizz). You'll notice as you lightly spritz that the mixture becomes slightly damp and moldable as you work it - be careful here because the mix goes from barely moist to wet quickly so spritz slowly and continue to test the texture before adding more (you can always add more moisture, removing it is not possible).
- Now you're ready to pack your molds with the fragrant mixture -- place the remaining lavender/calendula flowers at the bottom of each mold dividing between the 12 cups and then transfer some of the mixture into each cup pressing it down into the molds as you go along -- once you've packed the mixture, use the back of a generous sized spoon to finish by pressing it all down evenly and smoothly.
- Allow the steamers to set and fully dry for at least 4 hours before gently and carefully removing them from the silicone mold (you can tap on them gently before removing to ensure they are hard/set).
- As soon as they are dry, the steamers should be stored in an airtight container away from direct sunlight until you're ready to use them (eo are volatile and this will help preserve max scent).
- For the shower, lay your steamer on the shower floor in a spot that is not directly under the stream of water (you can lay the steamer on a soap tray if you like). It should begin to fizz from the warmth and residual water that touches it - the result is a heavenly scented steam as it melts.
- For the bath, simply add the melt to the bath water and watch it fizzzz!
- Enjoy the magic ✨
- This recipe will make approx 12 steamers using a 2.1" round mold as pictured.
wellness through water — sanus per aquam (spa)
Hello! Just created this amazing shower steamer, but couldn’t smell the scent. They turned out perfect otherwise… i used 20 drops of lavender and 7 drops of eucalyptus, and let l them harden for about five days in the molds were the only differences. Any advice?
hello Alice, thank you for sharing your experience ~ i’m happy to hear the execution side went well; the default recipe is designed for a gentle aromatherapy experience, but in a shower, steam and airflow can carry the scent away more quickly. If you’d like a stronger fragrance, increasing the essential oils can help them hold up better in the steamy environment.
a few other thoughts: placement can make a difference — position near but not directly under the water flow to release gradually — if you’re using scented hair/body products they can compete (overpower) more delicate essential oils — for max scent retention, store the steamers in an airtight container as soon as they’ve dried; since yours are already made, you could try placing them in a sealed jar with a cotton ball or tissue infused with essential oil (avoiding direct contact with steamers to prevent activating fizz) — i hope these suggestions help! i’ve updated the recipe card with fragrance strength tips; thanks again for your feedback.
This is an awesome recipe! I tried it just in a small batch and was super surprised that it turned out so good! We’re did you get your molds? I’ve looked a few places and I can’t seem to find any that would work. They seem to be to small or to large.
i’m so happy to hear that, thank you for letting me know; i purchased the molds on amazon – Moukiween Round Soap Silicone Molds, 2.1 inch and they are just the right size (they are marketed as soap molds but you can use them for anything — i also make ice for cocktails with them, they create really pretty spheres :) — hope that helps, enjoy!
Amazing thank you for sharing this recipe, I can’t wait to try it out! I was juste wondering if the citric acid could maybe damage the floor of my shower… Do you have any idea?
It is in marble.
hello Jolan, i’m delighted to hear your enthusiasm! the best workaround i can think of for this particular recipe would be to experiment with placing the steamer in a bowl or open container of sorts and putting it on the shower floor near but not directly under the water stream — this way the pellet will dissolve into the bowl/container and not on the marble floor — as the pellet dissolves into the container it will still release the wonderful essential oils/aromas — rinse the bowl/container in a separate sink after each use :) hope that helps, cheers.
This entire post is beautifully organized and formatted. I love the information provided as well as your pictures. So very well placed and articulated. Thank you for sharing. This is my favorite one so far, after searching for shower streamers with epsom salt. Your streamers look amazing as well. Thanks for sharing!!!
what a lovely note to receive, thank you for sharing that warmth with me today, x.
These are so luxurious.
What an amazing fall project to envision…
Thanks for sharing Kelly, I can almost “smell” them!
Sheilagh
logged off for a couple days and treated to the nice surprise of your note just now ~ thank you for your kind words Sheilagh °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ they do smell rather gooood :))