What exactly is a shower bomb?
Updated: Nov 3, 2021
You already know what bath bombs are: those foaming, colourful, scented, skin-softening spheres you've been throwing in the tub ever since LUSH co-founder Mo Constantine popularized them in the early 90s. There's no going back; everybody and their uncle makes bath bombs now, and we're no exception.
But wait...what about the "Excuse me, but I don't take baths" people? There are actually so many of you who just refuse to get into a delightful hot tub and soak! It mostly makes me want to cry, but another part of me thinks, Well, how can I help those shower people* have a wonderful time while they're getting clean? I mean, don't shower people deserve a little spa in their life, too?
Yes, you do. And now it's not just deluxe soaps, yummy body butters and sweet scrubs that you can enjoy; there's something out there called a shower bomb, and if you haven't heard of it, you gotta read on.
Turn your shower into an aromatherapy spa with shower bombs For those of you that don't like or don't have time for stepping into hot, deep water, there's the shower bomb: a disk made of similar material to bath bombs, except the focus here isn't on skin-softening and fizz factor, it's on just one thing: the delightful aroma, courtesy of natural essential oils. While bath bombs can be and often are made with synthetic fragrances, shower bombs, aka shower steamers, generally aren't. A combination of baking soda or other fillers like cornstarch or arrowroot powder along with moisture and essential oils, shower bombs can be made with or without the citric acid that causes fizzing in bath bombs; the point is for them to melt away gradually while you shower, releasing aromatherapy benefits that you can actually find time for.
How to use shower steamers
Unlike a bath bomb that must be submerged to work, shower bombs are generally higher in essential oil concentration and therefore shouldn't be used in the tub as the higher EO levels may irritate sensitive skin (it's fine if the soles of your feet touch the melting shower bomb though). Instead, place the shower bomb or puck into a corner of the tub or shower (either on a ledge or the floor of the tub/shower stall) where it's out of the direct spray, but will still get some water splashed on it - either when you reach for the shampoo bottle or deliberately drip water on the shower bomb. The point is to get it wet, but not allow it to dissolve all at once. In fact, depending on size, a shower steamer should last your entire shower or even two showers.
If you don't feel like you're smelling enough of the aromatherapy oils, change the position of the steamer next time, putting it closer to where you stand while showering. For very large shower stalls, using 2 or more steamers per shower is fine!
What is a shower melt?
To further complicate matters, shower bombs have several names: they are also known as...
-shower melts
-vapour disks
...and shower steamers
(the name we love here at saltzbaths)...but whatever you call them, think of them as little invitations to pause in your quick morning shower and luxuriate in the moment. Breathe in the delightful essential oil aromas and let the steam do its relaxing, clarifying and invigorating work, before you get to work for the day.
Have we convinced you to try a shower steamer in your next shower? Our new shower bombs, Every Breath You Take and Easy Like Sunday Morning, are an amazing way to start your day courtesy of SaltZ&Co.
*I am one of those shower people. Like most people, I don't have time to lay around in the tub all day, but I do make time once a week for a long, killer bath with all kinds of pampering treatments; the rest of the time, it's quick showers...and yes, I use steamers in there, because life is short.