Benefits to Burning Candles

The benefits of burning candles are abundant and range from improving your health to improving your work from home lifestyle. Candles were once used as the primary source of light and have now transformed into a symbol of celebration, used to soothe the senses, accent home decors, and benefit our lives in various ways.

Express Your Individuality

Our scent of smell is unique and personal to us- everyone smells scents differently and has their preference. We express ourselves in many ways: your clothing style, your musical tastes, and even your favorite fragrances. Show your individuality by making a homemade candle that is unique to you. With the help of Bougie Bar, you can even have a candle making party with friends to find out their favorite scents. 

Known to Alleviate Stress and Anxiety

The science of candles for mental health is rooted in the practice of aromatherapy. A study from Scientia Pharmaceutica states that "the sense of smell plays an important role in the physiological effects of mood, stress, and working capacity." Certain scents can reduce anxiety and fear, which decreases your stress and improves your mood. Many therapists use these scents in their practice when supporting individuals struggling with anxiety or stress:

• Lavender: relaxes instantly both mind and body.
• Clary sage: lifts mood.
• Cinnamon: makes you feel refreshed.
• Orange: reduces stress.
• Lemon: improves mood.
• Apple: controls anxiety.
• Peppermint: wakes up your mind and enhances focus.
• Frankincense: helps battle anxiety and gives excellent stress relief.
• Sandalwood: relaxes and calms body and mind.
• Vanilla: increases happiness levels, uplifts your mood, and stimulates feelings of relaxation and joy.

Supports Restful Sleep

It's commonly known that using electronics right before you head to bed can disrupt a good night of sleep. The blue light admitted from the screens decreases your magnesium levels, making you feel less tired and more anxious. By shutting your light off, powering your devices down, and relaxing by candlelight, you become calm earlier in the evening and reset your natural sleep rhythms. Without the distraction of technology, you can be more mindful of your thoughts and actions- leading to a more restful night's sleep. This candlelight routine can become part of a self-care ritual that helps you unwind from your day and prepare for a restful night of sleep. Try some of these scents in your nighttime routine:

• Geranium: It smells like roses and can help relieve stress.
• Bergamot: Comes from the peel of the orange and can help ease anxiety.
• Chamomile: The scent is widely used in products like perfumes and lotions to promote calm and relaxation.
• Lavender: numerous studies confirm its calming, soothing, and sedative effects.

Improve Productivity

Just as a scent can invoke relaxation- you can use it to create a productive and creative space. For the many individuals currently working from home, this can be a great way to set your workspace apart. A vibrant scent can put you in a frame of mind that encourages you to tackle your day's task and sets the mood for your workday.

Here are five scents to help improve productivity:

• Cinnamon: This spice is a stimulant and perfect for the time of year too. It's known for creating a sense of alertness, which can help to improve focus.
• Mint: Even just throwing a piece of peppermint gum in your mouth can be enough to wake up the brain. The scent is known for boosting attentiveness, which makes it great for group brainstorm situations.
• Lemon: Lemon is a powerful smell, which jolts the mind into action when detected. It's also very polarizing, so test a small amount of the scent in space before fully committing to it.
• Orange: Similar to lemon, this scent is bold and fresh. It's often combined with cinnamon in many candles and essential oils, an excellent alternative if plain orange is too overwhelming.
• Rosemary: There's something wonderful about rosemary because research report after research report shows that the oil helps people be quicker and, even to some extent, smarter, in tense situations.

Our sense of smell is powerful, and by burning candles, we can show individuality, reduce stress, have a healthy night of sleep, be more productive, and so much more. With the help of a candle making store, like Bougie Bar, you can make a candle that benefits you and fits your lifestyle. Book a spot at Bougie Bar today to make your homemade candle.