Best Candles For Meditation And Its Benefits

Meditation is not just a perfunctory task, it is an art. Nowadays, everyone is trying to perform meditation effectively and they have a plethora of resources online on how to do meditation and the different techniques. And people do take time out from their busy schedules to do meditation; however, focus is one thing that ruins it all for most people. And, people are not distracted by external factors, but by their own mind.

And that’s where the tools for meditation make its entrance. And the simplest tool that enhances and supports meditation is the scented candles for meditation. These scented candles are not just for home décor or an alternative air freshener.

These candles have been used for many many years for meditating. However, many people are aware of scented candles as a point of focus and use it during meditation. 

Meditation usually tests your patience of sitting in a posture for a long time and candles create the subtle meditation ambiance. Here we will discuss the fragrances of candles that can be used in meditation for improved focus and concentration.

Scented candles create a stress free ambiance that helps transcend the mental barriers while meditating or doing yoga. The essential oils used for candle fragrance goes deep into your skin and into your lungs and promotes health.

What Are Candles for Meditation?

Meditation is the process of calming one’s mind. It helps overcome stress and anxiety and brings down elevated blood pressure and heartbeat levels. Regular sessions of meditation train the mind to think and act as per a person’s desire.

There are many methods used by different people to focus during meditation. Some focus on their breathing or on an object while others light a scented candle. Scented candles for meditation serve dual purposes. It has a mesmerizing aroma that creates a spiritual environment; and second, it also acts as a point of focus.

Fire has that trance inducing effect. The aroma from the candles affects a specific part of the brain, thereby enhancing the effect of meditation. Thus, candles for meditation help create a subtle ambiance suited for meditation.

Candles are a great way to relax and soothe the senses. They may be used to create a focus point during meditation and and even help you feel positive.

What Are The Benefits Of Scented Candles For Meditation

Meditation candles are utilized to create a particular environment conducive for meditating. Candles for meditation also act as aromatherapy and help the brain focus. Using this method lowers stress and anxiety, and boosts mood. The benefits of using candles for meditation are given below: –

1. Relieves Anxiety and Stress

Scented candles used for meditation gives out an aroma, which activates the limbic system of the brain, thereby improving the mood, and lowering stress and tension. Aromatherapy is known to combat fatigue. The different aromas also reduce anxieties.

The International Journal of Nursing Practice published a 2013 study that shows how aromatherapy reduces stress (1). Inhaling the aroma while meditating relaxes the body and mind. It’s the scent that helps yoga practice. It can be simply lit for stress-free environment.

2. Improves Focus

Meditation candles use several aromas. Research has shown that inhaling aromas boosts concentration and focus. By boosting focus it aids in meditation and awareness. It relaxes the mind, but does not cause a person to fall asleep. It calms the thoughts, which helps in meditating.

Lighting the candles improves harmony and sensuality and has a spiritually grounding effect. People even use a focal point like a candle flame for concentration. Candle may help you with better focus at work and in studies. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine published a study on focus and meditation (2).

3. Induces Happiness

The aromas and scents of the meditation candles help with meditation. The scents of some oils have a grounding effect while others make a person happy. The aroma helps a person relax. And by activating the limbic system it triggers happy memories. It refresh the moods and is also an aphrodisiac good for awakening desire and sensuality. 

The peer-reviewed academic journal Personality and Individual Differences published a 2016 study that investigates the link between meditation and happiness (3).

4. Supports Good Sleep

Scents are a natural way of tackling insomnia. The candles for meditation have a pleasant and calming aroma. It relaxes the nerves and calms the mind. Meditating before bedtime by lighting the candles causes sleepiness. It can be used as a method of treating insomnia.

Sleep deprivation can be caused by many reasons, but meditation with scented candles is a treatment of tiredness and improves sleep. The 2020 issues of the Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives published how meditation affects insomnia (4).

5. Good For Respiratory Tract

Some of the aromas including peppermint, spearmint and eucalyptus can clear the respiratory tract and prevent infections. Thus the scented candles can prevent nasal congestions and ailments such as colds and allergies. So, besides clarifying one’s thoughts, the scents also resolve breathing difficulties, and are good for reducing inflammation.

Also, must checkout: Essential Oils For Breathing Difficulties

Best Candles for Meditation

Scented candles are the easiest tools that can be added to the process of meditation. (There are meditation crystals which are even easier to implement, but that’s a topic for another day.) Scented candles are also easy to get and pocket friendly. Here are the 5 best scented candles for meditation.

1. Sandalwood and Rose Scented Candle for Meditation

Sandalwood paste, sandalwood incense and sandalwood sticks have long been used while performing yoga. It has a woody and grounding aroma that is suited for meditation and calming the senses. Mixing rose fragrance to it gives it a luxurious exuberance. Both the aromas have stress relieving properties that calms the mind and body.

Deeply inhaling the aroma calms jittery nerves and rejuvenates the mood. The aroma is also useful in relaxing muscles, preventing spasms and treating inflammation. The aroma of sandalwood induces serenity in the ambience. It is diffused for its mood boosting, yet has a grounding effect on the senses.

It has a quieting effect on the mind which is ideal for achieving mental balance and emotional tranquility. It also creates harmony with the surrounding. All these properties and effects of sandalwood and rose scented candles are ideal settings for proper meditation.

Soy wax and beeswax are the waxes that can be used with the essential oils. Sandalwood has been used to improve focus and spirituality for thousands of years.

2. Lavender-Scented Candles for Meditation

Lavender is a popular scent world over. Candles with lavender aroma are popular for meditating. Several studies have proven that the aroma of lavender has the effect of an antidepressant. Inhaling the aroma from the lavender scented candle lowers depression, stress and anxiety, and it rejuvenates the senses. It energizes the body and improves concentration.

A simple example of lavender improving focus is that it is lit in a child’s study room to improve grades. The aroma from lavender candles relaxes the mind and nerves, and body functions. Lighting this candle, while meditating, improves focus and helps a person achieve a sense of peace. The oil has a sedative effect

3. Holy Basil and Lemongrass Scented Candle for Meditation

The spicy notes of holy basil uplift the mood and evoke spirituality even in the staunch hedonist. Add the fragrance of lemongrass to this aroma and the result is pure bliss. The aroma of lemongrass and holy basil relaxes the senses and sets an ambiance ideal for meditation and soul searching.

Frequently inhaling the two aromas may lower blood pressure levels as well. The cinnamon-esque aroma of holy basil clarifies the mind. What it does in meditation is that it paints a clear picture without any lingering feelings of doubt and fear. The aroma of lemongrass also repels insects and mosquitoes.

So, you have another advantage there. Spearmint is great option as well. Candles made with these oils are also great in opening the respiratory tract, of course without making too much smoke. 

4. Ylang Ylang and Jasmine Scented Candle for Togetherness

Jasmine has an invigorating aroma and reeks of positivity. When mixed with the fruity scent of ylang ylang, jasmine’s aroma grows manifolds. The combined aroma of jasmine and ylang ylang appeases the mind, body and soul. It brings down negative emotions such as anger, fear and hopelessness.

Inhaling the aroma from the candle evokes constructive thoughts. It has physical benefits as well. The aroma can beat inflammation and sleeplessness. Besides meditation, jasmine and ylang ylang candles have an arousing effect and can be lit for romantic nights. It is a non-toxic candle and helps with respiratory issues as well.

5. Myrrh and Frankincense Scented Candles for Yoga

Myrrh and frankincense are biblical herbs and their scent has been used throughout history. Not only does the perfume candle of Myrrh and Frankincense aid in meditation and yoga, it also treats inflammatory ailments, opens the respiratory tracts and lowers pain.

Meditating with the aroma opens the emotional intelligence represented by the Sacral Chakra or Svadisthana chakra. The woody and resinous aroma of the two herbs has a grounding effect and one feels a connection with nature and surroundings. The fragrance helps attain meditative state and is successful in quieting the mind from needless voices.

The grounding scent also aid concentration and mental alertness, removes melancholy has a relaxing effect and for stress relief.

Are Scented Candles Good for Health?

There are many scented candle products available in the market and not all of them take your health into consideration. Those suffering from asthma, breathing issues and chronic respiratory ailments must avoid using scented candles. However, there are some brands that take these issues into consideration and make scented candles with ingredients that are not harmful.

Do Scented Candles Really Help With Meditation?

Scented candles provide a form of aromatherapy that complements the efforts of meditation. The nice fragrance in the ambiance deepens the meditation experience. The aroma is useful especially in driving out negative energy. Candle meditation via candle gazing awakes mindfulness. Candles in meditation creates unique meditation environment and helps unwind.

Conclusion

Most of us think of candles as simple home décor, but, scented candles are an effective tool in enhancing your meditating experience. It calms the mind and body and helps de-stress. It helps relax after long day or meditating in morning. Lighting a scented candle during meditation improves focus and concentration, as well as provides aromatherapy.

Meditation candles contain fragrance oils including spearmint and eucalyptus oils. Oils and candles give aromatherapy benefits including relieving stress and clearing your mind, mood enhancement, and helps a person feel more energized and focused. Scented candles may be used in every day meditation routine. Scented candle is perfect and is used to improve fitness and mood.

Frequently Asked Questions

Source:

• The effects of aromatherapy in relieving symptoms related to job stress among nurses. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/ijn.12229 
• Effects of Level of Meditation Experience on Attentional Focus: Is the Efficiency of Executive or Orientation Networks Improved?. https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/abs/10.1089/acm.2007.7022 
• Personality and Individual Differences. Meditation and happiness: Mindfulness and self-compassion may mediate the meditation–happiness relationship. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886915005450 
• Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives. Heartfulness meditation improves sleep in chronic insomnia. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/20009666.2019.1710948