After a long and tiring day at the office, many of us like to get home, shut out the world behind and light some candles to truly relax and unwind. While some people see candles as just a way to fragrant a room, you may be surprised at the health benefits you can gain too. Sure, a lit candle will make your place look cozy and smell amazing, but there are advantages of burning candles for the mind and body as well. Don’t just take our word for it, here are some of the ways burning candles can benefit your wellbeing.

Relieves Stress

Let’s face it, we all get stressed. Whether it’s to do with work, family, or relationships, high stress isn’t good for your general health. In fact, stress and anxiety are linked to high blood pressure and an increased risk of having a stroke. Of course, you don’t want either of these to happen to you, so one wonderful way to relieve stress and tension is by lighting candles. When you begin to smell a pleasing scent, this can stimulate your limbic system and release ‘happy hormones’ like dopamine and serotonin. Both of these help to ease your mind and regulate your mood. As you curl up on the couch and take in the scents, any worries you have will fade away.

Promotes Better Sleep

If there’s one thing many of us don’t get enough of, it’s sleep. Getting a good night’s rest is essential for performing at your best, so if you’re struggling to get enough shuteye and find you’re tossing and turning all through the night, burning candles may be the answer. Because candle scents help to lower stress and promote rest, this can aid sleep in the process too. To get a better night’s rest, it’s wise to pick rest-inducing scents like lavender and rose. You can create a nightly ritual of burning a candle before climbing under the quilt which can help you unwind and self-soothe. Just make sure to blow the candle out before you drift off.

Boosts Energy

The scents often found in a candle can be used to elevate your energy levels too. It’s suggested that infusing your home with citrus-scented candles may help in boosting your energy and stamina. Lime and zestful lemon aromas can provide fresh, sharp, and clean-smelling scents that can enhance your concentration levels, and they can cleanse your air too. Some aromas are suggested to help decrease the body’s cortisol levels while boosting the release of happy chemicals in the brain. When you notice an increase in your energy levels, your mindset will change for the better too.

Supports Meditation

Millions of Americans across the country enjoy meditating daily. Meditation is a fantastic way to reduce stress, promote inner peace and help you zone out from the goings-on in day-to-day life. If you love meditating or you’re new to the scene, one way to really set the scene and get the most out of the experience is by burning candles. 

Lighting a candle during meditation is a fantastic way to boost your practice. There are manifestation techniques and visualization exercises that involve shifting your attention onto the flame of a burning candle, while you send your intentions out into the stratosphere. Many people use candles when praying too.

Brings Comfort

Our sense of smell is intricately linked to memory. This means we often link a particular scent with a specific time or moment in our lives. When you light a scented candle, this can evoke specific memories from a happy time in your life. Whether they stem from childhood, your teenage years, or poignant events like getting married, burning candles can bring a lot of comfort and reassurance. Burning candles can also be used to remember loved ones who have now passed. You’ll find many churches have tables or altars that can be used to light a candle in memory of a family member or friend. Lighting candles can help enormously in the grieving process and provide comfort when dealing with a loss.

What to Do Next

Now you have a better idea of how burning candles can benefit your day-to-day life, the next step is to find some that do just that. While your first thought may be to head to the grocery store and pick up a few on the shelf, why not give yourself a bit of luxury and splurge on a Jo Malone candle? Jo Malone London is a brand known for its unique fragrance portfolio. You can purchase them from SSENSE which sells a variety of scented candles, body cremes, and diffusers that can all play a part in promoting comfort and relaxation. SSENSE only features the top branded candles and fragrances that are sure to provide all the benefits listed above.

Candles continue to grow in popularity across the country. Whether they’re used to soothe the senses, symbolize celebration, or create a warm and relaxing environment, burning candles can do wonders for your health and wellbeing.