Setting the Mood with Candles

Did you know there was a National Candle Association? Me either. Anyway, according to a survey conducted by the NCA, 75% of candle consumers say that scent is a very important factor when purchasing candles. They needed a study for to figure this out?

So Many Candles; Just One Nose

The surge in candle and candle scent appreciation has blossomed into quite the business. Currently, there are more than 10,000 different scents of candles available to the open market. This wide variety can be distilled to five different categories of fragrances.

Candle Classes
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This group includes vanilla, which is has been for years the most popular scent of candles, as well as vanilla-based candles, also known in the candle business as ‘edibles.’ These include scents such as sugar cookie, hazelnut and coffee.

Fruit-i-licious

After vanilla, this is the most popular of candle scents. They include citrus and apple scents. Their fragrance ‘notes’ can be ‘light and breezy to warm and comforting.’

Flower Children

This group is generally considered ‘soft and light’ to the noses who know. In it we find rose, lilac, and all those other flowering plants that make me sneeze.

Zen-sational!

The zen/spa group includes fragrances such as ylang ylang, eucalyptus and sandlewood.

Fantasy Follies

According to the NCA, this category is hard to describe. Probably because the scents that fall into this group don’t have an obvious scent association. They are, however, an increasingly popular category. They include fragrances such as spring breeze, clean laundry and rain.

Candles and Mood

Most people correlate scented candles with aromatherapy, but according to the NCA, ‘most fragranced candles are not true "aromatherapy" candles.’ This is because they do not contain the necessary essential oils (or enough of them) to realize true aromatherapy effects. However, most scented candles do produce a psychological effect. The study of which is known as ‘aroma-chology.’ That being said, research seems to suggest that charts used to summarize the benefits of essential oils can be used to help us determine what candle scents might help enhance our moods.

Mood Manipulators

Here’s a list of some of some common candle scents and the moods they may alleviate.

Anger: Jasmine, Orange, Patchouli, Rose, Ylang Ylang, Lavender
Anxiety: Lavender, Patchouli, Chamomile, Rose, Sandalwood, Orange, Ylang Ylang
Confidence: Jasmine, Orange
Depression: Jasmine, Lavender, Lemon, Orange, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Cinnamon
Fatigue: Jasmine, Lemon, Patchouli, Peppermint, Sandalwood, Pine, Clove
Fear: Jasmine, Lemon, Orange, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Clove, Lavender
Frustration: Orange
Grief: Rose, Sandalwood
Insecurity: Jasmine, Sandalwood
Insomnia: Lavender
Irritability: Lavender, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Orange, Ylang Ylang
Loneliness: Rose
Panic & Panic Attacks: Lavender, Rose, Ylang Ylang
Stress: Jasmine, Lavender, Patchouli, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Vanilla
Tension: Lemon, Orange

And for states of being we may want to encourage, consider these scents.

Courage: Clove
Creativity: Cinnamon
Happiness & Peace: Lemon, Orange, Rose, Sandalwood, Ylang Ylang, Honeysuckle
Inner Peace: Coconut, Sandalwood
Mental Focus: Eucalyptus
Positive Outlook: Orange
Sexual Arousal: Orange, Patchouli, Ylang Ylang

(Scent data accumulated from Aroma Web and Earth Solutions.)

"Blue candles" courtesy of suncrest45 and "candles" courtesy of okay then at flickr.

Tagged:
Candles aroma-chology scent

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April 06, 2007

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DIY Maven

June 07, 2007

sam4u, thanks for the GREAT link. I'm going to bookmark it!

sam4u

June 07, 2007

Hi,

I found a site that has great information about aromatherapy. That’s so absolutely neat! that's the coolest thing i saw all day! This site has great information about Essential Oils like Pure Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, Organic Essential Oils, Essential Oils Skin.

And I now wish you deep rest tonight and a refreshing day tomorrow...!

baconthecat

April 17, 2007

I have a ton of candles, both scented and unscented, that I neglect to burn... They just sit there gathering dust. :( I just never find the time or opportunity to burn them; mostly because I don't stay in one place long enough to justify burning one (wouldn't want to burn down the apartment, now). And when I do burn one, I find that the scent never sticks around long enough--ok, it's prolly my dang nose getting used to it, but still.

atrophie

April 06, 2007

i had a friend whose apartment permanently smelled like vanilla candles. every time we'd meet at her place (she was the youth director at my church), the minute we walked in, everything was sweet vanilla scented. the smell of her apartment was like an awesome accessory; it really made an an impact on the atmosphere of the rooms, like decor does. it was awesome. i try to do that with my apartment, but i don't think i burn enough candles.