Making Basic Decongestant Shower Bombs
Mix together some baking soda, food-grade citric acid, and cornstarch. You will need ½ cup (104 grams) of baking soda, ¼ cup (62.5 grams) of citric acid, and ¼ cup (30 grams) of cornstarch. Put everything into a small bowl, and stir together with a spoon until evenly combined and there are no more clumps If you can't find arrowroot powder, use cornstarch instead.
Add 2 drops of each peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus essential oil. Eucalyptus helps relieve congestion in the nose and chest. It may also help loosen phlegm. Peppermint, on the other hand, contains menthol, which is a natural decongestant. It also helps thin out phlegm. Lastly, lavender does not help much when it comes to congestion, but it is naturally soothing and calming; it may help relieve any headaches that are caused by congestion. If you want something more fragrant, you can use 3 to 4 drops of each oil instead. Don't use more than that, however. If this is for a child 10 years or older, stick with 2 drops of each oil. Anything more than that may be harmful. If the child is younger than 10, seek a doctor's advice.
Add 1 to 3 tablespoons (15 to 45 milliliters) of water or witch hazel. Add the liquid 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) at a time, mixing it in with a rubber spatula after each addition. Keep adding your liquid and mixing until you get the consistency of wet sand and the mixture holds together. You can also spritz the water or witch hazel in using a spray bottle instead. It will take about 5 to 7 squirts. Avoid adding too much liquid, or the mixture may start to fizz. Alternatively, you can use ¼ cup (50 grams) of melted coconut oil instead. The oil may make the shower floor slippery, but it will help the shower bombs hold together better.
Pack the mixture firmly into a silicon mold. Choose something that has a flat bottom; this way, the shower bombs will be able to sit in your shower without rolling around. The type of mold used for baking cupcakes or making chocolates/candy would work great. You can use other kinds of molds as well, such as a plastic candy-making mold or mini muffin tins. Make sure that you pack the mixture in firmly. If you don't, the shower bombs won't set properly, and may crumble when you handle them.
Let the shower bombs sit undisturbed for 1 hour. A great place to keep them would be on a baking sheet in a cool oven.
Carefully pop the shower bombs out of their mold, and let them finish drying overnight. If the shower bombs start to crumble, stop, and let them sit in the molds for a few more hours. Once the shower bombs are dry, carefully pop them out of the molds, and let them sit on a flat surface overnight.
Use the shower bomb. Turn on your shower, and place one shower bomb on the floor, close to the drain. The hot water will cause the shower bomb to dissolve, and to release the essential oils into the air. Store any leftover shower bombs in an airtight container.
Making Baked Decongestant Shower Bombs
Preheat your oven to between 200°-350ºF (94°-177ºC).
Combine the baking soda and cornstarch in a small bowl. You will need 1 cup (208 grams) of baking soda and 2 tablespoons (15 grams) of cornstarch. Stir the two ingredients together with a whisk or spoon until they are evenly combined. If you cannot get any cornstarch, try arrowroot powder. If you cannot find any of that either, you may be able to make your shower bombs with just baking soda and water.
Add the water in a little bit at a time until the mixture forms a paste. You will need up to ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) of water. Stir the water into the baking soda mixture using a rubber spatula.
Pack the mixture firmly into a silicon mold. Make sure that the mold you are using is safe to use in the oven. Some molds may be labeled as "silicon," but are not actually oven-safe. The silicone molds for baking cupcakes or for making chocolates/candy would be ideal. Make sure that you are packing the mixture as firmly as you can, or the shower bombs will be more likely to crumble.
Place the mold onto a baking sheet, then leave it in the oven for 2 hours. During this time, the mixture will dry and harden. If you do not wish to use an oven, you can set these out someplace where they won't get disturbed for 24 to 48 hours; they must be perfectly dry.
Take the shower bombs out of the oven, and let them cool. Do not take them out of the molds just yet. If you take them out too soon, they might not be fully dry, and might crumble as a result.
Carefully pop the shower bombs out of the oven. If the shower bombs start to crumble easily, they might not be dry all the way; wait 12 hours before checking on them again.
Place 1 drop of peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus essential oil on top of each shower bomb. The eucalyptus and peppermint will help relieve congestion in the nose and chest. They may also help loosen or thin out any phlegm. Lavender, on the other hand, will help relax your muscles, and sooth any headaches that might be caused by the congestion.
Use the shower bombs. Turn on your shower, and place one of the shower bombs on the floor, near the drain. The warm water will dissolve the shower bomb, and help release the essential oils into the air. Keep the rest of the shower bombs in an airtight container.
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