A few months ago, I stopped drinking coffee. Not because I don’t like the morning ritual, but because my baseline anxiety is so high that I run on pure adrenaline from the moment I wake up until about 1am, when I’m groggy and mentally reviewing my to-do list for the next day. Stress is my way of doing things. Coffee could fuel the train.
Between deadlines, crowded subways, and my tendency to slip into the throes of WebMD hypochondria, I’m willing to try anything to curb it. Acupuncture? Sign me up. Yoga? I’ll give it a go. Sugar scrubs? Get a bucket ready. Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Stress Relief Eucalyptus Spearmint Sugar Scrub This was at the top of my list of things to try after a particularly stressful day (a glass or two of wine, but that’s not relevant here), and I really, really wanted it to work, so I went all out: dimmed the lights, lit candles, did anything I could to help the process.
When you open the bottle, the first thing you’re hit with is the aroma. I actually love both eucalyptus and spearmint. Separately. But together they remind me of that body spray/deodorant my high school boyfriend used to wear. But I’m a firm believer in the power of essential oils, and if the combination of these two scents can reduce my anxiety by even 10%, I’ll inhale it until I pass out or, with God’s blessing, fall into a deep state of relaxation. In my defense, the instructions say: do “Breathe deeply for best results,” he says.
The scrub felt amazing. All the rough parts of my body – knees, elbows – were smoothed over with the coarse sugar. Although it left a bit of an oily film on my body (it even left one all over the bathtub, so if you live alone and don’t have a Life Alert, it’s a good idea to have something to grab when you get out of the shower), the oil was absorbed within 30 minutes and my skin felt silky smooth and hydrated. It was no different to applying a body oil after a bath. The smell definitely lingered for a few hours after the shower, but it was rather relaxing while I drifted off to sleep. Did I completely de-stress and reach nirvana? No. But I definitely felt much happier. My muscles were relaxed and I was able to close my eyes and breathe, if only for a minute or two.
Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Body Scrub is an Allure Reader’s Choice Product of 2020. You can see the full list of this year’s winners here.
