The Healing Power of Candlelight: How Holistic Candles Support Mental Health & Self-Reflection
I was feeling stressed this past Sunday when I looked around my house and felt the chaos of dishes that needed to be cleaned, laundry that needed to be folded and put away, and rooms that needed to be organized. As I was taking in inventory of all that needed to be done, I felt resistance to getting it done.
It was Sunday.
I was tired.
I had a long week and work, the kids, life had caught up to me.
In that moment, the only options that I felt were either to a.) do nothing, curl up on the couch b.) force energy through with me just get the sh*t done or c.) fight myself internally and try to negotiate how much actually needed to get done
As I felt into all those options, none of them felt appealing. I was too tired to even make a choice. Just as I was able to call defeat, I looked over and saw my “What’s This Feeling” strawberry lemon candle. It wasn’t the smell that brought me closer, it was the way the rose gold shimmered off the vessel that drew me in. Of all the chaos I was feeling right then and there, it was the thing that looked pretty and well…put together. I lit a candle and voila! The aroma of strawberries started to filter into the room and it awoke my sense. I started to feel more alive. The sound of the wood crackling comforted and relaxed my tense body. I sat for a bit just listening and smelling.
And then I got up, and started to get to work. Because my environment smelled good, it was almost intuitive that I wanted my environment to feel good too. In order for that to happen, I needed to clean it.
A candle can evoke that shift that our mental health needs at times. When our procrastination gets the best of us and we feel too exhausted to do anything about it, a candle can be a symbol of change, of reset. Of starting anew. Now there is no guarantee it will make a change happen, but it can offer you a chance to go inward and create an intention that is more aligned with what you really need.
Using non-toxic, eco-friendly candles give us a pause for self-reflection. It allows our senses, our nervous system to slow down, to breathe, and perhaps feels safe to notice what we are really feeling or thinking. When we can bring more conscious awareness into our actions, then we can take full responsibility for those choices.
We need to slow down in order to get there.
“Seek not love, instead, seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.”
– Rumi
How Candlelight Promotes Mindfulness & Emotional Well-Being
Mindfulness is the act of bringing our full attention and presence into the moment. Ways we can help support our bodymind system to do so is by using our senses to help engage in the present moment. With a candle, it offers a calming effect through the soft, gentle flickering of the light. This can help send signals to our body that it is safe to relax.
Candlelight can enhance meditation, journaling, and relaxation. In meditation, using a candle can help bring our attention towards the light as a way to focus. Meditation often uses objects and nature as a way to direct the mind. Fire is often used as a symbol for energy.
Aromatherapy can assist in emotional regulation through the power of smell. Lavender has been well known to assist with stress relief. Citrus is known for energy. Chamomile for calm. According to Mountain Rose Herbs, there are the 10 essential oils that are known for Clarity and Focus:
Basil—This essential oil has an energizing quality that can be incredibly supportive in periods of agitation or nervousness. It is a top note oil that is steam distilled from Ocimum basilicum. It blends well with lavender, bergamot, grapefruit, cedarwood, or ginger, and brings an earthy, spicy aroma to the blend.
Grapefruit—Limonene gives this citrusy essential oil a sweet, uplifting aroma that makes an excellent backdrop when you need to focus. Cold pressed from the peels of Citrus paradisi, it is a top note in blends and is particularly popular in diffuser blends and perfumes, although it is also lovely used alone. Blends well with clove, neroli, thyme, or ylang ylang.
Juniper Berry—Organic juniper berry essential oil is a middle note oil steam distilled from the berries of Juniperus communis. Often used in purifying blends, it has a fresh, green aroma with balsamic notes that can support wakefulness and clarity. Blends well with cedarwood, lavender, rosemary, chamomile, or grapefruit.
Lavender Tea Tree— Lavender tea tree essential oil is a top note steam distilled from the leaves of Melaleuca ericifolia. Although it is related to the more well-known tea tree essential oil, it has a softer floral aroma with bright citrus notes that is both calming and uplifting to the mind. Blends well with blue tansy, cedarwood, geranium, grapefruit, lemon, mandarin, and sweet marjoram.
Lemon—Cold pressed from the peels of Citrus x limon, lemon essential oil is a tart, zesty top note that is popular in cleaning recipes and diffusers for its intensely uplifting citrus aroma. Blends well with fennel, geranium, juniper, cistus, or benzoin.
Peppermint—Organic peppermint oil is a classic invigorating aroma that is steam distilled from Mentha piperita. Minty, hot, and herbaceous, the refreshing scent is popular in soaps, room sprays, and cleaning recipes. Blends well with grapefruit, marjoram, eucalyptus, or rosemary.
Pick-Me-Up Blend—Our pick-me-up essential oil blend has fresh, zesty ginger notes, refreshing rosemary and hints of spicy black pepper. Specially created by our certified aromatherapist, this blend is designed to put pep in your step and help energize your day. Great for diffusion in the morning, for study time or when you want to liven up the energy of a room. You can also use this blend as a roll-on perfume diluted in your favorite carrier oil, and in lotion or massage oil recipes.
Rosemary—Steam distilled from the leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis, this middle note essential oil has a fresh, camphoraceous scent with balsamic undertones that is refreshing and clearing. This uplifting oil is excellent in a diffuser as well as in perfume blends and can also be used in cleaning recipes. Blends well with bergamot, cinnamon, oregano, or peppermint.
Scotch Pine— Organic scotch pine essential oil is steam distilled from the needles of Pinus sylvestris. It is a base note in blends, bringing a dry-balsamic aroma with turpentine-like notes that can wake up the brain. Blends well with cypress, sage, juniper, peppermint, or lavender tea tree oils
Sweet Orange—Like grapefruit essential oil, sweet orange essential oil is about 90% limonene, a compound used in aromatherapy for its calming, uplifting properties. Cold pressed from the peels of Citrus sinensis, this sweet, pleasant citrus oil is a top note in a blend. Blends well with nutmeg, lemon, vetiver, eucalyptus, or geranium.
Creating a Candle Ritual for Self-Reflection
Choose a candle that aligns with your intention (clarity, grounding, healing)
Set a self-reflective intention before lighting your candle
Engage in a self-care practice (journaling, meditation, deep breathing, yoga)
Observe your emotions and thoughts while the candle burns
Blow out the candle as a symbolic release of negative energy
Choosing the Right Candle for Your Mental Health & Self-Care Needs
Different scents offer different needs so finding a scent that aligns with your needs is important. For instance there are scents that are best for relaxation, scents for energy, and scents for emotional healing. Pairing up with your needs means seeing the barriers that are built around you making it difficult to feel love. From that place you can then see what your needs are to help your mental health.
An example can be if I struggle with anxiety, I can see that my need to feel in control is often what leads me throughout my day. That part of me is exhausted and is afraid that if it lets its guard down, utter chaos will ensue and it’s afraid I won’t be okay. So a need I have then is to feel strength and stability, to feel safe and secure. I may then look for a candle and scent that would evoke a sense of groundedness, so something earthy like Your Body or Defying Gravity.
I encourage you to be intentional about your self-care practice and to really make it about you and what you need. The more intentional and meaningful you make it, the more power it has for deeper connection. Feel free to reach out to me as well and I can help guide you on a candle that may be appropriate for you depending on what you are experiencing and needing.
Explore our handcrafted, non-toxic candles designed to support your self-care and mental health journey. See how you can make a impact today. And your support per candle also benefits others- 10% of proceeds go towards supporting others in their mental health journey!
