Make your own cold-soothing shower bombs with only 5 ingredients. Next time you’re under the weather, pop one into the shower — as it melts, it fills your shower with soothing steam to help relieve congestion.
Being all stuffed up from a cold or seasonal allergies is the worst. But for a lot of us, feeling pumped full of cold medicine isn’t all that much better. Steam inhalation is a natural home remedy that melts your cold symptoms away — it works just like vapor rub.
These shower soothers are super easy to make in your mini muffin tin. Keep a jar of them on hand for cold season, or make a batch as a thoughtful get well soon gift for a sniffly friend.
Eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils have been long used in home healing to loosen mucus, relieve sinus pressure, and reduce respiratory inflammation. Their invigorating herbal scent creates a spa steam room experience in your own bathroom — and it doesn’t smell like medicine!
If you’re not crazy about eucalyptus or peppermint, here are some other essential oils known for their congestion-relieving properties:
- herbal: spearmint, rosemary, thyme, wintergreen, or oregano
- wood: balsam fir, pine, spruce, cedar, camphor, birch, or tea tree
- flower: like lavender or geranium
- citrus: like orange or lemon
Play around and create your own aromatherapy blend.
Note: High-cineole essential oils (like menthol, peppermint, rosemary, and eucalyptus) aren’t always considered safe for children, so check with your pediatrician before using these with your kids.
Homemade Vapor Shower Melts
Makes 12 shower melts
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Total Time: 5 hours
Ingredients
- 1 cup baking soda
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ⅓ – ½ cup water
- 30 drops eucalyptus essential oil
- 15 drops peppermint essential oil
Equipment
- 12-cup mini muffin tin
- paper muffin cup liners
Directions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the baking soda and cornstarch until no lumps remain.
- Add the eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils to ⅓ water, then add that water to the baking soda mix. Add more water as needed (up to ½ cup) until the mixture has become a thick paste.
- Line a 12-cup mini muffin tin with paper liners, and divide the mixture evenly between the prepared cups. Place the muffin tin in the freezer, and freeze them until they’re completely set.
- Once frozen, remove the shower melts from the muffin pan and place them in a resealable plastic bag or a jar with a lid.
- To use your shower melts, remove the paper liner and place the melt on the floor of your shower and let the hot water run over it. The vapors from the essential oils should help clear up congestion.
Recipe adapted from Living on a Dime.