Do you ever feel like your home is lacking something? If you’re anything like most people, your answer to that question is probably a resounding yes. Most of us live busy lives, filled with responsibilities and little free time. As a result, our homes tend to reflect that. They look functional, but they don’t have much character or personality. They’re just… there. That’s why it’s important to find little ways to liven up your house every once in a while. A simple way to do this is by adding more decorative elements into your home — like a few candles here and there. Candles can do wonders for almost any room! They create an elevated and inviting atmosphere that will instantly transform the space.
Why use candles in your home?
The short answer is that they make you feel good! But that’s just one of the benefits of candles. The true power of candles goes much deeper than that. By bringing a natural light source into your home — as opposed to artificial light — you’re creating a space that is truly relaxing and calming. This is important because feeling relaxed is the foundation for feeling balanced and for improving your mental health. If you’re feeling constantly stressed and on edge, you’ll have a hard time finding peace. On the other hand, if you’re able to relax and let go of your stress, you can start to break the cycle and find some balance. Aromatherapy candles, in particular, can help you manage stress and anxiety, making them a great choice to have in your home (and yes, an essential oil can do the trick as well).
It’s important to note that just burning candles in one little corner of the room isn’t going to do much at all. That gentle glow might be too gentle, soft lighting at its softest; but, a few strategically placed pieces, especially when it means you won't need a bright electric bulb, can do wonders for a space! Candles can make a room feel cozier for sure, but they can also make the space appear larger and that’s thanks to the light they give off — a light that, because of its warm hue, naturally looks softer and less harsh than the light produced by most bulbs. A candle’s glow will instantly transform even the ugliest corner of your house!
There are even more reasons why you should consider bringing candles into your home. While not all candles are affordable, most are, and lighting candles is a great way to add brightness and warmth. They’re also relatively easy to maintain, making them a great choice for people who don’t have a ton of time to clean. Lighting candles is also great for creating a more intimate atmosphere in a room. If you’re hosting a dinner party, for example, burn candles around the room or even on the dining room table as it will help create a more intimate setting, making your guests feel all the more welcome. Of course, even for a party of two, nothing beats a romantic candlelit dinner — the benefits of candles are endless!
Why a Candle Can Make Such a Big Difference in Your Home
A candle isn’t just a pretty decoration. It has a super power, helping you find balance. So, how exactly does a candle do that? Well, there are a few different ways that candles benefit your life. They help you slow down. When you have a busy schedule, it can be easy to get caught up in a mad rush that never ends. You squeeze everything in as fast as possible, trying to just get through your day. A candle can help you slow down and put the brakes on. When you light a candle, you’re creating a moment in which to slow down, breathe and check in with yourself. You can use these moments to let go of stress and recharge your batteries. We are not against using an fragrance oil or essential oil, but we do think candles add so much more to the atmosphere.
Candles help you connect to your senses: As we get older, it’s easy to dampen the connection the world has with our senses. We may be able to taste food, but we don’t really enjoy it. We may be able to see beautiful colors, but we don’t really notice them. We may be able to hear lovely music, but we don’t really listen. A candle gives you this wonderful moment to engage many senses and really be in that moment. You can watch the flame flicker, hear the pops, smell the fragrance, it really is an immersive experience.
But the benefits of candles don't stop there.
And of course, candles are a fantastic way to set the mood. Whether you’re looking to relax and find balance, or you’re trying to set the mood for entertaining, a candle can shift the energy to where you want it to go. For example, when you light a sandalwood scented candle, you’re not only creating a warm and inviting atmosphere, but you’re also encouraging feelings of relaxation and calmness. That makes candles a great choice if you’re trying to find balance in your life!
How to Use Candles to Find Balance in Your Life
If you’re looking to use candles to find balance in your life, there are a few different things that you can try! Other than using them for their intended purpose (i.e. setting the mood or creating light), here is an idea on how to use candles in a new way. Create a creative space! If you’re an artist or creative type, you may find yourself most productive in a specific environment. You may need a certain amount of noise in the background or a certain light level. Create a creative space in your home where you can be creative whenever you want to by adding aromatherapy candles or using essential oils, especially citrus forward ones, to really bring out your creativity. Using an aromatherapy candle or essential oils for creative inspiration can be a great way to tap into your natural creative side.
Of course, that said, one candle is never enough and that's why you should consider our candle sets, that have candles for all sorts of uses.
Use candles to exercise some control over your environment. Feeling like you really know your environment and that it is truly yours can go a long way in helping you feel “at home” in your own home and helping you feel balanced in a familiar space. You can do this by picking a specific wonderful fragrance candle for every room in your house.
You can use candles for mood lighting. No need for harsh artificial light, you can create mood lighting by using candles as your primary source of illumination. I think we can all agree it's easy enough to light a candle to set the tone of your space.
Lastly, creating a routine can be helpful. For example, once you have candles in place, you can decide to light a specific candle in a specific room every night before you go to bed. Don't leave a candle burning too long though, normally about 4 hours and definitely make sure to blow out a burning candle before falling asleep.
Which Aromatherapy Candles or Scented Candles Should You Use?
If you’re looking to bring more balance into your life, you could do a lot worse than burning candles, especially a few scented candles. We always recommend looking for natural wax candles (eg. soy wax, coconut wax), but we have heard that a fully refined paraffin wax can be ok as well. The fully refined paraffin is normally food grade paraffin (think the wax coating on an apple), so if it's ok to eat, we think it's probably ok in small amounts in air.
As we’ve already discussed, burning candles can help you relax and manage your mood better, which can help you find balance in your life. If you’re looking to create an atmosphere in your home that encourages relaxation and reflection, it may be a good idea to buy scented candles in the appropriate aromas. You can also use essential oils, but we find that scented candles do the trick.
More to the point, the benefits of aromatherapy candles go beyond simply smelling good.
For example, sandalwood and lavender are common choices to promote calm and tranquility. Alternatively, if you’re looking to create a more energetic, creative and exciting environment in your home, you could opt for candles with citrus scents. By choosing the right scents for your candles, you can create an atmosphere that encourages the emotions you want in your home. Do remember that everyone smells scents differently, so go with your gut (or rather, nose) to find what works for you.
What Type of Candles Should You Use in Your Home?
Unlike scented candles, décor candles and even prayer lighting candles are meant to be enjoyed for their visual intrigue. They’re perfect for your living room table, fireplace mantle, or bookshelf because they create more of a visual statement as opposed to a scented candle, which is meant to be enjoyed in a different manner. A decorative candle also works well in a bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen to make the spaces feel more welcoming. There are a few different types of decorative candles, each with their own unique benefits. Many of these are made with a more rigid paraffin wax, but again, we are not anti-paraffin, just make sure you are buying a quality paraffin.
Pillar candles are long, cylindrical candles that typically have a thicker base with a thinner top. They’re great to use as centerpieces because they burn evenly and last for a long time. Votive candles are smaller, shorter candles that are commonly used for decoration because they’re inexpensive and easy to find. They’re also commonly used for meditation and relaxation because they’re small enough to fit in most meditation bowls. Taper candles are more narrow than pillar candles and are great for home decorating because they come in a variety of heights and color options.
Conclusion
Burning candles, especially scented candles, has so many wonderful benefits. From the mood-lifting scents to the aesthetic versatility, there are many ways in which candles can make a home more beautiful and inviting. They provide warmth, light, and can even help you relax and find balance in your life. If you’re looking for a simple way to spruce up your home, it’s worth considering investing in a few candles. They’re relatively inexpensive, and they can make a big difference in almost any room.
