If you try one product, make it this techy fragrance pod that turned my living room into a spa

It's been windy, it's been wet - and why on earth is it still January? Here's something that'll help clear the fog

a marble backdrop with an image of NEOM Wellbeing pod on a gold tray next to a photo of beauty editor Fiona McKim
(Image credit: Future / Fiona McKim)

Last week started with blue Monday and ended with yellow weather warnings.

Obviously, the former is a cooked-up marketing ploy - I'll decide when I feel down, therefore need to buy a little pick-me-up, thank you! But I'll concede it's well-timed, because getting to the end of January can feel a bit like trudging through mud.

Why this spa-like fragrance diffuser is my beauty buy of the week

I call this my beauty buy of the week, which begs the question, is a diffuser a beauty product?

The fact that I feel compelled to defend my choice speaks volumes. But we beauty editors are in the business of fragrance, and many home fragrance brands originated as makers of the best perfumes for women. So, they do come into my orbit a lot.

You could also argue that scenting your environment is no less a 'beauty' thing than scenting your skin with long lasting perfume. As in, neither has anything to do with how you look. Plus, after trying NEOM's Wellbeing Pod, I just couldn't not tell you about it.

An image of NEOM Wellbeing pod on a gold tray with a glowing light, next to three bottles of NEOM essential oil and their box on a gold tray

(Image credit: Future / Fiona McKim)

Seeing as I've detoured into homes territory, I may as well take a pitstop in health and wellbeing. I don't want to state the obvious or come over all Goopified guru, but breathwork (as in breathing deeply in and out) has got to be the fastest route to a calmer, quieter mind.

The Wellbeing Pod's breathing mode guides you using its light, which brightens for seven seconds (inhale) then dims for 11 (deep exhale). I've been doing it in the morning, with Mood Boost oil, but it'd also be amazing before bed with Better Sleep.

It's ridiculously simple, like all the best things - a small, realistic ritual that doesn't require lots of time, fancy gear, or for you to disengage from the sofa if you can't be bothered. Sounds good? Great! Let's chat next Sunday.

Fiona McKim
Beauty Editor, womanandhome.com

As woman&home's Beauty Channel Editor, Fiona Mckim loves to share her 15+ years of industry intel on womanandhome.com and Instagram (@fionamckim if you like hair experiments and cute shih-tzus). After interning at ELLE, Fiona joined woman&home as Assistant Beauty Editor in 2013 under industry legend Jo GB, who taught her to understand ingredients and take a cynical approach to marketing claims. She has since covered every corner of the industry, interviewing dermatologists and celebrities from Davina McCall to Dame Joan Collins, reporting backstage at London Fashion Week and judging the w&h Beauty Awards.

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