From hair masks to cold rinses, people incorporate many different shower rituals into their routines. But a particularly interesting one thats caught hold on social media is eating an orange in the shower.

The concept is simple: Turn on your shower, grab an orange, get in and start peeling and eating the fruit, enjoying all that citrusy goodness. Although theres no way to really say who first tried this shower experiment, some link the trend to a 2015 Reddit post from a since-deleted account that described the feel good experience of shower oranges. That same year, the Shower Orange subreddit was created.

More recently, the shower orange concept has reached new audiences on TikTok , where a growing number of videos extolling the virtues of this bathing ritual.

I first saw this concept on TikTok, registered dietitian Maggie Michalczyk told HuffPost. It was just a video of someone peeling an orange in a steamy shower with mellow music and no real context as to why. It looked really relaxing, and I could almost smell the citrusy orange from watching the video. I thought, Ive gotta try that because I bet it would be really energizing!

Michalczyk tried the shower orange process with Sumo Citrus, which is easy to peel. And she found she enjoyed the way the shower steam exaggerated the scent.

I feel like theres a lot of wellness rituals that catch fire and anything thats somewhat simple to do, but that could make you feel a little bit more energized or motivated, is something I think a lot of people are willing to try, the dietician explained. I know for me personally, living in Chicago where we dont get a lot of sunlight in the winter, Ill try anything for a boost of energy on a gray day, which is another reason why eating an orange in the shower appealed to me.

But what exactly are all the purported benefits of eating an orange in the shower? Are they based on science? And are there any downsides to this process? Below, Michalczyk and other nutrition experts break it down.

You get an enhanced sensory experience.

People are trying out the TikTok trend of eating oranges in the shower because, supposedly, the showers heat enhances the smell and taste of oranges, said registered dietician and nutrition writer Alyssa Northrop .

The idea is that the shower and fruit elevate each other.

Peeling an orange in a steamy shower helps release that energizing aromatic citrus scent, Michalczyk said.

As a result, your at-home shower may feel more like a fancy hotel or spa stay, and the smell of orange can be extra delectable.

The shower humidity may grab the essential oils of the orange, especially released when peeling it, and circulate the smell around the especially small space of the shower, said registered dietitian nutritionist Dawn Jackson Blatner .

However, she believes the flavor or taste of the orange is less likely to be stronger in the shower.

This is not as likely to make as big of a difference in the shower since most of the essential oils are in the peel, not the flesh that youre eating, Blatner said.