By Brittney Morgan House Beautiful

You may not be able to take a self-care day at an actual spa right now, but you can turn your own bathroom into one. Or, at least, you can give it a refreshing upgrade that will make it feel like you're having a luxurious at-home spa experience—and it's even easier than you might think. All you need are a few branches of eucalyptus, and your bathroom will look and smell like your go-to spa in no time. 

You should be able to get fresh eucalyptus from your local florist, but if you'd prefer your new spa secret weapon to be delivered straight to your door, there's good news: Eucalyptus bundles made specifically for use in your shower or bathtub are available on Etsy. Sellers like EucalyptusBlooms don't just sell bundled branches for use in your shower, either. You'll find bundles mixed with dried lavender, branches to put in vases, and even pouches filled with fresh leaves for an alternative to hanging up full-on branches in your bathroom. It all depends on what sort of vibe you're going for.

Eucalyptus doesn't just smell pretty and look good, either: According to a report in the National Library of Medicine, the plant's oil has antimicrobial properties and can also have anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulatory effects, which makes sense, since the oil has long been used to help with respiratory issues like asthma and bronchitis. (If you've ever used Vicks VapoRub to relieve cough and cold symptoms, you know eucalyptus oil is one of the main active ingredients!) 

Whether you're in it for the purported health benefits or you just like the look and smell of eucalyptus in your bathroom, hanging a few branches in your shower is a quick and an inexpensive way to take your bathroom to a whole new level. Simply hang it directly from your showerhead itself, or add a hook for it underneath the fixture instead (pro tip: if you're going the hook route, Command makes water-resistant hooks that will work perfectly for this.) You can even hang smaller branches from your tub faucet for an upgrade bubble bath experience, and complete the experience with a bath tray to hold candles, beverages, and even a good book—unwinding just got so much sweeter.