Rub on a menthol balm and within seconds your skin feels icy cool. But if you checked with a thermometer, your skin wouldn't actually be colder. So what's going on?
The science of “cool”
Your skin has tiny sensors that tell your brain when something is cold. One of them, called TRPM8, normally switches on when the temperature drops. Menthol switches on that same sensor, so your brain reads “cool” even though nothing is colder. Scientists who discovered how these temperature sensors work even shared a Nobel Prize in 2021.
Where menthol comes from
Menthol is naturally found in mint plants like peppermint and corn mint. It forms clear crystals that dissolve beautifully into balms and solid lotions.
Love that cool tingle? Our Relief Stick blends menthol crystals, camphor, peppermint, eucalyptus and wintergreen with 1,000 mg of hemp seed oil.
Shop the Relief Stick – $49.99The cooling team in our Relief Stick
- Menthol crystals: the source of that fast, fresh cooling sensation.
- Camphor: from the camphor laurel tree, a classic in muscle rubs for over a century.
- Peppermint, eucalyptus and wintergreen: bright, clean essential oils that round out the scent.
- Shea and illipe butter: keep the stick smooth and your skin moisturized.
When people reach for a cooling stick
Our customers love the Relief Stick after long shifts on their feet, after yard work, and anytime tired muscles could use a refreshing cool-down.
Want cooling and warming?
Our Frozen Heat Stick pairs menthol and wintergreen with capsaicin, the warming compound found in chili peppers. It goes on icy cool, then gives way to a gentle, soothing warmth.
Hot and cold in one stick. Frozen Heat blends menthol, capsaicin and wintergreen with 1,000 mg of hemp seed oil.
Shop the Frozen Heat Stick – $49.99Tips for using menthol products
- Start with a thin layer. A little goes a long way.
- Don't use with a heating pad or under tight bandages.
- Keep away from eyes, broken skin and young children.
- Wash your hands if you touch the lotion directly (with a stick, you usually won't).
Try Relm Hemp Sticks
Every stick is 3 oz of solid lotion with 1,000 mg of hemp seed oil, plant butters and pure essential oils. No mess, no greasy hands, and one stick lasts 3–6 months. Free shipping and a 60-day money-back guarantee.
