Cold
The clocks have gone back, it’s dark by 5 pm and it’s starting to get cold. There’s no hiding from the fact that winter’s close. The winter months can seem very long, and it’s easy to forget what it’s like to be warm. It’s possible to help yourself feel warmer not just by turning up the heating, but by kidding your senses. By creating the right scents for your home you can help yourself feel warm. Humans used to live in a way that mirrored the seasons by eating what could be grown seasonally or naturally preserved from earlier in the year. Why not mirror the passing of the seasons with seasonal candles too?

Seasons
As the last of autumn fades away we can feel the cold, but there are still occasional warm days. A candle with an amber scent will smell warm and if it’s combined with fresh, crisp notes it’ll evoke the last warmth of autumn and the first breaths of winter. Before we know it December’s here and we’re starting to feel the cold. Now warm smells like ginger, sandalwood and patchouli will give you a wonderful sense of warmth. Another warm smell ideal for winter is cinnamon. When eaten cinnamon can be relaxing, so its scent may create a sense memory of relaxation which could be beneficial in the Christmas rush.

Relax
You can transform your home into a safe haven from the rush outside. Shake that tension off along with the snow on your shoes as you return home. Now not only will those scents help your home smell warm and help you relax, the candles will create natural pools of light. As the days pass and Christmas (or however you celebrate this time of year) approaches then you can integrate candles into decorating your home. Candles are a timeless, simple addition to Christmas, and one with the scent of frankincense or myrrh can help you complete the seasonal effect.

Home
Don’t forget that candles need to be treated with care. They shouldn’t be left unattended, near an open window or in a place where they could be knocked over. So long as you respect the fact that candles are naked flames they’ll help you preserve a sense of warmth in your home.

Tim Aldiss writes for Yankee Candle, the home of scented candles.