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Calming Scents to Reduce Your Election Anxiety

The right scents can turn your home into an oasis—and who doesn’t want that right now?…

My favorite part of my daily routine is when I finish my work, shut my laptop, burn my sage stick, and let the smoky, herbal scent completely envelop my apartment. Sorry, neighbors, if my hotboxing permeates into your apartment—but it’s the one thing keeping me sane right now! Over the past few months, I’ve made it my mission to turn my micro Manhattan apartment into an oasis, and a big part of this has been upping my scent game. Sure, sight and sound are the go-to senses for transforming one’s home, but smell plays just as crucial a role in affecting our emotions. And with tomorrow’s Election Day consuming all of our minds, why not use every means necessary to reduce anxiety right now?

Turns out, the right scents are proven to actually boost our moods, help us calm down, and relax. “Breathing in the essential-oil vapor instantly changes our brain patterns and can help us feel calmer and more grounded,” Hope Gillerman, an aromatherapist and author of Essential Oils Every Day: Rituals and Remedies for Healing, Happiness, and Beauty, told Vogue earlier this year. “Distinct from medications, they are not a cure but a pathway into taking good care of ourselves.”

Wearing a soft, pleasing fragrance is another easy way to literally surround yourself with positivity. Maison d’Etto’s new perfume, Noisette, for instance, has notes of magnolia flowers, musk, and lavandin; the latter is a type of lavender oil that is especially known for its relaxing benefits. I’ve been dousing myself in it before bed and, call it a placebo effect, but I’ve been sleeping like a baby.

As far as your home is concerned, the right candle or diffuser can also contribute to your more grounded wellbeing through smell. I’m a bonafide candle hoarder, and while I typically gravitate towards woodier and spicer scents, I’ve found myself lighting more soothing, calming scents lately. I recently discovered Byredo’s Chai candle, which is a warm fusion of tea leaves, ginger, and birch tree; the scent is meant to evoke the smell of your grandmother’s home, and what’s more soothing and cozy than that? Diffusers are also an efficient way to have essential oils waft throughout your space—like living in a spa, minus the fees.

If all else fails, simply burning a stick of sage or a braid of sweetgrass—my personal favorite—is a classic move. Burning the natural plants instantly cleanses the room (and any negativity in it). Growing up around my Indigenous culture, burning sweetgrass was often used for ceremonial purposes or special occasions, but I find incorporating the sweet, smokey scent into my every day brings me unparalleled joy. 

Below, 14 more soothing scents to calm your nerves including candles, diffusers, fragrances, soaps, and more. 

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Byredo Chai candle

Boy Smells Petal candle

$32

STANDARD DOSE

Susanne Kaufmann De-stress Oil

$41

BEAUTY HABITAT

Aveda Bergamot Essential oil + Base

Healing Solutions Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Orenda Tribe Navajo-Made Shimá Earth gift box

$40
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ORENDA TRIBE

The Nue Co Functional fragrance

$155

THE NUE CO

Maison d’Etto Noisette fragrance

$350

MAISON D’ETTO

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Bath & Body Works Aromatherapy Stress Relief Eucalyptus and Spearmint Body Wash

Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Mind Rollerball

$29

AROMATHERAPY ASSOCIATES

Vitruvi stone diffuser

$119

VIOLET GREY

Jo Malone London lavender and musk diffuser

$102
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SAKS FIFTH AVENUE

White sage smudge stick

$9

SWEETGRASS TRADING COMPANY

Sweetgrass braid

$5

CRAZY CROW TRADING POST

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Artist Spotlight

How Rare Beauty Propelled Selena Gomez to Billionaire Status

selena-gomez

Selena Gomez is a talented entertainer known for her work as a singer, actress, and producer, and she has recently reached an impressive milestone by becoming a billionaire. Much of her financial success comes from her cosmetics brand, Rare Beauty, which has quickly become popular since it launched in September 2020. The brand stands out for its dedication to inclusivity, mental health support, and clever marketing strategies.

1. The Idea Behind Rare Beauty

Rare Beauty was created to challenge traditional beauty standards and celebrate individuality. Selena wanted to build a brand that offered quality makeup while encouraging self-love and acceptance. The name “Rare” is inspired by her third studio album.

A key part of Rare Beauty’s mission is to be inclusive. When it launched, the brand offered an impressive variety of 48 shades of foundation and concealer, catering to many skin tones. The packaging also considers accessibility, making it easier for people with disabilities to use the products.

Check out this article: How Rich Is Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson in 2025?

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2. Smart Marketing and Social Media Success

Selena took full advantage of her large social media presence to promote Rare Beauty. With over 400 million followers on Instagram, she shares her personal stories and shows how to use the products, which helps build a strong connection with her fans. This engagement has created a loyal customer base.

Rare Beauty also effectively utilizes social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, gaining significant attention and making it a popular choice among beauty lovers. One of their hit products, a liquid blush, sold over 3.1 million units in just a year, highlighting the success of their online marketing.

3. Strong Financial Growth

The brand’s financial success has been impressive, generating about $350 million in revenue in 2023, a 50% increase compared to the previous year. By May 2024, Rare Beauty’s value had grown to over $2 billion, showing its strong place in the market.

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This financial success has also boosted Selena’s personal wealth. In September 2024, she became a billionaire with an estimated net worth of $1.3 billion, primarily thanks to her ownership of Rare Beauty. At 32 years old, she is one of the youngest self-made female billionaires in the U.S.

Check out this article: Diddy Salutes Kanye West for Unwavering Support in Emotional Phone Call

4. Media Attention and Public Interest

The rise of Rare Beauty and Selena’s billionaire status has been widely reported in the media. A notable article from Bloomberg discussed the brand’s strategies and how they’ve resonated with consumers. The piece received extensive coverage, reaching over 250 media outlets and generating more than 1.8 billion impressions, highlighting the significant impact of her success.

5. A Commitment to Mental Health

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In addition to its commercial achievements, Rare Beauty focuses on mental health. The brand has created the Rare Impact Fund, promising to donate 1% of sales to mental health initiatives, aiming to raise $100 million over the next ten years. This effort aligns with Selena’s commitment to mental health awareness, which many consumers appreciate in a brand.

Selena Gomez’s journey from entertainer to entrepreneur illustrates how she combines her values and understanding of the market with a genuine connection to her audience. Rare Beauty’s rapid growth shows a strong demand for inclusive and socially responsible beauty products. Selena’s story highlights the new wave of celebrity entrepreneurs, where authenticity and advocacy are just as important as the products they sell.

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Artist Spotlight

Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night” Reigns as the Ultimate Summer Soundtrack

HonkMagazine Dua

Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night” is a catchy new summer soundtrack. It evokes the sunshine, excitement of nightlife, and happiness that come with a true summer song. Co-written with the talented Mark Ronson, “Dance The Night” is a full-on experience that has quickly become the standout track of the season.

Not only is Dua Lipa a massive music star with multiple number-one hits, but this summer, she also made her acting debut as Mermaid Barbie in Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie. It was only natural for her to be part of the film’s soundtrack, and she truly delivered. “Dance The Night” captures the fun and energy of her previous hits while turning it up with even more sparkle and good vibes, making it impossible not to dance along.

Check out this article: Mase Shocks Fans with Willingness to Visit Diddy in Prison Despite Bad Blood

“Dance The Night” was on the fast track to success. It quickly climbed to the top of the music charts, marking Dua’s fourth number-one song and adding to her growing legacy with hits like “New Rules,” “One Kiss,” and “Cold Heart.” This is about creating a lasting impact.

“Dance The Night” became the soundtrack for fun moments, whether at parties or dancing alone in your room. It’s the perfect song to play when you want to dress up, grab your friends, and dance the night away, just like Barbie does in the movie.

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No summer track is complete without a great music video, and “Dance The Night” doesn’t disappoint. Featuring eye-catching visuals, impressive dance moves, and even a surprise appearance from the director, Greta Gerwig, the video captures all the exciting energy of the song. It also shows Margot Robbie’s Barbie living her best life, reminding us that having fun and being confident is always in style.

Check out this article: Jay-Z and Beyoncé Stand Firm After Kanye West’s Controversial Comments About Their Children

What makes “Dance The Night” the ultimate summer song? It’s upbeat and instantly lifts your mood, making you want to dance. Its lyrics invite you to enjoy the moment, and it succeeds on all fronts. Dua Lipa has a knack for creating both familiar and new songs. With its lively disco sound, beautiful strings, and catchy rhythm, “Dance The Night” pays tribute to the classic dance music of the past while still feeling modern. It’s vibrant, exhilarating, and simply irresistible.

In a summer filled with movies, exciting pop moments, and unforgettable times, “Dance The Night” shines as the perfect soundtrack. Whether you’re watching Barbie on the big screen or dancing under the stars, Dua Lipa has given us another fantastic song to which we’ll keep dancing even as summer ends.

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