Home scenting secrets to help combat the winter blues – from top home fragrance experts

Candles and home fragrances are a powerful thing. After all, who wants to live in a home that smells bad, or doesn't look and feel cozy? Scenting your space can instantly lift your spirits and make a space feel more personalized and truly ‘yours’.

That is why home fragrance experts so often turn to the best candles and best oil diffusers to help combat symptoms of seasonal affective disorder in the long, cold, dark winter months.

Here, they have shared their home scenting secrets to help combat SAD – Seasonal Affective Disorder where a lack of bright sunshine leads to low mood – so you can feel just a little better when cooped up at home.

Home scenting secrets to help combat ‘SAD’

Mark Crames, CEO and chief perfumer at Demeter Fragrance, sympathizes with the SAD struggle. ‘As we transition into fall and winter, many people begin to experience the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), where shorter days and reduced sunlight can affect our mood.

‘Making a home smell nice can be a powerful tool to help uplift your spirits and create a more positive atmosphere at home. Home scenting with candles or room sprays can stimulate emotional responses, helping to combat feelings of sluggishness or sadness.’

How you do this will depend largely on what you find most comforting, but here is what our experts suggest.

1. Make home fragrance a ritual

Along with embracing cleaning habits to beat winter blues, you should never underestimate the power of romanticizing the smallest details when making a house less depressing in fall and winter, says Kristen Pumphrey, candle expert at P.F. Candle Co.

‘Even the ritual of taking a moment to light a candle or incense can be beneficial for your mood. It’s so important to decompress and take moments for yourself – using fragrance as a way to bookend your day and be intentional. Frankincense is one of my favorite calming scents that is non-sedative – I use it in essential oil form in a diffuser. I also find sandalwood extremely comforting and grounding.’

2. Use mood-boosting scents

When creating a mood-boosting home, it makes sense to pick mood-boosting functional fragrances. This could be energizing citrus or earthy natural fragrances to help us connect to the outside when we are stuck indoors through bad weather.

Kristen Pumphrey, the candle expert, says, ‘We created our Alchemy line using research-backed fragrances that are proven to boost moods, and each scent is designed for a different purpose. Enoki Cedar is meant to be grounding, for when life is feeling hectic and you need your feet on the ground.

'Geranium Moss is a Connection blend – this scent reminds me so strongly of a soap my grandmother used, it’s incredibly comforting. Myrtle Mint is meant for focus, so I like to use the incense cones to keep me motivated during the workday. Bergamot Shiso is like sunshine in a bottle – we designed it to be uplifting and energizing.’

3. Opt for calming scents to relieve anxiety

SAD can often force anxious feelings and spiraling thoughts. To help counter this, experts recommend opting for relaxing fragrances, usually the best scents for sleep, to help you unwind. Using your senses to good affect can help mindfulness practice.

Simply actively paying attention to what you can smell, see, feel, hear and touch is a way to lower blood pressure and relieve anxiety, which is why calming fragrances are particularly helpful.

Jodie O’Brian of DUET Candles, suggests, ‘Scents such as citrus and mint are uplifting, fostering a happy environment during those fleeting daylight hours of the winter months. Scents like lavender and eucalyptus are soothing and offer a tranquil ambiance staving off nighttime uneasiness.’

4. Pick comforting, nostalgic scents

Sometimes, the best scents for wellbeing are the ones that help to evoke a positive memory or feeling says Isabel Alvarez, candle expert and founder of Albisa Candles. This can be anything from a floral that reminds you of a loved one's perfume, to a gourmand vanilla that transports you to your favorite bakery.

‘Scent is deeply tied to nostalgia and memory, and Albisa Candles helps bring those memories to life through our fragrances,’ Isabel says. ‘Our candles are great all year long, but they’re especially helpful during the gloomy fall and winter months when a little extra warmth and cheer are needed.

‘Adding a Caribbean vibe to your home can brighten your mood. It’s not just about lighting any candle. For example, our Dale candle boosts your mood by transporting you to a sun-drenched island getaway with its scent of warm, salty ocean air mingled with soothing cactus. Meanwhile, our Cuban Bread wax melts [at Albisa Candles] and Café Con Leche candles [at Albisa Candles] are sure to bring a smile to your face – after all, who can feel sad while thinking of warm, buttery bread and a rich, steaming cup of delicious coffee.’

Given that we do not open our windows as often in fall and winter, it is important to take steps to improve indoor air quality when burning candles and using diffusers. This could be remembering to open your window for 10 minutes each morning before you turn on your heating, or using an air purifier to help keep your air safe when staying indoors for prolonged periods. Learn more about candle wax types and which ones to avoid.