Stress is prevalent in adults, and many factors can cause this. A demanding job, pressing financial responsibilities, and familial obligations can undoubtedly drive up stress and anxiety. Fortunately, there are a lot of methods and techniques to relieve stress and anxiety. One of those is through aromatherapy. 

From the word itself, aromatherapy refers to the use of scents or aromas to improve one’s psychological, spiritual, and physical well-being. It’s a holistic healing treatment that may improve health and overall wellness. Aromatherapy utilizes scents from natural plant extracts and essential or candle oils.

Aromatherapy helps in relaxation and improving mood. This is why it’s commonly used to relieve stress and anxiety. Likewise, part of aromatherapy is the use of scented candles. But what are these candles?

Scented Candles As Part Of Aromatherapy

Scented candles from places like Candlelore (whose website you can click here to browse) are an excellent alternative for people who prefer lighting a warm candle instead of diffusing essential oils. These candles release aroma even if they’re not glowing. This process is known as the ‘cold throw effect,’ yet, they offer more scent when they evaporate through burning. This happens whenever its fire releases the scented molecules. 

Additionally, the longer you allow the candle to remain lit, the more wax melts, and the more you’ll smell the aroma. Larger candles have a more notable surface, which means they can provide more fragrance. This can be ideal if you want a scented candle for your bigger rooms.

How Scented Candles May Relieve Stress And Anxiety

Certain scents are generally associated with relaxation and mood improvement. The most popular scents are Lavender, Eucalyptus, Jasmine, and Citrus. If you choose candles that carry such scents, they may help relieve stress and anxiety.

The reason is purely psychological. These scents stimulate the limbic system, which triggers the body to release happy hormones such as dopamine and serotonin. The release of these hormones may result in a person having a happier and more relaxed mood. Since the body reacts positively, this might help people to cope with stress and other negativities.

Different Types Of Scented Candles

As mentioned, specific scents are associated with relaxation and mood improvement. It’s essential to know these types of scents to select the right kind of scented candle whenever you want to relieve stress or anxiety. 

Below is a list of various scented candles that are great for relaxation and mood improvement:

1. Exotic Scented Candles

Exotic scented candles offer comfort, warmth, and indulgence. They’re usually the scents you’d like to eat, such as caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon. The following are other examples:

  • Fruit-scented candles
  • Honey
  • Rosewood
  • Fennel
  • Chai
  • Pina-colada fragrances
  • Green tea
  • Coffee
  • Nutmeg

2. Fresh Scented Candles

These smells are refreshing and revitalizing, and they’re also great if you want nature-inspired scents. Fresh-scented candles consist of herbs, fresh citrus, and tangy aromas. Here are some fresh-scented candles that you can consider:

  • Clary sage
  • Rosemary
  • Tangerine
  • Lime
  • Verbena
  • Lemongrass
  • Basil
  • Thyme
  • Grapefruit

3. Floral Scented Candles

These scents originate from flowers, which can be calming, soft, and romantic. Lavender and Rose are the most popular of these types of scented candles. It’s a great choice if you want to relax with a sweet smell. Aside from Lavender and Rose, other great options are:

  • Jasmine
  • Lilac
  • Hyssop
  • Chamomile
  • Peony
  • Neroli
  • Gardenia
  • Ylang-Ylang

Are Scented Candles Better Than Diffusing Essential Oils?

In aromatherapy, the use of scented candles is always hotly compared to diffusing essential oils. But don’t be mistaken—both methods are actually great if you want to make your room or entire home smell amazing. 

Each method, however, has pros and cons. While diffusing essential oils is rather easy since you just have to mix a few drops of oil into a cup of water and plug the diffuser to get it started, the mist could be dangerous for pets and young children who might be allergic to some types of scents. 

Scented candles, on the other hand, are also easy to use since you just have to light the candle warmer to get your favorite scent distributed throughout the home. However, this can be risky, especially if you have things at home that can catch fire easily. 

In addition, scented candles and their warmers can easily add a cozier vibe to your home compared to a diffuser which is usually just suited to modern home designs. If you’re the type who likes to experiment with different mixtures of scents, using scented candles is the better method as well.

Wrapping Up

Aromatherapy is known to improve physical and mental well-being. This is the main reason why scented candles are popularly known to relieve stress and anxiety. The benefits are not really from the scented candles, rather it’s from the application of aromatherapy that was achieved by lighting scented candles. To make the most out of these candles, it’s important to learn the different types of scents and determine which ones can fully stimulate your happy hormones.