A home is your own sweet haven where you find peace, happiness and tranquillity and you want nothing but the best for this special place of yours. With expanding horizons, there are newer innovations to keep your house beautiful and healthy. Apart from chic decor, furniture et al, soothing aromas also play a major role in upping the wellness quotient of a house. Candles not just create a soothing atmosphere in the house but also contribute to overall wellness. Says Saba Sheikh of Illuminatii store, “There is just no substitute for candle light. After a hard day at the factory, I come home and am surrounded by candle light which relaxes me instantly. Candles create a soft and soothing environment and has a direct influence on your mood.”
The positive effects
Smells are an important part of our life. Blooming flowers, wet soil, our favourite food, that prized perfume - so many things in our life are associated with smells. Be it our offices or homes, a fresh and nice smelling place is what we yearn for. It's no wonder then that having aromatic candles in the house generates positive energy and makes the overall atmosphere relaxing. Says Sonia Sareen, “Smell, an important sense for life form, stimulates a specific part of the brain - hippocampus and the limbic system. Many of our emotions and memories are triggered by what we smell. The state of our mind and body depends a lot on how our environment smells. Pleasant smells bring happiness, peace, harmony and completeness within our homes. Aromatherapy creates physiological or therapeutic effects through the use of essential oils which are taken from plants and then used through products for massage, ingestion or smell. Scents in the home also affect our interpersonal relationships. Burning incense sticks or scented candles can lead to unleashing of positive energies in the environment, de-stress mind and body and increase in desirability levels amongst partners. It also brings alive memories.”
Adds Kiran Ranga, MD Ripple Fragrances, “After a long day's work, people look forward to relaxing and rejuvenating themselves at home. Aroma candles offer a simple and convenient vehicle to create ethereal getaways in different living zones within the home. Be it a romantic dinner, relaxing soak in the bath or outdoor party for guests, candles offer complete sensory indulgence through light, fragrance and warmth. A blend containing basil, grapefruit, peppermint, rosemary creates alertness. Rosemary, cypress, thyme and fennel blends enhance memory power. Blends containing Lavender, Geranium, Clary sage helps to reduce tension, anxiety and rejuvenate your mind, body and soul. Blends containing sandalwood, cedar wood and fig blends help soothe the mind and attain a state of inner peace.”
The variety
There are umpteen kinds of aroma candles available in the market. Everyone buys and uses it according to their personal taste. Talking about the varieties of aromatic candles, Sareen says, “Various kinds of fragrances are used in the making of scented candles that add `persona' to candles. The aroma is as varied as the flowers that bloom in nature. The amount of fragrance used in candles varies - some are heavily fragrant while some are mild. Strategically placed candles, aided with ambient fresh air can add personality to a place. The various fragrances used include sandal, Jasmine, Rose, Lily, Champak, Lavender, Champak, Green tea, lemon grass, patcholi, mint etc.” Talking about her favourite fragrances, Sheikh said, “There are so many available in the market. However a few I can recommend are lavender to induce sleep, rose for an instant mood lift, mandarin to energise, camphor to cleanse, pine for relaxing and eucalyptus for clear breathing.”
