Can shower gels really have a revitalizing effect?

The most important points in brief

• Advertising does not necessarily have to be right for products from the drugstore.
• For many years, some articles have been said to have a revitalizing effect when used in the morning - shower gel is one of the products advertised in this way.
• The only question is: Is that true?
• And if so, what is responsible?

A quick shower in the morning before going to work or enjoying the weekend with the family is a real refreshment for almost all of us. We literally wash the tiredness out of our skin and hair, even if in the colder months of the year it takes some effort to jump out of bed and into the shower. However, when it's warm, this very step can be invigorating. And those who use the right shower product experience - if the advertising has their way - an additional boost to start the day. Because many shower gels advertise the property "vitalizing".

The shower itself has a vitalizing effect

The only question is whether the promise made in the promotion will be kept. Let's clear that up once. The promise is not wrong per se, because the shower in the morning always revitalizes and awakens the spirits, the bubbling water on the head and skin always fulfills this. So far, so obvious.

But of course the question arises why not every shower product advertises to be a wake-up call and promises a good start to the day's toil. The answer to this question is obvious - once you have discovered the secret. So what is this secret?

We are imperceptibly controlled by smells

It has to do with human perception, namely smelling. Because our organism and our psyche are unconsciously but strongly guided by aromas. It is smells themselves that can give us different impressions of feelings, but also evoke memories. And last but not least, there are a number of body functions that are reflexively influenced by aromas. If a shower gel sets the right odor stimulus, then the body may react in a vitalized way to this stimulus.

In addition to the mere smell, the essential oils that are in a shower gel and that we inhale also have a direct effect on our organs (a process that is also used in aromatherapy). The level of knowledge in this field has developed enormously in recent years. Today we know that certain plants have certain physical effects on humans.

Aromas and their effects on us - also with shower gel

For example, we know that the oil of jasmine has an antidepressant and sedative effect and that of lavender has a calming effect - both characteristics that are rather unsuitable for having a vitalizing effect in a shower gel. The oil from lemons and oranges, on the other hand, brightens the mood, which is not bad for the morning and is at least invigorating in some ways. Thyme is described as «activating» and is therefore one of those types of herbs that fall into the «vitalising» category.

So the essential oils of these fruits and herbs actually enliven us in the morning. In addition to thyme and citrus fruits, lemongrass, grapefruit, Indian balm, peppermint, tea tree, eucalyptus and other plants also have vitalizing functions.