We are all spending more time at home during the pandemic. Most of us have found ourselves working from home or possibly out of work, home schooling children, learning new technology, cleaning our houses with antibacterial wipes and wondering what will happen next. All these new situations can lead to anxiety, stress and even depression. One way you can positively affect your mood is through the power of smells and scents.

“Scents can have positive effects on mood, stress reduction, sleep enhancement, self-confidence, and physical and cognitive performance,” says Theresa Molnar, executive director of the Sense of Smell Institute, the research and educational arm of the perfume industry’s Fragrance Foundation. Fragrances inhaled go to the brain where the neurological effect can alter mood. They trigger areas in the brain that relate to emotions.

Selecting candles, based on their scent or fragrance, can be a great way to improve your mood, reduce anxiety, and even combat fatigue or loneliness. NCA suggests using the chart below as a guide to selecting scented candles.