I never thought I’d be the kind of guy to care about things like skin care, candles, or incense. That was my daughter’s thing—she was always talking about “self-care” and “setting the vibe.” Me? I was a splash-water-on-my-face, grab-a-coffee, and get-out-the-door type of guy.

But one night, after a long, brutal day at work, I found myself feeling completely drained. My shoulders ached, my mind was racing, and no amount of scrolling through my phone could shake the stress. That’s when I stumbled across an article about natural skin care and aromatherapy for stress relief. It sounded like nonsense, but something about it stuck with me.

The next day, on a whim, I walked into one of those boutique stores that smelled like essential oils and sage. A friendly clerk asked what I was looking for, and I awkwardly admitted, “Honestly, I have no idea.” She handed me a jar of natural moisturizer, a lavender-scented candle, and some sandalwood incense. I almost put it all back, but for some reason, I didn’t.

That night, I lit the candle, and for the first time in a long time, my apartment felt… peaceful. I put on the moisturizer, expecting it to feel greasy, but instead, my skin felt refreshed. When I burned the incense, the air filled with this deep, earthy scent that instantly calmed me down.

I didn’t expect it to make such a difference, but after a week of this little ritual, I felt better. My skin looked healthier, my stress levels dropped, and I actually slept better. Even my friends started noticing—one even asked if I’d been working out. Nope. Just taking care of myself for once.

Turns out, self-care isn’t just for women. It’s for anyone who wants to feel good, inside and out. And honestly? I wish I’d started sooner.