Aromatherapy Herbal Shower Bundle
This mood-lifting herbal shower bundle is a beautiful fragrant addition to any bathroom. They provide a rejuvenating aromatherapy experience each time you bathe or shower, improve the air quality of your bathroom space, and absorb extra moisture in the air. When tied upside-down around the neck of your shower head, the steam from your shower releases beneficial aromatherapy oils into the air while hydrating the herbs, extending the life of the bundle. Alternatively, the bundle can be treated like a bouquet and placed in a vase of water on a windowsill, shower shelf, or sink counter, for the same effect. When gifting, include a gift tag or note to share directions for use along with the benefits of each herb with the recipient.
You Will Need
5 stems eucalyptus
10 stems lavender
5 stems lemon balm
5 stems mint
5 stems rosemary
Supplies
jute twine
gift tag
Note: Any combination of the ingredients that are readily available to you can be used for this project. Peppermint and spearmint are most widely used from the mint family and will be easiest to source in large bundles for this project.
Note: Eucalyptus holds water in its stems and will easily outlast all the other herbs in the bundle. Lemon balm, on the other hand, is often the first herb to wilt and need to be plucked from the bundle.
Other herbs appropriate for this recipe: bee balm, chamomile, rose, lilac, juniper
To Make
- Gather your botanical ingredients. Remove any broken or blemished leaves. Rinse and shake dry.
- Create a bouquet starting with the longest-stemmed plants, bunching them together at the base. Layer with shorter herbs, fanning them out slightly as you go. Continue to layer until you’ve used all the herbs.
- Secure with twine, wrapping tightly. Tie a double knot and/or bow, leaving eight inches or so of length on each of the ends of string for tying to the shower head.
- Cut the ends of the stems to an even length for a clean finished look.
Aromatherapy Benefits of Each Herb
Eucalyptus – refreshing, clarifying fragrance that aids in respiratory ailments
Lavender – fresh, tranquil, relaxing aroma with calming effect
Lemon Balm – bright, uplifting aroma helps sooth anxiety, nervous tension, insomnia, and headaches
Mint – invigorating, refreshing scent provides respiratory support to ease congestion
Rosemary – fresh, pungent fragrance enhances cardiovascular circulation, brain function, and eases headaches and migraines
Add a Seasonal Touch
Spring – 3-5 stems lilac
Summer – 3-5 stems fresh cottage roses or small bundle of chamomile
Autumn – 2 cinnamon sticks or dried apple slices
Winter – 2 dried citrus slices and red velvet ribbon
When tied upside-down around the neck of your shower head or bath tub faucet, the steam from your baths release the beneficial aromatherapy oils from into the air. The steam also hydrates the herbs, extending the life of your bundles by up to six weeks before needing to refresh them. Alternatively, if you have a flat surface such as a windowsill or wall shelf in your tub or shower, adding this herbal bouquet in a vessel of water will have the same effect.
Herbs to Include
Below are my favorite herbs to include in an herbal bath bundle. While I grow all five in my herbal apothecary garden at home and enjoy the combination of fragrances and benefits, any combination of these five will blend together wonderfully. Simply gather what is available to you in your garden harvest or enjoy browsing your local grocer or farmer’s market for these ingredients.
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus)– The natural oils that steam releases from this plant is largely known to aid in respiratory ailments such as bronchitis, asthma, and other respiratory distress, making it a wonderful option for a bath bundle. It is available at most grocers, florists or markets that sells flowers. Because they hold water in their roots, they will easily outlast all other herbs in your bundle and are, therefore, considered a staple to herbal bath bundles.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) – lavender is a physical ally in many ways, particularly for its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, but for the purpose of this project, lavender’s fresh, clean, relaxing aroma has a calming, anti-stress effect when breathed in. It can often be found in plant form at your local nursery or grocer during the late spring and summer months and your local lavender farm may have a u-pick option. Additionally, it is a hardy perennial in zones 5-9. If you enjoy the aroma and uses as much as my family, I hope you will consider planting some in your garden or landscape for years of endless usefulness.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) – if you follow my Instagram account, you know that I am a huge fan of lemon balm and am on personal mission is to inspire everyone to grow and use it. Lemon balm is a gentle nervine, calming and rejuvenating the nervous system through its vitamins, minerals and bright lemony scent. It is used to aid with anxiety, nervous tension, insomnia and headaches; symptoms often associated with winter illnesses.For this project, lemon balm’s bright, uplifting aroma helps sooth anxiety, nervous tension, insomnia and headaches. It rejuvenates those feeling exhausted and is often used to help calm restless and tired children. Its properties can also help ease respiratory illnesses.Lemon balm is very easy to grow from seed. It grows rapidly outdoors and can also be grown successfully indoors in containers.
Mint (Mentha)– there is nothing quite like the invigorating fresh scent of mint! It has a variety of amazing uses, most commonly as a digestive soother, but for this project, the uplifting and refreshing scent of its antimicrobial oils provide respiratory support and can ease congestion. Peppermint and spearmint are the most commonly used from the mint family and will be easiest to source in large bundles for this project, however, there are so many more amazing varieties to try in your bundles (and in your summer iced drinks too!) If you are considering growing mint, be aware that it has an incredibly strong root system that spreads rapidly. I recommend growing mint in a container to control the spread and to prevent it from overtaking other more vulnerable plants. I have a stock tank dedicated to all my favorite mints, including chocolate mint, orange mint, apple mint, and mojito mint, in addition to large quantities of peppermint and spearmint.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) – The fresh, pungent fragrance alone is reason enough to include this herb in your bath bundle, however, this amazing herb’s aromatherapy benefits also include enhancing cardiovascular circulation, brain function, and easing headaches and migraines. Symbolizing remembrance, rosemary helps increase memory and improve concentration. Rosemary can be found at most grocers and markets year-round. A perennial, this plant is relatively easy to grow, can become very large in the right conditions (full sun, well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0-7.0, and is a beautiful addition to any kitchen herb garden.)
