Absorbent cloths (cooling towels) impregnated with a formulation including purified water, denatured alcohol, Aloe vera, menthol, and at least one scented essential oil, have been developed for quickly and conveniently cooling the skin. A typical cooling towel as described herein is made from 100% cotton terry cloth, made of all-natural ingredients that are environmentally friendly, and is convenient and easy to use. The cooling towels described herein can be used to cool a user's skin in a variety of settings and applications (e.g. while playing golf, for relief from menopausal hot flashes, etc.). A cooling towel is capable of providing instant cooling relief to the user without refrigerating or hydrating the cooling towel. Placing a cooling towel around the neck, for example, aids in lowering body temperature by helping dissipate body heat to provide immediate relief. For even better cooling results, a cooling towel as described herein can be refrigerated or frozen prior to use to enhance the cooling effect. A cooling towel as described herein can be sealed in a package (e.g., plastic) such that when removed from the package, the cooling towel quickly becomes cool and remains cool for one to four hours. Cooling towels can be sized to conveniently fit inside a purse, pocket, glove box, lunch box, cooler, etc.