# Rituals — The Rituals of Mehr Body Mist

> The Ritual of Mehr Hair & Body Mist is not a fine fragrance but a water-based, alcohol-free hair-and-body spray from the Dutch wellness brand Rituals, built on a simple, cheerful sweet-orange-and-ceda

## Essence
The Ritual of Mehr Hair & Body Mist is not a fine fragrance but a water-based, alcohol-free hair-and-body spray from the Dutch wellness brand Rituals, built on a simple, cheerful sweet-orange-and-cedarwood accord. It is the body-mist expression of Rituals' "Mehr" (meaning sun) collection, which in 2021 replaced the brand's long-running "Happy Buddha" line using the same fragrance. It is best understood as an affordable, mood-boosting "liquid sunshine" product rather than a perfume - and it is widely beloved within Rituals' fanbase for exactly that.
## Scent Profile
The scent is straightforward and largely linear: a bright, juicy, cheerful sweet orange dominates from the first spray, frequently described as "an orange punch" - sweet rather than tart, "intoxicating rather than too citrusy." Underneath sits a clean cedarwood that gives the orange a soft woody anchor and keeps it from being purely fruity, plus a faint spicy nuance some wearers detect (the fragrance carries coumarin and citral among its listed allergens). wearers impressions range from "freshly peeled orange and fresh cool air" to "Coca-Cola shaped Haribo candies" to a "clean, spa-like quality." It is repeatedly likened to a LUSH bath-bomb freshness and to a "spa in Bali / spa in the Alps" vibe. The signature is simply a sweet-orange-and-cedar fresh-citrus accord - pleasant, uncomplicated and uplifting.
## Performance
As a water-based body mist, performance is inherently light and short-lived, and this is the single most common complaint. Reviewers consistently note "it doesn't last very long" and wish for an EDT/perfume version. That said, several users report better-than-expected staying power for the format - "lasts longer than any body water containing alcohol," and whiffs detectable through the day on hair and clothing. Heat reportedly helps it project. The alcohol-free, water-based formula is designed for liberal reapplication on skin, hair and even textiles without staining. Practical strategy: spray generously and often, ideally on hair (where it clings longer) and post-shower.
## Wearing Context
A summer and warm-weather, daytime product first and foremost - reviewers tie it to "tanning under the sun on a summer day," summer freshness and morning mood-lifting "after a shower." Its clean, cheerful, non-offensive profile makes it appropriate for any casual or work setting; it is explicitly designed as an everyday energizing pick-me-up. Fully unisex - the orange-cedar combination is repeatedly endorsed as one a man could easily wear, even though the line markets toward general wellbeing. A few find it versatile enough for evening given the slightly fuller cedar base relative to other Rituals mists.
## Comparisons & DNA
The most direct lineage is internal: it is the same fragrance as the discontinued Rituals "Happy Buddha" (itself earlier called "Touch of Happiness"), simply rebranded as "Mehr." Within Rituals, fans compare it favorably to the more-hyped Ritual of Sakura, with one reviewer insisting Mehr "is literally soooo much better." For an external dupe, wearers members repeatedly name Zara "Creatively Shanghai" as smelling "identical," making it the go-to recommendation now that the scent is harder to find. As a sweet-orange-and-wood accord it sits broadly in the same cheerful citrus territory as countless summer colognes, but reliable fine-fragrance comparisons are limited because this is a mass-market body mist, not a perfume.
## Reception
Within its category and fanbase, reception is warm and affectionate. wearers and retailer reviews are full of "one of the best Rituals scents ever," "my favorite of the Rituals perfumes," and "liquid happiness / liquid luck" praise, centered on the uplifting orange and the clean spa quality. The two consistent criticisms are (1) poor longevity, inherent to the format, and (2) a minority who find the woody/cedar note too strong or the overall effect "soapy" or reminiscent of a cleaning product. Blind-buy verdict: low-risk given the modest price - a safe, cheerful, inoffensive purchase, with the main caveat being that it won't last like a perfume.
## Versions & Reformulation
The fragrance itself is carried over unchanged from the Happy Buddha line ("the same award-winning fragrance," per Rituals' own launch communications in March 2021); only the branding, packaging and product range changed. Within the Mehr line the scent appears across many formats (bath oil, shower gel, body cream, incense, room spray, dry oil, candle, and this hair & body mist). Ingredient lists for the mist show minor batch variation in preservative systems (e.g., phenoxyethanol vs. benzyl alcohol/benzoic/sorbic acid combinations across listings), typical of an ongoing mass-market product. The body-mist size is 50ml.
## Acquisition Notes
Inexpensive and mass-market: the 50ml hair & body mist retails at $24.00 (RRP $24.50 per Strawberrynet) / 24.00 via Rituals UK. Widely available via Rituals' own stores and site, travel retail, and third-party beauty retailers (LookFantastic, Lyko, parfumdreams, etc.). Some markets list it as out of stock or note it's no longer in certain physical stores, which has driven the "dupe" conversation toward Zara Creatively Shanghai. Refills/larger bottles are a frequent customer request but not standard. Note some reviewers received bottles that had leaked or self-evaporated in transit - a minor QC complaint.
## Notable Facts & Lore
- "Mehr" references the sun, and the collection was launched in March 2021 specifically to "inspire joy in everyday life," debuting in Rituals' travel-retail shop-in-shops before going permanent.
- It directly replaced "The Ritual of Happy Buddha" (previously "Touch of Happiness"), part of a broader Rituals pattern of periodically renaming and repackaging collections while keeping the core fragrance.
- a practice that has caused recurring customer confusion (mirroring the Ritual of Dao Jing rename). The mist is marketed as a multi-use, stain-free, water-based spray for hair, skin and textiles, reflecting the brand's wellness-ritual positioning rather than traditional perfumery.