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7 Functional Fragrances To Boost Your Mood
A new movement of perfumiers has emerged, harnessing the power of scent to boost your wellbeing and frame of mind.
While the purpose of perfume has traditionally been about the scent aesthetic, we all know how a spritz of our favourite scent can foster a mood, whether it’s calming, sensual, energising, relaxing or happiness-boosting. Now there is science to back up these physiological benefits, with a new breed of fragrances emerging onto the 1.5 trillion dollar wellness scene. A new olfactory movement of perfume houses has now come into being, its aim to combine therapeutic levels of essential oils with active ingredients to impact the user’s mood on a neurological level – whether to calm, lighten, focus or de-stress.
One of the pioneering functional fragrance brands, The Nue Co, which launched in 2017, uses such neuroscience technology to tap into different parts of the brain, from woody notes to calm and ground to citrus for a more uplifting effect.
Even stalwart perfume traditionalist Estée Lauder has released a range of eight functional fragrances, each designed to have a different emotional effect.
The future of fragrance is set to make you smell good and feel good too. Try one of these functional fragrances to see for yourself.
Magnetic 70, £135
Put a ‘spritz in your step’ for some inner confidence, with vetiver for sensuality and grounding, cedar wood for positivity; frankincense for illumination; and angelica seed for protection.
Water Therapy, £68
Inspired by blue medicine – which is to say, the belief that water positively impacts our mental health with its relaxing, stress-relieving benefits – Water Therapy contains a marine-inspired blend of calming scent notes of seaweed, salt, cardamom and rose to mimic the sensorial feeling of being immersed in water.
Wellbeing, £68
A confidence booster to keep in your beauty arsenal for when you need a shot. The zingy Ethiopian ginger absolute and crisp pink peppercorn is softened with precious Indian jasmine absolute and iris concrete for an uplifting sense of comfort.
Eau So Happy, £50
This CBD-infused fragrance from menstrual health brand Fewe has been formulated to support and soothe your cycle, with fresh citrus notes to revitalise you when you’re feeling sluggish; lily and rose to boost your mood; and vetiver, frankincense and amber to de-stress. A beautiful olfactory way to help balance your hormones.
Tender Light, £78
Evoking the illuminating, energising radiance of sunlight, Tender Light uplifts with a fresh blend of Chinese tea accord, bergamot and a warming velvety Florentine iris heart. Tested as part of a neurosensorial study to track wearer’s emotional responses, the results showed that it uplifted and promoted joy. And who couldn’t do with more of that?
Calming Pen, £20
A blend of powerful, 100% natural essential oils – including lavender, Roman chamomile and orange – to roll onto pulse points throughout the day for an instant de-stress and calming olfactory effect.
WD/2018, $120 (International Shipping Available)
Created to harness the tranquil and nourishing qualities of sandalwood to enhance concentration and awaken intuition, it also features sparkling pear to uplift and cardamom to invigorate.
By Lydia Mansi
September 2023
One of the pioneering functional fragrance brands, The Nue Co, which launched in 2017, uses such neuroscience technology to tap into different parts of the brain, from woody notes to calm and ground to citrus for a more uplifting effect.
Even stalwart perfume traditionalist Estée Lauder has released a range of eight functional fragrances, each designed to have a different emotional effect.
The future of fragrance is set to make you smell good and feel good too. Try one of these functional fragrances to see for yourself.
Vyrao
Magnetic 70, £135
Put a ‘spritz in your step’ for some inner confidence, with vetiver for sensuality and grounding, cedar wood for positivity; frankincense for illumination; and angelica seed for protection.
The Nue Co
Water Therapy, £68
Inspired by blue medicine – which is to say, the belief that water positively impacts our mental health with its relaxing, stress-relieving benefits – Water Therapy contains a marine-inspired blend of calming scent notes of seaweed, salt, cardamom and rose to mimic the sensorial feeling of being immersed in water.
Edeniste
Wellbeing, £68
A confidence booster to keep in your beauty arsenal for when you need a shot. The zingy Ethiopian ginger absolute and crisp pink peppercorn is softened with precious Indian jasmine absolute and iris concrete for an uplifting sense of comfort.
Fewe
Eau So Happy, £50
This CBD-infused fragrance from menstrual health brand Fewe has been formulated to support and soothe your cycle, with fresh citrus notes to revitalise you when you’re feeling sluggish; lily and rose to boost your mood; and vetiver, frankincense and amber to de-stress. A beautiful olfactory way to help balance your hormones.
Estée Lauder
Tender Light, £78
Evoking the illuminating, energising radiance of sunlight, Tender Light uplifts with a fresh blend of Chinese tea accord, bergamot and a warming velvety Florentine iris heart. Tested as part of a neurosensorial study to track wearer’s emotional responses, the results showed that it uplifted and promoted joy. And who couldn’t do with more of that?
NEOM
Calming Pen, £20
A blend of powerful, 100% natural essential oils – including lavender, Roman chamomile and orange – to roll onto pulse points throughout the day for an instant de-stress and calming olfactory effect.
A N Other
WD/2018, $120 (International Shipping Available)
Created to harness the tranquil and nourishing qualities of sandalwood to enhance concentration and awaken intuition, it also features sparkling pear to uplift and cardamom to invigorate.
By Lydia Mansi
September 2023
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Lydia Mansi
Lifestyle Editor
Lydia is an all-round lifestyle guru, tireless champion of women in business and our resident expert on beauty.
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