Did anyone ever use shower soothers when you were congested as a kid? Is this photo ringing any bells?
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They rock. You put one on the floor of the shower and the tablet vaporizes as you bathe, helping to clear out your sinuses. Problem is they’re really expensive. Like $6 for a box of three. No can do.
So, when I came across this recipe on Pinterest, I had to give it a shot.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Cupcake liners
- Essential oils of your choice (I used Eucalyptus, Peppermint, and Lavender)
- H20
Ā The recipe is really quite simple. First, line your cupcake tin (the following measurements will make about six discs, as you can see I went a bit overboard with the cupcake liners at first)…
Next, mix up 3 cups of baking soda and a little over 1/3 cup of water.
The mixture should be think and paste-like. Now, spoon the mixture into the six cupcake liners.
Now you have to let the mixture dry out. You can either go the impatient route like me and bake the suckers for 20 minutes or so at 350, or let them sit out overnight.
Once they’re cooled, put a few drops of the essential oils on each one. You can experiment with different combinations, but make sure you put at least 5-7 drops on each.
Here are my shower soothers after they were cooled! I then popped them in a container and labeled it of course…
Directions for use: do not place them directly under the hot water stream; they will break down much too fast. Instead, I recommend placing them on a wet sponge on the shower floor out of the direct hit of the water stream. Another idea is to place them on a soap ledge and let them break down slowly throughout your shower.
The vapors are great, and they smell fantastic! Just in time for Fall allergies and colds, right?
Have any of you made your own shower soothers? Used them? Going to give this recipe a try?
Thanks again to Sarah at Frugal by Choice, Cheap by Necessity for the recipe.
This post has been shared on Thank Your Body ThursdayĀ and Holistic Squid.
Is there a way to make them last longer in the shower?
Thanks for your comment! I found that only adding a tiny bit of water at a time made them a lot less crumbly, because I ended up using less water and more Baking Soda. I also found that using the same recipe to make only 4 soothers instead of 6 resulting in much larger, longer-lasting discs.
Hope this helps!
xo,
Blair
I made them from a recipe on pinterest last year and to be honest…..they weren’t that great. You could barely smell them despite me putting 2x the amount of essential oils in. I really wanted the smell to hit in the shower. If anyone else has positive reviews I would love to hear it before I try again.. Thanks. (just my two cents worth)
The first time I made the recipe, they we’re that great, either. The second time I made less soothers and made each one larger and more potent, and that worked out much better. I also found that placing the soother on a sponge out of the direct stream of water was beneficial!
Hope this helps!
xo,
b
Try using Vicks vapor rub in them
Great point!
xo,
b
Do not use Vicks! I tried it and I had a greasy mess in my shower and did not smell the vapor of the Vicks at all.
Right on! I’m glad I saw your suggestion for putting it on a sponge
Yay!
xo,
b
Going to make these tomorrow, hope they turn out. If putting in Vicks, would you mix it in a the same time as the water?
I’ve never made them with Vicks–but I would add in with the water, yes! Hope they turn out!
xo,
b
I found that it is most effective to store the discs without adding the oils. Add several drops of the oils to them while your shower heats up and they are more potent. My oil all seemed to dissipate when added and then stored.
Great tip!
xo,
b
When I made these the paper from the liner stuck any suggestions
Darn! Freeze them first, then peel away the liner. See if that works!
xo,
b
OMG! How have I never heard of this? I am making these tomorrow! I just got back from an amazing trip to Hawaii and went to the volcano’s. I didn’t know but the steam from the volcano give people terrible allergy/asthma. I am still suffering a week last š This sounds just perfect.
Hope they help you!!!
xo,
b
Great idea, couple of comments. For the cupcake liners, do not pull the paper and foil apart, the foil is supposed to be inside of the paper, thus they won’t stick. If you use a good quality oil, ie doTerra, you will only need about 2 drops. The aura cacia and other store bought brands are not a pure and potent. Also, do not store essential oil products in platic, store in glass, ie a mason jar.
Good tips!
xo,
b
HI!
I was wondering, can I use shower soothers while I’m in the bath, as in I’m taking a bubble bath?
Hi Dazjah! Hmm, I’m not sure. You could definitely put a shower soother in the bubble bath, but it would disintegrate immediately. I’d imagine that just adding a few drops of the essential oils to your bath would be more effective! I’m not totally sure though, I’ve never tried it! Let me know what you find!
xo,
b
Just curious about heating the baking soda in the oven. I read that is how you make washing soda and didn’t know if the oven would change the molecular chemistry of the baking soda at all and if it would be harmful. I think to make washing soda you have to bake it on a lower temp for a lot longer, but wasn’t sure if even the shorter amount of time on a higher heat would change the baking soda???
Hey Elizabeth! Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve never had any adverse reaction/problems, though. Thanks for reading!
xo,
b
Could you put the soothers in the refrigerator instead of the oven?
I’ve never tried that! You could try! š
xo,
b
I love a hot bath with 1 cup of epsom salt, 1 cup of baking soda, and 5-6 drops of my preferred oil.
Ahh, that sounds so relaxing! Thanks for sharing!
xo,
b
I have tried to make these three times now and each time was a fail. The first time I probably used too much water but the second and third time I followed the recipe to a T. The second time I used a silicon mold and they still crumbled when I took them out. Same with using the muffin tins. Disappointing
I’m so sorry they haven’t worked out for you!! Could be an altitude problem or something similar maybe? I’m glad you were able to tweak my recipe to work for you!
xo,
b
These seem to work with 1 CUP baking soda to 1/3 cup water
I took the wrapper off when the smoother was just slightly warm. Came right off. Then I set it down and let it cool all the way. came right off. I had to use a lot more water. There was no way I could get that mixed with 1/3 cup. I probably ended up doubling it. I am keeping a bottle of Lavender in the shower and put it on when I get in the shower. I am thinking of putting it on the shelf in my shower on a sponge. I think it will last longer up higher and the steam should bring out the lavender. Trying it tomorrow, still cooling….
So I made these and actually put them in easter eggs (i didn’t have liners and I felt like I could fall over dead from congestion). I ended up using more then 1/3 cup water. It was at least a 1/2 cup. Put them in the bottom of the easter egg and let them sit over night. I added eucalyptus oil once dry and let them sit a little longer. Then I put all the eggs together so they could be stored. I put them on a rag on my soap dish so that the shower is hitting them and they are dissolving but you are also getting vapors. I don’t think they were very potent. So I am going to try to add a few more drops of oil before I shower and see if that makes a difference. Other then that no problems and super easy. Love them. Also, using easter eggs made a very large batch..l probably have about 20 of them and they last just the length of the shower.
Hey Stacy! Thanks for your comment. Easter eggs are a GREAT idea!