In the Mood

Perhaps it’s because they’ve grown accustomed to sharing their emotional state (no matter how intimate) within their respective social media circles, but it seems that consumers are more in touch with their mood swings than ever before. For moments when a public chorus of affirmation is insufficient—or when the sound of crickets on Facebook leaves an ego wounded—there’s a growing crop of new creations designed to lift users out of the doldrums.

The Happy Apps: Consulting Dr. Google about physical ailments has become standard practice, but for those experiencing emotional difficulties, digital therapy remains more elusive. Enter The Happy Apps, a downloadable set of tools that offers mood-enhancing treatments through iPhones and iPads. The app “uses light as a passive form of therapy and mindful ambience creation.” The system was created by someone who knows a thing or two about delivering happiness to audiences—inventor Monica Singh Haley has produced video games Men in Black and Broken Sword, and also headed up the animation department for The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King—so we feel confident in its ability to send serotonin levels surging.

21 Drops: There’s no shortage of essential oils available at natural food stores, but few shoppers can identify the aromatherapy properties of lavender versus sandalwood. Now, start-up 21 Drops has introduced natural healing to modern consumers in the form of symptom-branded scents. These therapeutic grade essential oils, packaged in rubberized roll-on applicators, are formulated to address 21 “universal concerns,” such as “Drained,” “Rattled” and “Powerless.” Detailed instructions on the most impactful application methods help users bolster the oils’ potency. Meantime, while the company’s website discourages consumers from thinking about the oils as “fragrances,” the odors they emit are pleasant enough, so 21 Drops’ wearers need not worry about smelling like a hippie substituting patchouli for soap.

Moodagent: With the possible exception of vinyl enthusiasts, contemporary music fans prefer listening to playlists over complete albums. Rather than blaming Steve Jobs for the death of the LP, Danish company Moodagent attempts to recapture the restorative effect that capsules of songs can have on human nature. Co-founders Peter Berg Steffensen and Michael Henderson spent four years fine-tuning a system that lets listeners create playlists based on mood.  Drawing from a billion-plus library of tunes, the resulting Moodagent iPhone app allows users to index songs in four categories: sensuality, tenderness, happiness and anger. Each of those sentiments can be adjusted through virtual emotional barometers…as can the desired tempo, meaning that the sound of rage may even be found in a ballad.