Harness the scent of mint to wake you up

We could all use extra help feeling awake in the morning. One solution? Mint.

Mornings can be rough. Unless you’ve got a forgiving snooze button, copious amounts of coffee and someone to serve you breakfast when you finally get vertical. And did we mention a glam squad at the ready to do your hair and makeup?

We didn’t think so.

Precisely why it’s so important to arm yourself with great-smelling products to help you kick-start your day. One of the best scents to help the process: Mint.

The herb is one of those super-versatile ingredients that is both calming and comforting yet also invigorating and uplifting. For this reason, mint makes a stellar addition to your morning routine.

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“We often equate mint with this feeling of freshness and cleanliness,” says Stacey Hertenstein, senior perfumer at P&G. The brand’s new Herbal Essences Naked line employs mint as an ingredient because of what this expert calls its “feeling of purity”.

We know how closely scent and memory are tied—Hertenstein confirmed this again for us, stating, “the part of the brain that processes smell is also connected to memory and emotions”; you should know then that you can train your brain to associate scents with certain actions.

Case in point: If you know that mint offers an instant wake-up and sense of just-washed cleanliness, why not switch out some of your shower products for those laden with this herbal eye-opener?

You’ll be awake in no time; no coffee required.

Here, minty-fresh product picks for your best morning ever (from left):

Herbal Essences
Our pick from the new Naked line: Volume Shampoo and Conditioner, both infused with mood-boosting white grapefruit for an invigorating start to your day.
Herbal Essences Naked Volume Shampoo and Conditioner, $4 each, www.herbalessences.com

Burt’s Bees
Talk about invigorating! Burt’s Bees pairs mint and rosemary for an herbaceous morning fix.
Burt’s Bees Fabulously Fresh Peppermint and Rosemary Body Wash, $10, www.burtsbees.ca

OGX Beauty
Eucalyptus Mint Shampoo and Conditioner will not only wake your foggy brain, but will soothe your scalp, too.
OGX Beauty Eucalyptus Mint Shampoo and Conditioner, $10 each, www.ogxbeauty.com

Bliss
Scrub away your troubles with the Bliss Super Minty Soap’n Scrub. Jojoba beads buff skin and offer a tingly morning refresher—great for your post-workout shower.
Bliss Super Minty Soap’n Scrub, $39, www.sephora.com

Philosophy
Honourable mention also goes to the seasonal Candy Cane bath and shower gel favourites from Philosophy. We hoard the brand’s signature three-in-one formula, with its sweet and light scent, and look out for its annual November return.
Philosophy Candy Cane Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath (available seasonally), $21, www.sephora.com