Aromatherapy at Home: How Scented Candles Can Enhance Your Living Space

By Ava Brown, November 21, 2023

Scented candles have been around for a very long time. They are the ideal addition to every home for creating a relaxing ambience, infusing deliciously smelling fragrances into your home and elevating the aesthetics of the space. 

They’re also well known for their ability to elevate the mood and their healing benefits to your overall well-being. So, if you have been thinking about whether you should buy a candle with a specific scent, you’ll certainly have no shortage of options to go with.

Why Scented Candles Are Good for You?

Balmain x Trudon Candle
source: thevelvetlife.com

There are several reasons why luxury scented candles are worth the hype, besides smelling deliciously good. From stress relief and creating positive feelings to improved brain function and better health. Scented candles have been cherished by millions of people for many decades and they are true magicians, able to improve our lives on every level.  

Mood Enhancement 

Certain fragrances have the power to enhance the mood, induce positive feelings and make you feel happier overall. Lighting up scented candles with Ylang-ylang, apple, vanilla, rosemary, citrus or jasmine notes, stimulates the receptors for smell and sends signals to the limbic part of the brain which regulates our emotions and behaviour. 

So, if you have been feeling down lately, buy a candle with some of these fragrances or a blend of them to boost your mood and make you feel lighter and more content. When you’re feeling happy and uplifted, you’ll be more productive in everyday tasks, have increased self-esteem and a better outlook on life.

Stress Reduction 

Tuileries - Candles
source: trudon.com

Aromatherapy is well known for its ability to relieve feelings of stress and relax the nervous system. Life happens. We constantly deal with stressful situations, be it at our workplace or in our private life. If we don’t find a time and a way to rewind, stress will eventually accumulate and can take a toll on our health. 

Smelling pleasant fragrances such as lavender, bergamot, rose, orange or cinnamon affect your hormones and contribute to relieving stress. Lavender is a known fragrance to reduce stress and anxiety and improve sleep. 

Make sure to introduce scented candles including some of these fragrances and take your time to just breathe and be present with yourself. Especially if you’re into yoga or meditation, scented candles can enhance the feelings of comfort and relaxation. And if you pair them with some relaxing music, you will be blessed with a refreshed and rejuvenated energy that will last you the whole day. 

Boosting Memory and Cognitive Function

Did you know that certain fragrances such as jasmine, cinnamon, almond, peppermint ylang-ylang have the ability to help you feel awakened? These fragrances promote better concentration and memory, stimulate brain functioning and make you feel more energized. 

Introducing scented candles with some of these notes to your office or workspace is an effective way to help you feel more concentrated and thus, perform better. When you feel alert and focused, your productivity improves, making you more efficient in achieving your daily tasks. 

Enhances Home Ambience 

Pine & Winter Rose Candle
source: libertineparfumerie.com.au

Scented luxury candles can transform any space into a cosy and relaxing area. Rewind from the day in a relaxing ambience is crucial for feeling good. They make your house smell amazing and soothe your senses. 

If you want better sleep, infuse some relaxing fragrances into your bedroom, or take a relaxing bath in your bathroom by lighting up stress-relieving scented candles. Create a romantic atmosphere while having dinner with your romantic partner with a vanilla-scented option or create a cozy and inviting atmosphere in your living room using candles with cinnamon notes. 

Improves Overall Well-being 

Certain aromas can help alleviate the side effects of cancer treatments, relax the body and muscles and alleviate the effects of certain psychological disorders. Fragrances can improve the overall state of your body and mind, relieve psychological difficulties and simply infuse rays of joy and positivity to make you feel like you’re ready to seize the day.  

Why Luxury Scented Candles Are More Expensive Than Regular Scented Candles?

FORNASETTI Original Sin Large Candle
source: segraetishop.com

You may wonder what’s the difference between luxury candles and standard scented ones when both deliver a good smell and can easily transform your home into a spa centre. Well, it’s not just about the fragrance. 

There are many details in the craftsmanship of luxury varieties that are there to create a story, create a statement, deliver a unique smelling experience and elevate your home decor. Luxury options are supposed to last longer than regular scented candles due to their longer burn time. They infuse a potent scent that lasts longer even after you put off the candle. They inherently deliver better quality, rich, intense and consistent aromas, and they offer overall better quality. 

So if you wonder whether it is worth investing in luxury candles, the answer is yes. You may pay a bit higher price at the moment than the cheaper counterparts, but the experience you get from luxury models is unmatched. Plus, they are much more cost-effective in the long run as they are highly durable. 

How to Choose Your Candle Scent

XERJOFF Scented Candle MarrakechTea
source: fragrantica.com

Before you buy a candle, consider the following factors to help you choose the right fragrance for your home or workspace. 

Consider the Room Where You Want to Put the Candle 

It’s important to determine whether you want something to help you rewind and relax, improve your sleep or boost your concentration and make you feel energized. Different fragrances help achieve different desired effects and they should be used in the area where you want to achieve the results you’re aiming for. 

For instance, if you want to create a relaxing and inviting atmosphere in your bedroom or living room, use lavender or vanilla-scented candles. If you need more concentration at work, or you are working from home, light up some peppermint, cinnamon or ylang-ylang scented candles. 

Choose the Right Fragrance 

Pine & Smoked Wood Candle
source: libertineparfumerie.com.au

To know which fragrance will best deliver your desired results, it’s a good idea to get to know the fragrance family. They are all broken down into four different, yet similar categories: floral, oriental, woody and fresh and each has distinct characteristics. Floral scents are very distinctive for their sweet, soft, calming, light yet refreshing and powerful notes. Think of rose, sweet orange blossom, jasmine, lavender, hibiscus and chamomile. 

Fresh notes such as lime, sage, basil, lemongrass thyme and rosemary, deliver revitalising and vibrant energy. On the other hand, woody or earthy fragrances have more of a cozy note to them. They are warm, mixed with spicy and sweet notes. Such fragrances are juniper, sandalwood, patchouli, cedar and pine.

Lastly, oriental fragrances. They have sweet and rich notes, infusing warmth and comfort such as vanilla and caramel, enhanced with spicy notes such as cinnamon.