“Aromatherapy employs the use of essential oils, which are compounds extracted from different parts of the plant to mitigate various psychiatric conditions," says Rashmi Parmar, M.D., a psychiatrist with Community Psychiatry + MindPath Care Centers. “The oils can be used alone or blended together to produce different aromas and effects.” Each plant impacts the human body and its senses in different ways, but the right combinations of ingredients can provide true relief for those in need of relaxation and self-care. So, if you’re experiencing stress or looking for a way to bring a sense of calm into your home, an aromatherapy candle may be a good choice. Here are the best aromatherapy candles on the market. We are partial to the fresh linen scent, which gives off a clean laundry aroma, but you can’t go wrong with any of them. With a 35-hour burn time, these cruelty-free candles make for a nice addition to your home and leave you with a handy reusable glass jar. The candle is made with a blend of sustainably sourced palm waxes, pure essential oils, and 100 percent organic cotton wicks. They are free of parabens and phthalates, and the largest candles have a burn time of 80 hours. Each one smells amazing, but we are partial to Fragrance No. 07—a soothing and uplifting blend of sea salt, violet, and vetiver. All of Anecdote’s candles are made with a blend of coconut and soy waxes, and they are free of additives and preservatives. Available in a 7.8-ounce standard jar or 3.4-ounce travel-size tin, they come in size options best for your needs. And since they offer a wide variety of unique scents, they make the perfect gifts for your loved ones. What’s more, it’s hand-poured into a beautiful 24-karat-gold, elephant-stamped glass that can be reused once the candle is gone. Made in the United States, this 7.5-ounce candle has a burn time of 60 hours. Better yet, premium fragrances are artfully blended to create a perfectly balanced sandalwood rose scent. Handmade in the United States, the candle is vegan and cruelty-free, and it’s made without parabens or phthalates. The rosemary, eucalyptus, and mint scent combination instantly creates a calming and stress-relieving atmosphere. While there is a wide assortment of scents to choose from, you can’t go wrong with the classic Fields of Lavender aroma. The melting point of the wax ensures a clean, soot-free burn that lasts more than 20 hours per tin. We find the lavender, vanilla, and peppermint eucalyptus combination to be particularly soothing and a perfect gift. The candle features crystals and dried flowers that add a beautiful touch to its appearance. Unlike most candles, the wax on this one evaporates as it melts, instead of turning to liquid and pooling at the top of the candle. The fruity and floral fragrance is ideal for the living room, or perfect to light while taking a bath to help enhance the relaxing atmosphere. Plus, the blend of coconut and vanilla scents may help you feel like you’re on vacation. According to Rashmi Parmar, M.D., a psychiatrist with Community Psychiatry and MindPath Care Centers, different aromatherapy scents are thought to have specific benefits. Some of these include:
Rosemary: A calming candle scent.Lavender: A relaxing candle scent that may help you drift off to sleep. Peppermint: An uplifting, mood-boosting scent.Citrus: Orange, grapefruit, and lemon are all uplifting scents.Eucalyptus: “Has antibacterial and decongestant properties for which it is used to treat conditions like cold, cough, sore throat, and fever,” Parmar explains. “It is often used as an antiseptic in different products like air fresheners, toothpaste, lotions, etc.”Bergamot: According to Dr. Parmar, this scent “Helps with anxiety, depression, fatigue, insomnia, and pain."
While different scents are known for having certain benefits or properties, not every lavender candle will smell the same, so Parmar says that finding the fragrance that is most helpful for you may be a process of trial and error. “You might need to experiment with a few aromatherapy scents to arrive at the one that suits you best,” she says.
Burn Time
If cost is important to you, buying a candle with a long burn time will prevent you from having to replace it often. While volume and size are also important, burn time is more indicative of overall value. There isn’t a correlation between burn time and volume, so be sure to check the details of your candle before making your purchase.
Ingredients
When it comes to aromatherapy candles, the type of wax, wick, fragrance—and the ingredients used to make them—all matter. Look for phthalate-free candles that are derived from 100 percent essential oils. Candles made from paraffin, beeswax, and palm wax are all good options. Paying attention to wick material is also important. While lead cores in candle wicks were a concern in the past, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned the use of candles with lead-core wicks in 2003. Lead poisoning concerns are not an issue anymore, but you should look for wicks made entirely of cotton. Finally, find out what kind of fragrances are used in the candle. Are they natural essential oils, artificial fragrances, or a combination of both? “When purchasing a candle, the buyer will want to be sure reputable oils were used in the making of the candle, as well as ensuring no harmful chemicals were used,” Asayag explains. “Unfortunately, it’s common for many producers to utilize harmful filler products," she adds.
Why Trust Verywell Mind
As a seasoned health writer, Alena Hall understands how important it is to know exactly what you’re getting in a wellness product. Over the years, she has reviewed dozens of products, from athletic recovery aids to homeopathic essential oils to ever-trendy CBD topicals, to help readers like you discover products that can help you live your best life. It’s also important to keep in mind that people react to fragrance and aromatherapy in different ways. Some of the risks of aromatherapy can include headaches, nausea, allergies, hay fever, asthma, eye irritation, irritation of the skin or mucous membranes in the nose, and skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Aromatherapy could also affect the air quality indoors—similar to air fresheners, scented candles, and incense—which could make existing respiratory conditions worse. Essential oils should never be ingested and could cause poisoning. You can either buy all the candle ingredients separately or as part of a kit. Either way, the process involves melting your chosen type of wax flakes with the essential oils you picked to create the candle’s fragrance. As a general guide, it’s recommended to use 10 to 20 drops of essential oil for a 16-ounce candle. “Aromatherapy candles are generally safe to use around dogs and cats,” Sara Ochoa, DVM, a veterinarian and consultant for DogLab says. “When looking for candles, look for ones with beeswax, coconut wax, or soy wax as they are much safer. When looking for a scent use ones with essential oils as these are more pet-safe than other ingredients.” One of the few studies that exist was published in the Iranian Crescent Medical Journal in 2014. It found that aromatherapy involving a lemon scent may help reduce nausea and vomiting—although again, this finding isn’t specific to candles. Additional reporting by Elizabeth Yuko As a seasoned health writer and editor with a special focus on mental health and well-being, Elizabeth Yuko understands how powerful stress-relieving activities can be for many people—as well as the fact that they’re not one-size-fits-all. With decades of first-hand experience dealing with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder, she’s always on the lookout for new (and research-backed) products, techniques, and services that can help people cope with stress and other mental health challenges.
