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Perfect for cold and flu season, use these Homemade Vicks Soother Tablets to clear your stuffy nose and relieve sinus pressure naturally. This is the original Vicks Soother Tablets recipe online and uses natural essential oils to help relieve head colds without chemicals.
Do you remember the commercials for the Vicks Vapor shower tablets thingies? You’d put one of the disks in your shower, and voila thanks to the vapors in it, you’re magically healed, your cold is gone, and your face is shockingly free of snot.
I always used to watch the “Noxema girl” splashing water on her face in those commercials and wondered how she was able to wash her face without being completely overrun with boogers.
I’m the only one? Yes? I’m stuck in the ’90s? Ok, moving along then…
What Ingredients Are In Homemade Vicks Soother Tablets?
- Baking soda
- Arrowroot powder
- Water
- Rosemary essential oil
- Lavender essential oil
- Eucalyptus essential oil
Please note, you will NOT see cornstarch in this recipe for a very specific reason. Cornstarch is horrible for clogging drains and is a plumbing nightmare!
The oils I buy from Plant Therapy have worked well for me, are affordable, and available on Amazon. I do not sell essential oils and am not part of any MLM organization. If you have an oil brand that you prefer, please feel free to use those!
Is There a Kidsafe Version?
Yes! The main essential oils in these Vicks Soother Tablets are not safe for kids under 12. If you have younger kiddos, Plant Therapy makes a Kid Safe Sniffle Stopper. Use 30 drops of that in place of the lavender, rosemary, and eucalyptus oils.
Can I Just Use Vicks?
My preference is always for a natural version of anything I am using for my health, which is why I use the essential oils. If oils are not in the cards for you, sub in 4 tbsp of Vicks Vapor Rub for the essential oils.
If you have kids under two, please make sure you use Baby Vicks Vapor Rub.
Can I Use Herbs Instead of Oils?
Yes, but you will need a large amount to replace the potency of the essential oils. You would want to use 2 tbsp (chopped) of each herb.
Can I Use Fragrance Oils?
I would not use them. Essential oils have medicinal properties, whereas fragrance oils are just there to give you the scent.
How Do I Use Shower Soothers?
You will want to place one on the floor of your shower. If you put it in the direct spray of the shower it will likely dissolve more quickly but give you a more intense hit of the oils.
Alternatively, you can put it in the direct spray while your shower is heating up, and then scoot it over to the side when you jump in. Or walk in, because jumping into a slippery shower seems kind of beetle-headed. I mean, you’re already stuffed up, why risk a concussion?
How To Store Shower Soothers
If you’re using them for yourself, throw them in an air-tight container and toss them in a cupboard or bathroom closet. If you’re gifting them for friends or family, an 8 oz jam jar with a ribbon tied around it would be cute!
How Long Do Homemade Vicks Soother Tablets Last?
Without herbs added to the mix, the shower soothers will last indefinitely. However, the strength of the essential oils will fade in a month or so. To store longterm, you can make them without the oils and add 2-3 drops of each oil just prior to using.
How to Make Soother Tablets
*Detailed and printable recipe card is available at the bottom of the post
In a mixing bowl, combine baking soda, arrowroot powder, water, and 15 drops of each of the lavender, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oils to the mixture. Stir until the mixture forms a thick paste. Pro tip: it should be thick and viscous and with some water remaining on the top.
Scoop the paste into a muffin tin lined with muffin cups or a silicone muffin tin.
Bake at 250 degrees until hardened – about 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can set them out overnight for 12-18 hours.
Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
- Your soothers may still be a bit squishy after baking. They should harden as they cool. If you use silicone muffin tins, the bottom of the tablets may be sponge-like. That’s totally normal.
- If you leave your shower tablets out overnight to harden, please keep them in a safe place away from pets.
- A silicone muffin tin (always available at thrift stores!) makes it super easy to remove the shower tabs once cooled. If you want to use a traditional muffin tin, definitely use a cupcake liner. However, you may still have a hard time removing the tab from the liner. I love these compostable cupcake liners because nothing sticks to them!
Variations
- Feel free to add a little food coloring if you want to jazz up the appearance of these shower soothers.
- If you want to use the essential oils and also use some herbs to make them look cute, add the herbs to the top of the mixture after you have filled the muffin tin. I found out the hard way that pouring the mixture over the herbs results in them turning brown after baking. Your shower soothers may end up looking muddy or moldy. Gross!
- If you have an oil combination that you love, feel free to adapt the recipe to fit your preferences. Peppermint and eucalyptus combined are both great for clearing sinuses and perking you up! If you shower at night and want a calming soother, lavender is great for bedtime. I love Plant Therapy’s Sleep Aid blend.
These homemade Vicks Soother Tablets are wonderful to have around for cold and flu season, and I use them during the four months a year when my allergies are on full display.
MORE HOMEMADE DIY IDEAS
- Eco-Friendly Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner
- Homemade Laundry Soap
- How to Remove Rust From Cast Iron
- Homemade Dusting Spray and Furniture Polish
- Zero Waste Food Storage Ideas
- Natural Homemade Deodorant Recipe
- How to Freeze Fresh Produce
Homemade Vicks Soother Tablets {Shower Soothers)
Ingredients
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup arrowroot powder
- 1/3 cup water
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
- 15 drops rosemary essential oil
- 15 drops eucalyptus essential oil
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine baking soda, arrowroot powder, water, and 15 drops of each of the lavender, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oil to the mixture. Stir until the mixture forms a thick paste.
- Add 15 drops of each of the lavender, eucalyptus, and rosemary essential oil to the mixture. Scoop the paste into a muffin tin lined with muffin cups or a silicone muffin tin.
- Bake at 250 degrees until hardened – about 30 minutes. Alternatively, you can set them out overnight for 12-18 hours. Store in an air-tight container until needed.
- Remove from the paper liner prior to using, and place on the floor of your shower. Breathe deeply, and enjoy.
This post on homemade was originally published in March 2012. I’ve updated it in December 2018 with new photos, details, and instructions. For reference, this is one of the photos from the original post:
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I was in love with Sudafed shower soothes, and they are no more! I can’t wait to try this!
I’m a registered aromatherapist and love this idea. I am, however, disappointed to read the marketing going on with Young Living and DoTerra essential oils. There are great places to get essential oils online, you just have to do your homework. I don’t buy from MLM essential oil companies because the prices are WAY too high. Save yourself some money. I will gladly give some recommendations if you email me. [email protected].
Oh, one more thing. I wouldn’t bake these after adding the essential oils. Heat, air and light degrade the oils. Add them after, as someone suggested already.
can you use something else besides rosemary?
Use whatever you’d like! Rosemary is one of the ingredients in Vicks, but I’m sure it’s not 100% necessary.
If they are only 1/3 gone after your shower, maybe make some mini muffin sized! We take fairly quick showers, that might work for us. Thanks for posting!
What would the dry time be for the mini muffin pans???
Hey I had a crazy idea! Does anybody remember their grandma putting their head under a tea towel with a bowl of steaming water. What if you made this in mini muffin size and plopped one of those bad boys in the bowl for an instant treatment?
There is an all-natural Vick’s Vapo Rub without chemicals and they also use menthol crystals and camphor oil. Both, act even better as “head and lung clearers”.
https://shop.agapeandzoe.com/Amazingly-Awesome-Multipurpose-Cream-2-oz-609465677293.htm
I just made these; I think I added a bit too much water, because it took quite a bit longer to dry. They are dry now, and ready for use. However, I’m just wondering if I can use the same cupcake pan again for regular food, or should I now use it for projects, due to the essential oils? Thank you.
Yep, you can absolutely use them again for food stuff. Essential oils even if they’re not food grade are used in lots of things around the house. I use essential oils in my surface cleaner all the time, so I use it for cleaning the kitchen all the time.
That’s what I thought, but wanted to make sure. Thank you!
Awesome idea! I sit here sneezing as we speak & my DD is all congested. I’m excited to try this, but my real question, & possibly the most important (quite frankly, I’m surprised noone has asked this yet)…wait for it…how in the heck do you take a 5 minute or less shower!?!? I.Can’t.Even.Fathom. LOL!
Ugh, spring colds are the worst! They’re so cruel because it’s sunny and warmer, and yet before summer comes, the germs need to get you one more time!
Ha on the shower. I shower like I do everything – efficiently! Get in, wet hair and shampoo. Rinse, and apply conditioner. Let it sit while I soap up. Rinse hair (while hair is rinsing, the soap comes off the bod too). Then a quick wash of the face and I’m done.
I don’t use the shower to wake up like my husband does. He could be in there for 20 minutes if no one is policing him.
Any suggestions besides lavender? I am allergic and it would make me worse not better.
The other 2 oils should be just fine. Lavender is calming and supposed to help people relax and sleep. The other 2 should help with the cold symptoms.
eucalyptus, rosemary. You could always try peppermint too.
If any of you have access to doTerra oils use the breathe in your discs! amazing stuff!!!
So I have tried this recipe at least 5 times and my “pucks” dissolve in less than a minute. I have tried letting them air dry for 24 hours, putting them in the oven for 20 minutes and no luck 🙁 Any suggestions?
Oh no! Try mixing the baking soda and water separately and then baking. THEN add the essential oils.
My pharmacist said that vick’s discontinued the shower soothers last fall, so those of you that have found them, congrats! I’m really looking forward to trying this out, since I can no longer purchase the original. Thanks!
My pharmacist said that vick’s discontinued the shower soothers last fall, so those of you that have found them, congrats! I’m really looking forward to trying this out, since I can no longer purchase the original. Thanks!
I am not a quitter and will try again and maybe this time less water and i will let dry for a couple of days.
I had such high hopes and was let down by such an epic fail. I broke a spatula because the baking soda does not mix easily. The mixture never dried even after trying to use the oven.I had flakes and clumps everywhere. And Yes I did follow the directions. 🙁
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I just made these the other day; Here is what has happened for me. Comments welcomed.
The tablets dissolved way to quickly (in less than 10 second.) The scent was not at all there – I think the baking soda absorbed the scent! And I put a lot of oil!
Any help would be appreciated 🙂 Thanks.
Did you try the amended directions above with the measurements and then adding the essential oils after baking? It works wonderfully for me.
not sure what i did wrong but when i cooked these for 20 minutes, after i took them out of the oven they were stuck in the pan..i used regular muffin paper ups as i would with cupcakes but could nt remove them…
Perhaps our ovens run hot/cold of each other? I would add a bit of water to get the “pucks” unstuck. Then mix it back up with more water and try baking for less time.
You people are spending way too much on your essential oils. You should go to http://www.MysticWays.com instead since most of these high priced companies get their product from the same global supplier as MysticWays and charge you for all their advertising and fancy labeled bottles. If you’re supposed to be so frugal you missed the boat on this one.
I don’t have a problem with people making suggestions to be helpful, but to be rude about it and not even leave your name? Come on, you’re (hopefully) better than that.
Many people don’t realize all the options out there. I went with an option I knew and liked.
YOU missed the boat on helping people find a new source when you chose to comment in a way that degraded other people’s choices.
Mine stuck to the muffin liners and the liners stuck to the pan. They all crumbled when I tried to take them out of the pan. I dumped them back in a bowl and made baking soda meatballs instead. I am letting them air dry right now.
I use “If You Care” liners which peel off SO easily on anything. Maybe that is why I didn’t have sticking issues? I’m totally giggling at baking soda meatballs though!