We can get sick any time of year, of course, but winter is a particularly treacherous season for illnesses that sweep through the household or the office, dragging us down for a few days or even a few weeks: the many-symptomed cold virus, the stomach bug, the dreaded flu. And yes, we should all protect our own good health by eating well, getting enough sleep, taking vitamins, and exercising. I also like to supplement my efforts with some good-smelling products that help me to fight the unavoidable millions of germs around me.
The small, whimsically named company Buddha Nose sells several “aromatic products” that promote physical and emotional wellness. Its I Booster Salve contains a blend of essential oils (all organic or wild-crafted) that are known for their anti-bacterial properties, to bolster the immune system against infection. The salve looks like a dark-yellow wax, and it’s packaged in an easy-to-carry tin, like a shoe-polish container. This product can be applied as soon as you start to feel under the weather…
Remember those television commercials for Clairol Herbal Essences, the ones showing women having 
Ah yes, the last-minute impulse purchase. I’m still not immune to it, especially at Sephora: when I’m waiting on the inevitable line to pay, I can’t help browsing through the items that the beauty superstore has so thoughtfully placed in bins leading up to its cash register. Hershey’s Almond Lip Balm was my most recent such purchase. 
About a month ago I was shopping in Manhattan with some visiting friends, and we noticed that several stores, from Barneys and Henri Bendel in midtown to The Family Jewels vintage clothing boutique in Chelsea, were decorated with 1960s motifs and a proliferation of peace signs. We eventually learned that these displays were tributes to the 
I rarely experiment with seasonal scents at this time of year: I traditionally wear my trusty