Candles have been in use for thousands of years and used for many different purposes. Some have been used in religious ceremonies, some have been relied upon for lighting after dark in the absence of electricity, etc. So asking why candles are good for you, should receive an answer from many different angles, but backed with the appropriate facts as they relate to modern day use.
We’ll avoid the more subjective uses, such as romantic mood lighting on a date!
Fragrances - Scented Candles
Candles throw out scents and so it ties in with aromachology, the use of fragrances to enhance or promote well being. Even though there have been a lot of studies on how scents affect us, a lot of people are quite unaware or have a negative view of scent therapy. Perhaps the more well known is aromatherapy, although a recent term, as a practice it has been around for thousands of years, with the Ancient Egyptians believing it could treat diseases and the Ancient Greek physician Dioscorides wrote a book on how essential oils had healing properties. Aromachology is a lesser known field, but it looks at how both fragrance oils and essential oils benefit you.
The Yale Scientific mentions two studies on scents' effectiveness. The “Mie University School of Medicine found that patients with depression needed smaller doses of antidepressant medications after citrus fragrance treatment. Another study from the University of Vienna demonstrated that when the scent of orange oil was used in dental clinics, female patients exhibited decreased anxiety. These studies suggest that some fragrances may have a clinically quantifiable effect on mood.”
A study by the Brain, Performance and Nutrition Research Centre at Northumbria University, UK revealed that rosemary oil can improve cognitive performance.
Another study, which includes Shaheen E. Lakhan at the Global Neuroscience Initiative Foundation, Los Angeles, USA, found that there is a significant positive effect of aromatherapy in reducing pain.
Researchers at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University found that scents showed potential to be used as an effective therapeutic option for the relief of depressive symptoms in a wide variety of subjects.
In 2017 a study covered in Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing concluded lavender sandalwood scent helped breast biopsy patients experience less anxiety.
So there is certainly enough scientific evidence out there to show that the fragrances incorporated in candles as a form of scent therapy can give scientifically validated benefits to users. This is why we only make scented candles, because you are losing out on benefits otherwise on just plain unscented candles.
Relaxation value to reduce stress
There’s something relaxing about just looking at a candle.
Chryssa Chalkia Psychotherapist, CBT & Counsellor (UKCP, BABCP & BACP), has published an article on how candles reduce stress. She states, “After a long and stressful day, de-stress by lighting a candle and allowing its scents to travel you to a soothing place where you can relax and enjoy the rest of the day.” She cites her evidence: a study conducted by Keville and Green (2009) reports that imbalances of psychological wellbeing such as depression can be improved with the use of scented candles and oils. For example, certain scented candles can help reduce feelings of fear and anxiety, reducing stress and lifting mood.
But many of you just know from experience how relaxing it is to run a bath, pour a glass of wine and light a candle. It’s the perfect way to end a long day or a stressful week, so the proof is in the pudding.
Meditation
Meditation is practiced by many people, particularly those who follow yoga. Trataka meditation especially encourages open eyed concentration on one thing, to increase one’s awareness of the present. Candles offer a non-intrusive passive low flickering light, which is almost hypnotic and helps many people with their meditation.
Crystal Candles – Why candles are good together with crystals
If you have not already, have a read of our blog on Can Crystals Heal. Essentially candles with crystals give you the best of both worlds!
Having given all the above reasons on why candles are good for you, how can you not try and experience one today or at least more often?