Lately, I’ve been experiencing some stress in my life beyond Now Smell This. It’s just deadline-related tension, and it will all be resolved for better or for worse within another month or two, but in the meantime, I’m feeling all tied up in knots. This seemed like the perfect time for me to test the calming benefits of two lavender-fragranced body products. Lavender has been used for centuries for its mind-soothing properties (as well as its antiseptic qualities), and if it was good enough for both the ancient Romans and Queen Elizabeth I, it’s good enough for me!
Divine Calm Sublime Body Lotion belongs to The Body Shop’s new Wellbeing line, which is comprised of four scent families for different purposes: Deep Sleep, Total Energy, Pure Detox, and Divine Calm. Divine Calm Sublime Body Lotion contains French lavender essential oil that “relaxes the senses,” chamomile that “promotes a sense of calm and soothes skin,” and community-produced soy oil, cocoa butter, and Brazil nut oil for moisture. This line seems to mark The Body Shop’s return to some of its original values of natural ingredients and fair trade, which is good to see. I can’t detect the fragrance of the chamomile, but I’m enjoying the simple, true lavender scent. It somehow feels both purifying and tranquilizing, and the medium-weight lotion can be applied generously without any residue.
Essence of Vali is a small, New York-based company that focuses on aromatherapy (see review of Essence of Vali Balance Massage and Bath Oil), and its Calm Relax Mist is a wonderfully versatile product. The water-based spray can be spritzed on the body, in the air around a room or an office space, on a yoga mat (and I swear I’m going to get back to regular yoga practice, soon!), or on sheets and linens at bedtime. It’s an all-natural composition of high-quality essential oils of lavender, orange peel, and ylang ylang. The lavender is dominant, but the orange gives it a cheery grace note and the ylang ylang is subtly sensual. Used in conjunction with The Body Shop’s lotion, Calm Relax Mist nudges me just a bit closer to potential serenity. Every layer helps.
Recent studies have shown that lavender may encourage a “more stable mood, increased mental capacity, and reduced anxiety,” all of which I could use these days. I’m sure I’m not the only one, so please feel free to recommend your own favorite soothing fragranced products, lavender or otherwise, in the comments!
The Body Shop Divine Calm Sublime Body Lotion sells for $22 for 6.8 oz. at thebodyshop. Essence of Vali Calm Relax Mist sells for $6 for 2 oz. at amazon and cosmeticmall.
Note: image is Olympic Trip Lavender IV by libraryman at flickr; some rights reserved.
Great review.
I am using L'Occitante Lavender Foaming Bath as a shower gel.
As you (and the rest of planet earth, I guess) I am facing an uncertain next 3 or 4 months, with people being let go of my job, the economy in crisis, etc, etc, etc.
The bath has become a ritual I cannot wait to indulge in, using the described bath gel, with it's lavender smell almost chocolate-y as it is so rich, really calms my senses. I complement the experience with Paul Mitchell's Special Tea Tree shampoo and conditioner (I use the conditioner every other day, as I don´t want to “overwhelm” my hair with products) it has lavender and peppermint, so my bath turns into a very special experience indeed
Remember, deep breaths help a lot… Hope your issues get resolved soon.
P.
p.s.: as I said before in this forum, II used to use Yardley's Lavender Inspiration lime and ginger bath and shower gel, but I believe it is discontinued unfortunately.
I really like Origins Calm To Your Senses range. It smells of lavender and vanilla and reminds me of Jicky. The bath and body oil is particularly versatile because it can be used either in a bath or directly on wet skin after a shower.
I haven't been inside an Origins in a while! I used to like a few of their products. I'll have to “revisit” their line soon. Thanks!
*taking a deep breath*
L'Occitane has some wonderful lavender products! Their lavender hand cream is perfect.
Thanks for the good wishes… I think *many* of us have been feeling some extra stress lately, so I hope this is a timely post!
EO makes some very nice lavender products, including soaps and lotions. They are kins of a health-food/Whole Foods kind of item.
I have a sizable bottle of lavender essential oil and dab it around now and again. Yes, definitely extra stress!!!! Argh.
Ah yes, EO! Nice line. And they make a great lavender-scented antibacterial hand gel, which is much less drying than the drugstore varieties.
Essential oils have so many uses (mix them into carrier oils for use on the body, dab a bit on a tissue and inhale it, use in a diffuser). I need to look around the apartment and check my stash of oils…
I bought a beautiful box for Crabtree & Evelyn new collection: Distillations… it contains a shower gel, a body lotion and a wonderful, exquisite and totally relaxing “Comforting Body Night Cream” It's really rich and oily but the smell of lavender and rosewood calms my nerves after a hideous day. I love put my hands as a nest and inhale the fragrance with deeply inspirations, thinking that I'm exhaling all the problems. Wonderful!
That sounds lovely! I haven't visited C & E in a while. I'll have to sample this line. Thanks for your post.
There's a wonderful, all-natural skincare line called Evan Healy that makes an Orange Blossom Hydrosol spray. It's meant to be mixed with creams or spritzed on the face for a pick-me-up, but I find excuses to spray it everywhere–my sheets, my hair, my hands and feet. It's just the most deliciously mellow orange blossom; it really calms me down.
I really like the whole bath & body works “sleep” line with their nice products and plush sheeps:)) Now You guys got me craving some lavender scents!
Orange blossom is so cheering! This brand is new to me. I love multi-purpose products (like the Essence of Vali sprays). Thanks, Mrs. W!
That's my plan. *I* won't relax until *everyone else* relaxes.
Returning to add:
I just remembered that Pia wrote a nice review of EO's Peppermint and Tea Tree hand wash! Here it is:
https://nstperfume.com/blog/_archives/2008/8/10/3827447.html
Hot lavender boobs!
http://smell-o-vision.blogspot.com/2008/08/hot-lavender-boobs.html
The calming scent of lavender has me up in a tizzy. I just received another one of those emails about why microwaving plastic is bad – the breakdown of many polymers releases compounds with estrogenic properties. Well guess what, so does lavender oil. (And tea tree for that matter.) Here's a link to the NEJM article about the poor kids with boobs to prove it:
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/356/5/479
Does it smell great? Absolutely! I adore the scent of lavender. Will it kill us? Probably not, but it is a fat soluble compound that builds up in tissues. Before using it's essential oils in daily products we should know the risks as well as the benefits.
This wellbeing line is really nice. The deep sleep, and calming items are nice. I got samples of some and in a gift with purchase, I got the Total Energy Enlivening Body Gel. Really fresh and nice (it is kind of a lotion gel)
I love lavender products and have used many of them from LÒccitane, Origins and a wonderful product in a bath fizzy from Kneipp. It really does have a soothing agent of some kind.
Hi Kim, I got one of those little GWP-type sample bags, too. I agree, the Total Energy gel is refreshing, with a citrusy-gingery scent. I'm keeping it on my desk for afternoon pick-me-ups! I use it as hand lotion and then inhale.
But for calming effects, lavender leads the way. What would we do without it?
Hi, Oblitterati. I'd heard of that study, although I'm not a medical expert myself. Of course, we should all check with the pediatrician before using any products on small children.
R, I use my Total Energy in the afternoons, too. It really does help.
And lavender is a wonderful thing.