Scented Candles Can Help Wellness
Aromachology is the use of fragrances to enhance or promote well being. Scented candles is one form of aromachology you might like to consider for self care. 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.
There have been many studies on how scent therapy - and by extension scented candles - can help you. For example, 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.
Here are 4 ways our scented therapy candles can help you:
1. Helping To Alleviate Depression
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 trial of 12 people with depression in the Journal of Neuroimmunomodulation (Volume 2, Issue 3, May-Jun 1995; p 174-80) showed citrus fragrance more effective than anti-depressants.
2. Boosting Mood
Citus fragrance has been shown to elevate mood, according to a study in the Journal of Alternative Complementary Medicine and a study in the Journal of Physiology & Behavior (Volume 71, Issues 1–2, October 2000, p 83-86).
Vanilla can increase seratonin and improve mood, as reported in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry.
3. Increasing Relaxation And Reducing Anxiety
Lavender is a herb that contains linalool, which has sedative effects, according to the Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine.
It has also been shown to have an anxiolytic effect (ie reduce anxiety) as cited in the Mental Health Clinician Journal.
In 2017 a study covered in Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing concluded lavender sandalwood scent helped breast biopsy patients experience less anxiety.
4. Assisting With Sleep
Researchers in Germany have shown that jasmine is effective in helping people with sleep because the GABA-effect on those nerve cells active in sleep was enhanced by its fragrance.
It is even described as effective as the commonly prescribed barbiturates or propofol!
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. 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.
Our 400ml Scented Candles For Wellness range is available at wholesale to select retailers.
Email us on australia@bougainbale.com for more information.