aroma

Many people think candles are either scented or unscented.  However, there are two different types of scented candles – those scented with fragrance oils and those getting their scent from essential oils.

Fragrance oils are not as expensive as essential oils because they are almost always synthetic and may not contain true floral or herbal essence.  Some fragrance oils are a blend of essential and carrier oils, but the concentration of the essential oil varies from brand to brand and scent to scent. Most scented candles use only fragrance oils, not essential oils.

Unlike fragrance scented candles, aromatherapy candles are infused with natural plant essences like flowers, herbs, fruits, and other trees and plants.  When lit, aromatherapy candles release a continuous vapor of essential oils into the air, similar to using an aromatherapy oil diffuser. The vapor released by the candle is inhaled into your body and travels throughout your body via your bloodstream.  However, the benefits you receive from the candle are not as potent as the application of the essential oil to your skin or directly inhaled.  Read our blog post, “Aromatherapy – What Is It?”, to learn more about aromatherapy.

Many aromatherapy candles are also less toxic than paraffin candles because they are made from soy, beeswax, vegetable oil or other natural materials. Also, you can burn different aromatherapy candles simultaneously; however the aromas should complement each other.  For example, Jasmine and Lily of the Valley both promote healing, survival, and success.  If you would like to relax, you would not burn Lavender and Lemongrass together – Lavender helps relieve stress and anxiety while Lemongrass promotes energy.

Burning different fragrance scented candles together usually doesn’t work well due to the synthetic chemicals used to make the fragrances.  Also, some poorly made fragrance candles may smell good but produce very little scent when lit.  The lower the cost of the candle, the lower the quality and amount of fragrance oils used in the candle.  When shopping for a fragrance candle, it is best to purchase name brand candles like Yankee, Woodwick, Bath & Body Works, etc.

So how do you know the difference?  This is not easy because a candle manufactures may say they are aromatherapy candles yet contain fragrance oils.  This is due to the fact that aromatherapy products are not regulated by the FDA.  The fragrance scented candles have a harsher scent, often trigger allergies or headaches and may cause irritation if the wax gets on the skin.  Also, the name of the scent can be a clue, like a sugar cookie, banana bread, birthday cake, etc.  Most aromatherapy candles are not made from paraffin and they contain plant names like lavender, lemongrass, rosemary, etc.  When the aromatherapy candle contains several aromas, these aromas are usually listed, e.g., rose, cinnamon and musk.

If you are looking for the health benefits of essential oils without the high cost, aromatherapy candles are a good alternative.  Seeds of Wellness carries a handmade aromatherapy candle by Sacred Path Candles.  Each candle provides different energy and healing like attracting money, promoting healing, bringing clarity, reducing stress, etc.  Stop into the store or visit our webpage to learn more about these candles.  If you would like to learn more about the fragrance oils and essential oils, please read our blog, “Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil?”.