5 Soothing Aromatherapy Scents for Stress Relief

It’s been a stressful eleven months for many reasons, and the new year is a great opportunity to set goals for relaxing and unwinding. Many of you may be looking for ways to reinvigorate your self care routine, and prioritizing time to be at peace is a great way to show yourself love and compassion in these challenging times.

That’s why we paired up with an Oregon-based consultant to bring you aromatherapy scents for stress relief. All it takes is breathing in these hand-blended essential oils to begin releasing the tension you’ve been holding on to. A practice of deep breathing has many benefits, so we suggest you go ahead and take a deep breath - and keep reading for the benefits of our five favorite aromatherapy candle scents for stress relief.

1. Lavender

Lavender will be a familiar scent for many, and its popularity is well earned: lavender essential oil emits a serene scent that is sure to bring you a sense of peace and relaxation. Some studies have shown that it can also increase quality of sleep¹ and lower anxiety and pain² in post-surgical hospital patients.

Indulge yourself with a luxurious spa day at home with our Lavender Retreat gift set, complete with a lavender and petitgrain candle, sea salt and lavender sparkling bath tablet, and refreshing essential oil roller ball. A bathtub soak in soft candlelight is only enhanced by the soothing scent of an aromatherapy candle designed for stress relief.

2. Sweet Orange

If you’ve ever eagerly inhaled while peeling a ripe orange, you know that citrus scents can uplift and radiate an optimistic comfort. Find that same hopeful feeling without needing to scrub zest from under your fingernails with sweet orange aromatherapy candles. Beyond smelling mouth-wateringly delicious, sweet orange essential oil has been shown to reduce anxiety during childbirth³, so you know it has some powerful positive effects.

Harness that effect for yourself with our Harmony Tranquility Candle. A relaxing blend of orange, rose, clementine and lavender essential oils, this candle is designed for aromatherapy stress relief and harmony.

3. Petitgrain

If you’re not an aromatherapy buff, you might not have heard of petitgrain, though it has been used in perfume and traditional health practices for years. Distilled from the leaves and twigs of citrus trees, petitgrain essential oil can vary widely in scent, from citrusy to floral to woodsy. No matter the variety, petitgrain carries with it strong calming and antidepressant benefits and is great for stress and tension relief. In fact, in certain environments, petitgrain essential oil has been shown to improve workplace performance by reducing stress and increasing attentiveness.⁴ 

Create a moment to unwind with our Embrace Hope aromatherapy candle that has a mix of uplifting grapefruit and petitgrain essential oils that awaken hope.

4. Cedar

For a scent that both relaxes and fits the wintry season, look no further than cedar. Derived from the cedar tree’s evergreen needles, cedar essential oil inspires feelings of cozy hibernation. Hunker down with some cedar-scented aromatherapy candles to enter your rest mode and drift away in a serene winter wonderland. Our Welcome Peace aromatherapy candle combines cedar with lavender to soothe the mind, reduce stress and promote a feeling of peace.

5. Lemongrass

Though it’s often associated with savory cuisine from its native Southeastern Asia, lemongrass has aromatherapy stress relief benefits as well. A potent scent, a little lemongrass essential oil goes a long way towards producing an invigorating and uplifting effect. Though its use in a medical context is not well documented, one study suggests that lemongrass essential oil may reduce anxiety and tension⁵ when smelled.

To bring a little of that soothing energy into your life or the life of a loved one, consider our Bliss Tranquility Candle. A bright combination of bergamot and lemongrass essential oils, this aromatherapy candle creates an uplifting mood. Or treat yourself to a little extra sweetness with our Simple Bliss Gift Set that pairs the Bliss Tranquility Candle with a creamy toasted white chocolate bar and a quote matchbox.

We hope you enjoyed this aromatic tour of our five favorite aromatherapy candle scents for stress relief, whether you’re looking for a little more calm and relaxation in the new year or just something whose scent never fails to make you smile.

 

Sources:

1. Karadag, E., Samancioglu, S., Ozden, D. and Bakir, E. (2017), Effects of aromatherapy on sleep quality and anxiety of patients. Nurs Crit Care, 22: 105-112. https://doi.org/10.1111/nicc.12198

2. Olapour, Alireza et al. “The Effect of Inhalation of Aromatherapy Blend containing Lavender Essential Oil on Cesarean Postoperative Pain.” Anesthesiology and pain medicine vol. 3,1 (2013): 203-7. doi:10.5812/aapm.9570

3. Rashidi-Fakari, Fahimeh et al. “The effect of aromatherapy by essential oil of orange on anxiety during labor: A randomized clinical trial.” Iranian journal of nursing and midwifery research vol. 20,6 (2015): 661-4. doi:10.4103/1735-9066.170001

4. Lin Huang and Lluis Capdevila.The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.Mar 2017.214-221.http://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2016.0061

5. Tiago Costa Goes, Fábio Reis Carvalho Ursulino, Thiago Henrique Almeida-Souza, Péricles Barreto Alves, and Flavia Teixeira-Silva.The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.Dec 2015.766-773.http://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2015.0099