We can get sick any time of year, of course, but winter is a particularly treacherous season for illnesses that sweep through the household or the office, dragging us down for a few days or even a few weeks: the many-symptomed cold virus, the stomach bug, the dreaded flu. And yes, we should all protect our own good health by eating well, getting enough sleep, taking vitamins, and exercising. I also like to supplement my efforts with some good-smelling products that help me to fight the unavoidable millions of germs around me.

The small, whimsically named company Buddha Nose sells several “aromatic products” that promote physical and emotional wellness. Its I Booster Salve contains a blend of essential oils (all organic or wild-crafted) that are known for their anti-bacterial properties, to bolster the immune system against infection. The salve looks like a dark-yellow wax, and it’s packaged in an easy-to-carry tin, like a shoe-polish container. This product can be applied as soon as you start to feel under the weather, when you’re traveling, or whenever you feel the need for extra immune support. I Booster Salve, which is crafted from a base of jojoba oil, hemp seed oil, and beeswax, is meant to be massaged into the throat, the back of the neck, and the shoulders, or dabbed under the nose. Its lemon oil and tea tree oil have a bracing, head-clearing effect, and its spicy mix of cinnamon, clove, and cinnamon warms the skin and emits an earthy, comforting fragrance. I’ve used this product while traveling on planes and crowded trains, where it surrounded me with a reassuring, private cocoon of scent (and blocked out the stale-and-stuffy atmosphere of the plane), and I do think it helped me dodge some airborne pests on those occasions.

One of my doctors told me that the best way to prevent seasonal illness is to wash my hands frequently. Sometimes, that’s just not possible, so I carry EO Hand Sanitizer with Organic Lavender. This liquid-y gel is made from organic alcohol (“non-GMO”), vegetable glycerin, and aloe. It’s liberally fragranced with organic lavender essential oil; lavender has been valued for centuries for its cleansing and calming properties, and still hasn’t gone out of style. Since so many germs are spread through hand-to-hand contact, or by touching surfaces that an infected person has touched, there are many things I try not to handle in public: subway poles, escalator handrails, door knobs...I even shrink from pressing the buttons of an ATM keypad. Fortunately, a few drops of EO Hand Sanitizer eliminate any harmful microorganisms that I’ve recently picked up, while the true, floral-herbal lavender fragrance soothes my mind for a few minutes. It’s a welcome change from the Windex-like smell of many mass-market hand sanitizers. Even better, this product works well without giving my hands the texture of corrugated cardboard. Dry skin is another cold-weather issue!

Do you have any favorite fragranced remedies that help you get through the cold season? Feel free to share in the comments section!

Buddha Nose I Booster Salve sells for 1 oz. for $24.00 at beautyhabit and buddhanose. EO Hand Sanitizer with Organic Lavender sells for 2 oz. for about $3-4 at smallflower and amazon.