For DIY stocking stuffers, whisk 1 cup of baking soda, half a cup of citric acid and a tablespoon of cornstarch with 25 drops of peppermint, 20 of sweet orange and 5 of clove, tint half with beetroot powder, press into a 24-cavity mini mold, dry for a day and pack six to a pouch.
DIY stocking stuffers are a good thing to make in December, because they are small, cheap and easy to make in bulk. These are mini shower steamers in white and soft red, like a candy cane, scented with peppermint, sweet orange and a touch of clove. One batch makes twenty-four minis, enough for four pouches of six, and costs about the same as a single shop-bought gift. They take an afternoon, most of which is waiting for them to dry, so start at least two days before you want to wrap them.
If you have never made steamers, the shower steamer recipe explains the basic method in more detail.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (about 220g) baking soda
- 1/2 cup (about 110g) citric acid
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon beetroot powder
- 25 drops peppermint essential oil
- 20 drops sweet orange essential oil
- 5 drops clove essential oil
- Witch hazel in a small spray bottle
- 4 small kraft paper pouches and twine
Tools
- Two mixing bowls
- Whisk
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Silicone mold with 24 small round cavities about 3cm across
- Airtight jar for storing
How to make DIY stocking stuffers with mini shower steamers
1Gather the ingredients
Beetroot powder gives a soft, natural red that will not stain the shower. You will not get a bright Christmas red without dye, and the softer shade suits a candy cane anyway. Mica works if you want a stronger colour.
2Whisk the base and add the oils
Whisk the baking soda, citric acid and cornstarch together, then add twenty-five drops of peppermint, twenty of sweet orange and five of clove a few at a time, whisking between each. That is about two drops per mini, plenty for a small steamer.
3Split and tint half
Tip half the mixture into the second bowl and whisk in a teaspoon of beetroot powder until the colour is even. Add a little more for a deeper shade. Now you have one white and one red batch.
4Mist and press into the mini mold
Mist each bowl with witch hazel, two sprays at a time, until a squeezed pinch holds. Press white into half the cavities and red into the rest, or layer a little of each in every cavity for a swirled candy-cane look. Press each one firmly with a fingertip.
5Dry and unmold
Leave them in the mold for 24 hours, then push them out from underneath. Minis dry faster than full-size steamers, but give them the full day before packing; any moisture left inside will soften them in the pouch.
6Pack into pouches
Put six minis, three of each colour, into each pouch, fold the top over twice and tie it with twine. Add a small tag with how to use them and the ingredients. Kraft paper lets a little air through, so for longer storage keep them in a sealed jar until you pack the stockings.
If it goes wrong
| Problem | Likely cause | How to fix it |
|---|---|---|
| The red is too pale | Not enough beetroot powder | Whisk in another half teaspoon, or use a pinch of red mica. |
| The minis crumble in the pouch | They were packed before fully dry | Give them the full 24 hours in the mold before packing. |
| The scent has faded by Christmas | They were stored open or near heat | Keep them in a sealed jar until wrapping day and away from radiators. |
| The minis will not come out of the mold | Too little pressing or too dry | Press firmly and mist until a squeezed pinch holds together. |
How do you use a mini shower steamer?
Exactly like a full-size one, only shorter. Put one on a shelf or corner of the shower where it catches splashes but not the full stream. A mini fizzes for five to eight minutes, enough for a quick morning shower. Two at once make a stronger scent. Write that on the tag, along with a note that they are for the shower, not the bath.
Other stocking stuffer scents
Keep to fifty drops for twenty-four minis. Gingerbread: 25 sweet orange, 15 ginger, 10 cinnamon leaf. Winter Forest: 25 fir needle, 15 cedarwood, 10 eucalyptus. Plain Peppermint: 50 peppermint, the classic. Vanilla Orange: 30 sweet orange, 20 vanilla fragrance oil. For children in the family, make an unscented batch instead; peppermint and clove are not suitable for young children.
How far ahead can you make them?
Up to about six weeks, stored in a sealed jar until wrapping day. Peppermint and clove keep their scent well; the sweet orange fades first. Make them in the first week of December and they will still smell fresh on Christmas morning. Avoid packing them into stockings that hang over a radiator or near a fire, which dries them out and fades the scent faster.
Can you make them in other shapes?
Yes. Any small silicone mold with cavities about 3cm across works, and Christmas shapes make them feel more festive: tiny stars, trees, snowflakes or bells. Detailed shapes are more fragile, so press the points and edges first, then the middle, and let them dry the full day before handling. Simple rounds and squares are the sturdiest and pack most neatly into a pouch.
How much does a batch cost?
Roughly the price of one shop-bought steamer gift box, for twenty-four minis. The baking soda, citric acid and cornstarch cost very little; the oils are the main expense, and the bottles will last many batches. That is what makes these such good stocking stuffers: you can make enough for everyone at once. For bigger gifts, see the shower steamer gift set and the Christmas bath bombs. More seasonal ideas are in the gifts hub.
Frequently asked questions
How far ahead can you make shower steamer stocking stuffers?
Up to about six weeks, stored in a sealed jar until you pack the stockings.
Are mini shower steamers suitable for children?
Not with peppermint and clove. For children, make a scent-free version instead.
How many mini steamers go in a pouch?
Six is a good number: enough for a week of showers and small enough for a stocking.
Can you use a full-size mold instead?
Yes. You will get twelve 4cm steamers from the same batch instead of twenty-four minis.
