1st attempt at shower steamers

[Feelin' Soapy]

UPDATE: Don't know why this isn't showing here. Just go to Moon Cake Cult page on FB. It's in the Files. Here it is from those files:

91 percent alcohol (enough to cover your menthol crystals)
1 oz menthol crystals or 30 grams ( dissolved in your alcohol)
1 cup baking soda or 250 grams
1/2 cup citric acid or 125 grams
1/4 cup cornstarch or 36 grams
colorant of choice is optional
Sift your dry ingredients together and mix well. Add your wet ingredient and mix, ,mix, mix
I can get 8 - 50 grams steamers weighing 1.7 oz each - Judy

 

[Servant4Christ]

Can someone help me to find the Moon Cake Cult recipe? Thanks

https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/the-shower-steamer-monster.86385/post-924133

 

[Frijoles]

UPDATE: Don't know why this isn't showing here. Just go to Moon Cake Cult page on FB. It's in the Files. Here it is from those files:

91 percent alcohol (enough to cover your menthol crystals)
1 oz menthol crystals or 30 grams ( dissolved in your alcohol)
1 cup baking soda or 250 grams
1/2 cup citric acid or 125 grams
1/4 cup cornstarch or 36 grams
colorant of choice is optional
Sift your dry ingredients together and mix well. Add your wet ingredient and mix, ,mix, mix
I can get 8 - 50 grams steamers weighing 1.7 oz each - Judy

Thank you

https://www.soapmakingforum.com/threads/the-shower-steamer-monster.86385/post-924133

Thank you

 

[Servant4Christ]

When using the MoonCake Cult recipe, does anyone know when/how much FO/EO to add? I'm debating on adding a few drops of spearmint EO as I cannot seem to find that blasted tiny bottle of eucalyptus EO that I KNOW I have around here somewhere.

 

[Feelin' Soapy]

When using the MoonCake Cult recipe, does anyone know when/how much FO/EO to add? I'm debating on adding a few drops of spearmint EO as I cannot seem to find that blasted tiny bottle of eucalyptus EO that I KNOW I have around here somewhere.

2-3% seems about right.

 

[Servant4Christ]

2-3% seems about right.

Thank you. I guess I should be ok then. I used a teeny little bottle of spearmint EO I have on hand because I'm too chicken to try it in CP soap or lotion. I added about 20 drops to the crystals, then added the alcohol and closed the jar lid until all was melted. I also waited to mix the citric acid into the mixture last based on every other recipe I've seen.

 

[bookworm]

This has been an incredibly helpful and informative post, thank you so much to each and everyone of you, I so greatly appreciate your contributions.

 

[Servant4Christ]

My testers are rock hard and no alcohol smell. However, I need to adjust the fragrance usage, I think. The steamers lasts long enough if not directly under running water, but the scent only lasts for maybe a minute and isn't strong enough. Something tells me I'd be singing a different tune if I used eucalyptus instead of spearmint.

 

[Tammyfarms]

I made shower steamers last night using the Moon Cake Cult recipe. They are curing so I haven’t tried one yet. My initial impression is that the menthol is pretty strong. I didn’t add any EO or FO as I wanted to test with just menthol. Will report back with results once I try one.

I eventually want to replicate something I loved when I lived in Germany. It’s a product called Erkältungsbad, and is used to help with cold symptoms. I found it really helpful in opening my sinuses. Ingredients include menthol, eucalyptus, camphor and other EO’s depending on manufacturer. Super excited to figure this one out. Erkältungsbad Comes in several forms, including a tea and liquid for the bath. I’m just focusing on the shower steamer for now. Of any of our members who are familiar with this product have advice I would love to hear it.

 

[Feelin' Soapy]

My testers are rock hard and no alcohol smell. However, I need to adjust the fragrance usage, I think. The steamers lasts long enough if not directly under running water, but the scent only lasts for maybe a minute and isn't strong enough. Something tells me I'd be singing a different tune if I used eucalyptus instead of spearmint.

Just finished a shower with my first shower steamer. I'd used 2% 50/50 eucalyptus/peppermint with the menthol. The scent seemed about right to me: very noticeable but not overpowering. My husband came upstairs a short while after I got out of the shower, and as he approached the bathroom he said, "What did you shower with? It's really strong!"
Just right is different for everybody!

 

[Tammyfarms]

Just finished a shower with my first shower steamer. I'd used 2% 50/50 eucalyptus/peppermint with the menthol. The scent seemed about right to me: very noticeable but not overpowering. My husband came upstairs a short while after I got out of the shower, and as he approached the bathroom he said, "What did you shower with? It's really strong!"
Just right is different for everybody!

Did you use the Moon Cake Cult recipe with 30 grams menthol? I calculated that’s about 7% (not including the alcohol as I wasn’t sure how much would be needed).

 

[Feelin' Soapy]

Did you use the Moon Cake Cult recipe with 30 grams menthol? I calculated that’s about 7% (not including the alcohol as I wasn’t sure how much would be needed).

I used Ellen Ruth's recipe which has menthol at 2%.
I see recipes online for varying amounts of 2 to 5%. 7% seems high being that the 2% in mine plus the Euc/Pepmint EOs seemed adequate.
Keep us posted on what you use and how they turn out.

 

[Feelin' Soapy]

@Tammyfarms I just asked my helpful AI wizard how much menthol is recommended and got this very helpful info. I suspect mine seemed ok bc of the EOs additional kick.

Guidelines for Menthol Percentages in Shower Steamers​

1. Low Menthol Content (5%-8%)
   • Ideal for mild aromatherapy.
   • Provides a refreshing experience without being overpowering.
   • Suitable for individuals with sensitive noses or those new to menthol products.
2. Moderate Menthol Content (8%-12%)
   • Creates a stronger cooling and clearing sensation.
   • Recommended for individuals seeking relief from congestion or wanting a more invigorating effect.
   • Balanced intensity for most users.
3. High Menthol Content (12%-15%)
   • Produces an intense cooling effect and strong aroma.
   • Great for congestion relief or a spa-like experience.
   • May be too strong for sensitive individuals, so use with caution.

 

[Tammyfarms]

@Tammyfarms I just asked my helpful AI wizard how much menthol is recommended and got this very helpful info. I suspect mine seemed ok bc of the EOs additional kick.

Guidelines for Menthol Percentages in Shower Steamers​

1. Low Menthol Content (5%-8%)
   • Ideal for mild aromatherapy.
   • Provides a refreshing experience without being overpowering.
   • Suitable for individuals with sensitive noses or those new to menthol products.
2. Moderate Menthol Content (8%-12%)
   • Creates a stronger cooling and clearing sensation.
   • Recommended for individuals seeking relief from congestion or wanting a more invigorating effect.
   • Balanced intensity for most users.
3. High Menthol Content (12%-15%)
   • Produces an intense cooling effect and strong aroma.
   • Great for congestion relief or a spa-like experience.
   • May be too strong for sensitive individuals, so use with caution.

Thank you.

 

[Servant4Christ]

UPDATE: Don't know why this isn't showing here. Just go to Moon Cake Cult page on FB. It's in the Files. Here it is from those files:

91 percent alcohol (enough to cover your menthol crystals)
1 oz menthol crystals or 30 grams ( dissolved in your alcohol)
1 cup baking soda or 250 grams
1/2 cup citric acid or 125 grams
1/4 cup cornstarch or 36 grams
colorant of choice is optional
Sift your dry ingredients together and mix well. Add your wet ingredient and mix, ,mix, mix
I can get 8 - 50 grams steamers weighing 1.7 oz each - Judy

I already had this recipe bookmarked elsewhere in the forum but without the weights in grams that you have listed to the right hand side. Were those weights listed in the actual recipe?

I made another batch tonight and actually measured everything in dry measuring cups and fwiw, I have different weights than listed above. I only weighed everything (in grams) to get actual percentages for each ingredient because I'm weird like that. I want all my recipes in percentages.

 

[Tammyfarms]

I already had this recipe bookmarked elsewhere in the forum but without the weights in grams that you have listed to the right hand side. Were those weights listed in the actual recipe?

I made another batch tonight and actually measured everything in dry measuring cups and fwiw, I have different weights than listed above. I only weighed everything (in grams) to get actual percentages for each ingredient because I'm weird like that. I want all my recipes in percentages.

I am the same. Based on what you just wrote I am going to measure and weigh the ingredients. I already converted to percentages but it sounds like they might be off. My first batch dried with weird bumps on the top of each puck so I know something was off. Thanks for the heads up.

 

[Feelin' Soapy]

I already had this recipe bookmarked elsewhere in the forum but without the weights in grams that you have listed to the right hand side. Were those weights listed in the actual recipe?

I cut and pasted the recipe directly from the Files section of Moon Cake Cult on FB.

 

[Servant4Christ]

I am the same. Based on what you just wrote I am going to measure and weigh the ingredients. I already converted to percentages but it sounds like they might be off. My first batch dried with weird bumps on the top of each puck so I know something was off. Thanks for the heads up.

As long as you follow the dry cup measurements instead of the above weights you're fine. My baking soda weighed 290g so the weights above are definitely off. The grams above look like they could just be the ml markings on the side of a liquids measuring cup, which doesn't account for the density of each ingredient. (Example: a cup of marshmallows doesn't weight the same as a cup of grapes). That is what initially made me think to weigh mine rather than take those weights at face value to figure out my percentages.

The batch of steamers I made last night are way too big. I only ended up with 4 steamers. I used one of those clear ball ornaments that I picked up in an after Christmas reduced price sale. Definitely need to order something that'll hold 50g. I feel a little like Goldilocks. First batch was too small, second batch is too big. The next batch will hopefully be just right.

 

[AliOop]

My first batch dried with weird bumps on the top of each puck so I know something was off. Thanks for the heads up.

The most common cause of that is activation of the CA. That’s why I add the CA last, after I’ve mixed all the other dry ingredients with all the wet ingredients. But it can also happen if you have too much liquid.

 

[Tammyfarms]

The most common cause of that is activation of the CA. That’s why I add the CA last, after I’ve mixed all the other dry ingredients with all the wet ingredients. But it can also happen if you have too much liquid.

I also added the CA last, just like with bath bombs. It’s totally possible I used too much alcohol as the instructions are to just cover the menthol with RA to melt it. Thanks! I did weigh the alcohol as I added it so I will use less next time.