After a long day, I crave a hot shower to help me unwind. Those few minutes of alone time help me process the day’s events and reset. I don’t usually have time for a long, luxurious bath, so a quick shower does the trick.
Aromatherapy works wonders when you’re feeling tired or stressed out. I use essential oils and aromatherapy all the time for that purpose, and these simple shower melts are perfect for de-stressing, relaxation, and rejuvenation.
How to Make Aromatherapy Shower Tablets
Lavender and chamomile blossoms both bring calming, soothing qualities on their own, and adding essential oils provides even more benefits. Here’s a breakdown of what different essential oils can do.
Use a few drops of each in your shower tablets, or pick and choose your favorites for a unique aromatherapy blend. Some oils also have anti-inflammatory and healing benefits—perfect when you’re fighting off an illness.
Essential Oils for Stress Relief
–Cedarwood – calming, soothing, sleep-promoting
–Bergamot – uplifting, relaxing
–Lavender – calming
–Rosemary – uplifting, increases concentration, mental acuity
–Lemon – refreshing, mental alertness, calming
–Peppermint – revitalizing, cooling, invigorating
–Eucalyptus – clarifying
Step 1
Assemble your ingredients. These aromatherapy shower tablets are super easy and inexpensive to make—you only need baking soda, essential oils, dried lavender, and chamomile if you have some on hand.
Step 2
Grind the chamomile and lavender blossoms in a coffee or spice grinder. Then combine the ground mixture with baking soda.
Step 3
Add enough water, so the baking soda holds together in clumps, but the mixture isn’t the least bit runny.
Step 4
Press into small decorative pans or silicone molds. One to two tablespoons in each is enough.
Bake to dry out the tablets. Preheat your oven to 350°F, and bake the tablets for about 15 to 20 minutes. When they come out of the oven, they may be a little damp still, but they will continue to dry out as they cool.
Step 5
Add a few drops of each essential oil to the top of the aromatherapy shower tablets and let sit for a bit to absorb the oils. Transfer to a jar and store until ready to use.
Note: I did have a little trouble getting the tablets out of the metal molds, so I opted to leave them in for easier storage. The ones I formed in silicone molds popped right out.
Looking for some more ways to upgrade your shower or bath routine with aromatherapy? It’s so simple to make a DIY aromatherapy shower spray, but if baths are more your speed, you’ll love these aromatherapy bath salts and bath bombs you can make at home.
DIY De-stress Aromatherapy Shower Tablets FAQs
Should I add the essential oils after the tablets are completely cooled or while they are cooling?
Either one is fine. I added them after the tablets had completely cooled, but you can do it either way.
Where can I buy dried lavender and chamomile?
I buy both in the bulk spice section of Whole Foods. Sprouts also has them, if you have that store in your area. Or you can find them online. You can also use chamomile tea in this recipe if you already have some on hand!
What are the best molds to use, so they come out easily?
When I used metal molds, I did have a hard time getting the tablets out. But the ones I formed in silicone molds popped right out. So that might be the way to go to prevent problems with the tablets sticking.
What is the best way to use these tablets?
When you hop into the shower, you can place a tablet directly on the shower floor and let the steam and water work their magic. These tablets can also be used in the bath if you’d prefer a long aromatherapy soak!
DIY De-stress Shower Tablets with Essential Oils
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Soap mold or other mold (like muffin tins)
Materials
- 2 cups baking soda
- 2 tablespoon dried chamomile or chamomile tea (optional)
- 1 tablespoon dried lavender buds (optional)
- 1/2 cup water, plus a little more if needed
- Essential oils - cedarwood, bergamot, lavender, rosemary, lemon, peppermint, eucalyptus
Instructions
- Using a coffee/spice grinder or mortar and pestle, grind the dried lavender and chamomile until finely ground. Then combine with baking soda.
- Add just enough water to make a paste that holds together without being soupy or runny. Pack your mixture into small molds.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F, and bake the molds for 15–20 minutes. Remove them from the oven and let cool completely. The tablets will continue drying as they cool.
- Sprinkle the tablets with the essential oils and allow to soak in. If you use silicone molds, the tablets will be easier to pop out. Transfer to a jar, and store them until ready to use.
Notes
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Holly Smith, a board-certified physician in nephrology and internal medicine with a background in nutrition. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical reviewers here. As always, this is not personal medical advice, and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
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Hello,
Like others have reported, after baking my shower melts, 9 out of 12 crumbled to pieces when trying to get them out of the silicone molds. I am not sure if it is because I used too much water (I don't think I did) or if it is because of the oven. I would love some advice because I love the idea of these. I only used 1 essential oil by the way. At first, I thought it was because they did not bake long enough so I let the 2nd batch bake a little longer but got the same results. Also, once in the shower, I allowed a little water to get on them but after that, I could not smell very much. When I was about to get out, I went ahead and crumbled it into pieces and that really let the aroma out. Anythoughts?
I wld rub the mixture on my skin vs just crumbling onto shower floor where all wld just slip right down the drain with little to no benefit! There might be a slight benefit if one plugs the tub, collecting hot water for a moment, thn swishing feet in it while inhaling and adding more to one’s body! If it’s fine for bath water, it wld be fine against my skin. Baking soda makes skin feel sooo soft b awesome!
I tried this to a T and they CRUMBLED after being removed (cooled) from the molds.
Which oils did you use for your batch or,did you use all 7 listed?
I made these tonight and made them in a muffin tin with liners. They broke apart. Did I need to use more water?
i made these in the silicone molds-they broke apart. What a mess. i ll try more water and less time.
Why use the oven
Im wondering why plavce in oven
Is it okay to store in a sealed container? I know some of the bath products release gas. Thanks!
How long do these last?
I love them! The instructions were so clear and help me so much. Thank you!
WOW these bubble up a lot in the oven!!!!! I couldn’t find my mini muffin tin so I made little balls on a large round silicone pan. I ended up with one huge disc!
Later I found my silicone mini muffin pan and only filled them less than half full and they bubbled up to the top while baking!! Was not expecting that since there is no flour in this recipe. Very surprising!
I used a sleepytime chamomile tea for the herb component. And I used half and half epsom salts with baking soda (maybe a little heavy on the epsom salts, I was low on baking soda). Hope this works!
How did they turn out with the epsom salt?
The epsom salts is what caused the bubbling.
These sound amazing!
Do you think it will work if you put one of the tablets in the actual shower head?
Thank you Lindsey for sharing. I was wondering is it possible to mix in the essential oils into the wet mixture and let them dry on their own without the oven? Or could they dry out naturally and when dry, then add the essential oils? Thanks again :)
How many drops of each essential oil did you use?
How many drops of each essential oil did you use? Oops, didn’t finish reading the instructions! :)
Do you use chamomile flowers or just the leaves?
I use the flowers too.
Do you add the essential oils after the tablets are completely cooled or while they are cooling? Thanks!
You can do either way. But I waited until they were cooled.
If you use paper cupcake holders as molds (which it looks like in the picture), about how many does this recipe make?
Hmm. I would guess you could probably get a dozen, but you’d only want to fill them about half full.
Hello!! Where do you get your essential oils? Or what brand do you use??
Hi Sofia! I buy my essential oils at Whole Foods. I have liked the NOW brand, but I also use AuraCacia a lot.
O you think Epsom salts could be mixed with the dry mix?
I don’t see why not! You could do half baking soda, half epsom salts.
Where did you get your lavender and chamomile?
Hi Christi, I get both in the bulk spice section of Whole Foods. Sprouts also has them, if you have that store in your area. You can also find them online.
Silly question, but how do you use these tablets?
You place them in the shower with you – on the floor usually. They can also be used in a bath.
my question exactly…I was like..okay…what do I do with it? hahahahaa…and when I heard tablet viewing this blog via pinterest, I was thinking a lot smaller…great idea, making some soon~
I think there might a mistake. The ingredients don’t list Lavender, but the directions say to ground lavender and chamomile. Am I missing something?????
Hmm. I think you did miss it. Everything is listed in the recipe! Look again!
I don’t see lavender listed either but you do have camomile listed twice. Is one supposed to be lavender?
Ah ha! You’re right! I meant to list 1 Tablespoon of lavender buds and wrote chamomile twice. Sorry about that! I fixed it. Thanks for catching that!
Fixed it! Chamomile was listed twice. Sorry about that!
Aromatherapy anything is so lovely. Shower tablets are so fun to make =)