DIY Shower Bombs Recipe | How to Make Shower Steamers at Home - Lemons, Lavender, & Laundry (2024)

Looking for a way to create a spa experience at home? Try this easy recipe for DIY Shower Bombs. Whether you are looking for a calming scent before bed or an energizing scent to start your day, shower steamers are a wonderful way to add a little aromatherapy to your life.

Tis the season. Unfortunately, I’m not talking about Christmas, I’m talking about cold & flu season. Both my daughter and Iare starting to feel colds coming on. I’ve currently got asore throat, and I know pretty soon I’ll be blowing my nose, hardly able to breathe… My daughter is in the same spot, so I thought I’d try making an easy shower steamers recipe that we can toss in a warm shower, allowing the scent of eucalyptus and peppermint to soothe.

What You Need to Make Homemade Shower Bombs

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Ingredients Needed for DIY Shower Steamers

• Baking Soda
• Water
• *Essential Oil– See below for a variety of essential oil combinations you can use for various needs. I am using both Peppermint and Eucalyptus in this recipe, but you can also try a blend created to ease breathing. (Not sure where to buy essential oils? Check out this post.)
• Citric Acid– (Optional) I typically do not add citric acid to my shower bombs, however, if you are finding your shower steamers are crumbling or dissolving too quickly in the shower, you can add citric acid to get a harder shower bomb.

*I link to essential oil brands I believe provide high quality oils and are transparent with their testing (in other words, the company publicly provides GC/MS results). I also try to link to the essential oil that will give you the “biggest bang for your buck” (often times buying a 30ml bottle of oil means greater savings per ml than purchasing a 10ml bottle). I provide more information on where to buy essential oils so you can choose a brand you feel is right for you.

Supplies Needed for DIY Shower Bombs

• Glass Mixing Bowl– When working with essential oils, it is always best to use glass vs plastic.
• Silicone Mold– I used a mini muffin mold for this shower bomb recipe, but you can also use a silicone soap mold for more decorative shower steamers.
• Spray Bottle– (Optional) Aspray bottle allows for better control over how much water is added to the mixture
• Air-Tight Container– for storage

How To Make Shower Steamers At Home

Pour one cup baking soda into a bowl along with 1/3 cup Citric Acid*(optional).

* I have used Citric Acid in other “bombs” I have made: both toilet bombs and garbage disposal bombs, however, I have never added it to my shower bombs recipe. The addition of citric acid tends to create a harder texture to the shower steamers which may reduce the likelihood of crumbling.

Then add in 20-30 drops of essential oil and stir those in. (I used both Peppermint and Eucalyptus in equal amounts; 10-15 drops of each). Stir the mixture until well combined.

Slowly add water until the mixture forms moist clumps. (I know the word “moist” is disliked by many; add it to the word clumps, and it’s even worse. Sorry about that). While you can slowly pour water into the mixture, I have found that using a spray bottle allows for better control over how much water you’re adding. Note that the mixture may still appear powdery in the bowl, but if it holds its shape when squeezed, it’s ready. (If you happen to add a bit too much water, simply add in a little more baking soda to get the correct consistency.)

Once the mixture holds its shape when squeezed (as seen above) press the mixture into the a silicone mold, and allow it to completely dry at room temperature. This will take anywhere from 12-48 hours (depending on the temperature and humidity level in your home).

Once thoroughly dried, pop the shower steamers out of the mold and store them in an airtight container. I always like to add a label so people know what they are 🙂

When you are ready to use your shower bombs, simply place one (or two) bombs in the corner of the shower. As the hot water flows, it will slowly “melt” the bomb, releasing the aroma.

I sure hope you avoid the germs of theseason, but if you happen to catch a little bug, go ahead and give these shower steamers a try.

Other Shower Bomb Recipes to Try

Energizing Shower Steamers

10-15 Drops Peppermint Essential Oil combined with 10-15 Drops Lemon Essential Oil

Calming Shower Bombs

30 Drops Lavender Essential Oil

Common Questions About DIY Shower Bombs

What Should I Do If My Shower Bombs Are Crumbly?

Shower Bombs can become crumbly if there wasn’t enough liquid added to the recipe. Unfortunately, if they become crumbly after drying, there isn’t much you can do with the current batch; just know more water should be added to future batches. As mentioned above, you can also try adding 1/3 cup citric acid to the baking soda which tends reduce the likelihood of a crumbly texture.

What Should I Do If My Shower Bombs Don’t Have A Lot of Scent?

I have made shower bombs with certain essential oils that don’t give off much scent (or the scent reduces over time). There are two options to create a stronger scent. The first option is to add more essential oil when making your shower bombs (go with 40-50 drops instead of 20-30). If the shower bombs have lost their scent after being made, you can add a couple drops of essential oil to the top of the shower bomb to refresh the scent.

How you store your shower steamers is also important. Make sure they are stored at room temperature, in an airtight container, out of the sun.

Can I Add Color to This Shower Bombs Recipe?

You certainly can add color to your shower bombs recipe using pigmented mica powder. I have never done this, however, it seems to be a common practice. From my research, it looks like you would add about 1/4 teaspoon to the baking soda/citric acid mixture if you’d like to give it a try.

How Long Do the Shower Steamers Last in the Shower?

I recommend putting the shower steamer in the corner, on the shower floor. The steamer needs water to dissolve and release the scent, but you don’t want it to be hit directly or it will dissolve to quickly. The shower steamer placed out of direct water flow should last through a short shower.

What is the Shelf Life of Homemade Shower Bombs?

I wouldn’t expect homemade shower bombs to “go bad” necessarily; the bigger issue is the loss of scent over time. I would try to use them within 6 months of making them for optimal “scent factor”. If you don’t think you’ll use them that quickly, you can also make a half-batch.

Can I Use Shower Bombs as Bath Bombs?

No. Shower bombs would dissolve so quickly in a tub full of water, it wouldn’t be worth it. Use shower steamers in the shower and bath bombs in the tub 🙂

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