We all love this time of year, don’t we? With a sun scorched Glastonbury predicted and Wimbledon set to be equally blessed, summer has truly arrived. It’s time to get into the swing of things.
Often, when you think of the best elements of summer, it’s the scents of the season that come to mind; freshly cut grass, flowers in bloom, even summer rain showers. You know the sort.
To some, it might feel a little perverse to be setting the bespoke candle jars up in a neat little row on the mantelpiece and lighting wick, particularly during a heatwave and just 7 hours of nighttime daily.
Not us, though; we just love initiating some of the fresher aromas of the season, particularly when summer’s more notorious smells – of body odour, a kitchen bin not taken out for a while, and fruit over-ripened in the bowl – tend to permeate.
With that in mind, and with the skies outside ever unpredictable, you’ll want to make sure that your scented candle game is on point for the coming months. Here are 7 of the best scented candles for a sweet smelling summer.
Floral Whites
Floral scents of course make sense (sorry) for summer. Use the likes of geranium, rose and neroli as daytime boosters to augment and enhance any fresh flowers you have in the home and provide a gentle and light ambience.
Classic white florals work really well; think jasmine, magnolia and gardenia for best effect. A big newcomer you’ll be smelling a lot of this season is frangipani; a creamy and floral offering that will give you a warm summer evening vibe and a long-lasting scent.
Tropical Floral
A sweet tropical like ylang ylang always goes down well, make no mistake. Containing the same compound used as the base for Ambre Solaire sun cream, and as such evoking some serious nostalgia of childhood summer holidays, its sweet florals are reminiscent of sepia soaked times gone by. Lovely stuff.
Lemongrass
Another tropical scent here, the delightful scent of a lemongrass candle proves to be an exceptional choice for summer in the UK, as it adds an element of invigoration to any space.
With its fresh, citrusy aroma and subtle hint of earthiness, a lemongrass candle can effortlessly transport one to the enchanting landscapes of Thailand, where this plant thrives and is held in high regard for its calming effects (and, of course, superb flavour in curries, salads and relishes!).
As summer days in the UK bring longer hours of daylight and balmy evenings, a lemongrass candle adds a gentle spark of energy to your home, elevating those precious moments spent with friends and family. What’s more, this captivating scent reflects the vibrant character of summer, inspiring revitalisation and rejuvenation of the senses.
Clean Herbal
There are an abundance of classic herbal oils which channel the scents of the summer garden succinctly. Relaxing lavender, woody rosemary and sedative roman chamomile are perfect all-day tone setters and combine well with all sorts of other fragrances. Here harmonising is the watchword. Lavender, particularly, will support a good sleep on a balmy summer night.
Invigorating Herbal
On the flipside, the revitalising tones of peppermint are a must have for the summer period. One of the more prominent and noticeable scents to use, there’s a lot of value in the cooling sensations it offers, bringing an energised feeling to help you take on the day ahead
Read: The IDEAL home office aromas for stress relief, relaxation, concentration and more
Citrus
Citrus is made for summer, make no mistake. Its bright, colourful and lively nature is captured in its scents, with its versatility made for matching your mood.
Anything from the orange family, like sweet orange, blood orange, mandarin or tangerine, will give an uplifting effect that will harness the power of the sunshine to your advantage. While traditionally more upbeat in their delivery, you can use the likes of lemon, grapefruit and bergamot to offer more cooling aromas.
In fact, lemon-scented oils contain citronella, which is useful for keeping those pesky mosquitos at bay. Citrus scents marry particularly well with conifer oils, such as cypress and juniper berry, to create fresh and stimulating fragrances.
Fresh Linen
Embrace the feeling of crisp, clean linens drying in the summer breeze with a scented candle that embodies freshness and a sense of purity. A candle that evokes the aromas of fresh linen combines notes of cotton, white flowers, and a hint of citrus, infusing your space with a comforting and tranquil ambiance reminiscent of all those fresh white tees you’ve got hanging on the line, gently blowing in the breeze like a scene from a Daz commercial.
While you’re out there in your garden, soaking up those smells, why not brew up one of these 5 summer coffee trends? Just don’t spill any on your white T-shirt!