The gentle flicker of the flame, the soothing sound of a crackling wick, the intoxicating scent of heaven- when you ignite scrumptious Beryl + Blossom candle, a time of peace and relaxation undoubtedly awaits you- unless you live in Jamaica and bad-mind JPS cut off yuh light 🙃.

All jokes aside- candles can set the mood for a well-needed TLC or self-care session. 

While you enjoy our decadent candles we want you to understand why candles are beneficial for the mind and soul. Here are five facts about the psychological and physiological effects of candles:

1. Candles trigger positive emotional memories

Did a whiff of our Puddin' scent send you right back to Christmas in mama's kitchen? According to experts at the Laboratory of Cognitive Neurobiology at Boston University you have an emotional connection to scents particularly those from your childhood. This can be attributed to the connection between the olfactory system and the amygdala in our brain. After a smell enters the nose, it travels through the cranial nerve through to the olfactory bulb, which helps the brain process stimuli. The olfactory bulb is part of the limbic system, the emotional center of the brain. Olfactory has a strong input into the amygdala, which process emotions. The kind of memories that this connection evokes are often quite powerful and is one of the reason odors cause a spark of nostalgia. 

2. Candles lower anxiety

Have a fear of heights? Nervous about a test? Well, a Beryl + Blossom Lignum Vitae candle might help! In 2010 researchers at the King's College of London found that presence of a lit lavender scented candle significantly lowered the anxiety levels of dental patients who feared sitting in the dentist's chair. The same effect was observed in patients preparing for surgery at New York University's Langone Center. Preoperative anxiety decreased when patients were exposed to the smell of lavender.

3. Candles help to form good memories

Planning a romantic night with the wife? Want to set the mood for your hubby? You can make those experiences last a lifetime with the mere presence of a candle such as Beryl + Blossom's Ortanique candle.  While candles can trigger memories they can also help to make them more vivid once they are associated with a particular scent. 

4. Candles promote rest

After a long day on your feet or laboring away in front of a computer screen, settling in for a good night's rest can be challenging. Switching from bright LED or incandescent light bulbs to candlelight a few hours before bed can help your body relax and help your mind to prepare for rest. 

5. Candles improve memory, focus, and drive

In Japan, the Takasago Corporation tested how smells affect the accuracy of typists. They found that typists made 55% fewer mistakes when they could smell lemon, 33% fewer with jasmine and 20% fewer with lavender. Additionally, scholars at the University of Northumbria at Newcastle explored the effect of scents smells on memory. They discovered that people in the rosemary-scented room exhibited better memory skills overall when compared to those exposed to no scent.  So if you are studying for a test or a major presentation at work don't hesitate to light a Beryl + Blossom earth and soul friendly candle today!

Sources:

Card, J. (2018). Tips for boosting productivity with good office design. [online] The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2014/jan/23/productivity-office-design [Accessed 5 Jun. 2018].

Ducharme, J. (2018). Being Exposed to Even a Small Amount of Light During Sleep is Linked to Depression. [online] Time. Available at: http://time.com/5189387/dark-room-sleep-study/ [Accessed 5 Jun. 2018].

Duron, A. (2018). The Scent That Improves Your Memory. [online] Women's Health. Available at: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a19945867/the-scent-that-improves-your-memory/ [Accessed 5 Jun. 2018].

Franco, L., Blanck, T., Dugan, K., Kline, R., Shanmugam, G., Galotti, A., von Bergen Granell, A. and Wajda, M. (2016). Both lavender fleur oil and unscented oil aromatherapy reduce preoperative anxiety in breast surgery patients: a randomized trial. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia, 33, pp.243-249.

Holohuan, M. (2018). [online] NBC News. Available at: https://www.nbcnews.com/healthmain/smells-nostalgia-why-do-scents-bring-back-memories-895521 [Accessed 28 Jul. 2011].

Kritsidima, Metaxia, Tim Newton, and Koula Asimakopoulou. "The effects of lavender scent on dental patient anxiety levels: a cluster randomized-controlled trial." Community dentistry and oral epidemiology 38.1 (2010): 83-87.