Verbena Mint
Sometimes smell can be the most forgotten about sense. Using the sense of smell can be enjoyable or not so enjoyable. We do a lot of sub- conscience sniffing, when we are smelling something our brain is responding but we just don’t know it. I was surprised to find that “We go about our activities, breathing in and out, as an infinite number of chemical molecules interact subliminally with our odor receptors. Only when an odor irritates or pleases us or acts as a sudden reminder of the past do we pause to take notice” (Sense of Smell Institute). This makes me wonder what I’m smelling that I’m not even noticing. So while the sense of smell is constantly working, only certain scents are brought to our attention. Scents can trigger memories and even stimulate other senses. We tend to enjoy scents the most when they have a certain significance.
One of my favorite products is a scented moisturizer from Victoria’s Secret called Energize. It is scented with verbena and mint. Verbena is a bushy herb that grows well in the United States as well as in Europe; although, it originated in South America. The scent of verbena has been known to “move writers to poetry and prose in an effort to describe its essence, which is both crisp and relaxing at the same time” (Mountain Rose Herbs). Because this plant has the strongest scent in its family of herbs, it has been used to add fragrance to perfumes and flavoring to baked goods. Its medicinal purposes are to relieve fevers and stress. The leaves of the verbena plant can be used in a tea infusion, and is said to have a calming even mildly sedative effect (Ageless Herbal Products).
Energize is a whipped body cream that is packaged in a stout, cylindrical, lime-green jar. Its shape is contoured so that its smallest circumfrence is in the middle of the jar, to replicate the sensuous curves of a woman’s body. When I twist and lift the lid off of the jar, a cool, fresh, minty citrus scent drifts up towards my nose. It smells like the first rays of sunshine in the early morning that begin to evaporate the dew drops on the grass. I first began using this product during the summer so when I put it on each morning it reminds me of those carefree summer mornings when I don’t have a thing to be responsible for or worry about.
The scent of this body lotion fits its name very well. Scented with the tantalizing essence of verbena and mint, the lotion tempts me with the oppurtunities filling the day ahead, but that are still out of reach. Somehow, its smell does stimulate my senses and actually is energizing. Inhaling deeply the smooth scent of the lotion gives me a surge of inspiration to get up and face the day. The best aspect of this product is that the smell of it lasts for hours. Of course it is the most potent in the morning right after it has been applied, and it does fade slightly as the day goes on. Even into the evening the scent lingers, offering a refreshing waft of energy, and refusing to be taken over by the stronger more powerful scents of everyday living.
The lotion indulges my nose in the refreshingly cool scent of mint as well as the stimulating and energizing scent of verbena. I use my Energize body lotion every morning when I get out of the shower, and its fresh vibrant scent provides me with the first burst of energy that I need to jump start my day.
