Calming Candles ~ How to Relieve Stress with Your Favorite Scents
Over 70% of people report having stress that affects their physical health — the same for mental health, too!
With so much stress in our modern lives, it’s extra important to find ways to relax and unwind… Luckily, you don’t have to book a luxurious vacation or spa day to do that!
Practicing self-care and incorporating candles into your daily life can help you manage those negative feelings of overwhelm.
It may sound silly, but there are actually a number of reasons to back up why candles help us relax.
Why Do Candles Have a Calming Effect?
If your ideal self-care day involves lighting a candle while you soak in a warm bath or curl up with a good book, there may be a reason why (or, well, several)!
Soothing Scents
Scented candles are an amazing way to help relieve stress and promote relaxation — especially when you pick candles scented with essential oils or high-quality fragrances like chamomile, bergamot, geranium, and ylang ylang that can all give off a sense of calmness.
Studies show that the sense of smell affects the brain and plays a part in the psychophysiological activities of humans. Because aromas have powerful abilities to influence the brain, scents affect both mood and stress.
But, soothing fragrances aren’t the only reason why candles have such a calming effect.
Relaxing Flame
The flame of a candle is incredibly soothing. That’s why candles have been used during meditation practices for centuries. If you've never meditated, you might be surprised what staring into a candle can achieve.
The rhythmic flickering of the flame of a candle can reduce stress while also increasing your self-awareness.
How? The low light from a candle is captured instantly by your eye and then sent straight to your brain, and your association with candlelight helps to calm you down.
When you use candles instead of artificial light before bedtime, you also help your body relax by choosing a less harsh lighting option.
By avoiding drastic indoor lighting, you help your body follow its natural circadian rhythm by winding down at night (during the dark hours) before using bright, artificial lighting again during the daytime.
This is the same reasoning experts recommend avoiding blue light from your phone or TV before bed. Luckily, candles avoid any of these pitfalls of artificial lighting and offer a serene ambiance.
5 Best Calming Candles to Help You De-Stress
Worrying about what’s in your candles does not help with your stress levels. That’s why when shopping for a stress-relief candle, we recommend looking for a non-GMO, natural soy-wax candle made with premium essential oils or fragrance oils.
With Nellamoon, we want to spread joy and light — and we can only do that with the highest quality, best-of-the-best candles you can feel good about burning in your home.
Here are some of our top Nellamoon candle picks to help you relax and unwind.
1. Noir: Teakwood, Sandalwood, Bergamont, Lavender
When it comes to plants, lavender is one of the most well-known for its relaxing effect. That’s why it’s a fan-favorite in relaxing candles! But Noir isn’t your typical lavender candle. Combining a rich aroma of aged teakwood, soft sandalwood, French bergamot and a touch of lavender, this exotic blend is sure to be the perfect addition to your relaxation routine!
2. Haven: Luxurious Cedarwood, Coconut, Vanilla, Bamboo
Escape to a haven of peace and tranquility with Haven’s soothing blend of cedarwood, coconut, vanilla, bamboo, and green leaves. This is the perfect "me time" candle.
This scent is also infused with lemon essential oil, cedarwood essential oil, eucalyptus essential oil, lavender essential oil, patchouli oil, and spearmint oil, making it a great option if you’re looking for an aromatherapy candle.
3. Enchanted Forest: Eucalyptus, Fir, Cypress, Vanilla, Cedar Leaf
Channel the crisp and tranquil energy of the great outdoors with the Enchanted Forest Candle. This candle adds a new layer of sophistication to traditional pine scents with vivid notes of eucalyptus, cypress, vanilla, and sweet tonka beans.
Enchanted Forest comes in a gorgeous glass jar and has a 200+ hour burn time.
4. Nashville: Leather, Tobacco, Cedarwood, Vanilla, Patchouli
Inspired by our beautiful city of Nashville, this candle is infused with light aromas of leather, tobacco, cedarwood + soft notes of vanilla and patchouli. While Nashville may be busy and bustling, burning your Nashville candle may actually be the earthy, serene experience you need.
5. Golden Hour: Mandarin, Bergamont, Amber, Cedarwood, Musk
Golden hour: the first hour after sunrise and the first hour before sunset. Peaceful times… Golden Hour's blend of mandarin, bergamot, cashmere, amber, and musk can transport you to just as tranquil a setting. Close your eyes and breathe in these luxurious, cozy scents.
How (& Why) to Create a Ritual With Your Candles
Rituals are an incredibly powerful way to stay grounded in your body, rooted in your lives, and more capable of combating stress when it arises. Candles pair perfectly with a daily ritual to incorporate a sense of calm.
Lighting a candle during your nightly skincare routine or while sipping your cup of coffee in the morning in peace and quiet allows you to create a serene environment that facilitates mindfulness.
What’s important is that you create a calming ritual that fits into your unique lifestyle. A ritual can be any routine that positively serves your life.
Whether it’s coffee and a candle first thing in the morning, meditation, late-night bubble baths by the candlelight, or turning off all electronics and artificial light after the sun goes down.
Just try practicing a candlelit ritual for a couple weeks and feel how your mind and body transform. Feel the peace wash over you!
Conclusion
Mental wellness is a key aspect of your overall well-being. Lighting a candle can promote a sense of calmness, peacefulness, and simplicity. Modern life is busy! That means more anxiety and stress than ever.
Yet when you feel these sensations of overwhelm, the combo of candlelight and essential oils can allow you to feel calmer, more relaxed, and help wash away the stresses of your day.
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