Top 10 Best Relaxing Candles in 2021 (Glade, Yankee Candle, and More)

Here are the top 10 best relaxing candles. We selected these based on scent, wax, burn time, and reviewer satisfaction.  

To choose a soothing candle, make sure to consider its scent, wax, total burn time, and container.

A candle’s scent is a very personal thing. There's no wrong choice! Here are some of the most common soothing scents you may want to consider.

Bright and calming floral scents can help ease your mind. There are many relaxing floral scents, but lavender, jasmine, ylang-ylang, and eucalyptus are the most common.

Lavender promotes relaxation, bringing you a feeling of contentment and improving your mood. It also has calming sedative effects, so many people use this scent to help them fall asleep. 

Studies also show that lavender reduces cortisol levels, a compound that fuels your body’s fight-or-flight response. This cortisol reduction allows your body to relax. Lavender is an excellent choice if you want to fall asleep or wind down during the day.

Jasmine is known for its calming properties. This smell is thought to help calm your mind and relieve stress. Some studies show that jasmine can effectively bring you down from an elevated or tense state.

Lastly, ylang-ylang can effectively decrease alertness and reduce stress, making it great for unwinding at the end of the day. Inhaling this scent transmits a message to the part of the brain in charge of controlling emotions.

Some studies show that lemon has anti-depressant effects, so it's an excellent choice to relieve stress and enhance your mood. Moreover, it promotes concentration and can calm your mind when you feel angry, anxious, or run down. 

Grapefruit and orange contain limonene, a compound known to decrease stress and anxiety. Grapefruit can balance your mood, decrease blood pressure, and relieve stress, too.

However, citrus scents might not be the best before going to sleep. Their acidic smell can energize you, making you mentally alert. These scents are best when you want to refresh and relax throughout the day.

For some people, there’s nothing more comforting than the smell of baked goods or the holidays. Some of these scents include vanilla, cinnamon, and peppermint. 

Vanilla is a flavor we use for baked goods, but it also is a great candle scent. It can uplift your mood, reducing tension, anger, stress, and irritability.

Cinnamon reminds many of Christmas; it is spicy, sweet, warm, and comforting. Although this scent hasn’t been extensively studied, a lot of people find relaxation in cinnamon scents.

Peppermint has a menthol component that helps relax your muscles. It also relieves stress, anxiety, and tension, allowing you to gain a night of more restful sleep.

There are several types of natural and synthetic waxes, and each has its pros and cons.

Paraffin wax is very versatile, making it one of the most common waxes for candles. This wax has many different melt points appropriate for various applications and sizes of candles. 

Paraffin wax holds color and scent well, making it ideal for scented candles. Most candles you find in stores are made of paraffin wax. Paraffin wax candles are often the best choice if you like strong scents.

However, there are a few downsides to paraffin wax. Paraffin wax is a byproduct of petroleum, so it can expel toxic fumes like benzene and toluene when lit. Moreover, it has a faster burn time than other waxes.

If you’re looking for something more sustainable and environmentally-friendly, soy wax candles are the way to go. Most soy waxes are made of pure soybean oil that is natural and renewable. 

Others are mixed with vegetable oils or waxes, and you can also find candles with a paraffin and soy blend. Take note that candles with at least 51 percent soy are considered soy wax candles.

Soy wax is biodegradable and burns slower than other waxes. These candles last longer, and they don't expel a lot of smoke and soot. However, unlike paraffin candles, soy candles don't hold as much scent. If you’re into subtle aromas, this might be the wax for you. 

Beeswax is the oldest type of candle wax. However, it is not commonly used to make scented candles because it has its own scent that might not mix well with other scents. Bees produce beeswax as a byproduct of the honey-making process. It has a natural honey-like scent, often making the need for artificial fragrances and dyes necessary.

Beeswax has a long burn time because it requires a high temperature before it starts melting. Beeswax candles are one of the healthiest waxes to use because they are smokeless and sootless. Many scented candle makers who use beeswax in their creations will mix in another type of candle wax. 

If you’re looking for something small for a short dinner or to use while taking a bath, go for tealight candles. They usually come in thin metal or plastic pots where the candle can melt while lit.

If you’re looking for something more long-lasting or one to use all day, you might want to opt for bigger ones with longer burn times. 

There are short to medium candles with three to six-hour burns. These are great for sampling new scents. You can also place these on your bedside table or in the bathroom. But there are also ones that offer up to 150 hours! Be sure to double-check the candles’ approximate burn time by checking out customer reviews. 

Another element that affects their burn time is the type of wax used. As mentioned earlier, soy wax and beeswax candles have a longer burn time compared to paraffin wax.

Candles come in different packaging; some are more portable than others. Small tealight candles come in thin circular tins without handles. Their metal packaging can get hot when the wax starts to melt, so you might want to invest in a tealight holder for safety.

Bigger candles usually come in jars without a handle. These can be hard to move around, especially when they’re already lit and melting. Since these candles are bigger, it might be better to keep them in one place.

Candles with a handle to allow you to carry and move them around safely. You might also want to consider candles with a lid to keep the candle clean and stop wax from spilling when you aren’t using it.

It’s important to take time to relax and de-stress. Here are some things you can try!

Have you been feeling tired and stressed lately? Incorporating relaxing candles throughout your day can help ease your mind. Light up one after a long day, and you’ll find yourself more calm and relaxed.

However, there are a few things you need to keep in mind before buying a relaxing candle. Make sure to pick a scent you find soothing, be familiar with the different types of wax, and choose a size and container that works best for you!

Whether you've been feeling more stressed than usual, are struggling with anxiety, or you just want to maintain your Zen, you need all the relaxation you can get! And for photographer and mental health advocate Michelle Tirronen, that means adding a supplement powder to her drinks sometimes to calm her down.