Perfumes & Emotions

Perfumes to boost your energy

In recent years, society has taken a turn in terms of self-care habits. Relaxation and mood enhancement have made fragrances a highly sought-after item.

The power of perfume to evoke memories and emotions offers an accessible way to reconnect with well-being. And with the return to routine and the arrival of autumn, perfumes become allies to reactivate energy and recover daily motivation.

Looking for a perfume that makes you feel good?

Perfumers and experts confirm what was once intuition: a perfume not only smells good, it can also lift your mood. This is why the demand for fragrances with an emotional purpose is growing, while well-being is becoming a central factor in the relationship between consumers and brands.

Fragrance houses are backing up this idea with scientific studies and formulating ever more precise claims: scents that boost confidence or help reduce the stress hormone cortisol.

The context is revealing: according to Circana, escapism is growing in the face of global concerns such as wars, economic crises or climate change. Leisure, hobbies and self-care feed the so-called joy economy, and perfumery is integrated as a catalyst for pleasure, calm and positive energy. The World Health Organisation estimates that more than a billion people suffer from mental health disorders, which makes this sensory haven all the more valuable.

Science, technology and emotions

The link between fragrance and emotion is no longer just an object of study for perfumers. Fragrance houses are applying neuroscience to create scents that connect with consumers' concerns:

- IFF - Scentcube™: a bank of over 6,000 scents with an algorithm that identifies notes capable of triggering specific emotional states.

- Mane - Wellmotion™: combines cognitive science, psychology, and neuroscience with a holistic approach to explore the link between emotion and fragrance.

- Actimood™ - Symrise: patented fragrances that stimulate well-being through the central nervous system.

- Givaudan - Global Centre of Excellence in Neuroscience: investigating the relationship between aromatic molecules and brain reactions.

- dsm-firmenich - AROMActive™: a line with ingredients that provide proven emotional benefits.

All explore the olfactory cortex, which connects to the amygdala and hippocampus, regions that govern memory and emotions – explaining why perfume impacts more than any other sense.

Fragrance houses use neuroscience in perfume development to create scents that resonate with consumers' needs.

Pioneering wellness brands

The "perfume of happiness" is not new. The Clinique Happy citrus cocktail, launched in the 1990s, anticipated this trend and has since become an Estée Lauder classic. During the pandemic, candles, mists and fragrances became comfort rituals, and today perfume is a tool to calm, focus or revitalise the mood.

Estée Lauder, in collaboration with the Dresden University of Technology and its Smell and Taste Clinic, researches how scent neurologically influences emotions to inspire new fragrances, packaging, and experiences.

Among the mood-evoking launches are:

- Charlotte Tilbury - Collection of Emotions (with IFF Scentcube™): fragrances designed to convey love, serenity, energy, seduction, happiness, or personal power (Love Frequency, Calm Bliss, Joyphoria, Magic Energy, Cosmic Power and More Sex).

- Lancôme - Les Ô: three fragrances (Ôver the Top, Ô Zénith and Ôff Now) created with IFF's Science of Wellbeing programme to awaken the senses and improve mood.

Other brands that are committed to emotional perfumery include Vyrao, Initio Parfums, Bibbi Parfum, Orebella (by Bella Hadid), Altra, Incorp and House of Helios. Boticário even launched a perfume inspired by Inside Out 2, to connect with children.

Fragrances that become emotions

The market is moving towards a multidimensional perfume: it not only projects style but also supports daily well-being. Like a yoga class, a motivational playlist, or a meditation session, a scent can transform routine.

The challenge for brands is to balance science and emotion: to translate scientific findings into memorable sensory experiences without losing the magic that makes perfume an art. In a single gesture, a spray can help calm stress, balance energy, and boost motivation.