Using essential oils in the shower is a quick, easy way to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy.  When many of us think of using essential oils for a spa-like experience, the image of a nice luxurious soak in the tub comes to mind.  However, some people don’t have a bathtub.  Furthermore, most people take daily showers rather than baths.   

The practice of using aromatherapy and essential oils to enhance the bathing experience is more than 6000 years old. Do you love the smell of lavender, eucalyptus, roses, jasmine, vanilla, or lemongrass? Well, those delightful smells come from the aromatic compounds in essential oils.  Indeed, the distinctive smell of essential oils comes primarily from herbs, spices, flowers, leaves, and tree bark resin from which they are sourced.   

As mentioned in a previous post, essential oils give bath gels, body oils, lotions, perfumes, colognes, and scented candles their distinctive smell.  As a matter of fact, when we smell the aromatic compounds in essential oils, they stimulate the limbic system in our brains to temporarily shifts our mood and emotions.

Essential Oils for Shower

In my research, I found more than 20 essential oils for the shower.  Now, don’t worry about this long list.  Yes, I have all of them, but you want to buy just two or three of them.  However, for simplicity, you may want to buy or order a few blends that are already prepared.   I like to create my own blends and I share a few of my own blends a little later.

I love to use the Now brand of essential oils.

Set Romantic Mood By Using These Essential Oils for Your Shower

These essential oils are perfect to set your mood for love and romance.

• Tuberose essential oil
• Jasmine essential oil
• Ylang ylang essential oil
• Rose essential oil
• Lavender essential oil
• Vanilla essential oil
• Frankincense essential oil
• Amber essential oil
• Japanese cherry blossom essential oil
• Cedar essential oil

Get Calm and Relaxed by Using These Essential Oils for YourShower

These essential oils temporarily reduce stress, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

• Lemongrass essential oil
• Chamomile essential oil
• Patchouli essential oil
• Valerian essential oil
• Yuzu essential oil
• Jatamansi essential oil
• Geranium essential oil
• Holy Basil essential oil
• Sweet Basil essential oil
• Lemon Balm essential oil

Get Energized and Uplifted by Using Essential Oils for Your Shower

These essential oils are great for morning showers and whenever you need a boost of energy

• Grapefruit essential oil
• Orange essential oil
• Lemon essential oil
• Lime essential oil
• Bergamot essential oil
• Peppermint essential oil
• Spearmint essential oil
• Eucalyptus essential oil
• Rosemary essential oil
• Pine essential oil

Breathe Easier by Using These Essential Oils for Your Shower:

These essential oils help to relieve nasal and chest congestion.

• Tea tree essential oil
• Peppermint essential oil
• Eucalyptus essential oil
• Ginger essential oil
• Camphor essential oil
• Holy Basil essential oil
• Sweet Basil essential oil
• Rosemary essential oil
• Oregano essential oil
• Clove essential oil

How to Use Essential Oils in The Shower

There are several ways to use essential oils before, during, and after a shower.  Fortunately, you already have most of these items at home.  Additionally, the oils that you use will depend on your mood or the atmosphere that you want to create. 

Add Essential Oils to Aromatherapy Diffuser

My favorite way to use essential oils to create a spa-like experience is to use an aromatherapy diffuser. The diffuser is a device in which you put water and a few drops of essential oils. Before getting into the shower, plug the diffuser into a bathroom outlet. Then, fill it with water and add a few drops of essential oils. Keep the diffuser running after your shower and while you get dressed to continue your spa-like experience.

For safety reasons, follow the instructions.  Additionally, you should check to see if the diffuser automatically stops after a given time. For example, some run for 30 minutes and then shut off automatically.   

This is one of my favorite aromatherapy diffusers for under $20.

Make an Essential Oils Shower Spray

Have you ever used a shower spray? If not, you’re in for a big treat. Similar to linen sprays, shower sprays are sprayed into the shower before you step in. Within a few minutes, the steam disperses the essential oils for a spa-like experience.

Yes, you can buy shower sprays. But fortunately, shower sprays (mists, or spritzs) are very easy to make.

How to Make a Shower Spray

Equipment

• Small spray bottle

Ingredients

• 8 ounces (1 cup) of distilled water
• 20 drops of essential oils

Directions

• First, remove bottle cap
• Second, add water to the spray bottle, leaving about a half inch at the top
• Third, add drops of essential oils to the water
• Fourth, replace the bottle cap securely
• Fift, shake to combine
• Sixth, spray into shower steam
• Enjoy

Note: Use 20 drops of one type of essential oil or use one of the blends provided in this blog.

Make an Essential Oils Shower Bouquet or Sachet

Do you grow herbs in your garden? Or, do you go to a framers market regularly? If so, then consider making an essential oils shower bouquet.

Shower bouquets are very easy to make. Indeed, I make them a few times a year when I thin out my rosemary and sage bushes.

How to Make a Eucalyptus or Sage Bouquet

• First, use a sharp knife to cut 10-12 pieces that are at least eight inches long.
• Second, tie the bundle securely with string, yarn, or twine.
• Third, put the bundle in a large brown paper bag.
• Fourth, use a rolling pin or glass bottle to crush the leaves and release the aroma.
• Fifth, remove the bundle and shake off any loose leaves.
• Sixth, use a longer piece of string and tie to your shower head.
• Seventh, turn on the shower and let the steam disperse the essential oils.

This bouquet usually lasts for about tow or three showers.

How to Make a Eucalyptus or Sage Sachet

Essentially, the process for making a sachet is the same for making a bouquet. However, the leaves are bundled and tied into cheesecloth. Use a long piece of string, yarn, or twine to tie the cheese cloth to the shower head.

Use Essential Oils in Shower Steamers

Have you ever used shower steamers? Basically, shower steamers are large, scented tablets that dissolve in water to create a steamy, therapeutic shower experience. Although similar to bath bombs, the ingredients and consistency differ. Instead of adding them to bath water, drop a shower steamer on the shower floor to scent your steam while you shower. Did you know that witch hazel is the ingredient that gives shower steamers their fizz?

Shower steamers are available to purchase online. I use these shower steamers to relieve nasal and chest congestion. Additionally, I love to keep to treat my guests with this shower steamer variety pack.

However, making your own shower steamers is a great weekend DIY project. They also make perfect homemade gifts for friends.

How to Make Shower Steamers

Equipment Needed

• Gloves
• Mixing bowl
• Measuring cups
• Small spray bottle
• Small silicone molds

Ingredients

• 2 cups baking soda (equals a 16-ounce box)
• 1 cup cornstarch
• 1 cup (8 ounces) citric acid
• Witch hazel
• Mica powder or natural food coloring (optional for fun colors)
• 20-30 drops of essential oils (adjust to your preference)

Directions With Mica Powder

• Put on gloves
• Pour witch hazel into the spray bottle, and set aside
• Add baking soda and citric acid to a bowl and mix well
• Use a 1/2 teaspoon of mica powder to gauge the intensity of the color; add more if needed and mix well with hands
• Add essential oils and stir to combine
• Spritz a little witch hazel over the mixture and mix well with hands
• Continue spritzing lightly with witch hazel and mixing until it feels like wet sand and squeezes into a loose ball
• Fill the silicone cups with the mixture
• Press lightly with your hand or spoon until firm and let it dry overnight
• Pop steamers out of the silicone mold and store them in an air-tight container

Directions With Food Color

• Follow the above directions but do not add mica powder to the baking soda and citric acid
• Add 2 drops of food coloring to the mixture to gauge the intensity of the color; add more if needed
• Follow the rest of the directions

Add Essential Oils to Your Massage or Body Oils

Another way to use essential oils is by adding them to an unscented oil to moisturize your skin after your shower.  Notably, the skin is our biggest organ. Thus, there are lots of places to apply massage or body oils infused with essential oils.  So, here is how they work.  The molecules in the essential oils are so small that they penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream.  Once in the bloodstream, they circulate throughout the body to the areas where you apply them.    

You can make your own scented body oil to use after a shower or bath. To do so, add a few drops of essential oils to one of these carrier oils. 

• Sesame  
• Sunflower
• Almond
• Grapeseed
• Avocado
• Argan
• Jojoba
• Coconut

You can also add a few drops of essential oils to an unscented body lotion and create your signature blend.

Apply Essential Oils to Pulse Points After Your Shower

Do you dab or spray perfume on your wrists, neck, or chest?  Well, without knowing it, you are applying them to your pulse points.  Essential oils are absorbed quickly at the pulse points. Indeed, the pulse points are where the blood is closest to the skin.  Remember to mix the essential oils with a carrier oil. Some of the pulse points are:

• Behind the ears and temple
• Along the lower jaw
• Back of the neck
• Across the forehead
• Inside the wrists
• On the chest
• On the abdomen
• At the bottoms of the feet
• On the inner elbows
• Behind the knees
• Up and down the spine
• Top of feet
• Along the groin

My Essential Oils for Shower Recipe Blends

Do you experiment with essential oil blends? If not, I encourage you to do so. Moreover, if you choose to do so, be sure to use 100% essential oils. I love to make my own essential oil blends. Indeed, I create my special blends for aromatherapy diffusers, shower sachets, shower steamers, and bath bombs.

Self-Care Sunday Essentials Oil Blend for Your Shower

• 6 drops of vanilla oil
• 4 drops of lavender oil
• 2 drops of chamomile oil

Just Chilling Essential Oils Blend for Your Shower

• 6 drops of clary sage oil
• 6 drops of lemon balm oil
• 2 drops of lavender oil

Morning Meditation Essential Oils Blend for Your Shower

• 6 drops of bergamot oil
• 6 drops of lemon oil
• 4 drops of grapefruit oil

Breathe Easy Essential Oils Blend for Your Shower

• 6 drops of eucalyptus oil
• 6 drops of peppermint oil
• 2 drops of camphor oil

Frequently Asked Questions about Using Essential Oils in the Shower

Can I add essential oils to my dry brushing routine?

Dry brushing your skin regularly gets rid of dry skin, increases cell turnover, and increases circulation.  Essential oils should never come directly in contact with your skin.  Indeed, blog posts that tell you to add essential oils to the bristles of the brush are wrong. Instead, use body oil or lotion with essential oils after dry brushing.

Is It OK to Add Essential Oils to The Shower Floor

Some people recommend adding a few drops to the floor of the shower. However, this makes the floor slippery, and you may fall. Instead, try using a shower steamer and place it a few inches in front of you.

Now, It’s Your Turn

Well, I hope you feel more educated about using essential oils to create a spa-like experience in the shower. Additionally, I think you will also enjoy the blog posts on how to meditate in the shower, essential oils for anxiety and stress relief, aromatherapy for self-care,  and essential oils for nasal and chest congestion.

1. How do you use aromatherapy and essential oils?
2. What is your favorite essential oil?
3. Which two of my blends will you use this week?

Please note that this information is not meant to contradict advice from your healthcare provider.

Well, we look forward to hearing about your experience in the comment section of this blog.  And you can join the conversation on the Keep It Tight Sisters Page.

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Keep It, Tight, Sisters.

Eat. Move. Breathe.

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