There’s no denying that burning a candle is chicken soup for the soul, nourishing the senses with their enticing fragrance and warm ambience. They play a big part in shaping our environment, setting our mood and adding to our overall well being. The simple act of lighting a candle is a go-to, inexpensive way in which we can inject a little luxury into our lives and provide a sense of calm for whatever life throws our way. We dive deeper with our top 5 benefits of candle burning, and explore how aromatherapy is the link to finding a slice of utopia amongst the chaos of our day-to-day lives.
Creates ambience
As soon as we light a candle the environment in which we are in changes, and it transforms the way we feel in that space. Candles bathe the room in soft golden light, and invite instant relaxation or invigoration with your favourite fragrance. Use them to create focal points around the room - drawing the eye to a special piece of artwork, the bookcase by the fireplace or your bedside nightstand. In Scandinavian countries it’s common to see candles lighting the windows of homes as a sign of hospitality and that visitors are welcome.
Stimulates memory
Scent, emotion and memory are all closely intertwined, with your sense of smell having a stronger link to emotion and memory than any of the other senses thanks to the body’s olfactory system. Just like the aroma of Earl Grey tea and lavender bringing back childhood memories of Sundays spent at grandma’s house, or wafts of a certain cologne reminding you of a former flame, burning your favourite scented candle has the power to inspire new memories and evoke moments past.
Creates consistency in your routine
In one form or another we all have our own little habits and routines - whether that be your nightly skincare, that steaming cup of coffee before you start your day, or taking half an hour after work to unwind with a good book. Elevate your experience and turn routine into ritual, setting the mood and allowing yourself to be more focused and mindful in those precious me-time moments.
As an accredited clinical integrative psychotherapist and cognitive behavioral therapist, Chryssa Chalkia knows a thing or two about mood and how it can be improved. "It is scientifically proven that scented candles can play an essential role in the physiological effects of mood, stress, working capacity, and overall mental health.” Aromatherapy (healing with fragrance) can be powerful, with different fragrances achieving a multitude of outcomes. Looking to boost your mood and relieve emotional stress? Reach for our Kowhai Blossom + Lime candle. Its clean and crisp citrus blend of orange zest, citron, lime, grapefruit and lemons is given sensuous depth and balanced with notes of warm ylang ylang, patchouli, amber and cinnamon. It’s a guaranteed home refresher and mood energiser.
Calms the mind
Whether you’re hustling to finish a project or you’re unwinding for the evening, lighting a candle can envelop you in a sense of calm, allowing you to focus and relax. If you’re finding it takes a while to drift off to dreamland in the evenings you could try spending some time before bed using candles as your only source of light. Light suppresses your body’s natural sleep hormone, melatonin and tells our body to be alert. Candles emit a soft warm glow as opposed to a bright blue light - perfect for welcoming those zzz’s.
So whether you’re looking to relieve stress and anxiety, focus your mind, or just set the mood for a cosy evening in - your favourite scented candle should be your first port of call for an easy full-sensory experience.
