Businessweek
A New Class of Muscle Rubs Sidesteps That Locker Room Aroma
For exercise fanatics, there are new ingredients that stand out from the over-mentholated pack.
From left: Feel Good Lab Sport Recovery lotion, Elemis Instant Refreshing gel, Voya Feel the Heat Muscle Warming gel, Mary’s Nutritionals Elite patch, Way of Will Soothe and Cool oil, and Naturopathica Arnica gel.
Photo illustration: 731; products: Vendors
The cooling effect of menthol—the main ingredient in popular muscle rubs such as Icy Hot, Bengay, and Biofreeze—comes from an ability to trigger cold-sensitive receptors in the skin, distracting you from the real aches below the surface.
But you really know it’s working by the pungent odor, which is about as subtle as a Batman villain.