Scent(s): Lavender, vanilla, eucalyptus & mint, watermelon, grapefruit, peppermint | # Count: 6
Best for Colds: The Herbal Zen Cold Kicker Shower Steamers
Why It’s Worth It: Alright, if you are sick, give these a go. The Herbal Zen Cold Kicker Shower Steamers are there to save the day when you feel stuffed up and lethargic, and the chicken soup is running low. The minty menthol helps encourage clearer breathing when you’re stuffed up and might even make you feel less sluggish. The brand recommends pairing a steamer shower with a hot cup of peppermint tea, which sounds lovely.
Scent(s): Peppermint, eucalyptus | # Count: 10
Best on Amazon: JoJowell Shower Steamers
Why It’s Worth It: JoJowell Shower Steamers are the definition of “bang for your buck.” In addition to using these steamers in your hot shower, the 21-piece set comes with two mesh bags and two suction cups so that you can put them in your car, on your vanity, or on your desk in place of a candle. The individually wrapped super-fragrant steamers make for easy gifting, too. Put a few in a gift bag for a loved one, and keep the rest for yourself. Your secret is safe with us.
Scent(s): Eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, rose, watermelon, grapefruit, citrus | # Count: 21
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy using essential oils has been around for thousands of years worldwide. Ancient societies used essential oils in cosmetics and perfumes (sound familiar?) for therapeutic, wellness, and hygiene purposes. Because of aromatherapy’s myriad benefits, we’re still using plant extracts to scent our spaces, wind down, and help remedy ailments millennia later. The practice has a ton of tried and true benefits, as evidenced by the diffusers that line shelves online and IRL.
“Aromatherapy can be beneficial in the management of certain symptoms such as anxiety, pain, nausea, and insomnia,” Megan E. Voss, an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality & Healing, explained to Allure in 2020. Although aromatherapy is a beloved way to feel better, it isn’t proven to have medical use. ” Aromatherapy is never used as a curative treatment for any illness,” Voss adds.
Are shower steamers safe?
Shower steamers are a safe way to enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy, in part because essential oils should always be diluted before use, which happens when the dissolving tablet meets the water and infuses into the steam. New York City-based dermatologist Joshua Zeichner added to Voss’s explanation that essential oils used directly on the skin can cause adverse reactions. “…Applying the essential oil in its concentrated form to the skin can cause significant irritation.”