Where Tunes goes in hard on menthol to blast a blocked nose, its Mars stablemate Lockets takes the opposite approach - a softer, honey-led sweet built around the idea of coating and soothing a sore throat rather than clearing it out.
Mars's other throat sweet brand
Lockets sits alongside Tunes in Mars's medicated confectionery range, but the two were built for slightly different jobs. Lockets was positioned around the sensation of a soothing layer settling over a sore, scratchy throat, with advertising historically built around the idea of the sweet's coating "melting" over irritation rather than delivering a sharp menthol jolt.
What's actually in a Locket
- Honey — the defining flavour note, giving Lockets a warmer, sweeter profile than most medicated lozenges.
- Blackcurrant and lemon variants — fruit flavours layered over the honey base, softening the medicinal edge further.
- Menthol & Eucalyptus version — a stronger variant for buyers who want more of a decongestant effect, closer in character to Tunes.
Honey-led sweetness vs a menthol hit
The practical difference between the two Mars brands comes down to what you actually want from a throat sweet. Tunes is the pick for a properly blocked nose and a strong menthol wallop; Lockets is the pick for a raw, scratchy throat where you want something that feels soothing rather than intense. Both have stayed in pharmacies and newsagents for decades largely unchanged, which says a lot about how narrow and specific their job has always been.
Frequently asked questions
What are Lockets sweets?
Lockets are a soothing throat lozenge made by Mars, built around a honey-flavoured outer layer and a softer, coating sensation rather than the sharp decongestant hit of a straight menthol sweet.
How are Lockets different from Tunes?
Both are made by Mars for sore throats and colds, but Lockets lean on honey and a soothing "coating" sensation marketed at gentle throat relief, while Tunes lean on a stronger menthol and eucalyptus hit marketed at clearing a blocked nose.
What flavours do Lockets come in?
Lockets have been sold in flavours including Honey & Lemon, Blackcurrant, Cherry, and a Menthol & Eucalyptus variant for a stronger hit.