Pruning Around My Pool

My ideal night includes a hot bath, a cup of tea, a relaxing playlist, and one of the best aromatherapy candles burning next to me. This bath ritual has been my tried and true method for switching from “busy day mode” to “chill night mode,” and my days just aren’t the same without it. I recently got back from vacation and while I tried to mimic this routine in the hotel, something just wasn’t the same. I couldn’t put my finger on why it wasn’t as peaceful until I got home and lit the candle next to my bath. Turns out, the aromatherapy aspect of my wind-down routine plays a huge role in my relaxation.

With this discovery in mind, I set out to learn more about this phenomenon and search for the best aromatherapy candles for all of my needs. I reached out to Kiana Shelton, LCSW with Mindpath Health to learn about the benefits of aromatherapy, the optimal scents for different results, and, of course, her recommendations for the best aromatherapy candles. Read on to see just how scented candles can affect the mind. Get ready to fill your cart. 

Featured image by Michelle Nash.

Kiana Shelton, LCSW

Kiana Shelton, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at MindPath Health. Shelton works with adults to help them cope with challenges and traumas through cognitive behavioral techniques.

What are the benefits of aromatherapy? 

Aromatherapy activates one of our five senses, smell. By activating the limbic system, which is the part of the brain that stores many of our memories and emotions, aromatherapy can be a beneficial way of tapping into various emotions.

What should we look for in aromatherapy candles? 

When picking an aromatherapy candle, there is no one-scent-fits-all. This is an opportunity for you to tailor to any needs or desired results you may have. It’s also important to read the labels of your candles, as many candles today are made with a combination of carcinogenic ingredients hidden in addition to natural ones, so it can be tricky. It’s best to seek out coconut, soy or beeswax-based candles.

Which scents are optimal for aromatherapy? What does each scent target?

Improve relaxation: Chamomile, lavender, rose, vetiver and ylang ylang

Revitalize energy: Citrus, clary sage, ginger, lemon, orange, peppermint, and sandalwood

Decrease stress: Bergamot, lavender, rose and eucalyptus

What is your personal favorite aromatherapy candle?  

HOAM Candle Co. is my go-to place for candles. My number one candle recommendation is called “Me Time.” This candle has notes of spiced citrus and vanilla tonka rounded out with cocoa butter, sandalwood, and cedarwood. Also, I believe there is power in names, and I love how the candle calls you to take some time for yourself as well.  We all can benefit from a little aromatherapy “me time.”

Shop the Best Aromatherapy Candles, for Any Need

Best Aromatherapy Candles to Improve Relaxation

Chamomile Scented: NEOM Bedtime Hero Candle

The name doesn’t lie: This candle is a true bedtime hero. It’s hand-poured with natural wax, which contains no synthetic ingredients, paraffin, or chemical binders. The wax is blended with pure essential oils, giving this candle a 100% natural fragrance. While chamomile is the strongest aroma, it also contains ylang ylang and cedarwood.

Lavender Scented: Maison Louis Marie Antidris Lavender Candle

This clean-burning candle contains soothing notes of lavender, eucalyptus, amber stone, fennel, and vanilla. It’s earthy and woody, making your home smell like your favorite spa, but if fruitier candles aren’t your thing, try this Antidris Lavender Candle. 

Lavender Scented: NEOM Perfect Night’s Sleep Scented Candle

Next time you feel a sleepless night coming on, light this candle and fill your bedroom with the aroma of English lavender, jasmine, and basil. Made with hand-poured, 100% natural wax, this candle will bring you one step closer to your “Perfect Night’s Sleep.”

Rose-Scented: Diptyque Roses Scented Candle

This floral candle will transport you to a spring day surrounded by rose gardens. It has no synthetic fragrances, ensuring that the scent remains pure and true, and the candle stays safe to burn. The scent is fresh and relaxing, giving your whole body a sense of peace. 

Rose-Scented: BROWN GIRL JANE Warm Cashmere Perfumed Candle

This rose-scented candle is both feminine and luxurious. It’s vegan, made from coconut and soy wax, and is designed to evoke a calming, romantic, fresh feeling. The fragrance story is all about summer nights surrounded by rosebuds and the perfect cool breeze.

Vetiver-Scented: Aesop Aromatique Candle

Designed to smell like an ancient forest, this vegan candle is formulated with vetiver, cedar, and cypress. It’s woodsy, earthy, and ultra-relaxing, with a long-lasting fragrance thanks to the base of paraffin wax and rapeseed oil. 

Ylang Ylang-Scented: Molton Brown Ylang Ylang Candle

This candle is perfect for pressing pause and winding down. The scent is described as “indulgent,” which is exactly how I like my relaxation time to feel. The top notes are ylang ylang, bergamot, and orange. It’s rich and peaceful, just like the purple color of the container. 

Best Aromatherapy Candles to Improve or Revitalize Energy

Citrus-Scented: Boy Smells Italian Kush

When I’m craving a taste of Italy, this candle does the trick. It has notes of limoncello, black pepper, basil, oregano, and cypress, truly transporting you to the perfect Italian day. All of Boy Smells’ candles are sustainably-made and -packaged, free of sulfates and phthalates, and use a blend of coconut and beeswax. 

Citrus-Scented: NEOM Happiness Scented Candle

NEOM’s mantra is “whatever your version of happiness… it starts with a state of mind,” and this candle will definitely put you in the right state of mind. It’s 100% natural and blends together white neroli, mimosa, and lemon to deliver a bright and revitalizing scent. Plus, it’s been expertly proven to increase positive feelings. 

Clary Sage-Scented: LAFCO Clary Sage Absolute Signature Candle

This candle is arguably the most beautiful on this list, as each vessel in LAFCO’s Absolute Collection is a one-of-a-kind piece of art. The scent blends clary sage with chamomile, red currant, a touch of spice, and cedarwood to create a warm, potent, and invigorating fragrance. It has a clean-burning soy wax and a 90-hour burn time, after which the vessel can live on as a repurposed vase or glass. 

Ginger-Scented: AMASS Pseudo Citrine

This candle is sunny, bright, and bursting with notes of lemon, green tea, grapefruit, lavender, and my favorite, ginger. It’s a natural soy-wax blend that is both cruelty-free and vegan, with a 100% cotton wick. According to AMASS, this candle will transport you to the Temple of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto, with the warm sun and shimmering water ahead of you. Sniff for yourself to find out.

Peppermint-Scented: LAFCO Mint Tisane Meditation Room Classic Candle

Imagine peppermint and spearmint tea with a healthy squeeze of lime and a sprig of basil. That’s essentially what this candle smells like. Notes of eucalyptus, sage, and ginger combine make this candle the ultimate meditation tool, as it truly reenergizes your mind and your space. Plus, the green vessel is the perfect pop of color for any room.

Sandalwood-Scented: Diptyque Santal (Sandalwood) Scented Candle

Diptyque’s Santal candle is both velvety and slightly spicy. The fragrance imagery is that of freshly cut sandalwood and fine sawdust laid out on the ground. The imagery alone invigorates my mind, and the scent most definitely revitalizes my energy.

Sandalwood-Scented: APOTHEKE Signature Charcoal Candle

A combination of sandalwood and cedarwood, this clean-burning candle has a broody vibe to it. The high-quality soy-wax blend and perfume-grade fragrance oils make this candle extra luxurious. This is what I would want my future husband’s office to smell like. 

Best Aromatherapy Candles to Decrease Stress 

Bergamot Scented: OUAI North Bondi Candle

The North-Bondi Candle is said to have bottled the coastline of Sydney, Australia. Notes of lemon, violet, and bergamot give the candle a bright, revitalizing scent that will wake up all of your senses. It’s also made with a coconut and soy-wax blend. For the OUAI fans, this candle has the same scent as its Leave-in Conditioner and Wave Spray. 

Bergamot-Scented: Crate & Barrel Geranium + Bergamot Candle

This plant-based wax candle is made with an essential oil combination that will fill your space with an intoxicating, almost spicy floral fragrance. If you’re like me and have no idea what bergamot is, it’s an oily substance that comes from the rind of an orange-like fruit. Perfect for a kitchen space, this candle’s scent is fresh, clean, and enticing, with just the right amount of citrus. 

Eucalyptus-Scented: LAFCO Rosemary Eucalyptus

This eucalyptus candle is made from soy-wax and hand-poured into a hand-blown glass container, making it just as lovely on the eyes as it is on the nose. The glass can be repurposed after the 50-hour burn time expires; it’s designed to clear your mind and promote inspiration.

Eucalyptus-Scented: AMASS The Art of Staying In, $48

For those nights when you just want to cozy up in your home and decompress, this candle will be your best friend. It blends notes of citrus, florals, and woods with eucalyptus to promote quiet and peace. AMASS adds a story to describe each of their candles, and this scent is described as a Sunday on the couch with a roaring fire and light rain… AKA, my perfect night in. 

Editor’s note: See above for lavender and rose-scented candles that also decrease stress.

Just like food can positively impact your skin, the same concept applies to hair health. In other words, certain foods can support your hair’s luminosity, strength, and thickness (hallelujah.) As someone who has dealt with hair woes over the years (thanks to a pesky hormonal imbalance) I’m the first to admit that hair loss is both remarkably frustrating and equally soul-crushing. It takes a toll on your self-confidence, no doubt. The irony, though, is that hair loss is incredibly common. In fact, it’s estimated that roughly 50% of women will experience noticeable hair loss during their lifetime. The most significant cause of hair loss in women is called female-pattern hair loss (or FPHL), affecting roughly one-third of susceptible women. Postpartum hair loss plays a huge role as well. So, I did a ton of research to discover the best food for hair growth. 

But First, What Causes Hair Loss in Women?

In essence, a wide range of conditions can bring on hair loss. From genetic predisposition to pregnancy, thyroid disorders, menopause, and anemia, hair loss is multifaceted. 

The most common cause of hair loss? A hereditary condition that happens with age. This condition contributes to the aforementioned FPHL. It usually occurs gradually and in predictable patterns. In terms of temporary hair loss, hormonal changes and medical diagnoses may cause patchy hair loss, scalp infections, and more. Furthermore, an acutely stressful event can lead to the general thinning of hair, several months after a physical or emotional shock. Typically, this type of hair loss is temporary. Finally, some hairstyles and treatments can, unfortunately, cause hair loss. This type of hair loss (like tight hair pulling) is called traction alopecia.

Three Hair Growing Cycles

Throughout our lives, our hair grows in three cycles: 

• Anagen phase (growing phase): This can last from two to eight years. This phase generally refers to about 85 to 90% of the hair on your head.
• Catagen phase (transition phase): This qualifies the time that hair follicles shrink. It takes about two to three weeks.
• Telogen phase (resting phase): This takes about two to four months. At the end of this phase, the hair falls out.

For shorter hairs, like eyelashes and eyebrows, they usually have a short anagen phase—about one month. Scalp hair, however, can last up to six years or longer.

How Lifestyle Impacts Hair Loss

In addition to being gentle on your hair (avoid tugging when brushing, use a wide-toothed comb, limit tension with braids, and try to avoid harsh treatments), various lifestyle habits impact hair loss and growth. Beyond genetics and aging, which have influence over hair growth, environmental factors, stress, and nutrition impact hair health and wellness.

Environmental stressors include a range of factors, like exposure to toxins, pollution, and smoking. All of these can be harmful to hair follicles. High pollution environments can lead to itching, dandruff, oily scalp, and more. From using a deep conditioner to wearing a hat outdoors, the more your hair is nourished and protected, the better. 

Stress, while unavoidable at times, is another component of hair loss. Acute or chronic stress pushes large groups of hair follicles into a resting phase, which might cause affected hairs to fall out a few months after the stressful event(s). We rounded up the best stress relief products for you, in an effort to keep hair loss at bay.

Finally, nutrition. Consuming adequate protein, drinking plenty of filtered water, and loading up on iron and zinc-rich foods can all contribute to healthy and strong hair. B vitamins are super important too. Think: Dark leafy greens, whole grains, pasture-raised animal protein, and healthy fats—like olives, nuts, seeds, and avocados. These all help prevent deficiencies that can eventually manifest as hair loss.

Eating a balanced diet can help promote hair growth, especially if you think you’re experiencing hair loss due to inadequate nutrition.

12 Foods for Hair Growth

For many of us, our bodies require a diet high in plant-based foods, fiber, antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and high-quality protein for optimal hair growth. In other words, eating the rainbow. Consuming these 12 foods, as part of a nourishing diet, can aid in supporting the hair growth process. A win-win, they also contribute to the building blocks of producing healthy skin and nails.

• Avocado
• Bell Pepper
• Bone Broth
• Cruciferous Veggies
• Eggs
• Greek Yogurt
• Lentils
• Oranges
• Salmon
• Seaweed
• Spinach
• Sweet Potato

Avocado

Right out the gate, healthy fats are essential to hair health. In fact, because our bodies can’t produce omega-3 fatty acids on their own, we need to get them through our diet. Enter: Avocados. This superfood fruit nourishes hair follicles with its vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. They are rich in vitamin E and antioxidants, helping stimulate strong, shiny, and lustrous hair. 

Recipe: Easy Chocolate Avocado Pudding by Making Thyme for Healthy

Bell Pepper

A wonderful source of vitamin C and fiber, bell peppers trigger hair growth through the improvement of blood circulation in the scalp. As a member of the capsicum family, bell peppers are an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and B6.

Recipe: Lasagna Stuffed Peppers by Naturally Ella

Bone Broth

Organic bone broth and collagen (ideally from pasture-raised, grass-fed animals) support hair elasticity and strength. Bone broth also provides the building blocks for connective tissues to hold everything in place. Well-sourced and high quality, bone broth and collagen are beneficial ingredients for hair-building amino acids.

Recipe: Bone Broth Vegetable Soup by Calm Eats

Cruciferous Veggies

Cruciferous veggies—like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower—are rich in folate, which is necessary to improve weak, thinning, or brittle hair. Cruciferous veggies also aid in the natural production of keratin, due to containing sulfur-rich amino acids. These amino acids are an important subgroup that builds keratin. Keratin, in many ways, is both an external protective and internal structural protein to protect hair and keep it healthy.

Recipe: Cacio E Pepe Brussels Sprouts by Camille Styles

Eggs

Because our hair is made up of protein, foods like pasture-raised eggs, wild-caught fish, organic chicken, etc. are essential for hair growth and health. Eggs are also an easy source of biotin, an ingredient found in many hair supplements. Furthermore, egg yolks may be useful in moisturizing hair that appears dry.

Recipe: Vegetable Frittata by Clean & Delicious

Greek Yogurt

Like eggs, Greek yogurt is high in protein and essential vitamins and minerals, like zinc. In addition to its protein content, Greek yogurt also has an ingredient that helps with blood flow to the scalp. Vitamin B5 (known as pantothenic acid) has been shown to help against hair thinning and loss. To upgrade your normal Greek yogurt bowl, add in omega-3 fatty acids like chia and ground flaxseed.

Recipe: Vanilla Greek Yogurt Chia Seed Pudding by Little Broken

Lentils

From the legume family, lentils are rich in hair-strengthening vitamins like iron, zinc, and biotin. Biotin is necessary for keratin production, which is a foundational component of hair, skin, and nails. Lentils and beans are also convenient, healthy sources of protein for plant-based eaters.

Recipe: Lemony Lentil and Chickpea Salad by Cookie + Kate

Oranges

Oranges, like other citrus fruits, are rich in antioxidants, playing a major role in facilitating hair growth. The antioxidants fight off free radicals, preventing hair damage and boosting hair growth. Oranges also contain fiber, B vitamins, and vitamin E—all further helping repair damaged hair follicles.

Recipe: Tropical Pineapple-Ginger Smoothie by Camille Styles

Salmon

Nutritious fish—like salmon and mackerel—are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Their compounds aid in hair luminosity and growth, thanks to their healthy fats, protein, and B vitamins. In essence, this oily fish can help restore hair’s shine and are essential to retaining a healthy scalp.

Recipe: Grilled Salmon Tacos with Avocado Salsa by Cooking Classy

Seaweed

An excellent source of iodine, seaweed aids in supporting a healthy thyroid, which in turn is important for overall hair health. Furthermore, eating seaweed helps promote scalp hydration, which improves the condition of dry hair. Last but not least, it increases hair mineralization, which can lead to thicker hair.

Recipe: Miso Ramen Soup by Plant Based Jess

Spinach

Leafy green vegetables are one of the best food groups for hair growth. Spinach, along with kale and arugula, is rich in antioxidants, which aid in warding off free radicals (these can damage the scalp’s natural collagen supply). Spinach is also high in vitamins A and C, antioxidants that regulate cell turnover and oil production.

Recipe: Summer Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado by Ambitious Kitchen

Sweet Potato

Sweet potatoes are high in beta-carotene, the precursor for vitamin A. Vitamin A is necessary for a healthy scalp and promotes hair growth. As prebiotic, sweet potatoes also support gut health, and studies show that a healthy gut microbiome supports the production of nutrients needed for growing hair. Last but not least, sweet potatoes are also high in vitamin C, an antioxidant that improves skin health.

Recipe: Southwestern Grilled Sweet Potato Salad by Two Peas & Their Pod

Finally, the 5 Best Supplements for Hair Growth

While eating foods that promote hair growth is essential, adding in a daily supplement further supports hair growth goals. When it comes to choosing the most optimal hair growth supplement, you want to look for clinically-backed products that have been tested for efficacy and quality. Keep in mind that most supplements take three to six months in order to build up stores of various vitamins, minerals, and compounds, so be patient!

Before buying a hair growth supplement, though, chat with your doctor or dermatologist. Get tested for any potential nutrient deficiencies as well as make sure you choose a supplement that won’t cause allergies or other adverse effects. Furthermore, read all labels and steer clear of non-natural or chemical ingredients. Ideally, the ingredients are plant-based and come from organic sources.