Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Grooming

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Stock Up on Mood-Boosting Scents to Get Through Winter

Katie Dickens
By

mood boosting scents bottlesfeat
Image used with permission by copyright holder
This time of year bums out so many people that someone gave it a name—S.A.D.

Maybe it’s due to the limited daylight hours (Vitamin D deficiency makes the struggle real) or intolerable weather conditions (although so far it’s been quite balmy) or that said circumstances turn most of us into Netflix-binging (not in the Netflix and chill sense), couch-sore forming, takeout-ordering shut-ins. Whatever the reason, there are still at least another three months of crappy forecasts ahead so we’re here with a game plan of sorts. You might think aromatherapy is the stuff of New Age weirdos, spas, and your mom, but it can’t hurt to give it a shot. Immersing yourself in mood-boosting scents, like lemon and fresh mown grass, might be just the thing to snap you out of that grey-for-days funk.

Pine

Molton Brown Rockrose & Pine Hand Wash

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The scent of these particular conifers has been proven to reduce anxiety, which can be at an all-time high around this time. Luckily (or not), it’s also flu season so you’ll be needing to wash your hands a lot with this pine-infused hand soap. Two birds, one stone.

$28, nordstrom.com

Fresh cut grass

Jo Malone London Nasturtium & Clover Cologne

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Inhaling the scent of a freshly mown lawn can decrease stress levels and have a calming influence so you have two choices: If you have a yard, grab that mower and get down to business or just spray yourself with this cologne to approximate the scent of the most aromatic lawn in the world. Probably go with the latter.

$70 for 1 fl. oz., neimanmarcus.com

Peppermint

Malin + Goetz Peppermint Shampoo

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Lift the brain fog and raise your spirits (and get into the spirit of the season) with a whiff of peppermint, like say, while sudsing up with this candy-cane-scented shampoo. Double down on the happiness by downing a hot cocoa—chocolate is also a mood booster—spiked with peppermint schnapps.

$20, malinandgoetz.com

Citrus Fruit

Tom Daxon Reverie Shower Gel

Recommended Videos

Suffering from malaise? Sniffing lemon, grapefruit and orange is a healthier route towards revival than say chugging cases of Four Loko. This energizing shower gel is packed with citrus, along with equally uplifting notes of rosemary and ginger.

$50, mrporter.com

Eucalyptus

C.O. Bigelow Premium Shave Cream

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Like smelling salts, sniffing the oil from this aromatic leaf can clear the inevitable congestion that will strike us all this season. It also works like gangbusters to motivate and energize thus preventing the trench you’re wearing into the couch from becoming permanent so this shave cream might be a life/furniture saver.

$10 for 5.2 oz., bigelowchemists.com

Topics
Katie Dickens
Katie Dickens
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Katie Dickens is a Manhattan-based beauty and grooming writer. She has held staff positions at Glamour, In Style, People…
Does beard growth oil work? What you should know
Man putting beard oil on his beard.

Growing the perfect beard is a lifelong quest for some, and though there are plenty of tips to help you grow a beard, sometimes you can benefit from a little outside intervention. You might have seen adverts for beard growth oil and wondered if that would help you grow a thicker and more lustrous beard, along with various other oils for softening or brushes and other tools to help maintain your skin.

There's a lot of options when it comes to the world of facial hair grooming, because for your beard to look full and well groomed, you need to not only trim it to the right shape but also make sure that both the hair and the skin of your face are well looked after and in good condition. You might also just need to be patient, as it can take some time for facial hair to grow in to the length that you want. The basic advice for growing in a beard that looks great are to give it time and make sure you're taking care of your health -- like getting enough sleep, eating a health diet, and taking exercise. But we all know we're supposed to do those things anyway, and there are some products that can help give your beard a nudge along the way.

Read more
How often should you change your razor blades?
Razor being rinsed under water.

It's a hassle and an annoyance, but when it comes to your daily shaving ritual something that you absolutely don't want to skip is changing out your razor blade. Trying to shave with a dull razor is bad for your skin and can cause razor bumps, plus creating a higher likelihood of problems like infections, and it will do a poor job of removing hair, resulting in a patchy shave. If you're not up for trying out a straight razor, then you'll need to get into the habit of regularly swapping out the replaceable blades on your razor or using fresh disposable razors instead. Knowing when to swap out your old blades for new ones will help keep your skin happy and your face looking its best, so our guide can help you work out how often you need to change your razor blades.

How often you should change your razor blades
According to the American Academy of Dermatologists, you should change your razor blades or throw away disposable razors after every five to seven shaves. High-quality razor blades should last five to seven shaves if you take care of them properly and keep them clean. However, cheaper disposable razors may wear out sooner.
Signs it’s time to change your razor blades include skin irritation after shaving, a less close shave, patchy areas or spots missed, skin that still feels rough after, dullness of the blades, feeling hairs are getting pulled instead of cut, and excessive friction of the blades across your skin that it feels like you have to drag it over your skin.
Moreover, a razor that has an accumulation of gunk that can’t be rinsed away should be immediately discarded, as this causes nicks and infections by dragging unevenly across your skin and introducing harbored bacteria into your pores.

Read more
Best men’s cologne sales: Save on Tom Ford, Creed, and more
Someone spraying a Tom Ford cologne on themselves.

The best cologne is an important investment for everyone. You might look great but your scent is a great way of endearing yourself to others, whether at a work meeting or on a date. More importantly, you want to feel great about how you smell, right? Learning how to apply cologne is vital before finding the best men’s cologne sales so you can invest in some great new scents. We’ve tracked down all the best men’s cologne sales and listed them below so you can soon find the right aroma for your personal brand.
Today’s best men’s cologne sales
Across the internet, you can find great men’s cologne sales on major brands like Montblanc, Prada, Versace, Tom Ford, and many others. It’s a great idea to stock up on a few different scents so that you have different colognes for different occasions. Here are the best men’s cologne sales around today.

Creed:
Dior:
Cartier:
Clive Christian:
Hermes:
Versace:
Tom Ford:
Givenchy:
Burberry:
Prada:
Montblanc:

Read more