You had a long, nasty day at work. Traffic was horrible. You burnt your dinner, and then your cat threw up on your just folded laundry.
You’ve felt under the weather for days now, or maybe even weeks. Nothing specific, really, you’ve just been just low energy and irritable. Every little thing seems to rub you the wrong way and you feel like you’re reaching the end of your tether. Even your dog doesn’t want to be around you these days.
You haven’t been sleeping very well. You’ve tried everything; warm milk before bed, listening to soothing music and nature sounds CDs, you even got one of those scalp massager thingies that’s supposed to give you the sleep of angels. Nothing. You toss and turn all night, and wake up feeling more tired than you did when you went to bed.
A nice long soak in the hot tub would probably help. A nice, long, scented soak in the hot tub would probably help even more.
This is where hot tub aromatherapy comes in.
Hot Tub Aromatherapy
Now, there isn’t any scientific evidence to support some of the loftier claims made for aromatherapy. Scents can’t fight infection or heal burns or cure diseases. Some essential oils might be helpful, but you don’t want to put oil in your hot tub.
What you can put in your hot tub is special, designed-for-hot-tubs aromatherapy scents. They won’t fight your infections or heal your cuts faster, but they will certainly help you relax, help you improve your mood, increase your ability to handle stress, and allow you to sleep better at night. They also won’t destroy your hot tub the way essential oils will*.
Hot tub aromatherapy products come in a few different forms; liquids, crystals, and bead. They are specially formulated to provide long lasting fragrance with no residue and without taxing your water chemicals unduly. They come in a variety of scents for a variety of moods, and most contain added vitamins to help with skin health.
Here are some of the more common scents used in aromatherapy, and what they are good for.
Jasmine
If you’re having a bad day and feeling stressed out, jasmine is just the thing. It invokes the feeling of warm, sultry southern nights and quiet tropical islands. This is a scent that works for relaxation in a tub for one, but is also perfect in a tub for two.
Eucalyptus Mint
If you’re feeling low energy and full of the blahs, Eucalyptus Mint might just add some pep to your step. A mild stimulant, mint can improve alertness and concentration, as well as giving off a clean, fresh smell.
Lavender
If you can’t sleep, lavender is the scent for you. This pretty, purple plant has been used as a sedative and sleep aid for thousands of years. Lavender is a scent that can help you relax, and prepare you to drift off into a gloriously relaxing night’s sleep.
Smell is the one sense that connects most closely with our memories and emotions. Hot tub aromatherapy products are the best way to leverage that connection for maximum relaxation.
*Seriously. Don’t put oil in your hot tub. Ever.
