It makes sense that mint sales are up (though modestly, when looking at units sold) as recovery from the effects of the pandemic marches on. Americans are venturing out of their homes more often and mingling with friends and the general public, most with mask-less faces. With in-person encounters on the rise, consumers are once again reaching for mints, breath fresheners, sprays, and other items to help keep their breath pleasant during increasing face-to-face encounters.
The dollar figures in mint sales over the 52-week period ending May 21, 2023 (according to Circana OmniMarket) enjoyed notable increases across the various subcategories. Plain mints, for example, rose 18.5% year over year, hitting a total of $431.4 million; Breath fresheners were up 12.7% to $694.3 million. While much of that can be attributed to inflation, materials costs, and other factors, unit sales also were up, though modestly.