We’ve all been there. Daily life gets hectic, deadlines are looming, there’s too much traffic, we’re too busy to even be busy anymore, and we just kind of get slammed. Ahh, stress, that nightmare little creeper who always sneaks in just when we think we’ve shut the door behind ourselves.

I’ve become a big fan of essential oils and aromatherapy, since I’m not really big on pharmaceuticals. I think natural solutions are out there, and can sometimes be more powerful options.

One of my newly discovered aromatherapy treatments is the Stress-Fix Concentrate from Aveda, which is a blend of French lavender, lavandin, and clary sage, all of which combine to create a balancing, peaceful aromatherapy treatment.

I take the cap off and roll the rollerball all over the center of my palm until I feel like there’s a good amount of oil there — you’ll kind of figure it out for yourself. Use enough that there’s a bit of a sheen, but not too much that it looks like you just put on body oil.

Then, rub your hands together to warm up the molecules. From here, cup your hands over your mouth and nose and inhale — 3 to 5 deep breathes, and really take your time to take in the scent.

The chemical components of the natural ingredients will enter directly into your brain, as the nose allows things to bypass the central nervous system, giving you a quicker release.

You can also apply on the inside of your wrists, and at the occipital area on the top of your neck. Basically your pulse points, where you would also apply perfume.