Why Candles Are So Calming & How To Use Them For Better Sleep
Finding a bedtime routine that will help you unwind after a long day can be quite challenging.
What’s even more challenging is finding the time to do the routine and to do it consistently.
But relaxing shouldn’t be seen as some chore or something we have to force ourselves to do.
Unfortunately, that's the case for many of us.
With so much work to get done, it can be difficult to even set aside the time to unwind. (Even if it is just for 30 minutes).
But there are many health benefits to relaxing.
Relaxing before bed (especially after a long day) will help you get better sleep, which will then give you more energy in the morning, and boost your productivity throughout the day.
But how do we find the time to relax consistently?
By simply integrating aromatherapy into some of the things you already do before you go to bed.
Burning a Candle
The most important part about burning a candle to help you unwind at night is to burn a candle that you actually enjoy.
This may seem like a simple idea but trust me it is often overlooked.
Now, there are plenty of aromatherapy candles that you can use to help you relax (and I’ll provide a list in a second)
But just because a certain fragrance has certain health benefits doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy the scent.
The key is to make this process as enjoyable as possible so that at the end of the day when you come home, kick off your shoes and get out of your work clothes.
You’ll look forward to this nighttime routine before you go to bed.
Aromatherapy Scents for Relaxation
- Lavender - Probably the most famous essential oil fragrance around (and for good reason). Lavender alone is known to relieve stress, however, when combined with other fragrances like Rose, Cedarwood, or Sandalwood. You can create a relaxing scent that will help improve the quality of your sleep so that you can wake up feeling refreshed in the morning.
- Rose - Another great scent to help you improve the quality of your sleep at night. Like lavender, rose candles are ideal for burning at night (to promote sleep) and help you wake up feeling peaceful and re-energized. Burning a rose candle in the background can also provide a spark between you and your spouse when preparing for or planning for a romantic evening. Rose blends well with Bergamot, Chamomile, Clary Sage & Sandalwood as well
- Eucalyptus - A powerful scent to help you chill out when you get home. Eucalyptus is known fo alleviate any mental fatigue and give you a jolt of energy to help you refocus if there is more work to be done. Eucalyptus is also known to help clear your sinuses during allergy season — which seems to be year round. (If you have allergies you know what I mean 🙄) If you have been outdoors all day and your allergies are killing you. Simply take a warm bath while you burn a eucalyptus candle in the background to help clear up your airways.
- Rosemary - A great scent for when you are having a rough day. It happens, trust me I’ve been there. It helps to have a great scent to help clear your mind and rid yourself of those negative emotions. Rosemary is a great scent for eliminating mental fatigue, especially when combined with a citrus fragrance like grapefruit or orange
This is just a list of the top 4 aromatherapy scents that I believe will help you unwind the most.
And while just burning a candle by itself will be fine. Combining them without other stress relief techniques will truly help you unwind for bed and get the best nights sleep you’ve had in a long time.
Bedtime Routine
Lavender - Combining the lavender candle with a warm and steamy bath helps to relax the body and wash away all the stress to clear your mind at night. Once relaxed, spray a generous amount of lavender sleep spray on your pillows and linen to help your mind effortlessly drift into a deep sleep.
Rose - Rose and Lavender combine to create a great candle to help you relax before bed. Simply burn this candle in the background as you get ready to unwind for bed, and then roll on your wrist a generous amount of rose and lavender essential oil to help you fall into a deep sleep.
Eucalyptus - As I mentioned earlier. Eucalyptus is a great candle to help alleviate sinus congestion. Simply burn the candle in the background to help clear up your allergies while also relaxing the mind to help you cope with any negative emotions that you may be feeling.
Rosemary - Combined with a citrus scent like grapefruit. Rosemary can help when you’re feeling overwhelmed. This scent is ideal for burning while writing to help you jot down and release any negative emotions that you want to get off your chest or for daily reflection. When burning in the morning, try focusing on the things you are grateful for to help put you in a more positive mindset.