In the dead of winter, we’re always on the hunt for comfort and warmth. Find both by taking to your shower with an aromatherapy-infused shower bomb. This shower bomb recipe is simple enough to make during naptime and even easier to use. They’re also luxurious and smell incredibly fragrant, too. Stock your bathroom cabinet or give a jar away as a sumptuous gift. Here’s how to make them:

What you need

• 1/2 cup baking soda
• 1/4 cup citric acid (find it in most groceries)
• 5 sprays witch hazel
• 3-4 millimeters of essential oils
• Eye dropper
• Silicone molds
• Latex gloves

What to do

1. Combine baking soda and citric acid in a large mixing bowl. Wearing your latex gloves, break up any clumps with your fingers.
2. Once well combined, add your essential oils and stir well with your hands.
3. Now it’s time to incorporate the witch hazel. Continue to spritz the mixture until it is moist enough to hold its shape when squeezed between your fingers. Add just enough witch hazel to ensure your dry ingredients won’t crumble.
4. Next, fill up your molds, making sure to pack the mix in tightly.
5. Remove each from its mold and set to dry on a baking sheet overnight.

What essential oils to use

DIY shower bombs are endlessly customizable. Choose whatever scents you like best. Because essential oils are potent, don’t exceed 3-4 millimeters. To get you started, we have a few ideas:

• For an energizing start to the day: Peppermint, lemon and sweet orange
• For soothing stress relief: Chamomile, clary sage, and lavender
• For sweet dreams: Lavender, chamomile, and ylang ylang
• For cold and flu relief: Eucalyptus, lemon, and rosemary

Safety note: Before using any essential oils around children and babies, get the OK from your child’s pediatrician. Oils such as eucalyptus can be harmful to little ones and cause serious health problems. Remember, just because an item is natural doesn’t mean it won’t come with its own share of safety hazards. Always play it safe and get your child’s physician involved.

How to use them

Store the DIY shower bombs in an airtight container in your medicine cabinet. The next time you need an aromatherapy lift, place one in the corner of your shower away from the running faucet. The steam from your shower head will activate this little pellet, causing it to fizz and release the aroma into the air.

Breathe deeply and relax! These shower steamers are just that — made for the shower. Because of their essential oil potency, as well as their potential to dissolve too quickly when placed in water, these bombs are not recommended for bath time use.

Fun fact

Coveted for both their medicinal and beautifying qualities, herb infused steam baths were once used widely by ancient cultures such as the Mayans and Romans. Harnessing the essence of plants, these fragrant baths were thought to heal a myriad of maladies.

Want more do-it-yourself beauty recipes? Dig into the Ecocentric Mom archives for a soothing lip balm, simple eye cream, turmeric face mask and decadent body scrub.