Aromatherapy is subjective: Does lavender relax, or does its old-lady connotation repulse? One body scrub claims eucalyptus oil invigorates; another says it calms and clarifies.(I, personally, love the smell of camphor and menthol — I think it’s a Pavlovian reaction to growing up around Vicks Vapo-Rub. A little in a diffuser right around bedtime means good sleep ahead.)Mint, however, is synonymous with reviving and refreshing: That’s why it’s used in everything from toothpaste to foot lotion.
To promote its new Refresh-Mint package ($32), Lather will host a party 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. July 14 at the East Valley’s only store, at Kierland Commons shopping center, 15211 N. Kierland Blvd., Phoenix. Shoppers can sip mojitos — which are muddled with mint, of course — and take 15 percent off purchases. The cause for such celebration? The package contains a jar of Peppermint Skin Polish with Jojoba Beads (which I would classify as a body scritch, not a body scrub) and a bottle of superinvigorating Mint Thyme Body Wash. Or buy online.More Mentha! C.O. Bigelow duplicated the look and effect of its Mentha Lip Shine for its new Mentha Body collection: Everything from body wash and scrub ($12-$14) to body lotion ($14) has been infused with peppermint oil and extract. The Tingling Foot Cream ($14) contains twice as much as the other products to make sure feet’s rough, tough skin still gets the same effect. The line is sold at Bath & Body Works, which has stores in several East Valley malls. Or shop online.