Essential Oils in the Shower?
One of the best ways to relax and rejuvenate at the end of a long day is to take a refreshing shower. And while a hot shower can certainly be soothing, there’s something about a cool, invigorating shower that can really leave you feeling refreshed and invigorated too. If you’re looking to add a little something extra to your next shower, why not consider using essential oils?
Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that can provide a variety of benefits, including improved mood, increased energy, and relief from stress and anxiety. When it comes to choosing the best essential oils for a refreshing shower, there are a few factors to consider.
First, think about what you’re hoping to achieve with your shower. Are you looking for an energizing pick-me-up? Or are you hoping to wind down and relax before bed? Once you know what you’re looking for, you can choose essential oils that will best support your desired outcome.
The best oils to use in the shower
Some of the best essential oils for an energizing shower include citrus oils such as lemon, bergamot or grapefruit. Minty oils such as peppermint and spearmint are also invigorating. Adding herbal essential oils into the mix will intensify the effect. Ginger and lemon work well together, as do rosemary and peppermint (1). For that relaxing, bed-time shower, consider lavender or chamomile. These oils both have a calming effect that can help you drift off to dreamland as soon as your head hits the pillow. If you are struggling with insomnia, adding a few drops of each essential oil to a cotton pad placed near your pillow, will boost the effect (2). Essential oils offer a variety of benefits, which will be diffused in the steam of the shower, enabling you to inhale the vapours and enjoy the fragrance. You can add essential oils to your shower in a few different ways.
How to use essential oils in the shower
Add a few drops of your favourite oil to your shower gel or body wash. Make sure it is only a few drops though. No more than 5% concentration. You can also create a relaxing atmosphere by diffusing essential oils in your shower. This can be done by adding a few drops of essential oil onto a wash cloth or piece of cotton muslin. Tie that around the shower head or put it in the shower caddy. As the steam from the shower starts to rise, the fragrance from the oil will diffuse into the bathroom. And…..breathe!
Another way to diffuse oils when you are in the shower is by using an unusual household item from the kitchen. Half fill a tea strainer/infuser ball with Epsom salts. Add a few drops of essential oil and close the tea ball. Hang it somewhere in the shower where the steam can reach it to release the therapeutic scent.
Homemade essential oil body scrub
Another way to use essential oils is in a homemade body scrub. If you’re looking for a way to invigorate your skin and give yourself a luxurious at-home spa experience, why not try an essential oil body scrub? Made with a mixture of natural ingredients like sugar, salt, and oil, an essential oil body scrub can help exfoliate dead skin cells, improve circulation, and leave your skin feeling super-soft and smooth. Another plus is that the addition of essential oils means you can customize your scrub to suit your own personal scent preferences.
Whether you’re looking for a refreshing citrus scent or something more grounding and earthy, there’s an essential oil combination that’s perfect for you. To get started, simply mix together a cup of sugar or salt with one third of a cup of your chosen carrier oil. This can be coconut, sweet almond or jojoba oil. Add in approximately six to eight drops of two or three of your favourite essential oils. Once you’ve made your scrub, hop in the shower and gently massage it onto your damp skin in circular motions. Rinse off with warm water and enjoy the soft and smooth feeling of your newly exfoliated skin.
Homemade essential oil bath bomb
Although we are discussing using essential oils in the shower, not everyone has a shower. So how about a recipe for homemade bath bombs? Bath bombs are a great way to add some extra luxury to your bath time routine, and they’re relatively simple to make at home. This recipe calls for a mix of essential oils. You’ll also need some basic supplies, like baking soda, citric acid, and a carrier oil.
Simply mix together half a cup of baking soda, a quarter of a cup of citric acid, a quarter of a cup of Epsom salts, one teaspoon of water and one tablespoon of olive or coconut oil. With the exception of the essential oils, mix the ingredients together. When the other ingredients are combined, add 10-15 drops of your favourite essential oils, one drop at a time, mixing as you go, to make sure they are fully blended in. Mould the mixture into balls or discs, and let them dry overnight. When you’re ready to use them, just drop one or two into your tub and enjoy!
Essential oil moisturiser
Once you have had your shower you can extend the benefits of essential oils by using them as a moisturiser. Make up a moisturising oil blend before your shower by adding 5-6 drops of your favourite essential oil to a carrier oil, such as jojoba or coconut. Once you have had your shower, dry off but try and leave yourself a little damp. Gently apply the oil onto your damp body then start your day feeling fresh and clean, knowing you have incredibly soft skin.
Essential oil shower cleaner
Another way to use essential oils in the shower is to clean the shower with them. Lemon essential oil is often used in store-bought cleaners so it makes sense to use this aromatic, citrus oil in your home-made shower and bathroom cleaner.
You will need a clean spray bottle, 250mls of water, 125mls white vinegar, 10 drops of lemon essential oil and 5 drops of tea tree oil. Put all the ingredients into the spray bottle, secure the spray lid and swirl the cleaning blend around. Spray the shower cubicle or shower screen, bath and wash basin. Then wipe with a clean cloth. It is worth mentioning that if the spray bottle is plastic, remove the mix and store it in a glass jar. This is because the plastic is likely to corrode due to the essential oils.
If you like using essential oils, whether for the fragrance or for their many therapeutic benefits, there are plenty of ways you can use them in the shower. Don’t be scared to try new essential oils and make your own blends, whether you are inhaling them during your shower or massaging them in afterwards. Just remember that other people need to use the shower!