A friend asked me if I had a DIY recipe for a natural version of shower melts (basically a bath bomb for the shower) since her favorite ones had been discontinued and she was looking for a cheaper and better homemade option. I’m so glad she asked because these little shower melts are a staple around our house now.
I also call these “shower soothers” because I infuse them with menthol and/or eucalyptus, rosemary, and other essential oils known to be soothing during a cold. Add hot water from the shower, and a soothing steam fills the air and eases coughs or congestion.
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You don’t have to wait until you have a cold to use these, though. Aromatherapy is proven to reduce stress, so I sometimes make these just for fun using my favorite essential oil blends.
Therapeutic Shower Melts for Cold and Flu
I did a little research before attempting this recipe and found that there are some great natural options already available for purchase:
I wanted a recipe that would combine the best properties of both and realized I already had the base recipe from my homemade bath bombs.
I also had some essential oils and menthol crystals on hand from my homemade pain relief lotion bars and homemade vapor rub so I played around with proportions and found a great combination that is excellent for clearing out sinuses. I’ve also thought about experimenting with these in a bath for sore muscles but haven’t tried it yet.
I made these in little silicone candy molds and stored them in a glass jar for easy use if we get hit by a cold this year.
Natural Shower Aromatherapy (Anytime)
The real beauty to making natural recipes from scratch (besides knowing what is in your products) is you can make them to order! Make these shower melts with lavender or rose or citrus for an aromatherapy shower anytime. Makes a great gift, too!
CAUTION: In general, check with a qualified health practitioner or aromatherapist about essential oil precautions for children and pregnant mothers, especially menthol and strong essential oils like peppermint or eucalyptus. Using a kid-safe essential oil blend is a great way to take the guesswork out of using essential oils around kids, but personally I don’t use them on children under 2 and I dilute them even then.
Soothing Shower Melt Recipe
Notes
This article was medically reviewed by Madiha Saeed, MD, a board certified family physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
Have you ever tried shower melts? What natural remedies do you keep on hand this time of year?
Where do I find the menthol crystals???
Hi, do you have a recipe that does not use salt? I am worried about our septic system.
Thanks!
I read all the reviews on these and made them for Christmas presents. I used Epsom salts, all of the essential oils but no menthol crystals (could not find them locally) They made the house smell wonderful. I packed them up and sent them off, with a few extra to keep at home for us.
My husband decided to try some and imagine my dismay when he dropped it in the shower and there was no smell at all. It completely dissolved in the tub with so scent what so ever. Imagine my dismay when I had to message everyone I sent them to and explain they did not work.
What can you suggest for me to do?
Thanks!
Test your formulas before you give them away. Obviously. They work well when done as directed.
I just mixed some of these up… Can’t wait to try them out this weekend after they’re all dried!
I made these last night and only 11 came out, I just read the serving size and its 24+. Obviously my molds were big and I filled them all the way up. Can these be cut without crumbling so I can have two servings per melt?
I just gave 1/2 of my very first batch away as a gift. They turned out great. I’ll mention a few things I did in hopes it may help someone else. I ended up using about 1/2 tsp more than the 2tsp as I am in north Idaho and it’s winter and DRY. I decided I would add water until I could squeeze up a handful and have it hold its shape when I dropped it back down into the bowel. Once I had this, I added all the essential oils (I think I was heavy handed on a few of them without the dropper lids-LOL). I quickly pushed them into a mini muffin tin that I had washed and filled them about 2/3 full. I read on an earlier post not to “pack” them tight so I did not. I did take a spoon and go around the edges trying to create a smooth “top”. They dried for 24 hours and I popped them out of the tin and let them dry an additional 24 hours. I of course tried one out and it worked great. I might add more of the menthol next time. Can’t wait to make some more for the bathtub (without the menthol products). Great Recipe!
Why do you recommend not packing it?
I made these for Christmas gifts and they smell fabulous! BUT, they melted in less than 10 seconds, so there really was little benefit from breathing them in the shower. (Making them was a delightful experience!) Any suggestions for a size or where to put them in the shower to allow for a slower release?
I used small molds. I told everyone to put it in the corner of the shower and to use two at a time. I also use way more menthol than recommended. Instead of a tsp. I used probably two tbsp since I noticed that they did melt quickly. I also used lavender scent epsom salt and ALL the recommended oils. It lasts for about 5 minutes. Or you can tell them to put it in a pot of hot water and let it scent the house.
Thanks! I didnt smell anything on mine either so wanted to double on it next time, glad to see someone else did and was successful with their next batch.
I was so excited to try these and give away as Christmas gifts, but I didn’t have success. I didn’t have the menthol crystals so I left those out and I used sea salt. I am sure I sprayed in about 2 tbsp water and thought the consistency was right, pressed them hard into the molds, but after 24 hrs., they came out crumbly, so I scooped them into a mason jar to sprinkle on the shower floor anyways. Any suggestions as to what I could do to have success? I am using the heart silicon candy molds. Thanks.
So I understand the directions where it states Essential oils: I used 20 drops each of Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lavender, Rosemary and Lemon (any combination of these would work)
does that mean you put all those essential oils into the batch or you just pick one or a couple and put it together?
I’m not sure why Katie has not answered. I have tried two different batches of these and will not do again. On the first batch I used Epson Salt and thought that might be the problem. The second batch, I used sea salt. The first batch was too hard, didn’t melt and didn’t smell good. The second batch was too soft, and melted immediately. I mashed up the remainder into “bath salts”. I, personally, would call this a fail recipe. I’d love to hear from Katie what she thinks the problem is……
How much water did you use in the mixing process. That is a very delicate balance… if you add too much, it will create the fizzing reaction ahead of time so it won’t work in the shower…
The “fail” in this recipe is clearly me since you and others have had success. 🙂 Thanks; maybe I’ll give it another whirl. Meanwhile…I LOVE the sugar scrub recipes!
I followed the recipe exactly several times. Only the first time I didn’t use enough water and they fell apart. However I kept them and dump those pieces in the sink with hot water and and breathe in the aroma. The others have turned out very hard but when the water hits DIRECTLY on them in the shower they work perfectly. And they don’t melt too fast which is a good thing. Love these!
I just bought everything to make these menthol molds and now I am reading that they don’t really work. I should have read the comments first. Do you have any suggestions before I go to all the trouble. I love the idea and it would be so perfect for my kids and grandkids with allergies. It was going to be a Christmas present! Any ideas?!! Thanks for all your help.
Deborah, I would still recommend making them. They did dissolve and release the essential oils after the second time I put the shower melt in how water so I know they work. I made another batch of them since I am giving them for Christmas presents. I am thinking that I packed them too well when I first put them in the heart molds. The second batch I didn’t pack as hard. I will let you know how they come out the second time! Anyone else make these?
“NOT MELTING” PROBLEM SOLVED! Ok. So I made another batch of these shower melts. I tested one from the second batch and figured out why there were NOT melting. First, you need to wash the silicon molds when you buy them with soap and water to remove any film they may be made with. I noticed that on the first batch the reason why they didn’t melt was because some turned out kind of shiny. I think they picked up some of the slippery coating of the silicon mold because I didn’t wash it with soap and water before I used it – I was too excited and just started making them. SECOND. I didn’t pack the second batch at hard (I really made sure the first batch was packed in). The second batch I “firmly” pressed in versus jamming the contents in. The second batch totally melted. It released the essential oils and I could smell them as well as the menthol. It was a gentle release of scent. (I also let them sit for 48 hours before popping them out.) Hope this helps!!!
I didn’t use a silicone mold; I used a mini-muffin pan. I did the same thing…I packed my second batch in less firmly. I don’t think the mixture was right though because they crumbled instantly upon touching them. I ended up crushing them all up – they are going to my sister as “bath salts”.
Just make sure that if you used Rosemary, your sister isn’t pregnant. Rosemary causes contractions.
For the person who cautioned me about making sure my sister isn’t pregnant, thank you.!
I love these. They came out so cute from the heart shaped molds. However, they didn’t totally dissolve when I tried one out in the shower. The fragrance wasn’t as strong as I thought it would be. Any recommendations? Is the melt good for another shower? Thanks so much!
Hi, I tried making these. Followed the recipe, let it dry for 2 days. Put it in the shower, it did not melt. What went wrong?
I was vey excited to make these and went out and bought several bottles of essential oils. I tried to make a batch with about 20-30 drops of Eucalyptus oil. They didn’t have any fragrance at all in the shower. So I added 30 more drops to EACH bomb I made. Still nothing. They didn’t even really melt, even after I broke them into pieces in the shower. What went wrong do you suppose?
Hi, I have been trying out a few of your ideas lately to give as Christmas gifts!
My question is, how long do the melts last?
As I am making up a batch now & have many to make!
Thanks x
Better test them first……
Hi, I was wondering if you meant used 20 drops of all four essential oil for each batch or if you meant you to we can choose between those? Thank you.
YES! Before buying the stuff to make them I have the same question. Could you please give me the exact number of drops and combination that you use yourself for this recipe? Thank you
When are you going to host another wellness summit?
Not for a long time! The amount of work involved to put it on is insane.
What size jar did you use? I love this idea for gift-giving, but trying to determine what size container to get.
I made these with tea trea essential oil for foot bath, can’t wait till they are dry 🙂
THis is great! i use baking soda and epsom salts in my daughters (and my occasional) baths already along with calming or healing oils depending on the intent. Its like a bath fizzie with out the fizz… which would be wasted on a shower :)… I’ll be trying this with my 4 thieves blend! I’ve already beat a nasty cold in only a couple days rubing it and a few drops of CO on my feet.