Fab Find of the Week: Moods MoodSwings aromatherapy
The first things made us sit up and take notice IMMEDIATELY when we came across the new brand Moods at the John Bell & Croyden showcase recently was that one of its founders, Daniel Smith, trained with our late and much-loved friend, Aromatherapy Associates co-founder Geraldine Howard. Nobody we’ve ever met was more of a master of the art of essential oils, which meant Moods – and their MoodSwings fragrances – had us at ‘hello’.
The second hook – oh-so-importantly – was the blends themselves. Leaving aside that they’ve been based on neuroscientific research into their mood-shifting efficacy, they smell just great. Sounds like a given? Not necessarily, and when it comes to aromatherapy, we need to be drawn to the blends on an almost visceral level, in order to encourage use (and thus enjoy the benefits). Each blend is based around eight essential oils, which as we’ve said are carefully chosen for their proven effect on the limbic system, using ‘advanced neuro-imaging, biomarkers and behavioural testing to measure things like focus, reaction time and emotional regulation,’ explains Daniel’s co-founder Gregory Allen.
The full-size products are sooooooo beautiful. The Moodmists (for spraying space and clothes) are sculptural, almost, with their coloured glass – see below. And the rollerballs are clever: double-ended, swinging you from one mood to another.
But our tip for introducing yourself to MoodSwings – aside from a deep-dive at John Bell & Croyden itself – would be to treat yourself to the Rollercoaster Discovery Set, which features all eight blends as mini ‘Moodrollers’. Here’s what they set out to do…
Chill – no need to explain what this aims to do, we reckon, via a blend featuring oils of vetiver, lavender, patchouli, chamomile, lemongrass, rose geranium, basil and rose geranium.
Found – to ground, and promote mindfulness (especially welcome at this point in the calendar). We love this blend of amber, myrrh, frankincense, gurjun (a resin), allspice, cedarwood, patchouli and sandalwood, which smells quite seasonally appropriate, too.
Charisma is actually clinically proven to reduce social anxiety – the one to reach for when you have a big meeting or want to create a great first impression, via oils of bergamot, ginger, lime, clary sage, pine, vanilla, rose and sweet orange.
Genius is designed to ‘unlock clarity and boost brainpower’, sharpening mental focus – and we’ve found it does just that, with its blend of neroli, grapefruit, cardamom, frankincense, spikenard, rosemary, patchouli and lemongrass.
Fit’s the one for workouts, stamina and immunity – crisp herbs, cool woods, with oils of juniper, pine needle, peppermint, Palo Santo, ginger, frankincense, lime and juniper berry. (Wonderfully wintry, this.)
Hustle is productivity-focused, to keep distractions at bay and improve concentration through its blend of eucalyptus, spikenard, bergamot, clary sage, peppermint, grapefruit, vetiver and patchouli.
Euphoric is pretty and light-filled, designed to foster ‘true happiness’, through its fusion of ylang ylang, cedarwood, pine needle, petitgrain, rose geranium, neroli, lemongrass and allspice.
And Frisky? The smoochy one, ‘to ignite passion and sensuality’, via sweet orange, tuberose, frankincense, ylang ylang, jasmine, rose and bergamot. Really rather heavenly.
Beautiful blends, beautifully presented. And all in all, the most exciting thing we’ve seen – and smelled – in aromatherapy, in a long time…
Rollercoaster Discovery Set/£45 for 8 x 3ml rollerballs – buy here
MoodSwings (dual-ended rollerball)/£30 for 12ml – buy here
