DIY Shower Steamers 🛁 Bath Melts
 
 
add a little fizz and fun to your day! these homemade shower steamers/ bath melts are infused with soothing aromatic essential oils and botanicals (they smell divine) and are super easy to make for the bath or shower ~ great for gifting too.
Author:
Recipe type: DIY
Serves: 12-14 steamers
Ingredients
  • ❀ 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.
Instructions
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine: baking soda, citric acid and epsom salt using a spatula to mix together and work out any clumps.
  2. 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).
  3. Add essential oil (see notes on quantity in ingredients above) of lavender and clary sage or sweet orange to the mixture, mixing to combine.
  4. 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).
  5. 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.
  6. Allow the steamers to set and fully dry for at least 4 hours (and up to 1 day/overnight) before gently and carefully removing them from the silicone mold (you can tap on them gently before removing to ensure they are hard/set).
  7. As soon as they are dry, the steamers should be stored in an airtight container away from direct sunlight and humidity until you're ready to use them (eo are volatile and this will help preserve max scent as well as help protect them from reabsorbing moisture which will make them sticky/melty).
  8. 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.
  9. For the bath, simply add the melt to the bath water and watch it fizzzz!
  10. Enjoy the magic ✨
  11. This recipe will make approx 12 steamers using a 2.1" round mold as pictured.
Recipe by Inspired Edibles at https://www.inspirededibles.ca/2024/08/diy-shower-steamers-%f0%9f%9b%81-bath-melts.html