Olbas: A Familiar Name, a New Approach to Winter Wellbeing – I recently attended the launch of a new addition to the Olbas range, and it was an event that left me thinking about something many of us are guilty of, carrying on regardless of when we really ought to slow down.
Olbas is one of those familiar names that many of us will recognise. It has been around for years, with Olbas Oil a familiar fixture in medicine cupboards and a product many people associate with easing congestion during the colder months. There is something reassuring about a brand that has stood the test of time, so I was interested to discover how Olbas is expanding its range and looking at winter wellbeing from a slightly different perspective.
The launch introduced Olbas Pelargonium Herbal Cough & Cold Relief Tablets, but what particularly caught my attention was the research behind the event and the conversation about how we actually recover when we’re feeling under the weather.
Why do we find it so difficult to stop?
One of the most interesting parts of the event was the Olbas Winter Recovery Report, which explores the gap between what we know we should do when we’re ill and what we actually do.
The findings were quite eye-opening. According to the report, 86% of employed people who had experienced a common short-term illness had continued working while feeling unwell, despite 74% believing that staying at home when ill is the responsible thing to do.
I suspect many of us can recognise that contradiction. There are deadlines to meet, emails to answer, appointments to keep and people relying on us. Sometimes, we convince ourselves that we’re not really ill enough to stop, particularly when it’s just a cold or a sore throat. Even when we know a little rest would probably help, we carry on anyway.
The research also found that 61% of workers feel guilty about taking sick leave. That’s quite a statistic when you consider how many of us instinctively know that rest is important.
I was also interested in the differences between generations. More than one in five Gen Z workers (21%) said their most likely response to a common short-term illness would be to stay home and rest, compared with just 7% of Baby Boomers. Perhaps the traditional stiff upper lip and the idea that we should simply soldier on are gradually changing.
Of course, everyone’s circumstances are different, and taking time off isn’t always straightforward. But the report raises an important question: are we sometimes putting pressure on ourselves to keep going when taking a break would be the more sensible option?
Feeling better isn’t always the same as recovering
Another important message from the event was that easing the symptoms of a cold doesn’t necessarily mean we’re fully recovered.
NHS GP Dr Roger Henderson, who contributed to the Winter Recovery Report, highlighted how easy it is to mistake feeling better after taking a remedy for being well enough to resume our usual routine.
It’s a distinction worth remembering. We might feel more comfortable after taking something to relieve congestion or a cough, but that doesn’t automatically mean our bodies no longer need rest.
The report found that 38% of workers sometimes carry on as normal even when they know they would benefit from resting. That feels like a good reminder to pay more attention to how we’re actually feeling, rather than automatically pushing through.
Dr Henderson’s advice includes some straightforward measures: staying hydrated, getting enough sleep, managing symptoms appropriately and recognising when we need to slow down. If we’re unsure which treatment is suitable, a pharmacist can also help us decide what might be appropriate.
I think that’s a sensible approach. Looking after ourselves isn’t necessarily about staying in bed at the first sign of a sniffle, but it is about recognising when we’re not feeling well enough to carry on as usual.
A new addition to a familiar range
The event also gave us the opportunity to discover Olbas’s latest launch: Olbas Pelargonium Herbal Cough & Cold Relief Tablets.
The tablets contain an extract from the roots of Pelargonium sidoides, a plant traditionally used in respiratory care. They are a traditional herbal medicinal product used to relieve symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, including the common cold, coughs, sore throats and blocked or runny noses.
Suitable for adults and children aged 12 and over, the tablets offer another option within a range that already includes Olbas Oil, inhalers, nasal sprays, patches and bath and shower products.
It was interesting to see how a brand so closely associated with a familiar household remedy is continuing to develop its range. Rather than focusing on congestion alone, the new tablets offer a different format for those looking to manage a range of common cough and cold symptoms.
My takeaway from the launch
I enjoyed the event, not just because it introduced a new product, but because it opened up a wider conversation about something that affects so many of us during the colder months.
Olbas has a long-standing place in the world of winter remedies, and it was interesting to see how the brand is building on that heritage. But for me, the most memorable message wasn’t about a particular product. It was the reminder that we can be so busy getting on with life that we forget to give ourselves time to recover.
As winter approaches, I’ll certainly be keeping that thought in mind. Sometimes, the most sensible thing we can do is put the to-do list aside, make a hot drink, get some rest and allow ourselves a little time to feel better.
About the research
The Olbas Winter Recovery Report is based on research conducted by OnePoll among 2,000 UK adult workers between 14 and 17 September 2026. Participants were asked about common short-term illnesses, including colds, flu-like symptoms, stomach bugs, vomiting and migraines. The report was commissioned by Olbas.
Olbas Pelargonium Herbal Cough & Cold Relief Tablets are a traditional herbal medicinal product used for the specified indications exclusively based on long-standing use as a traditional remedy. Always read the label and follow the instructions. If you’re unsure whether a herbal medicine is suitable for you, ask a pharmacist for advice.
Poppy Watt