The original olbas oil has long been a household name that families reach for at the first sign of a cold it can be dropped onto a handkerchief or into water for inhalation during the day at night a drop on a tissue tucked inside a pillowcase can help you to breathe easily so that you get a good nights sleep applied to the skin olbas oil produces a feeling of warmth and a local anaesthetic action which makes it particularly effective in relieving muscular discomfort and rheumatic pain