How to Create Natural Aromatherapy Shower Steamers
from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can EditTurn your shower into a steamy spa experience with all natural shower steamers that you can make right in your kitchen!
Steps
- First, gather your ingredients. To make about a dozen cookie shaped shower steamers, you will need; 1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup citric acid (you can find this at most health food stores, just call around), 1/4 cup each of epsom salt and cornstarch, 1/2 cup witch hazel(also available at health food or drugstores), 1/6 cup honey. You will also need about 2 tbsp of your favorite essential oil. It will seem very strong, but it creates a very nice shower environment when it activates.
- Mix all dry ingredients thoroughly, I put my baking soda and citric acid through a fine sieve just to make sure there are absolutely no lumps. This really makes a difference, so be vigilant!
- Dump in your essential oils and extras, perhaps you want to add flower petals from your garden, or like my lemon poppy cookies you can add poppy seeds or crushed herbs. Mix this up well, I use a fork, it is easiest to mix well and clean after.
- In a spray bottle, mix 1 part honey to 3 parts witch hazel. Shake well!!! Spray your dry ingredients three times and mix quickly. Do this until you can pick up about a spoonful and squeeze it together without it crumbling. It will not form a shape easily in your hand so don't worry about that.
- Quickly pack your mixture into molds, and quickly unmold them and place on a flat surface, such as a cookie sheet. Let dry overnight, and when you take your next shower place one on the floor in front of you, with you in between it and the spray. Let the steam do most of the work, if you don't like a very hot shower you can let the spray hit it every now and then to release a burst of oil into the air. As it melts, it will run over your feet and leave them nice and soft, too :)
- Enjoy!
Tips
- On cornstarch: Some people may not like to use cornstarch for fear of mold, but I have not had a problem with it. I like to add cornstarch, epsom salts, and honey, because as it melts it runs around your feet leaving them nice and soft, an added benefit!
- On colors: Some people will add dry colorants, but I prefer to stay all natural. Do you really care what color the shower floor is?
- For molds, I like to use easter eggs and then smoosh them into cookies when I unmold them. Do not let them sit in the mold, as they will either refuse to leave the mold or crack apart upon exiting. You can form them however you like, as long as the bottom is flat (unless you like chasing things around your shower!).
Sources and Citations
- Lilyprism.weebly.com is my website, where you can find more bath products that I make in my own kitchen, and I update my blog often with helpful tips, updates, and random musings.
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