Coming up Rosemary

As spring approaches, infuse beauty regimes with a little pick-me-up to help shake off the winter blues. One of our favorite invigorating scents is rosemary, derived from an evergreen shrub that blooms with blue flowers through the spring and summer. With an uplifting, sweet-sharp fragrance that's similar to pine, rosemary has historically been used as a disinfectant and air freshener, and is currently popular both in essential oil form and as an addition to beauty products. When used topically, rosemary helps increase circulation, relieve muscle tension, stimulate the adrenal system, work as an antibacterial and, when used on the hair, can help control dandruff. In addition, the scent is used in aromatherapy to boost mental clarity, fight fatigue and depression, and energize the mind, and is often mixed with lavender, peppermint, clary sage, lemon and eucalyptus.

To add a little rosemary to your bath routine, try Dr. Hauschka Rosemary Bath Oil, which turns tub time into an all-natural therapeutic treatment for sore muscles. If showers are your thing, check out the head-clearing Aveda Hand and Body Wash, or French line Sampar's Dew It Again, a refreshing, detoxifying gel with rosemary and five other essential oils. Post-bath, Dr. Hauschka's Rosemary Foot Balm stimulates circulation to revive worn feet, while their Arm and Leg Toner does the same for tight muscles (and helps tone skin in the process). For the hair, we like John Masters' Lavender Rosemary Shampoo and Rosemary Peppermint Detangler, both of which use certified organic ingredients, essential oils and wheat and soy proteins.

The fresh, Mediterranean herbal scent of rosemary works well in the rest of the house, too. Hillhouse Naturals' European Kitchen Collection includes an invigorating Rosemary Candle (available in a clear glass or brown ceramic container), as well as an aromatic Rosemary Diffuser in amber glass.

For more info and to purchase, visit: Dr. Hauschka (www.drhauschka.com); Aveda (www.aveda.com); John Masters Organic (www.johnmasters.com); Sampar (www.sampar.com/usa); Hillhouse Naturals (www.hillhousestore.com).

--Sandra Ramani