How to Make Lavender Shower Steamers without Citric Acid

Learn how to make a lavender shower steamers recipe without citric acid. These easy aromatherapy shower steamers can be made with lavender essential oil or a lavender essential oil blend to help relieve stress and calm your mind. Discover how to make lavender shower steamers. Plus find recipes for lavender essential oil blends you can use to create these homemade shower bombs.

DIY Shower Steamers without Citric Acid

Showers are more than just a task to clean my body. As I’m not big on baths, my time in the shower doubles as self care. I spend extra time taking care of body as well as relaxing my mind and body before I start my day.

To make this time even better, I also like to use aromatherapy shower steamers with essential oil blends. I choose different essential oil blends based on my different needs from day to day. However, relaxing essential oil blends seem to be my jam. Therefore I created easy DIY shower steamers without citric acid to fulfill the task.

This essential oil shower steamers recipe is easier to make than bath bombs. As they are made without citric acid, I don’t have to worry about accidentally activating them when I’m making them. My previous shower steamers recipe with Epsom salt is similar to this recipe. I used a rose essential oil blend to make my previous aromatherapy shower bombs.

For this recipe, however, I make my aromatherapy shower steamers using a lavender essential oil blend. Like other essential oils, these blends have aromatherapeutic properties. Lavender, in particular, is a great choice if you need to calm your mind, soothe your nerves, or just relax before a big meeting at work.

What Are Shower Steamers?

Shower steamers are disks infused with essential oils for their aromatherapy benefits. Also known as shower bombs or shower tablets, these self care products are made in a similar fashion to bath bombs. However, they may contain different ingredients as they don’t need to fizz. You can make them using the same ingredients as bath bombs, including baking soda and citric, but with a higher concentration of essential oils. However, you can also make DIY shower steamers without citric acid by using Epsom salt or another ingredient in its place.

Rather than being used during a bath, essential oil shower steamers are used when you shower. The water from the shower slowly dissolves them as you shower. As they dissolve, essential oils are released into the steam from the shower. This, in effect, turns your shower into a diffuser so you can enjoy the aromatherapeutic benefits of the essential oil blend used to make them.

How Long Do Shower Steamers Last?

In general, you can expect your shower steamers to last about 5-10 minutes in the shower before they dissolve completely. This time can vary on how much water is hitting the shower bombs directly and where it’s located in the shower.

The aromatherapeutic benefits from the essential oils used to make the product, however, will continue to permeate the steam in the shower and fill the air after this time. Your bathroom will smell lovely and fragrant even after you’ve finished showering.

Where Do You Put Shower Steamers?

To enjoy the aromatherapy benefits of shower bombs, place the shower steamers at the far end of your shower. They should be out of the direct spray of the water from the shower head. This will them from dissolving too quickly, enabling you to enjoy the fragrance from the natural essential oils used to make these this bath product.

Do You Need Citric Acid for Shower Steamers?

No, you do not need citric acid for shower steamers. You can make DIY shower steamers without citric acid using your favorite blend of essential oils. Rather than using citric acid to make shower bombs, I used Epsom salt and baking soda as the base for this aromatherapy product.

Why Use Essential Oils to Make Shower Steamers?

I recommend using essential oils to make shower steamers. Essential oils have aromatherapy benefits that can promote relaxation and relieve stress. You can use either lavender essential oil on its own to make your lavender shower bombs, or you can use a lavender essential oil blend for a natural fragrance with aromatherapeutic benefits.

Lavender Essential Oil Benefits

Lavender essential oil does more than just soothe the senses, however. Here are some of the benefits of lavender essential oil you can enjoy from essential oil shower steamers:

• Lavender essential oil can help to relieve anxiety. According to a study, aromatherapy is an affordable therapeutic option for anxiety and anxiety related conditions.
• Aromatherapy is helpful for those suffering from insomnia. Lavender essential oil, in particular, helps to promote sleep and improve overall quality of sleep.
• Inhaling lavender essential oil can have a soothing and calming effect on the nervous system. This helps not only with anxiety, but also aids in relieving depression and stress, as well as fatigue.
• If you suffer from nausea, lavender may also help to ease symptoms.
• Lavender essential oil may help relieve headaches when inhaled.

Lavender Essential Oil Blends for Shower Bombs

You can use lavender essential oil by itself to make my lavender essential oil shower steamers without citric acid. However, if you prefer a more complex blend, you can also use one of the following lavender essential oil blends:

• Calming Essential Oil Blend
• Sleep Essential Oil Blend
• Worry Free Synergy Blend
• Tension Relief Essential Oil Blend
• Balance Essential Oil Blend
• Sleep Tight Essential Oil Blend
• Sleep Aid Synergy Blend

Alternately, you can also create your own lavender essential oils blends. Here are several recipes for essential oil blends with lavender essential oil:

• Soothe + Relax: 2 parts lavender + 2 parts Roman chamomile + 1 part marjoram
• Sleep Blend: 1 part Roman chamomile + 9 parts lavender + 3 parts vetiver + 2 parts sweet orange
• Relax + Unwind: 4 parts lavender + 3 parts bergamot
• Restful Sleep: 4 parts lavender + 1 part patchouli + 1 part bergamot +  1 part ylang ylang
• Balance: 3 parts lavender + 2 parts clary sage + 2 parts pink pepper + 1 part ylang ylang
• Comforting: 1 part lavender + 1 part frankincense + 1 part orange + 1 part copaiba
• Lavender Blooms: 5 parts lavender + 3 parts cedarwood
• Wellness Blend: 4 parts tangerine + 3 parts lavender + 3 parts eucalyptus
• Joyful Blend: 2 parts lavender + 2 parts clary sage + 2 parts marjoram + 2 parts Peru balsam
• Meditation Blend: 3 parts lavender + 2 parts bergamot + 2 parts clary sage + 2 parts patchouli + 1 part ylang ylang

In addition to using these aromatherapeutic essential oil blends in your DIY shower steamers without citric acid, you can also use them in an essential oil diffuser. These blends are also a great starting point for developing your own essential oil perfumes or for making roll on essential oil perfumes.

Lavender Shower Steamers Ingredients

These are the ingredients you need to make lavender essential oil shower steamers:

• Epsom salt: Epsom salt is used in place of citric acid in this recipe as one of the base ingredients.
• Baking Soda: This is another base ingredient used to make up the bulk of the shower tablets.
• Lavandin hydrosol: You can use either a lavandin hydrosol or another hydrosol of your choice that compliments lavender, such as frankincense or blood orange. (Discover more ways to use hydrosols here.)
• Lavender essential oil: These aromatherapy shower tablets can be naturally scented with either lavender essential oil or a lavender essential oil blend. (See essential oil blends above.)

Optional Ingredients:

You can also use the following optional ingredients to make shower steamers without citric acid:

• Purple mica: I used purple mica to tint my shower steamers without citric acid. However, this ingredient is optional.
• Dried lavender buds: Dried lavender flowers can be used be used as a decorative element for this aromatherapy product, if desired. They can also be substituted with dried roses or herbs.

Tools Needed:

These are the tools needed to make aromatherapy shower tablets:

• Small round silicone mold: I used this mold with 15 individual cavities. Each round cavity has a 1.5″ diameter.
• Glass bowls: Bowls are used to prep materials and to mix the shower tablet ingredients.
• Utensils: You need a fork, whisk or other utensil to mix the ingredients together.
• Measuring cups and spoon: You will use measuring cups and spoons to measure out the ingredients in the recipe.
• Glass dropper or graduated transfer pipette: Use a glass dropper to count out drops of the essential oil blend. Alternately, you can use a graduated transfer pipette to measure out the amount in the recipe.
• Nitrile gloves: These are optional, to keep hands clean. As you may use your hands to mix the lavender shower steamers and pack the mold, I recommend nitrile gloves if you have skin sensitivities.

How to Make Lavender Shower Steamers without Citric Acid

Here is how to make lavender shower steamers without citric acid:

1. Use a measuring cup to measure out the baking soda and Epsom salt. Combine a large glass bowl. Then mix well, until the two ingredients are evenly combined.
2. Next, use a measuring spoon to measure out the mica powder called for in the recipe (below.) Add the mica to the baking soda and Epsom salt mixture. Stir well to mix the mica throughout the dry ingredients.
3. Use a measuring spoon to measure out the lavender hydrosol. Add the hydrosol to a small glass bowl.
4. Then, use a graduated transfer pipette to measure out the lavender essential oil or essential oil blend. (You can also use a glass dropper if you are counting the drops.) Add the essential oil to the container with the hydrosol then stir to mix.
5. Now pour the liquid mixture into dry mixture, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the shower bomb mixture is well combined and forms a paste like mixture.
6. Next, add a few lavender flowers to the bottom of 9 cavities of the silicone mold.
7. Then evenly spoon the lavender shower steamers mixture into those same nine mold cavities, onto the lavender flowers.
8. Press the mixture firmly down into each of the cavities of the mold. You want the mixture to be as solid as possible.
9. Once in the mold, allow the steamers to set for about 24 hours, or until fully hardened.
10. Finally, carefully remove the lavender essential oil shower steamers from the  mold. Then store in an airtight container until ready to use.

How to Use Shower Steamers

To use your aromatherapy shower steamers, place between one and three shower tablets on the bottom of your shower away from the direct spray of water. They will release the essential oils as they slowly dissolve in the hot water.

How to Store Lavender Shower Bombs

Store any leftover lavender shower steamers inside an airtight container. Keep the container in a cool, dry location away from excessive heat and humidity.

If you like my lavender shower steamers recipe without citric acid, then you may also like my shower steamers recipe with menthol crystals for colds, flu or allergies. This recipe contains eucalyptus essential oil and menthol crystals to help open nasal passages and ease nasal and chest congestion.

Yield: 9 lavender shower steamers

DIY Lavender Shower Steamers

Print

Learn how to make lavender shower steamers without citric acid. This easy aromatherapeutic recipe for essential oil shower bombs is perfect for pampering self care when you need to relax and unwind.

Active Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Difficulty Easy

Materials

• 1/2 cup Epsom salt
• 1/2 cup Baking soda
• 1 1/2 Tablespoons lavender hydrosol
• 1/2 teaspoon purple mica powder, optional
• 100 drops/5 mL lavender essential oil (or blend)
• Dried lavender flowers, to suit

Tools

• Small round silicone mold
• Glass bowls
• Utensils, such as a whisk, fork or spoon
• Measuring cups and spoon
• Glass dropper or graduated transfer pipette
• Nitrile gloves, optional

Instructions

1. Measure out the baking soda and Epsom salt. Combine a large glass bowl. Then mix well.
2. Measure out the mica powder, then add to the baking soda and Epsom salt mixture. Stir well to combine.
3. Measure out the lavender hydrosol into a small bowl
4. Add the essential oil to the hydrosol, then stir to mix.
5. Pour the liquid mixture into dry mixture, stirring constantly. Continue stirring until the shower bomb mixture forms a paste like mixture.
6. Add a few lavender flowers to the bottom of 9 cavities of the silicone mold.
7. Evenly spoon the lavender shower steamers mixture into the cavities with the flowers.
8. Press the mixture firmly down into each of the cavities of the mold.
9. Allow the steamers to set for about 24 hours, or until fully hardened.
10. Carefully remove the lavender essential oil shower steamers from the  mold. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Where to Buy Lavender Shower Steamers

There are a number of places you can buy lavender shower steamers. Not only can you find these aromatherapeutic shower tablets at most major stores in the health and beauty section, you can also buy them online from places like Amazon and Etsy.

As I prefer to support handmade artisans whenever possible, here are some of my favorite lavender shower bombs you can buy on Etsy:

• Lazy Lavender Shower Steamers
• Sleepytime Shower Steamers with Essential Oils
• Relaxing Shower Steamers
• Rose and Lavender Shower Steamers
• Assorted Aromatherapy Shower Steamers
• Tranquility Blend Shower Steamers
• Calming Lavender Shower Bombs
• Bedtime Shower Steamers

More Aromatherapeutic Recipes for Relaxation

For more ways to relax and ease stress, try these other essential oil recipes to calm, relax and soothe the mind:

• Sleep Rollerball Recipe
• Aromatherapy Sleep Spray
• Aromatherapy Roll On for Rest and Relaxation
• Relaxing Aromatherapy Shower Steamers

I hope you love my aromatherapy recipe for making aromatherapy shower tablets. You can discover more essential oil recipes by following Soap Deli News on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Or subscribe to my newsletter.