How to Make Shower Steamers

Co-authored by Susannah Kerwin, ANP-BC, HNP and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: May 23, 2022 References

Looking to add a little aromatherapy to your showers? DIY shower steamers (also known as shower bombs) are a great place to start. With a little bit of baking soda, essential oils, and a few other simple ingredients, you can whip up your own batch in no time. We’ve put together plenty of recipes for shower steamers that you can scroll through, so you can make a steamer that’ll take your shower to the next level.

Ingredients

Simple Shower Steamer Recipe

1 cup (221 g) of baking soda
½ cup (125 g) of citric acid powder
¼ cup (40 g) of cornstarch
12-24 drops of essential oil
Witch hazel
Mica powder (optional)

Sore Throat and Cough Relief Shower Steamer

1 cup (221 g) of baking soda
½ cup (120 g) of Epsom salt
1 to 4 US tbsp (15 to 59 mL) of water
8-10 drops of eucalyptus essential oil
4 drops of rosemary essential oil
4 drops of lavender essential oil
Food coloring (optional)

Sinus Relief Shower Steamer

1 cup (221 g) of baking soda
½ cup (125 g) of citric acid
¼ cup (40 g) of cornstarch
1 US tbsp (15 mL) of menthol oil
20 drops of eucalyptus essential oils
2 US tbsp (30 mL) of coconut oil

Sleep and Relaxation Shower Steamer

1 cup (221 g) of baking soda
¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of water
10 drops of lavender essential oil
6 drops of vetiver essential oil
6 drops of marjoram essential oil

Energy and Focus Shower Steamer

1 cup (221 g) of baking soda
¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of water
10 drops of peppermint essential oil
10 drops of wild orange essential oil
5 drops of frankincense essential oil

Each recipe makes about 24 shower bombs

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Simple Shower Steamer Recipe

1
Mix all of the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Measure out 1 cup (221 g) of baking soda, ½ cup (125 g) of citric acid, and ¼ cup (40 g) of cornstarch into a large glass bowl. Stir all these ingredients together until they form a consistent, powdery mixture.^{[1]
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- Don’t have any cornstarch on hand? No worries—just substitute ¼ cup (40.5 g) of cream of tartar instead.
- Citric acid is sold in powder form. You can buy it online or at your local grocery store.
2
Add color with mica powder (optional). Unscrew the top of your mica powder jar and tap a few dashes of powder into the other dry ingredients. The exact amount you use depends on how light or how dark you’d like your shower steamers look. Mix the mica powder in with a whisk to see what shade your shower steamer becomes.^{[2]
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- Not sure how to color your shower steamers? Start with 1-2 dashes of mica powder. You can always add more if the color is too light!
- You can also use water soluble food coloring. Use 4-6 drops of your desired color for every 1 cup (221 g) of baking soda you’re working with.^{[3]
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- You don’t have to color your shower steamers if you don’t want to. It all comes down to personal preference!
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3
Choose an essential oil for your shower steamers. Essential oils are what make your steamers smell so good; plus, a lot of them offer extra benefits, like relaxation and stress relief.^{[4]
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Research source} Here’s a breakdown of some popular essential oils and the benefits they can add to your shower steamer:
- Lavender Calming
- Peppermint: Cough and cold relief^{[5]
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- Chamomile: Stress relief
- Clary sage: Relaxation
- Lemon: Happiness and focus
- Sweet orange: Anxiety relief
- Ginger: Nausea relief^{[6]
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- You can also use a combination of essential oils in your shower steamers, too!^{[7]
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4
Add 12-24 drops of your chosen essential oil into the bowl. Sprinkle the oil drops over the surface of your dry ingredient mixture while wearing a pair of disposable gloves. You can also use a pipette to help measure out the oil.^{[8]
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- Essential oils are extremely concentrated and can burn your bare skin. Always wear a pair of disposable gloves so you stay protected.^{[9]
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- Only use 12-24 total drops of essential oil. If you’re using more than one oil, divide them into smaller ratios, like 12 and 12, or 12, 6 and 6.
5
Spritz witch hazel into the mixture until it feels like wet, sticky sand. Fill an empty spray bottle with witch hazel and spritz the surface of the powder. Start with just a couple of sprays and mix everything together with your gloved hands. Add more spritzes of witch hazel as needed—you want the mixture to feel like wet, clumping sand, but it shouldn’t be sopping wet.^{[10]
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- If the mixture is too wet, it won’t be able to hold its shape.
6
Fill a silicone mold with the mixture and let it air-dry for 24 hours. Scoop out a small handful of the shower steamer mixture and press it into an open section of the mold. Firmly press the wet powder down until the surface is completely flat.^{[11]
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Research source} Then, set your filled mold in a dry, open area where your steamers can receive even amounts of air. In around 24 hours, they’ll be hardened and ready to use!^{[12]
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- This process is really similar to packing brown sugar for a baking recipe.
- You can find all kinds of silicone molds online. Some come in simple dome shapes, while others come in fun patterns and designs, like leaves and hearts.
7
Pop the steamers out of the mold and store them in an airtight container. Flip the mold over so the bottom side is facing up. Gently peel and unroll the silicone away from the edges of the shower steamer—they’ll separate pretty easily. Repeat this process until you’ve pulled out all the shower steamers from your mold.^{[13]
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Research source} Then, stick them in an airtight container until you’re ready to use them.^{[14]
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- Some DIY experts suggest refrigerating and using your steamers within 2 weeks for maximum freshness. You can also stick the steamers in the freezer for 2 months if you don’t plan on using them right away.^{[15]
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8
Place a shower steamer on the floor while you shower. Shower steamers are super easy to use—just place them on the floor of your shower, switch on the water, and you’re good to go! The shower bomb will “sizzle” as it melts in your shower, creating a lovely scent for you to enjoy.^{[16]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Shower Steamers for Specific Purposes

1
Sore throat and cough relief: Stir 1 cup (221 g) of baking soda and ½ cup (120 g) of Epsom salt in a large bowl. While wearing gloves, stir in 8-10 drops of eucalyptus oil, 4 drops of lavender essential oil, and 4 drops of rosemary oil. Add water to the mixture 1 US tbsp (15 mL) at a time until it clumps together. Then, press the mixture into a silicone mold and leave it out to dry for at least 12 hours.^{[17]
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- Add some color to your shower steamer by stirring in 2-3 drops of traditional food coloring.
- Always store any unused shower steamers in a dry, airtight container. Some shower steamer DIY experts advise either refrigerating them for up to 2 weeks, or freezing them for up to 2 months.
- This shower steamer can also help with congestion.
2
Sinus relief: Combine 1 cup of baking soda (221 g), ¼ cup (40 g) of cornstarch, and ½ cup (125 g) of citric acid in a large bowl. Then, mix in 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of menthol oil, along with 20 drops of eucalyptus oil and 2 US tbsp (30 mL) of coconut oil. Press the mixture into a mold, letting it dry for 1 day.^{[18]
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Sleep and relaxation: Stir 1 cup (221 g) of baking soda and ¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of water together in a bowl. Then, add in 10 drops of lavender essential oil, 6 drops of marjoram essential oil, and 6 drops of vetiver essential oil. Press the mixture into a silicone mold, and give the steamers at least 8 hours to dry.^{[19]
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Energy and focus: Create your base mixture by stirring 1 cup (221 g) of baking soda and ¹⁄₄ c (59 mL) of water together. Then, add in 10 drops of peppermint essential oil, 10 drops of wild orange oil, and 5 drops of frankincense essential oil. Fill and pack each silicone mold with the mixture and wait at least 8 hours for the steamers to dry.^{[20]
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Expert Q&A

Question

What essential oil can I use to make a calming shower steamer?

Susannah Kerwin, ANP-BC, HNP
Nurse Practitioner
Susannah Kerwin is a board certified Adult Nurse Practitioner in New York, New York. With over 10 years of experience, Susannah specializes in adult primary care, holistic medicine, and women’s healthcare. Susannah holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of San Francisco. She obtained her MSN from New York University’s (NYU) unique dual degree program combining integrative and allopathic disciplines. Prior to becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Susannah worked for more than ten years as a Registered Nurse in psychiatric and surgical settings. Susannah also serves as an adjunct faculty member for NYU.

Susannah Kerwin, ANP-BC, HNP

Nurse Practitioner

Expert Answer

Lavender is a great essential oil for calming, relaxation, and sleep. You only need a few drops to help you feel better.

Things You’ll Need

Large bowl
Whisk
Gloves
Spray bottle
Silicone mold

Warnings

Always double-check your footing when you use a shower steamer. As the mixture melts, your shower floor might get a bit oily and slippery.^{[22]
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