| A friend of mine named Charlene, who runs an | | | | part of a particular plant may be the source of the |
| aromatherapy course in Lincoln, Nebraska, told me a | | | | fragrance. But that minor complication apart, lavender |
| story about a young man who had just joined the | | | | is the most popular oil when it comes to |
| course and was raring to go because he had read so | | | | aromatherapy candles. That does not mean you don't |
| much about aromatherapy. It was Charlene's practice | | | | have a wide enough choice, given the speed with |
| to light an aromatherapy candle at the beginning of | | | | which the popularity of aromatherapy is increasing. |
| every session and ask the participants what the | | | | According to aromatherapy practitioners like Charlene, |
| fragrance reminded them of. As it happened, she | | | | there are candles to suit all moods. So if you are |
| was using a lavender candle and asked the young | | | | suffering from insomnia, light sage, chamomile, and |
| man what he could smell. He took a deep breath, and | | | | ylang ylang candles next to your bath. Those |
| with a look of great disappointment on his face, said, | | | | suffering from depression should try rosemary and |
| "Room freshener!" | | | | grapefruit aromatherapy candles, while all-purpose |
| "I never found out what he was expecting," Charlene | | | | aromatherapy candles contain extracts of |
| later told me. With apologies for this initial digression, I | | | | sandalwood, eucalyptus, geranium, peppermint, and |
| think the young man got it at least partially right. | | | | many other plants. However, you may very well find |
| Aromatherapy candles are a room freshener par | | | | that reactions vary from person to person, so it is |
| excellence, because they keep a room smelling | | | | best not to generalize if you are using a candle for |
| exquisite for hours together. However, what makes | | | | therapy. Consult an expert first. |
| them even better is that they have therapeutic | | | | In addition to aromas, these candles are also available |
| effects on the mind and body. | | | | in a vast array of shapes and sizes. So you can go |
| Why is that? Well, aromatherapy candles are made | | | | for a floating, pillar, gel, votive or jar candle. In |
| of wax laced with essential oils from certain aromatic | | | | addition, if you feel up to it, you can prepare a |
| plants, so that as the wax melts, the molecules of | | | | personalized aromatherapy candle at home by mixing |
| the plant extract are diffused into the environment, | | | | and matching several aromas. To get you started, |
| thus creating a heavenly fragrance. | | | | try a blend of cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. An |
| So which are the plants from which aromatherapy | | | | alternative could be a refreshing and stimulating mix |
| candles draw their fragrances? The answer is not | | | | of peppermint, lemon, and rosemary. Don't forget to |
| exactly straightforward, since any or more than one | | | | write in with the results! |