DIY Shower Steamers - Sinus Problems, Cold & Flu

Posted on February 05, 2015 by Melissa Auxier | 5 comments

Ingredients

1 cup Baking Soda
1/4 cup Epsom Salt
1/2 cup citric acid
1/2 cup white clay or arrowroot powder or tapioca starch or corn starch, any of these will work.
2 and 3/4 tbsp carrier oil of your choice - almond oil, coconut oil, etc.
3/4 tbsp of water
Essential oils: I recommend using 1 tablespoon of essential oils of your choice

Instructions

Combine baking soda, epsom salt, citric acid and clay, mix well until combined.
Mix your water, carrier oil and essential oils
Use a whisk and slowly pour the essential oil mix into the dry mix. Blend thoroughly. Mixture should hold together when squeezed without crumbling but should not be real wet feeling. If you get it too wet, it will begin to fizz.
Push mix into your mold, don't pack tightly, but pack well. Depending on the mold used, I typically leave it in the mold for 15 minutes or so and then flip the mold carefully onto a cookie sheet to dry. Leave to dry 24 to 48 hours.
When dry, remove and store in air tight container.

Purpose of each ingredient:

Carrier oil provides moisturizing benefits.

Citric acid provides the fizz in the shower/tub

Epsom salt is an additive I use in my bath bombs for the benefits.

Corn Starch or Clay helps the shower tablet not dissolve as quickly

Baking soda reacts with the citric acid to create fizz.

Notes

To use: Place one in the back of your shower out of the stream of water, so that it can dissolve slowly to maximize the aromatherapy benefit. I don't recommend using these in a bath unless you cut back on the essential oils used as it would be too strong. This batch makes 4-6 muffin tin shower steamers.

5 Responses

Melissa

August 11, 2017

You could exclude the carrier oil, but would need to increase the water amount by that much.

Fate

July 06, 2017

I want to try your recipe but I’m curious the purpose of the carrier oil if it’s just sitting on the shower floor and doesn’t come in contact with my skin? Would the recipe work if i excluded the carrier oil? Thanks!

Jen

September 29, 2015

Hi Melissa,

I’m eager to try shower melts and am just waiting for ingredients I ordered to arrive. Of all the many recipes I’ve found they were basically the same two over & over again. I settled on one then came across yours which is quite different. Before I attempt my first batch would you tell me please, what is the purpose of the carrier oil and arrow root or clay, etc.? Too, the purpose of the Epsom salt? I assumed citric acid is for the fizz. All recipes I’ve seen use one or the other.

Thanks much!