When you have a busy or stressful day, the right scent can serve as your one-way ticket to relaxation. Everyone has a routine that comforts them when they need to unwind — maybe you may like to watch a TV show, read, meditate, or listen to music. If you’re looking to take your wind-down routine to the next level, scents might be the ideal next step.
Calming scents can be the perfect backdrop for when it's time to kick your feet up or if your to-do list is giving you the side-eye and you need a quick breather. These fragrances can be soothing and give you a much-needed boost — we're diving into the most calming scents and why you should start incorporating them.
how can scents help you unwind?
If you’ve noticed that certain scents, like lavender and eucalyptus, can make you feel calmer, it’s not all in your head. There's a reason these scents are tied to relaxation, and it all comes down to the science.
Your sense of smell is strongly connected to your brain's emotional center. Certain smells can act as direct hotlines to your nervous system, and they have the power to help you chill out or feel more energized. In fact, several studies have found that people inhaling relaxing scents experienced lower stress levels.
Specific fragrances can trigger the release of neurotransmitters in your brain, like serotonin and dopamine — these are your brain's happy chemicals that make you feel your best.
Let’s get one thing straight: scents aren't a magical cure-all for all your problems, but they can still be a trusty sidekick along the way. Consider reaching for calming scents when you've had a long day or want to take the edge off.
how to use calming scents
Now that you know a little bit about the science behind calming scents, let's take a look at how you can incorporate them into your daily routine.
You can find some of the most iconic calming scents (think chamomile, rose, rosemary, and lavender) mixed into fragrances, scented candles, bath bombs, and even skincare products, as well as in their pure essential oil form.
If you ask us, the easiest way to use a calming scent is to spritz some onto your skin any time you need to take a deep breath and find some personal peace. To make the most of your favorite grounding scent, spray some on your pulse points when you’re looking to calm down.
Another simple, easy way to use calming scents at home is to light scented candles. Think about the spaces that you want to feel the most peaceful in your home — it might be your home office or your bathroom.
Regardless of where it is, light your favorite relaxing scented candle in your room of choice about 20 minutes before you plan to be in there to give the scent time to spread.
If you’re feeling more experimental, you can use an essential oil blend as a massage oil to take your massage to the next level. You can also put calming essential oils in a spray bottle to spray on your yoga mat or in the space where you do physical activities to support your well-being. All of these methods will help you give your self-care routine a boost.
what are some calming scents for soothing vibes?
With all of this in mind, let’s talk about some of our top picks for soothing scents. At Snif, our fragrances are formulated without parabens, preservatives, phthalates, or synthetic dyes — because your favorite fragrances should bring you peace of mind. They’re also super long-lasting without being too overpowering, making them the perfect addition to your daily routine.
1. woods
Scents from nature can have very calming effects, and studies have shown various benefits for physical and mental health — one study found that experiencing scents from nature can help you feel happier and less anxious.
Our Way With Woods fragrance is a crowd-pleaser. This is a natural and woody scent with a touch of sweet freshness. It combines white tea, mandarin, sandalwood, amber woods, vetiver, and musk for an earthy, slightly sweet finish.
2. juniper
Juniper essential oil is traditionally used in aromatherapy massages and meditation practices to help create a peaceful atmosphere, making it one of the best choices when it comes to calming scents.
Sweet Ash is a subtle and sweet fragrance featuring juniper, bergamot, fir balsam, tonka, vanilla bean, white moss, and patchouli.
Fir balsam adds an herbal, woody smell, while the addition of juniper adds a natural, slightly spicy element, like a freshly cut Christmas tree.
3. tea
Few things are more soothing than a cup of tea — and with Golden Ticket, you can bottle the feeling. Golden Ticket is a tea-inspired scent that brings you the uplifting benefits of tea in scent form. With bergamot, black tea, green tea, golden maté, sage, incense, amber, and vetiver, Golden Ticket has a light but musky essence.
Bergamot is a citrus fruit whose scent you might be familiar with if you’re fond of Earl Grey tea. Bergamot has a fresh but gentle scent that’s sure to kick your wind-down routine into gear.
4. jasmine
Jasmine is commonly used as a mood booster in aromatherapy, and its sweet and rich floral scent is thought to help with stress relief and sleep — one study even found that the smell of jasmine led to better sleep and reduced movement.
Strawberry Moon is a bright, fun scent that comes in clutch when you need a pick-me-up. This fragrance contains jasmine, leather, bergamot, pink pepper, iris, saffron, vetiver, and amber woods for a sweet but warm and earthy finish.
5. baked goods
The fresh smell of baked goods is one of the most powerful. Maybe it brings you back to childhood mornings at the local bakery, or reminds you of your grandparents’ kitchen.
Crumb Couture bottles the aroma of a warm croissant so you can take that feeling with you wherever you go. This croissant fragrance mixes croissant accord, wild berry jam, blackcurrant, toasted vanilla, tonka bean, and sandalwood.
The fragrance is a fan-favorite and perfectly balances sweet and woody. The sandalwood adds creamy depth and gives the fragrance lasting power. If you quickly become addicted to the warm, buttery vibes, we understand.
6. amber
While some scents like a bright citrus fragrance might energize and excite you, there’s nothing more relaxing than a warm, deep scent when you’re looking to wind down. Made from a combination of fragrances including vanilla, bensoin, and labdanum, amber is the kind of rich fragrance that has the depth to help you find moments of calm on the most hectic days.
Musky, spicy, and utterly irresistible, amber is a scent that has been loved by perfumers since ancient times.
If you want to harness some of the soothing power of amber, look no further than Heal The Way. Made in collaboration with author and mindfulness teacher Alex Elle, this fragrance is a comforting reminder to take time to love yourself every single day. Heal The Way brings together pistachio cream, davana, palo santo, vanilla absolute, musk, and, of course, amber.
This sweet, cozy scent is ideal for sweater weather or any moment when you’re looking for a little bit of self-care.
7. patchouli
Patchouli is an herb that’s native to Asia, specifically the tropical parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The leaves of this fragrant plant are dried then steam-distilled to make patchouli oil, one of the most calming essential oil fragrances.
Part of the reason patchouli has become so associated with chill, relaxed vibes is because it was the scent of choice of hippies during the 1960s and ‘70s. That being said, this iconic fragrance is still as beloved in the fragrance world and plays a central role in many relaxing scents.
The magic of patchouli is its complexity. It’s one of those fragrance ingredients that manages to bring together several different notes to give any scent depth and richness. Earthy, musky, woody, spicy, and sweet, the smell of patchouli is natural and distinct. Given its complexity, patchouli tends to be one of those fragrances that people either love or hate.
If you’re a patchouli-lover (or are curious and want to get a whiff), Sweet Ash is the fragrance for you. The all-star lineup of smells in this fragrance makes it totally unique without being overbearing.
8. neroli
For anyone who feels most calm after cleaning the house top to bottom, neroli is likely to be one of the scents they find most relaxing. That’s because this sweet, citrusy smell is beloved for giving any fragrance a fresh, slightly soapy feel.
Neroli has green, floral, and subtly bitter undertones that make it a go-to ingredient for perfumers looking to make a light and refreshing scent.
Neroli takes center stage in Vow Factor, a fig-forward scent that perfectly captures the first-love feeling.
With a mix of green fig, neroli, rose, cedarwood, tonka bean, and ambrette seeds, this fragrance is one of the few that manages to bring a clean freshness with a rich warmth. This balance is what makes it feel hopelessly romantic and masterfully balanced.
9. ylang ylang
Ylang ylang essential oil comes from the beautiful star-shaped flower of the Cananga odorata tree native to Asia.
Used in aromatherapy to soothe stress, promote relaxation, manage blood pressure, and improve mood, it’s no wonder that ylang ylang made it on our list of the most calming scents.
Given that ylang ylang oil comes from a flower, it’s no wonder that this distinctive scent has a floral, soft fragrance. Unlike other floral scents that are more bold, ylang ylang has a subtle richness that makes this tropical floral scent one you could wear forever. It’s also powdery and delicate which is what allows ylang ylang to pair well with other fragrances.
What helps ylang ylang standout in the world of floral fragrances are its undertones. Although the first scent you’ll get when you smell ylang ylang essential oil is undoubtedly floral, the undertones are sweet notes reminiscent of honey, banana, and custard. These give ylang ylang a richness and sweetness that’s not always found in a floral fragrance.
10. Chamomile
Last but certainly not least is chamomile, one of the stars in the world of aromatherapy.Beloved for its ability to reduce anxiety and improve sleep-quality, chamomile is one of the most tried and true calming scents out there.
Found in teas, lotions, and other relaxation products, given how relaxing chamomile is, it’s often recommended to incorporate chamomile into your night routine. With just a few drops in the diffuser or a warm cup of chamomile tea, you’ll help your body and mind relax so that you can get a truly restful night of sleep.
In terms of its scent profile, chamomile has a sweet, fruity scent that’s often compared to apple. It also has a herbaceous side that can smell almost straw-like or more green, depending on the variety of chamomile used.
Although it does come from a flower and is known for its fruity smell, chamomile also has earthy, warm undertones that make it such a tranquil scent.
what are some calming candles to try?
There are many ways to incorporate relaxing scents into your everyday life, from diffusers to soaps, lotions, and candles… but if you ask us, candles are one of the best ways to elevate your living space and surround yourself with zen feelings.
Snif has a wide variety of premium candles in different scents for when you want (or need) to de-stress, and we use the same high-quality fragrances in our candles as we do in our fragrances.
11. sandalwood
Known for its creamy, woody, subtly sweet scent, sandalwood is widely loved as one of the most calming fragrances.
Off the Grid is a warm, calming scent that blends amber, lily, musk, and sandalwood for the ultimate soothing burn. Off the Grid also contains moss, cypress, tuberose, and cedar for an earthy feeling that's ideal when you want to unplug and put your life on Do Not Disturb.
The tuberose in this candle offers sweet hints of honey and ambrosial white blooms, while cypress is a fresh fragrance and lily has green nuances. Together, these scents transform your home into the calming, peaceful environment you deserve.
Our Way With Woods is another sandalwood candle, and it has all the same incredible scents as the fragrance, like white tea, mandarin, sandalwood, and amber woods. This inviting, crisp scent will help fill your space and make you feel like you’re relaxing in a woodsy escape… even if you’re on the couch (we won’t tell).
12. galbanum
Galbanum is an earthy green fragrance that comes from a flowering plant, and it has been used in incense and perfumery since ancient times — in other words, it’s certainly earned its spot.
Heavy scents can overwhelm your senses, so lighter fragrances can sometimes be the perfect pick to soothe your nerves. Birds and the Breeze is a light and airy scent where mimosa petals meet jasmine, galbanum, and cedarwood for grounding effects.
13. vanilla
As one of the most well-loved scents (for good reason), vanilla is an amazing choice when it comes to candles.
Snif's most popular fragrance is a hit in its candle form as well. The Sweet Ash scent brings sweetness and earthiness together in perfect harmony, and moss, woods, fir balsam, tonka, and vanilla bean will have you wanting to light this candle in every room.
13. cardamom
A fan-favorite in the culinary world as well as the fragrance world, cardamom is a sweet, spicy smell that will instantly up the coziness grade of your home.
Given that it’s often used in cooking and baking, cardamom also gives candles a slightly gourmand, aromatic edge that makes them ideal for the kitchen or dining room.
You can catch a whiff of cardamom with the Instant Karma candle. This dark, luxurious candle combines cardamom with nashi pear, black plum, geranium, vetiver, cedarwood, and black tea to make for a juicy, spiced fragrance. Instant Karma strikes the perfect balance between cozy and light which means that you can burn this dreamy candle all year long.
Our recommendation? Light it for an at-home date night to make your space feel as relaxing and intimate as possible.
kick back and relax
The positive effects of certain aromas are hard to ignore, and if you ask us, incorporating these scents into your life may be just what you need to welcome some serenity into your days. Whether you opt for a fragrance or a candle, these scents are sure to help put your mind at ease. So, light the candle, spritz your skin, and let the relaxation begin.
Sources:
Smells in nature help us feel more relaxed and cheerful | Earth
Effects of odors on sleep quality in 139 healthy participants | PMC
Exploratory Study on Aroma Profile of Cardamom by GC-MS and Electronic Nose | ResearchGate