I'm surprised that you couldn't get it below 95 with a dimmer because if you turn the dimmer all the way down, you will be getting no heat from the heat mat. Was it still 95 then? If not, all you'd have to do is start with the dimmer nearly off and turn it up gradually. Adding layers may work; it's worth a try. The best solution (besides spending $30 on a thermostat) is to invest the $12 for a dimmer.