Candles, Scented Candles and More

One of the strongest triggers for memories is smell. Many of us will think of things from our distant past when we smell a particular aroma: baking smells may make us remember our grandmother or mother and time spent in the kitchen with her; the smell of fresh cut grass might bring back memories of childhood soccer or baseball games; an exotic smell might bring to mind an amazing vacation on a tropical island.

Because smells have so much power to invoke memories, scented candles are a popular home accessory. There are hundreds of different scents to choose from, as well as many sizes and shapes of candles. People may choose a vanilla candle to remind them of baking, rain scented ones to remind them of growing up in a wet climate, or a flowery scent that smells like the garden of their childhood home. More simply, someone might choose a candle simply because they like the smell. Scented candles give a room a pleasant aroma, not too strong but noticeable. Flower scented candles are perfect for those who love the smell of flowers, but are allergic to pollen. Many people burn candles for their smell, as well as to add a pleasant light effect to their favorite room.

Today there are a multitude of candles to choose from. Besides the smell of your candle, you can choose from a number of different forms. The smallest candles, tealights, can be burned on a plate or other non-flammable surface, or put in candle holders. Votive candles are a little larger, and can be used in the same way. Scented jar candles are popular because they are self-contained.

They do not need to be put in a holder, so you do not need to buy holders or store them when they are not in use. You also do not have to scrape the ends of old candles out of holders before putting in new ones; when a jar candle is burned down, you simply throw the jar away and get a new one. There are even floating candles, which are specially shaped to be buoyant. These can be placed in a bowl of water to create a shifting, mystical effect. Some hosts even fill their bathtub with water and fill it with these candles for a special party effect.

After smell, this is probably the second most common use of candles, to create lighting effects. Many people use candlelight to create a particular atmosphere. Romantic scented candles can be lit for a special dinner, evening, or just to create a pleasant atmosphere at home. With the wide range of sizes and scents of candles available, anyone can create their desired effect.