Stressed? Sniffly? Can’t sleep? Time to... Harness the power of a flower shower

SINCe Cleopatra added rose petals to her bath and Ancient Romans scattered the waters of their spas with herbs, people have been using plants and aromatherapy in their bathing experience.

Now the trend has been given a new lease of life with the rise of bath — or shower — bouquets.

It is what it sounds like — bunches of herbs, flowers and greenery suspended so the water can flow over them, releasing health-boosting essential oils and fragrances. Craft site etsy has a selection of readymade shower bouquets (etsy.com) or you can make your own.

‘Herbs and flowers can be beneficial from a health perspective,’ says Catherine Nix of My Scented Home (myscentedhome.co.uk), a florist who works with fresh and dried flowers. ‘Some, such as lavender which aids sleep, or rosemary which can clear the mind, are readily available fresh.

‘But others, such as camomile, which reduces stress, are harder to come by in anything other than dried form. So while I’d always suggest using fresh, there’s nothing wrong with adding a muslin bag with some dried herbs or flowers to the mix.’

For inspiration, have a look at the book The Bath Project by dr Barbara Kubicka (£24.99, thebathproject.com), which suggests plants and herbs to help with various ailments — from using marjoram, cardamom and basil for a hangover, to fennel and juniper for water retention.

or, try one of the bouquets that we asked Catherine to make up for us.

‘To get the most out of your shower or bath bouquet, put it in a plastic bag and hammer it with a rolling pin before you use it,’ she advises. ‘This will help release the fragrance.’

Here, Catherine presents her favourite shower bouquets…

FOR RADIANT SKIN Sage, oatmeal (in a bag), oregano, lemon verbena, aloe and eucalyptus

Aloe vera is often found in after-sun products because it has anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties. You will often find oats in creams that are designed for dry and sensitive skin. ‘Sage and oregano both have antibacterial properties,’ says Catherine. ‘And oregano is also high in antioxidants, while lemon verbena tones the skin.’

PMS SOOTHER Lavender, basil, peppermint and eucalyptus

I loved the fragrant combination of basil and peppermint but had no idea they could help with PMS. Basil is said to reduce menstrual cramps because a chemical it contains has painkilling properties, while peppermint, ‘reduces headaches and nausea’, says Catherine.

SLEEP AID Lavender, eucalyptus, lemon balm, camomile and mugwort

CAMOMILE has long been associated with sleep as it contains an ingredient that binds to receptors in the brain that are believed to decrease anxiety and initiate sleep. lavender helps the body relax, while lemon balm can apparently bring relief for insomniacs.

Finally, Catherine adds eucalyptus and a little dried mugwort to the bag.

‘This has sedative properties and gives wonderful dreams,’ she says. After using it, I slept well for a good seven hours.

BREATHE EASILY Eucalyptus, peppermint and oregano

EUCALYPTUS helps you breathe more easily. Catherine has paired it with peppermint — ‘good for un-clogging sinuses’ — and oregano, the oil of which has long been used to treat fevers and respiratory symptoms.

ANXIETY BUSTER Lavender, eucalyptus and bay

BAY leaves are associated with stews, but it turns out that burning them has long been a herbal remedy for anxiety.

Apparently they contain a chemical called linalool, which is the same active ingredient found in lavender (also in this bouquet) that has been proven to relieve stress.

THE ANTI-AGER Sage, basil, eucalyptus and oregano

SAGE, basil and oregano are all good at slowing the ageing of skin, says Catherine. This is partly because they’re high in antioxidants which counteract some of the unstable compounds associated with accelerating the ageing process. Perennial favourite eucalyptus is included because of its ability to reduce stress.