It’s easy to dismiss things like candles, plug-ins, scent warmers, or even perfume as frivolous additions to your home and life. You have to wonder if some scented products are just marketing ploys, designed to get you to try a new detergent or buy that expensive French candle sitting on every influencer’s bathroom shelf. But marketers are catering to a very real human response, because it’s no secret that we are all affected by scents. They can take us back to a time, place, or even remind us of a person. We respond to scents, whether we like it or not. It’s why realtors bake cookies in homes they are showing, and why the global fragrance industry is currently worth around $33.69 billion.
So how can you incorporate scents into your home and life meaningfully? One way is to know what response certain scents can illicit. Do you want to feel calm or energized? Understanding the basics of aromatherapy can help to transform a space and how you feel about it. And that’s why, in my opinion, incorporating candles or perfumes into your life is an act of self-care. Sometimes all it takes is your favorite scent to boost your mood. Here’s a list of moods or states of mind and which scents aid in facilitating them.
1. I Want to Feel Calm
There’s nothing better than drawing a bath and lighting your favorite calming candles. Lavender, tangerine, and vanilla are all scents that can help bring you into a relaxed state. Chamomile and sandalwood are also great options. And if candles aren’t your thing, that’s okay! You can still get the aromatherapy benefits from a scent through room sprays, perfumes, and essential oil diffusers. A simple trick is putting a drop of essential oil into a spray bottle of distilled water to create your own calming or cleansing mist.
Chesapeake Bay’s Serenity + Calm candle is the perfect dose of calm whenever you need to take a moment.
2. I Want to Feel Focused
As a lot of us have shifted to working from home, it may take a little more effort to get fully concentrated. Especially if you don’t have a dedicated office and live with family members or roommates, giving your body and mind more cues that it’s time to focus can help get you into the proper mindset. Lemon, eucalyptus, peppermint, and cinnamon can all help with this.
This NEST candle, filled with fragrances of wild mint and eucalyptus, is the perfect combo to get you into the zone
3. I Want to Feel Energized
Pine, clove, peppermint, lemon, and tea tree scents are said to have an effect on your energy levels. Next time you’re feeling fatigued, consider adding something like tea tree to an ultrasonic essential oil diffuser. The light scent will fill up the room and just might give you the boost that you need. However, take caution if you have pets. Essential oils like tea tree can be toxic to them even in diffusers.
InnoGear’s ultrasonic essential oil diffuser has thousands of amazing reviews on Amazon and will blend into just about any room.
4. I Want to Sleep Well
Lighting a candle while you sleep is not advised, but there are many pillow sprays out there that will stimulate your senses as your fall asleep. Lavender, chamomile, and sandalwood are wonderful relaxing options. You can also incorporate these scents into your nighttime routine through body washes, hand soaps, or scented plug ins.
Thisworks’ Deep Sleep Pillow Spray has a blend of chamomile, lavender, and vetiver, perfect for creating a restful evening and catching up on some quality sleep.
5. I Want to Feel Uplifted and Happy
Orange, bergamot, sandalwood, ylang-ylang, and tangerine can all have an uplifting effect on your mood. If you’re on the move a lot, you might want to try incorporating some of these scents into a perfume that will last throughout the day. Throw it in your bag and spray it on whenever you need a little moment of joy.
Pacifica’s Sandalwood roller ball is easy to travel with, and contains tangerine, sweet orange, and sandalwood.
Picking out scents should be a fun and relaxing way to create the environment you want to live in. Next time you see a candle or perfume that makes you happy, don’t feel like you’re wasting your money. Scents play a huge role in our worlds, so why wouldn’t you want yours to smell amazing?
