Herbal Homemade | Essential Oil Bath Fizzers & Shower Steamers 5 Ways

 

Our family began transitioning to a more mindful and eco-conscious path of living well over five years ago. Slowly over time, we have switched from buying most of our home products to making them ourselves, living by the philosophy of trying to create more than we consume. It’s not always easy of course, because we did not grow up this way, but not that long ago herbal homemaking was simply how things were. There were not thousands of products lining shelves with chemicals sworn to clean and shine, but vinegar, water, and sometimes oils from plants. There was not an abundance of toxically made beauty products either, but a handful of ones crafted from ingredients you could trust because you sourced them yourself and made them with care in your home.

Living mindfully at home is not only an empowering way to live, but a beautiful one that honors the earth and stewards the land and her resources. And once you get going, it’s easier, more cost effective, time-saving, and energy renewing. The recipe I am going to share with you today is a simple one that you can use throughout the year and change up depending on your seasonal preferences or needs: bath fizzers!

I am sure you’ve seen them in stores before, but did you know they are easy to make? I made these with the kids a few weeks ago and they had fun playing science experiment. I let them use food coloring in their batches, but kept the one above white with lavender buds to make a calming bath soak. Depending on the oils you choose, these bath fizzers make great decongestants, nighttime soothers, menstral cramp calmers, and muscle relaxants, to name a few. Most of the tools + ingredients are common ones that you probably already have on hand, but if not, they will be ones you will use again and again in mindful homemaking and therefore are worth stocking in your herbal pantry. The recipe below is a combination of several we tried, resulting in optimal fizz, which is, of course, the reason for making them in the first place!

 

 

Tools:

• large mixing bowl
• mason jar with lid
• whisk
• silicon molds or muffin tin
• your hands!

 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup baking soda (high pH creates the fizz)
• 1/2 cup Epsom salt (magnesium)
• 1/2 cup citric acid (reacts to the baking soda’s pH when wet)
• 1/2 cup corn starch or arrowroot powder (binds)
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil (heals skin)
• 1 tablespoon water
• 20-30 drops of essential oils (varies on recipe…see below)
• food coloring (optional)

 

Simple Steps to Make:

Step 1: Mix the dry ingredients (baking soda, Epsom salt, citrus acid, corn starch or arrowroot powder) together in a large bowl. Use the whisk to ensure the mixture is clump-free.

Step 2: Add the wet ingredients (oil, water, essential oil, and food coloring if using) to the Mason jar and screw on lid. Shake! If using food coloring, 10 drops will result in a deeper huge, 5 lighter.

Step 3: Very slowly pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture a teaspoon at a time whisking as you go. If you pour too fast, the baking soda and the citric acid will react from the wet ingredients resulting in a less fizzy fizzer. The consistency should feel like kinesthetic sand, not clumpy but damp.

Step 4: Using your hands, stuff the mixture into the molds or tin. Press it down firmly. Make sure to use everything in the bowl because once it hardens it’s too late.

Step 5: Let the bath bombs dry overnight, then pop them out and store in a large glass jar or airtight container. *I took ours out of the jar for photographic purposes. Toss one into the tub or a large bowl of water depending on how you want to use it and enjoy! Keeps for months.

 

Essential Oil Combinations:

• Calming Nighttime Soak for Bath | 15 drops lavender + 15 drops chamomile + handful of lavender buds (optional)
• Seasonal Shift Decongestant for Shower | 10 drops eucalyptus + 10 drops peppermint + 10 drops lemon
• Menstral Cramp PMS Relief for Bath | 10 drops geranium + 10 drops clary sage + 10 drops ylang ylang + 10 drops lavender
• Awaken Shower Steamer for Shower | 10 drops orange + 10 drops grapefruit + 10 drops peppermint
• Forest Floor Fizzer for Bath | 10 drops cedarwood + 10 drops balsam fir + 10 drops sandalwood

 

 

Once you get the hang of it, you’ll have this simple recipe memorized and will be able to made these in a matter of minutes at home. And because I am pretty sure it’s my time of the month soon, I am going to make some PMS relief fizzers later on today! I love using these for baths for the first few days to help receive cramps and lessen my pain. Just a note: the shower steamers with peppermint should probably not be used as bath soaks because they might hurt more sensitive areas of your body, just to warn. Toss them in a hot shower and let the oils and steam heal!