Speed Review: Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Bath & Shower Oil

I'm not exactly what you'd call a gym bunny. In fact, I don't own a pair of trainers. So it's probably not that surprising that I rarely pay attention to muscle soothers but lately, I've been suffering from aches and pains in my neck, shoulders and back. Whether it's the result of carrying heavy bags, being hunched over a desk or simply a sign that I'm getting old, I'm not sure but short on time to treat myself to a massage, I reached for the next best thing. Step forward: Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Bath & Shower Oil.

I've long been a fan of Aromatherapy Associates' incredible Bath & Shower Oils but hadn't yet had the opportunity to try the De-Stress Muscle version.
I decided to use this as a shower oil, by applying it all over my dry skin before stepping into the shower. Whilst a long soak in the bath may seem preferable, I find that by applying the oil directly onto my skin, the results are more noticable than if I'd diluted the oil in the bath. De-Stress Muscle is a much more liquid consistency than the other Aromatherapy Associates Bath & Shower Oils I've tried and whilst I found that this encouraged massage when applying, I found it a little difficult to control how much I was pouring out of the bottle (and at nearly £40 for 55ml, you certainly don't want to waste any!).
As tends to be the case with Aromatherapy Associates, the scent of De-Stress Muscle Bath & Shower Oil is incredible, combining lavender, rosemary and ginger essential oils. I really liked that the blend of pure essential oils made it enjoyable and indulgent to use and challenges the assumption that muscle soothing products have overwhelming, unpleasant scents. I didn't feel that I needed to use moisturiser afterwards as my skin felt nourished but not greasy.
I have to admit that I was initially a little dubious about how effective De-Stress Muscle Bath & Shower Oil would be but having used it, I'm absolutely amazed at how well it worked to soothe my muscles. Immediately after my shower, the knots and tension felt loosened and as the evening progressed, the pain drifted away almost entirely. What's more, I felt mentally relaxed. Highly recommended.