The Candle Scents You Should Burn If You Need To Concentrate

Some days it feels like you just can't focus. You know you have a list of things to do, you may even know in what order to tackle them, but you just can't seem to take that extra step to actually get going. Especially not when there are so many awesome TikTok videos to watch, there are at least 12 notifications on your phone every half hour, and, wait, maybe you need a snack or a drink before you really get started.

You probably already know some tricks, like setting your phone to Do Not Disturb, making a list, and setting a timer, but did you know that scent can help change your mood and even help you focus? According to Healthline, aromatherapy can be a safe and effective alternative to reaching for another sugar-laden soda, or that ill advised four p.m. coffee when you're feeling run down. Why not try lighting a candle with one of these scents the next time your focus needs a boost?

As Beverly Hawkins, owner of West Coast Institute of Aromatherapy, told Entrepreneur, "[S]o often something that we smell will trigger a memory or remind us of something or someone. ... A simple inhalation of an aroma can cause many changes in the body." Aromatherapy uses the power of scent to tap into the processing power of the brain, and the right scent could be just ticket to help keep you focus, energized, and on task.

Citrus is a great choice when you're looking to boost your energy. These bright, sunshiny fruits can help us feel more relaxed, at ease, and ready to tackle the challenges of the day. For a first thing in the morning pick me up, Homesick candle company advises choosing a lemon focused scent for something tangy, sweet orange if you prefer gentler, more floral notes, or bitter orange for something more bracing.

In Shakespeare's tragedy, Hamlet, Ophelia hands out flowers saying, "Rosemary, that's for remembrance." What's disguised as "madness" by grief, is actually quite insightful. Rosemary is one of the strongest scents relating to memory and has been used by scholars for hundreds of years. It's even reported by the BBC that students taking a memory based test did five to seven percent better in a room scented with rosemary than one without. Apparently it's a trick borrowed from ancient Greece, where students would wear garlands of rosemary while taking exams.

Peppermint is another great choice for your next study session or crunch time at work. Per mindbodygreen, the scent of peppermint can help support cognitive function and help you feel less fatigued after a mentally exhausting task. So if you want to finish that cover letter you've been putting off and still have energy to take the dog for a run after, peppermint might be your new go-to.