Blue Monday is upon us once more, and while it is only a day in January, it marks the longest week for most on payday to come around after the early Christmas wage day.
It hasn’t quite become a day where you don’t walk under ladders or forget to wave at magpies, but if the day is dull and damp and the month is dragging on, then we might feel a little over the whole month.
Or we can try to shift our mood on Blue Monday and just get with the programme, because Tuesday is on the way? Not loving Tuesdays much either? Alright, how about spritzing happy scents all week, since the experts say it will make us feel happier?
Blue Monday
Blue Monday 2026 Pic: Supplied
According to the UK’s NHS, around two million people experience symptoms of SAD ( Seasonal Affective Disorder) each year, and one in five say they feel low in the winter months.
This coincides with an uptick in fragrance sales, which is unusual in itself, as most scents are bought as Christmas gifts or at other times of the year when people have more disposable income. Could there be a link between feeling off and using fragrance to counteract it?
Fragrance & Mood
Mood-improving notes Pic: Supplied
According to Jonny Webber, fragrance expert at PerfumeDirect, scent has a powerful effect on mood. He says, ‘Smell is the only sense directly linked to the limbic system, the part of the brain responsible for emotion and memory. That’s why certain scents can instantly lift your mood, calm anxiety, or sharpen focus.’
‘When specific aromas are inhaled, they can trigger hormonal responses that influence stress levels, alertness and relaxation. It’s not just psychological – it’s biological,’ he adds.
Happy Scents
Happy Scents Pic: Supplied
So, if we want to banish the Blue Monday mood, what scents should we be looking at? Jonny says, ‘In mood-mapping studies, citrus notes like grapefruit, lemon and orange are repeatedly rated as ‘happy’ and stimulating. Meanwhile, softer notes like vanilla and jasmine are associated with calm, comfort and emotional warmth — exactly what many people crave in January.’
These are the types of happy scents that are popular at this time of year, and not just for Blue Monday. Jonny says, ‘We see it every January. Sales of what we call ‘happy fragrances’ are consistently higher than at other points in the year. People are looking for small, accessible ways to lift their mood and feel more like themselves again.’ So, there you go, if January is getting you down, see out the remaining 256 days with a spritz of something happy. Beauty to the rescue once again.
