7 Relaxing Candles To Set Your Bedtime Routine Straight
It's a new year, and one of our resolutions is to get plenty of quality rest each night. While we all know that it's a bad idea to tinker with screens before bedtime — blue light can mess with your melatonin levels — we also plan on turning to aromatherapy to help our bodies and minds wind down.
So as we unplug during the hours leading up to bedtime, we're going to light up one of these candles with calm-inducing scents for extra relaxation before we hit the hay. Just be sure to blow your candles out before you doze off!
Brooklinen
How appropriate that a company known for super comfy bedding and bath linens has launched a line of candles for different hours of the day. For your pre-bedtime routine, there's Nightcap, which blends the delicious, sumptuous scents of bourbon and blood orange for a scrumptious aroma. Light it up while you're luxuriating in a bath — you deserve the pampering.
2. D.S. and Durga Wild Brooklyn Lavender, $65
D.S. & Durga
Sure, lavender is a go-to scent for calming vibes, but we've found that many lavender-scented products feel a little too artificial. That's not the case with New York–based fragrance company D.S. and Durga's Wild Brooklyn Lavender candle. It smells fresh-off-the-stem, with a touch of edginess (notes of asphalt) and woodiness (notes of vetiver) that say "Brooklyn" more than "Provence."
3. Apotheke Meyer Lemon and Mint, $38
Apotheke
Need some cleansing energy? Try Apotheke's Meyer Lemon and Mint candle. While citrus scents can be energizing, they're also clarifying, which might be ideal if you've had a chaotic day where you're stuck in your own head. The spearmint and eucalyptus aromas can aid in relaxing nerves and muscles, sending your cleansed body and mind into a peaceful slumber.
Homesick
Homesick's Book Club candle is for those who love curling up with a good read before bed. The candle is less about aromatherapy and more about nostalgia — somehow, the candle smells exactly like a bookstore or library, though its actual scent notes are nutmeg, amber, and sandalwood. If your comfort place is among books, this candle will help you create a soothing atmosphere.
Sonix
Accessories brand Sonix has jumped into the candle game with five scents designed for our stay-at-home lives. Me Time is an effervescent floral candle with notes of plum, peach, and vanilla that creates a lovely little meditative atmosphere perfect for helping you focus on you! It's the ideal candle to burn while journaling before bed.
6. Boy Smells Hinoki Fantôme, $32
Boy Smells
Need something a little earthier to keep you grounded during your evening meditation? L.A.–based fragrance company Boy Smells — whose goal is to move beyond the gender binary of masculine and feminine scents — has the perfect candle for you. Hinoki Fantôme blends the earthiness of Japanese cypress and moss with airy jasmine for a divine smoky wood–meets-floral aroma. Inhale deeply and let the scent relax you.
Neom
Part of Neom's Scent-to-Sleep Range, the Bedtime Hero candle is filled with 11 essential oils specifically picked for their restorative and calming qualities, including chamomile, ylang-ylang, and cedarwood. Despite having all these different scents, the candle's overall aroma is surprisingly light and not at all overwhelming — it creates soothing, spa-like vibes.