Forget what you thought you knew about aromatherapy; the popular practice is no longer limited to tiny bottles of essential oils; it’s been given a modern makeover. Enter: moodscaping.
According to research conducted by Mintel, 78% of UK consumers believe that fragrances can improve their mental wellbeing, offering a glimpse into why this trend is suddenly gaining popularity. “In 2025, fragrance is more than just an accessory,” says Chelsey Saunders, director of fragrance, skincare and haircare at Boots. “The category is shifting towards a focus on scent profiles, self-identity, and mindfulness – it’s a powerful tool to create and evoke memories due to the connection between the olfactory nerve and the limbic system, where emotions and memories are processed.”
At the forefront of the new wave of aromatherapy is Moods – launched last month by Daniel Smith and Gregory Allen. With a combined 35 years of experience in the beauty space, the brand was born from a desire to make the transformative power of scent accessible.
“Moods is here to help people with their mood, mindset, and mental health,” Gregory tells GLAMOUR. “We knew that if we could bring the scientific element into the self-care section then we would have something gorgeous, tangible and that would ultimately change people’s lives in a small way. You’re not going to wake up a new person, but it’s a positive step forward.”
Offering eight different moods to choose from – Charisma, Chill, Genius, Hustle, Euphoric, Fit, Frisky and Found – the chic glass Moodrollers are perfect to pop in your purse for an instant hit of confidence, energy, focus, relaxation, whatever mood you’re after. “It’s an immediate hit that affects the brain within five to 30 seconds of inhalation,” Daniel explains on the science behind it. “It’s very much personal mood therapy.”
Don’t just take his word for it, ahead of the brand’s launch the founders outsourced a research study – the largest aroma-focused clinical trial, conducted by Professor Mark Moss at the University of Northumbria’s Department of Psychology. The results varied in essence, but overall, it had a positive impact on mood and emotions, lowering stress hormones by 25%, increasing alertness by 25%, and increasing calmness by 20%. “We knew we’d get good results, but the end results were amazing,” says Daniel. “We finally had the proof that aromatherapy can actually change your mood if you were in the right state of mind.”
Amplifying the transformative power of personal aromatherapy, Moods’ debut offering was quickly followed by the newly launched Moodmists – its eight signature essences boosted with scentscaping power to change the mood of anyone in the room.
Elsewhere, scentscaping is integral to Jo Malone London’s new collaboration with Little Greene – a collection of five candles with the atmospheric enhancing ingredients to bring comfort, tranquility, or an energising mood, depending on what you’re after.
“We choose scents to match the mood we want,” explains Céline Roux, global head of fragrance at Jo Malone London on how the collaboration came about. “To evoke the sense of a ‘spring clean,’ you want something clean and fresh. If you’ve had a hard day at work, you want to surround yourself with something comforting or de-stressing. When you’re entertaining, you’ll go for something joyful and inviting. Pairing our iconic scents with carefully curated shades and patterns allows people to enhance their environment in a truly sensory way, making moodscaping an immersive experience.”
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The demand for mood-changing scents speaks to a wider wellness trend that has continued to climb in the years post-pandemic. From dietary supplements to self-care rituals, a holistic approach to wellness is becoming the new normal. Even the Moods founders see their aromatherapy offering as a ‘sensory supplement’ rather than a fragrance alternative.
“For us, it was taking all of that jargon and confusion away and simplifying it to get the same purity you would from the individual essential oils,” Daniel adds. “Whatever goal you’re looking to achieve, Moods will help you achieve it in a clean, sustainable, and safe way.”
Sounds simple enough, roll it on, take a deep breath in and relax.
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