Aromatherapy for Mood
Your environment is a reflection of yourself and vice versa. On top of a clean home, the scents that surround you influence both your own mood and the impression left on your guests. Aromatherapy can be used to treat depression and stress, and has even shown to be effective on dogs! Pamper yourself, your family, and even your pet with the aromas below.
Chamomile & Lavender are good for treating stress/anxiety, and for sleep or relaxation. Chamomile is slightly fruity, and I prefer the scent to the taste of chamomile tea. Lavender is floral, and great for bedtime. A quality lavender candle will fill an entire room with scent. Light near your bed half an hour before it’s time to sleep (but don’t leave unattended). Lavender has been linked to lowered blood pressure and decreased muscle tension.
The above scents are also great for treating depression, as is Sandalwood. I recently discovered sandalwood when my mom gave me a set of sandalwood tea candles as part of a gift. Woody and fruity, it’s now one of my favorite scents. Sandalwood and Jasmine are said to be romantic scents.
Citrus and Minty scents are ideal for energy and mental clarity. They also provide your home with a ‘clean‘ feeling, which is why many cleaning products are scented and marketed as Orange or Minty Fresh. (When it comes to choosing cleaning products, I suggest Citra Solv, which I’m sure I’ll post more on later. It gets through anything, and I don’t mind getting it on my bare hands or using around my pup!)
Citrus scents Peppermint, Lemon, Orange, and especially Grapefruit are all stimulating scents. One of my favorite smells of all time is simply Gap Scents So Pink. Orange Spice Black Tea is great for a mood boost on hot or cold days.
I find that minty smells can provide a boost of energy or a gateway to sleep, depending on when applied. I’m pretty obsessed with Tiger Balm and everything like it. Camphor gels or pain patches on the back of my neck are the perfect pick-me-up when I’m sitting at the computer for long hours, while I’m also a fan of menthol and lavender nasal sprays before bed.
More on Candles…
Some candles seem really pricey, but good ones can burn as long as 40+ hours, and the best candles require less burning time to put off a lingering scent. Yankee Candles are famous for their potency, and sometimes you can find them at outlet stores such as Ross or TJ Maxx for as much as half off. Otherwise, they sell for around $20 each. Bed, Bath and Beyond has a great selection.
The Kardashian sisters at Dash are working on a candle collab with For Every Body that will include soy-based, eco-friendly candles and soy sprays.
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