Between a never-ending pandemic and stress about all the things, I imagine I’m not the only person with an omnipresent low-grade headache. Drinking water helps. So do over-the-counter pain relievers, but I’d rather not pop them like a daily vitamin. On the hunt for an effective alternative, I recently rediscovered an old favorite and let me tell you: It delivers. Meet the Saje Peppermint Halo roll on.

What is Saje Peppermint Halo?

Let me back up. A few years ago, I was wandering around SOHO and popped into Saje, the holistic wellness brand that specializes in essential oils. I have a deep love affair with scent and aromatherapy but in the “make my house smell like a spa” way as opposed to “this blend of essential oils will cure your cancer” kind of way.

As I poked around, a sales person asked if I’d ever tried their best-seller, Peppermint Halo. The unique blend of peppermint, rosemary and Iavender (which has been around since they launched in 1992!) is formulated to be applied directly to your skin to soothe your head with a tingly, cooling “halo.” Um, yes please. I let her anoint me with its awesomeness right then and there. She rolled it on my temples, behind my ears and along my neck down to my shoulders and within seconds, I could feel the cooling sensation envelope my head. In the oppressive New York City summer heat, that was enough to pique my interest. But I was also in a hurry, so I took off without buying it.

For the next couple hours I couldn’t stop thinking about it. In addition to the soothing feeling, the scent stuck around to offer a deep sense of calm and relaxation that TBH, I wanted to feel 24/7. I marched myself back there on a lunch break later that day.

I used it off and on for awhile but left it in a toiletry bag after my last flight in January of 2020 (womp, womp) and it slipped off my radar. Tired of this low-grade discomfort, I dug it out. And let me tell you, it’s now got a permanent spot on my nightstand/desk/coat pocket.

Of course there’s no magical cure-all for stress and the related headaches (or worse, migraines) it can cause. But every little bit helps, right? Peppermint Halo is one thing that notably improves both my physical and mental wellbeing within just a couple minutes, and it makes sense, really. The blend’s main ingredient is obviously peppermint, but it also includes rosemary and lavender–two essential oils that have been linked to decreasing the body’s stress hormone, cortisol. Is it the best essential oil for headaches? Unequivocally, yes.

It’s a lifesaver for relieving the ache that comes from hours at the computer and recently even helped me get better sleep while fighting off a head cold. The pocket-sized roll on is perfect for stressful plane rides, road trips and just making it through the witching hour (which seems more like hours if we’re being honest.) And even though my partner says it’s like going to bed next to a candy cane, it will be the final step in my bedtime routine for the foreseeable future.

Shop the best essential oil for headaches below!

aje peppermint halo roll on

Saje

$28

Peppermint Halo

Available in two sizes of roll on and a 1 oz. bottle for your diffuser, Saje Peppermint Halo is a long-time favorite for many. The unique blend of peppermint, rosemary, lavender is mixed with eucalyptus, vetiver and cajeput essential oil, each of which have shown to help reduce stress and alleviate the pain of tension headaches.