Aromatherapy Shower Steamers

How many of you have made your own shower melts (a.k.a. aromatherapy shower steamers) only to have them melt away before you even take them to the shower. Maybe you've had some that would only hold up if you kept them in the freezer. Or maybe they seem to disappear the second the water hits them.

I've looked into a few different recipes and may have found a winner. This one uses arrowroot powder and Kaolin Clay. The arrowroot is a thickener in place of cornstarch. 

So why kaolin? It is an essential ingredient in china and porcelain. It is also used in skin-care products. It has been thought to have several benefits and is one of the most gentle clays used in skin-care. It also helps slow down the reaction between the baking soda and citric acid making it last longer. 

In the past, my shower melts without kaolin would need to be stored in the freezer. Otherwise, they become a puddle on my counter. The melts I made with kaolin are holding up great! 

Tips for Using Shower Melts

They are supposed to melt once water hits them. So where should you put them in the shower? We want them to melt, but not too quickly. I suggest getting the bottom wet when you first get into the shower then place them where a little water will get them, but not the full stream. Play around with their placement. If not enough water hits it, you may not smell the oils as much. Too much water hitting it, and it will be gone too quickly.

The Recipe

The first time I made this recipe I halved it and got about 10 shower melts. It also depends on how big you make them. You can get silicone molds that are for shower melts, but really any silicone mold will do as long as it is a good size. I've used my silicone muffin molds before.

Ingredients:

1 cup baking soda

1/2 cup citric acid

1/3 cup arrowroot powder

1/8 cup kaolin clay

120-150 drops of essential oils of choice

Directions:

1. Mix the dry ingredients together.

2. Add the oils to the dry ingredients and mix together. They will be little droplets. It's okay.

3. Spritz the mixture with a little water and stir it together. I suggest wearing a glove for this. You want to add the water slowly to avoid activating the ingredients.

4. Keep adding water until the mixture is the consistency of damp sand.

5. Push the mixture into your molds and let them set 1-2 days. 

That's it! It's pretty simple really. It is a great way to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy in the shower.

What Oils to Use

So now you are wondering, "But Jen, what oils do I use?" Think about why are you making them. Is it to help wake you up? Is it to help clear up your head? Do you need something to help with tension? Once you know the "why" you can figure out the oil. Sometimes I base my shower melts off of my favorite diffuser blends. Recently I needed my head to clear up so I used Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, and Peppermint.

Looking for help waking up? Try citrus oils or peppermint.

Need a shower steamer to help calm you before bed? Try Lavender, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Copaiba, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Serenity, Ylang Ylang, Roman Chamomile, or Clary Sage.

Shower Melt Vs. Bath Bomb

Shower melts are different than bath bombs and should not be used in the bath. They are meant to be used for their aroma benefits, not their skin benefits. Remember, these shower steamers are for aromatherapy. The great thing about this is you can use oils you wouldn't normally use for a bath bomb.

Watch and Learn!

If you are a visual learner, here is a video showing you how to do it.

Let me know if you make these and what combination of oils you like to use in them!