While I firmly believe you can begin fresh at any point in the year, I am a big believer in using the new year’s energy to attract and manifest positive change for the months ahead. My friends and I have already held a night of moodboarding, to visualise what we hope 2026 will look like, a wish burning ceremony (yes, I know, it sounds intense, but TikTok told me to do it, so who am I to question it?), followed by a delicious dinner to set our intentions and resolutions for 2026.
Yet, if that all sounds like I’m leaving things up to the universe, think again. As much as I love the idea of manifesting, I’m a practical person, and so each of my resolutions is usually followed by a 5-step plan to make it happen, followed by a reward for when I reach the goal—yes, like a child with a star chart who gets a prize at the end. Of course, that means I’m always on the lookout for ways to make achieving said goals even easier, and I think I’ve found the most beauty editor-approved hack for setting myself up to do so: the best functional perfumes.
What Are Functional Perfumes?
“Functional fragrances go beyond simply smelling good,” explains Jules Miller, founder of The Nue Co., “They are designed to make you feel something too. These formulas are created using research into how scent interacts with the brain and our mood states.”
And Dr. Anna Persaud, CEO of This Works, agrees, “Because smell bypasses the thalamus, it has one of the fastest sensory routes into neural circuits that influence how we feel and function. Functional Fragrances interact with real, measurable brain pathways. When a scent is inhaled, aromatic molecules bind to olfactory receptors and trigger electrical signals in the olfactory bulb. These signals travel directly into areas of the brain involved in emotion, stress response, circadian rhythm, memory and cognitive regulation.”
So, onto the important part, how can functional fragrances make you feel, and how can we use this to our advantage? Well, “Depending on the formula, functional fragrances can help you feel calmer, more grounded, more focused, or more connected,” continues Miller. “They work almost like a wearable wellbeing tool, an intuitive way to support your nervous system and shift your emotional state throughout the day.”
That means, in terms of setting your intention for the new year, a functional perfume isn’t just about smelling great; it can actually be used to change the way you feel, the energy you attract, or help you focus on achieving your goals. Say your resolution is to improve your sleep quality, well, there’s a functional fragrance that can help with that, or if you’re hoping to improve your love life, switching to a functional fragrance that induces romantic vibes could be the answer.
How Do You Use Functional Perfumes?
“Application varies by product format,” explains Persaud. “For our pillow sprays, we recommend spritzing your pillow and bedsheet (if desired) just before bed, allowing you to inhale the fragrance as you fall asleep for maximum benefit.”
Alternatively, for traditional fragrances, Miller suggests applying directly to the skin. “I always like to suggest applying the fragrance onto pulse points, where blood flows directly onto skin,” she told me. “And trying a breathing exercise to truly experience it – breathe in for four, hold, and exhale for four.”
“Layering functional fragrances throughout your routine helps maintain consistent olfactory signalling, supporting your body’s natural circadian rhythm and optimising their functional benefits,” Persaud continued, so don’t just think about functional fragrances in terms of perfumes. The scents of shower gels, body lotions, room sprays and even candles can also be used to influence your mood, depending on the scents you choose and how you use and apply them.
To get you started, here are 11 of the best functional perfumes, which can help with everything from calming and grounding to boosting energy and even increasing your libido. Oh, and they all smell incredible too—after all, when it comes to fragrance, there’s nothing more important…
The Best Functional Perfumes
1. The Nue Co. Forest Lungs
Best Functional Perfume for Stress
Key notes: Pine, cedar, vetiver, patchouli, bergamot
2. This Works Own Time
This Works
Own Time Eau de Parfum
