’Tis the season for getting decked out in sparkly dresses, whipping up your favorite eggnog, and picking out the perfect presents. But that can also translate to panic over not having anything to wear, making a mess in the kitchen, and realizing your budget is long gone. Yes, the holidays are supposed to be the happiest time of the year—and there are many times when you’re making merry—but it can also be the most stressful.
That’s where functional fragrance comes in. “Active beauty products with wellness claims are becoming more sought out as we navigate an increasing world of digital stress,” says Kristi Moe, scent expert and founder of Zodica Perfumery. “Functional fragrance, which many may also call aromatherapy, uses the power of scent to influence your brain chemistry. It’s not enough for a fragrance to just smell good—consumers are looking to scent to make them feel good too. While humans have been using scents to impact their moods for thousands of years, scientists more recently have been able to explain how this works.”
Functional fragrance has grabbed the perfume world’s attention with scents that are designed to change your mood. There’s science behind that statement, as a study published in the journal Neuroendocrinology Letters found that certain fragrances can trigger positive emotions, leading to lower stress levels and a more optimistic outlook.
The Nue Co / Nette / Byrdie
“There’s a very clear and interesting connection between our sense of smell and our cognitive state,” says Jules Miller, founder of The Nue Co. “Of the five senses, scent is the only one with a direct line to three of the most important areas of the brain: the orbitofrontal cortex, which signifies awareness; the hippocampus, which is linked to memory; and the amygdala, which helps us sort smells [supported by the olfactory bulb] and is directly associated with our emotions and mood.”
During the stressful holiday season, we need all the help we can get. Though there’s a functional fragrance for practically every type of mood boost you’re trying to achieve—whether that’s ramping up energy levels before a major presentation at work or seeking focus to knock out a project—this is the time of year to shop for functional fragrances that will decrease stress levels.
“There are many essential oils that have been proven to have a calming benefit,” says Christine Hassan, Perfumer at Givaudan. “Some of these essential oils include lavender, sandalwood, and chamomile, among many other notes. Lavender is widely known for its ability to soothe anxiety and promote relaxation through its fresh, floral aroma. Sandalwood, with its warm, woody scent, is grounding and helps activate a state of calm. Chamomile, with its sweet, herbaceous scent, has gentle qualities that alleviate stress and encourage tranquility.”
Another perk of functional fragrances is how quickly they get to work. “Your sense of smell is one of the fastest ways to impact [your] cognitive and emotional state,” Miller says. “It’s immediate.” According to Hassan, since scent is directly connected to the brain, mood-boosting fragrances typically begin to take effect within minutes of smelling, and these effects generally intensify over the first 10 to 30 minutes and can last for hours.
Perfumes aren’t the only way to get your functional fragrance fix. Anything with scent can help get the job done—even laundry detergent. Take the new Beauty Sleep Collection from The Laundress, designed to coat items like bedding and pajamas in notes of sandalwood, lavender, night-blooming jasmine, rose, musk, and amber during the wash cycle. Then when you’re ready to drift off to sleep, the lingering scent makes it easier to relax.
Nest / The Landress / Byrdie
“Functional fragrances are crafted the same way to elicit the benefits, regardless of the application,” Hassan says. “However, the different applications can enhance how you experience it and add another dimension. Spraying an eau de parfum is a luxurious self-care ritual. With a functional body lotion scent, you also get to experience a touch/massage benefit, while with candles, you experience the benefit as an ambient scent that you are immersed in. Each format—whether perfume, candle, or lotion—affects the fragrance’s delivery, intensity, duration, and the overall experience, shaping how the scent influences mood or environment.”
To wash away stress, Nette Pear Jam Eau de Parfum is a functional fragrance scientifically backed to bring a sense of joy and positivity, with notes of Japanese pear, Bulgarian rose, osmanthus, jasmine sambac, ambrette seed, vanilla, patchouli heart, and raspberry pulp. If you are partial to a candle, Hassan’s pick is one she co-created: the Nest New York Sunlit Yuzu & Neroli Classic Candle. “It is my favorite,” she says. “It brings a happy atmosphere to any room you light the candle in.”
While on your functional fragrance destressing journey, do some experimentation to see what works for you. “At the end of the day, everyone is different, everyone’s needs are different; fragrances are personal,” says Nest New York founder Laura Slatkin. “You may require a fragrance that calms you all day long—or you might need a fragrance that heightens your senses and has an uplifting quality. I think it’s important to decide how you want to feel and then find that wellness fragrance that works for your individual needs.”
Miller’s go-to is The Nue Co. Functional Fragrance perfume, with key notes of green cardamom, cilantro, violet, musk, palo santo, and myrrh. “It can be used any time of day when you need a moment of calm,” she says. “I like to spray it onto my pulse points, breathe in for four, hold, and exhale for four. I always recommend people incorporate it into their daily routines for long-term benefits, as you would with any health supplement. It is smoky, fresh, uplifting, and interesting.
Our perfumer worked exclusively with notes that act on neural pathways linked to feelings of calm and relaxation.”
When shopping for a functional fragrance to zap stress during the holiday season, the most important factor is to pick one that speaks to you. “We can look to science to see what the data says, but we shouldn’t discount our history as humans and what tradition says,” Moe says. “Most importantly, we should be aware of how our body responds to scent and use that as our ultimate decision maker. Wear what makes you feel better; ignore the rest.”