If you are looking for the best essential oils for candles you may feel overwhelmed by choices. The best place to start is with an explanation of what essential oils actually are.
Essential oils are volatile oils extracted from plants. They retain a plant’s core constituents, as well as its natural fragrance. For this reason, they are a great way to add all-natural fragrance to your candles. Each of these constituents has its own potential benefits, meaning the type of oil you want to use will depend on what you are hoping to achieve. When using essential oils for candle making it is also important to ensure you are using a premium product, as some oils can contain synthetic fragrances. Here at VINEVIDA, we only sell 100% pure and natural essential oils.
In this article we will discuss some of the benefits of essential oil candles, as well as some of our favorite fragrance oils for candle making.
Benefits of Essential Oil Candles
You may not be aware, but commercial candles are full of toxic chemicals. One of the most common waxes in candle making is paraffin. Paraffin comes from petroleum, and when burned it releases carcinogens such as benzene and others. Another common ingredient in commercial candles is “fragrance”. Fragrance is considered a trade secret, which means companies do not have to list what ingredients are used to make them. This means you have no idea what is in these candles, and how it may affect you. Many chemicals found in “fragrance” can cause cancer and other diseases.
Essential oils offer a safe and natural alternative to synthetic fragrances. Here are some of the benefits you may reap if you choose essential oil candles:
Relaxation & Sleep
One of the many benefits of aromatherapy is that it can potentially reduce stress and anxiety, helping you to relax. Some oils in particular, such as lavender, are famous for their ability to induce sleep. Aromatherapy can be achieved by many different methods, including diffusion, massage, and essential oil candles.
Improved Focus
Studies show the inhalation of essential oils has the potential to significantly alter mood, behavior, and cognitive function. Rosemary is one oil, in particular, that shows an indication of increasing focus and alertness, making it one of the best fragrance oils for candles. Citrus scents also work to stimulate the senses, giving off an invigorating, up-lifting vibe.
Better Breathing
Menthol is a common ingredient in many over-the-counter cold and flu medications, due to its cooling properties. Menthol is a major component of essential oils in the mint family, as well as in eucalyptus. This makes them very popular in terms of their potential to aid breathing and reduce cold symptoms.
10 Best Essential Oils for Candles: Uses and Benefits
1. Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary, also known as Rosmarinus Officinalis, is an evergreen shrub. It has needle-like leaves and a delicious woody aroma. Rosemary is famous for its role as a spice, but it also has a strong aromatic presence. This, in combination with its potential benefits, makes it one of the best fragrance oils for candles. Inhalation of rosemary aromas may:
- Improve alertness
- Help relieve aches and pains
- Repel insects and mosquitoes
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Improve cognitive function
2. Patchouli Essential Oil
Patchouli’s botanical name is Pogostemon Cablin and it is actually a member of the mint family! It has a very distinctive fragrance, smelling strongly of sweet, spicy earth. In fragrance terms, it is a base note. This means its fragrance will linger, and help other scents last longer. As you can imagine, that is a desirable quality when looking for the best essential oils for candles. Inhalation of patchouli may:
- Help reduce feelings of depression
- Reduce tension, anxiety, insomnia
- Help repel insects
- Help control appetite
3. Sweet Orange Essential Oil
Orange essential oil is extracted from the peel of the orange by cold pressing. It is a popular addition to household cleaners due to its potential to act as an antimicrobial agent. It has many potential benefits and a bright, fresh scent, making it the perfect addition to your essential oil candles. Inhaling the aroma of sweet orange essential oil may help to:
- Increase performance in physical activity
- Lift your mood
- Reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
4. Marjoram Essential Oil
Also a member of the mint family, marjoram is an aromatic herb that grows primarily in the Mediterranean and nearby areas. It is common to see marjoram as a garnish, but its spicy, woody scent makes it one of the best fragrance oils for candles. It pairs well with both rosemary and bergamot.
5. Grapefruit Essential Oil
Grapefruit essential oil is one of the most popular essential oils out there. Like sweet orange essential oil, it is also extracted through cold-pressing. It has a strong, fresh scent which makes it a favorite of those who make essential oil candles. Inhaling the aroma of grapefruit essential oil may help to:
- Enhance your mood
- Decrease appetite
- Reduce symptoms of stress
6. Cinnamon Essential Oil
Here at VINEVIDA we offer two types of cinnamon essential oil: cinnamon leaf essential oil, and cinnamon bark essential oil. As the name indicates, each is from a different part of the plant. When choosing the best essential oils for candles, you will want the most fragrant aroma you can find. In terms of cinnamon, this is going to be the cinnamon bark oil. Its warm, spicy scent will permeate any room, offering a festive feel.
7. Clary Sage Essential Oil
Clary sage, otherwise called Salvia Sclarea, is a flowering plant that grows in the Mediterranean Basin. Anecdotal evidence indicates clary sage may help bring about feelings of calm and relaxation. A couple of small studies indicate clary sage may also be able to reduce symptoms of depression, though more research is necessary.
8. Lavender Essential Oil
Out of all the essential oils, lavender is one of the most popular, prized for its sweet, floral scent. Lavender essential oil comes from the herb Lavandula Angustifolia and is a common ingredient in many soaps, essential oil candles, and cosmetics. A few of the benefits lavender is known for are:
- Helping decrease feelings of anxiety and stress
- Repelling mosquitoes
- Aiding with insomnia
9. Cedarwood Essential Oil
Cedarwood essential oil is another aroma that is considered a base note. This makes it one of the best fragrance oils for candles, as it can help round out other scents and make them last longer. Cedarwood has shown positive indications that it can have a sedative effect, meaning it may help inspire sound sleep. In addition, one of its main components is cedrol which shows potential as a calming agent. The smell of cedarwood essential oil is warm and woodsy and pairs well with just about anything.
10. Frankincense Essential Oil
Frankincense oil is one of the world's oldest commodities. It is prized for its fresh, spicy scent, making it a common ingredient in incense, perfumes, soaps, and candles. Inhalation of frankincense essential oil may offer up benefits such as:
- A reduction in anxiety, stress, and depression
- Balancing the sleep cycle
- Repelling insects
How to Choose the Best Essential Oils for Candles
When you first walk into a store the sheer number of essential oils available can be overwhelming. Those new to aromatherapy may feel intimidated by all of the options available, so we want to offer some tips and tricks to help you make the best choice!
Here are a few things to remember when shopping for essential oils for candle making:
Take a look at how and where the essential oil is manufactured
It is important to ensure you are purchasing your oils from a reputable source. If the distillation process is not done properly it can result in a subpar product, in terms of both quality and makeup. It is important to look for a manufacturer who clearly lists their distillation process. They should also be willing to provide lab testing information such as GC/MS testing, as well as CoA and SDS. This will ensure you are purchasing an oil that does not contain unwanted additives. The best essential oils for candles will be sold by companies who offer transparency.
Packaging
Even premium oils can be affected by improper packaging. Heat and sunlight can affect the composition of the oil, as well as cause evaporation. For this reason, it is best to look for oils packaged in a dark, glass bottle. Essential oils are potent, which means they can potentially break down plastic or cause undesirable toxins to leach into them.
Purity
Pure essential oils are the best essential oils for candles. It is important to look at how and where a company sources plants from, as well as if there is any mention of added ingredients. VINEVIDA sells only 100% pure and natural essential oils and offers the test results to prove so. Another good indication of product purity is the label. Both the common name and botanical name should be stated, and the label should express that the oil is 100% natural. Low-quality oils will often be labeled as “fragrance” instead of the botanical name, and be much cheaper than premium oils.
A Word of Caution
Even if you have the best essential oils for candle making, there are still a few things that can go wrong during the process. Here are a few tips to help you achieve success in your DIY candle making process:
- Carefully monitor the temperature, making sure you add the essential oils to the wax at the correct time and temperature point
- Choose a wax such as soy or beeswax that is known to be non-toxic
- Do your research to find the best essential oil for your needs
- If you have pets, make sure you research which oils can be toxic to them
Conclusion
In this article, we have gone over some of the best essential oils for candles. These are only a few of many great oils you can choose from. Have fun creating your own blends and combinations to create essential oil candles for any occasion.
