What Are Shower Steamers and How Do You Use Them?
Ellie NicolaouWhat Are Shower Steamers and How Do You Use Them?
Not everyone has a bathtub, but everyone deserves a moment of calm. Shower steamers bring the aromatherapy experience of a bath bomb to your daily shower. Here's everything you need to know.
- Shower steamers are fizzing tablets that release scent when activated by shower steam, think "bath bomb for the shower"
- You place them on the shower floor (away from direct water), and the steam carries the fragrance throughout the shower
- They don't go in the water like a bath bomb, they're designed for scent, not for soaking
- Made with sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, and concentrated fragrance oils
- Some varieties include menthol for a cooling, clearing sensation, popular for morning showers and stuffy noses
What Exactly Is a Shower Steamer?
A shower steamer is a small, compressed tablet that fizzes when it comes into contact with water. As it dissolves, it releases concentrated fragrance into the steam of your shower. The warm steam carries the scent throughout the enclosed space, creating an aromatherapy-like experience without needing a bathtub.
Think of it as the shower equivalent of a bath bomb, except the purpose is different. A bath bomb is designed to colour and scent your bathwater while adding oils to your skin. A shower steamer is designed purely for scent and atmosphere. You don't soak in it, you breathe it in.
Shower steamers have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially with people who only have a shower, people who prefer quick showers over long baths, and anyone who wants to add something special to their morning or evening routine without the commitment of filling a tub.
How to Use a Shower Steamer , Step by Step
Using a shower steamer is simple, but placing it correctly makes all the difference to the experience:
Turn On Your Shower
Start your shower as normal with warm or hot water. You need steam for the shower steamer to work effectively, the warmer the water, the more steam, the stronger the scent. Let the shower run for a minute to build up steam before placing the steamer.
Place on the Shower Floor
Place the shower steamer on the floor of your shower, away from the direct water stream. This is the most important detail. If the water hits the steamer directly, it dissolves too quickly and you lose most of the scent. You want it where it gets splashes and steam, not a direct hit from the showerhead.
Let the Steam Do Its Work
As the steamer fizzes slowly, it releases concentrated fragrance into the air. The warm steam picks up the scent and fills the shower. Take a few deep breaths and enjoy. The experience is at its strongest in the first 5-10 minutes.
Shower as Normal
There's nothing else you need to do differently. Wash your hair, shave, wash with soap, your normal routine. The scent continues to release in the background throughout your shower. Pair with a goat milk soap for the complete experience.
Rinse Away the Residue
When you're done, any remaining residue will rinse down the drain with the shower water. Shower steamers use skin-safe colours and fragrance oils, nothing that will stain your shower floor or block your drain.
The trick to a great shower steamer experience is placement. Away from the direct water stream, where it gets enough moisture to fizz slowly but not so much that it dissolves in 30 seconds.
What Are Shower Steamers Made Of?
Shower steamers share many of the same base ingredients as bath bombs, but with some key differences in formulation. Here's what's inside ours:
Sodium Bicarbonate
The fizz base, same as bath bombs. Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) reacts with citric acid in the presence of water to create the fizzing that releases fragrance into the steam.
Citric Acid
The fizz activator. Works with sodium bicarbonate to create the slow fizzing reaction. Naturally derived from citrus fruits.
Corn Starch
Slows the fizzing reaction so the steamer dissolves gradually over 10-15 minutes rather than all at once. Gives you a longer-lasting scent experience.
Coconut Oil
Helps bind the steamer and adds a subtle moisture component. Also acts as a carrier for the fragrance oils, helping the scent release more evenly as the steamer dissolves.
Fragrance Oil
Shower steamers use a higher concentration of fragrance than bath bombs because the scent needs to fill an open shower rather than dissolve into enclosed bathwater. Each scent is listed transparently, not hidden behind generic "parfum."
Menthol (Select Varieties)
Two of our shower steamers, Tea Tree Tingle and Euca-Breathe, include menthol for a cooling, clearing sensation. Popular for morning showers, post-workout, and when you're feeling congested.
The full ingredient list: Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Corn Starch, Coconut Oil, Sodium Bitartrate, Water, Polysorbate 80, Fragrance, Coco Glucoside, Mica. The menthol varieties add Menthol to this base.
Choosing the Right Scent for You
We make 14 shower steamer scents, 12 regular and 2 menthol varieties. Choosing the right one depends on when you shower and what experience you're looking for:
🌿 Refreshing & Clearing
Best for morning showers and post-workout. Scents that wake you up and clear your head. Try Tea Tree Tingle (menthol), Euca-Breathe (menthol), or The Zest Is Yet To Come (citrus). The menthol varieties add a cooling tingle to the steam.
🧘 Calming & Relaxing
Best for evening showers and winding down. Soft, warm scents that signal the end of the day. Try Calm Me Crazy (lavender), Zen & Sage (sage), or Sweet Honey Drift (honeysuckle).
🍉 Fruity & Uplifting
Best for a mood boost anytime. Bright, cheerful scents that add a little joy to a routine shower. Try Mangolicious (mango), Water-You-Waiting-For? (watermelon), or Grape Escape (grape).
🧊 Menthol (Clearing)
Our two menthol varieties are the most popular shower steamers we make. Tea Tree Tingle (tea tree + menthol) and Euca-Breathe (eucalyptus + menthol). The menthol creates a cooling sensation in the steam that many people find helpful when feeling congested or stuffy.
Browse the full Shower Steamers collection to see all 14 scents.
Shower Steamers vs Bath Bombs , What's the Difference?
People often ask whether shower steamers and bath bombs are the same thing. They share the same fizzing chemistry, but they're designed for very different experiences:
Purpose
Bath bombs are designed for a full bathing experience, colour, scent, skin-softening oils, and a visual display in the water. Shower steamers are designed purely for scent and aromatherapy in the shower. You don't soak in them.
Fragrance Concentration
Shower steamers contain a higher concentration of fragrance oil than bath bombs. The scent needs to travel through open steam to fill the shower, rather than dissolving into enclosed bathwater. This makes them more intense in terms of scent output.
Oils
Bath bombs contain more coconut oil to create a skin-softening moisture layer during your soak. Shower steamers contain less oil because you're not soaking in the water, the oil is there primarily as a fragrance carrier and binder.
Menthol
Some shower steamers include menthol for a cooling, clearing effect in the steam. This isn't typically found in bath bombs because menthol in bathwater creates a different (and potentially uncomfortable) sensation than menthol in steam.
Can You Use a Bath Bomb in the Shower?
Technically, you could place a bath bomb on the shower floor and it would fizz and release scent. But it's not the ideal use, bath bombs are formulated for bathwater, and the scent won't be as strong as a dedicated shower steamer. If you have a bath, use a bath bomb. If you have a shower, use a shower steamer. Each is designed for its intended purpose.
Tips for the Best Shower Steamer Experience
Placement Is Everything
The corner of the shower floor, near the drain but away from direct water, is the ideal spot. You want splashes and steam to reach it, but not a constant stream of water. If your shower has a ledge or shelf at floor level, that works well too.
Close the Door or Curtain
The more enclosed your shower is, the stronger the scent experience. An enclosed shower cubicle will be more intense than an open walk-in shower. Close the door or pull the curtain for maximum effect.
Hotter Water = More Steam = More Scent
Warm or hot showers produce more steam, which carries the fragrance better. A lukewarm shower will still work, but the scent won't be as strong. If you want the full aromatherapy effect, a steamy shower is the way to go.
Breathe Deeply
Take a few intentional deep breaths during your shower. The fragrance compounds are carried in the steam, breathing deeply allows you to get the most from the experience, especially with the menthol varieties.
Use Half for a Lighter Experience
If you find a full shower steamer too intense, or if you want to make them last longer, break one in half and use half per shower. You'll still get a noticeable scent experience at half the intensity.
Storage and Shelf Life
Shower steamers are even more sensitive to moisture than bath bombs because of their higher fragrance concentration. Store them exactly like you'd store bath bombs: cool, dry, and sealed. Don't leave them loose in the shower between uses, the humidity will activate them prematurely. Read our full storage guide for detailed tips.
Use within 12 months for the best scent strength and fizz performance.
Our Shower Steamer Range
We make 14 handmade shower steamer scents in Melbourne, Australia, 12 regular varieties and 2 menthol varieties (Tea Tree Tingle and Euca-Breathe). Each steamer uses natural ingredients with no SLS, no synthetic dyes, and full ingredient disclosure on every product page.
Browse the full Shower Steamers collection. We also make bath bombs (for when you have a tub), goat milk soap, exfoliating soap, bath salts, and whipped soap.
Aromatherapy in Every Shower. Made in Melbourne.
14 handmade scents including 2 menthol varieties. Natural ingredients, no SLS. Shipped Australia-wide.
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