Aroma Spotlight: Pep-Up-Mint, Perk Up, and Peace & Quiet
Welcome to part two of our seasonal spotlight on T Spheres Bath & Body oil aromas! This is where we feature some of our available Bath & Body oils and go in depth on the benefits they bring, how to most effectively use them, and even why some aromas are well suited to certain seasons. You may have a go-to favorite aroma - but because different essential oils have distinct effects, different oils might come in handy during different times of year. If you missed part one, check out our spotlight on the Inner Beauty and Inner Strength aromatherapy oils (hint: they’re well suited for fall, when the weather starts to change. Read why!)
Some smells you just can’t help but associate with certain times of year. Like floral scents in spring, or rich woody scents in the fall. Peppermint is a distinctly winter smell, and it has been for centuries. What would the holidays be without minty treats?
That’s why two of our winter features are peppermint-based scents. Let’s start with the Pep-Up-Mint Bath and Body oil. While many of our oil aromas are designed to encourage calm and relaxation, this one is for the opposite. The name says it all; peppermint peps you up.
Research suggests the scent of peppermint stimulates the brain, making you feel more awake. In the lead up to the winter solstice, while nights are at their longest, we might need some help staying alert – waking up when it’s still dark out can be a struggle. Putting Pep-Up-Mint in your diffuser is a great natural method to help yourself wake up in the morning.Or if you’re driving home in the dark, try applying some topically. Not only will the aroma help with attentiveness to the road, but the invigorating and cooling effect peppermint has on contact with skin is an added sensory touch to keep you awake at the wheel.
Another reason we put Pep-Up-Mint in the winter lineup is because it’s a natural decongestant. During flu season, putting a few drops in your diffuser or shower might mean you get to breathe out of both nostrils again.
Our second winter scent spotlight comes with a twist: Perk Up blends the winter wonder-aromas peppermint with pink grapefruit. Citrus scents might seem summer-ish, until you remember that Christmas clementines are a thing. Most citrus fruit actually come into peak season around the holidays. And it’s a good thing too, as the vitamin C they contain helps boost our immune system.
Similar to peppermint, the scent of pink grapefruit is “energizing and uplifting,” says Cynthia LaBonte, aromatherapist and herbalist at Newport Aromatherapy. "We associate citrus with cleanliness. Their top notes go straight up the sinuses to the head and make us feel better, fitter, and even more confident and in control."
That mood boost is another reason we put Perk Up as a winter aroma – it’s a great way to naturally combat Seasonal Affective Disorder. If where you live is cold and dreary from November to February, or even longer, adding some pink grapefruit to your aroma rotation can help regulate your mood.
Peppermint and pink grapefruit make a fantastic combination because they both attend to alertness in slightly different ways. While peppermint makes you awake, pink grapefruit helps you focus. Could you ask for anything more during a late night study session? For students heading back to school after the winter holidays, Perk Up could really help as they enter the winter semester.
There’s also a reason why we associate citrus with cleanliness - it’s antibacterial and antioxidative. Does using oil to combat acne sound counterintuitive? Pink Grapefruit essential oil could actually help prevent and treat skin conditions like acne by keeping the skin bacteria-free and reducing inflammation in breakouts, but further research into grapefruit’s treatment potential is still needed.
And last but far from least, our final seasonal spotlight lands on Peace & Quiet, a classic lavender infused Bath & Body oil. Lavender’s famously calming properties are welcome just about any time, given the pace and stress of our modern lives. But we’ve included it in our winter list because we know how stressful the holidays can get - particularly holiday travel.
And because T Spheres was originally designed with travel in mind, you know our blend will do the trick. Use Peace & Quiet to help with stress, anxiety, headaches, and insomnia. Because lavender is such a gentle aroma and skin-friendly oil, there’s no wrong way to use it. Try 5-10 drops in the bath, or apply directly on wet skin and air dry to allow the oil to absorb.
There you have it, our winter recommendations, just in time for holiday shopping. Of course our aromatherapy oils are beneficial all year round – the purpose of dividing them into seasons is to analyze the benefits of each oil and identify what events or occasions might call for certain ones. We all fall into our favorite aromas, and the mood-boosting effect of smelling a favorite fragrance is beneficial all on its own. But wellness is about paying attention to what our brain and bodies need in the moment, and using a wide variety of aroma oils with intentionality is like equipping your self-care tool-kit – you’ll always have just the right thing.