I absolutely love shower steamers. These shower steamers are jammed packed full of menthol crystals, that give off a soothing and refreshing scent. My favorite thing about the steamers is that even in the quickest of showers, I get to have my own spa like experience. I also find that they are perfect for clearing up sinuses in the winter when you have a cold.

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I find that the menthol scent helps to reduce stress and anxiety. I also love using these when I am all congested and gross feeling. The help to open up my sinuses with all that minty goodness.

What are Menthol Crystals?

Menthol crystals are in a crystal form and they have a cool minty aroma. The crystals are made through the mint essential oil extraction process. Where the essential oil is frozen and the menthol crystalizes.

How to dissolve Menthol Crystals

Seriously, the most important part about these shower steamers is to make sure that our menthol crystals are properly dissolved. Weirdly enough, they do not dissolve in water.

So, if we were to just put the crystals into the shower steamer in solid form, you are not going to get the full effect. You would get the smell that you get when you open the bag, which is basically that they would basically smell like a tin of mints.

The real powerful scent is unlocked when the crystals are fully dissolved. They are easily dissolved into oil or alcohol.

Since there is no oil in this recipe and not really something we would want to add, because it could cause some slippery surfaces on the tub. I like to dissolve the crystals into a small amount of fragrance oil.

Coloring Shower Steamers

You know I just can’t leave anything without a little extra color! I feel like the pop of color really makes these shower steamers look delightful. To color the shower steamers, you do not need anything that is going to color your shower water, so mica powder is perfect. You just need to add a very small amount to get a lovely color.

Creating a long lasting shower steamer

We really want these shower steamers to last as long as possible in the shower. There are basically two things that we do to extend how long they last.

Packing the shower steamer as tightly as possible in the silicone mold, helps to slow the release.
Kaolin clay is added, because it hardens the shower steamer and slows the release.

Similar to bath bomb

When you are molding and making the shower steamers, you will notice that the process is very similar to when you are making bath bombs. You can check out the bath bomb making process here.

You will need to use some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle to help to ‘wet’ the mixture. The reason you have to use rubbing alcohol is water will cause the citric acid to fix and activate your shower steamer.

Why do you need a shower steamer to fizz?

The baking soda and citric acid are combined create a dry version of the volcanoes. Like the one’s you used to make with vinegar and baking soda. Just the reaction does not happen until water is applied to it.

We want the shower steamer to fizz. When it fizzes the menthol and essential oil is released into the steam. This fills your shower with the refreshingly cool menthol scent.

How to use a shower steamer

You will want to place your shower steamer in the corner of the tub. Place it away from the drain and out of the direct spray of the shower. You want it to be in a spot where it gets a slight sprinkle of water.

To control how fast or slow the fragrance is released, you can move it closer to the running water or slightly further away. Another way to control the scent is by making the shower steamers smaller. This way, when you only need a little menthol in your shower you can use one. And on those days, when you are super congested, you can pop a few shower steamers in the shower with you.

Print Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Shower Steamers with Menthol Crystals

You will love the way your shower is transformed into a spa like experience when you use these shower steamers with menthol crystals.

Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time20

Keyword: Bath Essentials, shower steamer

Servings: 2 ounces

Cost: $5

Equipment

Scale
Mixing bowl
Silicone mold
Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol in Spray bottle

Ingredients

2.48 ounces | 62% Baking Soda
1.28 ounce | 32% Citric Acid
0.08 ounce | 2% Kaolin Clay
0.08 ounce | 2% Menthol Crystals
0.08 ounce | 2% Fragrance Oil
Isopropyl Alcohol (in a spray bottle)

Instructions

Weight all your ingredients.

Menthol Crystals

Add menthol crystals into the fragrance oil.
Keep mixing until the menthol crystals dissolve.
Set fragrance mixture aside for now.

Dry Ingredients

Put your baking soda, citric acid and kaolin clay into a large bowl and mix well.
Add the fragrance oil and menthol crystal mixture to the dry ingredients.
Mix well. Don't worry, the fragrance and menthol will not cause any fizzing.
Add mica powder and mix again – Normally at this point, I will just use my hands to mix it.
Spray the mixture with rubbing alcohol and then mix well.
Check the consistency, you want to be able to drop a ball of the mixture back into the bowl without it breaking apart.
If you have made bath bombs before, this is the same consistency you are going for.
Once you have the desired consistency, start putting the mixture into your mold. Be sure to pack it in the mold tightly.
Allow to dry for a few hours, then remove from the mold.
Wait 24 hours and enjoy!