Shower steamers seem to be everywhere lately, but what do you actually do with them? They are small fizzing tablets that you place in the shower. As soon as they get wet, they release a scent that rises with the steam. A kind of bath bomb, in other words, but for people without a bath. Below you can read how they work, where to put them and what to watch out for.
What are shower steamers?
A shower steamer is a pressed tablet made of baking soda and citric acid, with fragrance oil in it. The same base as a bath bomb. When water hits it, the tablet starts to fizz and lets go of its scent. The warm steam in the shower spreads that scent through the cubicle.
You will also see them called shower bombs, shower fizzers or shower tablets. They are all the same thing.
The difference from a bath bomb
A bath bomb is made to dissolve in the water while you lie in it, often with oil and colour for the bathwater. A shower steamer is made for the scent. It contains more fragrance oil and is not meant to be rubbed on your skin or dropped in the bath.
How to use a shower steamer
1. Place it at the edge of the spray
This is the mistake almost everyone makes the first time: putting the tablet right under the spray. Then it is gone within a minute. Put it on the floor in a corner, or on a small ledge, where a few splashes land now and then. It needs to get wet, not wash away.
2. Shower warm and keep the door closed
The scent travels with the steam. The warmer the water and the smaller the space, the more you will notice it. In an open walk-in shower the effect is lighter than in a cubicle.
3. Let it do its work
One tablet lasts for one shower, usually around five to ten minutes. If you want it to go further, break it in half beforehand and use one half each time. Whatever is left simply washes down the drain.
Which scent for which moment?
That is mostly a matter of taste, but there is some logic to it.
- Citrus and mint are fresh and suit a morning shower.
- Eucalyptus is the scent you know from the sauna. Many people like it in autumn and winter.
- Lavender and chamomile are softer and suit a shower at the end of the day.
- Rose is floral and warm, for when you just want to smell something nice.
The gift set with 12 shower steamers contains six scents, so you can try out what fits which moment.
What to watch out for
- Do not use them in the bath and do not rub them on your skin. The fragrance oil is too concentrated for that.
- Store them dry, preferably outside the bathroom or in a closed box. Moisture in the air makes them slowly fizz out.
- Keep them out of reach of children and pets. They look like sweets.
- If you are sensitive to strong scents or have asthma, start with half a tablet and see how you get on.
- If you are pregnant and unsure about fragrance oil, check with your midwife first.
A shower steamer is a scent for in the shower. It does not fix a cold or a sleep problem. What it does do: turn ten minutes of showering into a moment you actually notice.
Nice to give
Shower steamers make a welcome gift, because almost everyone has a shower and far from everyone has a bath. They get used up, you do not need to know a size and the box works as a small gift or under the tree. If you are looking for more along those lines, have a look at the products for relaxation. For an evening with some attention for your skin, you can add a collagen mask.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a shower steamer last?
One tablet lasts for one shower, usually five to ten minutes. If it sits right under the spray, it is used up faster. You can also break a tablet in half and use one half each time.
Can you use shower steamers in the bath too?
No, that is not what they are made for. They contain more fragrance oil than a bath bomb and are not meant to come into contact with your skin.
Where do you put a shower steamer?
On the shower floor in a corner or on a small ledge, at the edge of the spray. The tablet should get wet from splashes now and then, not sit under the water the whole time.
How do you store shower steamers?
Dry and sealed, preferably outside the bathroom. Moisture in the air makes them slowly start to fizz and lose their scent.
Curious which scent suits you? Put one in the corner of your shower tomorrow morning and smell it for yourself.
