A cup of green tea with honey. That exotic roasted scent of coffee. A arm bath. The nearby waft of your favorite incense fragrance coming from the other room. There are many things which can relax us, and relaxation is becoming ever more important in today’s busy world. Remember to take time out of your day to relax and appreciate yourself.
Below I am going to list what I consider to be some of the best smelling incense fragrances for relaxation. They will be listed in ABC order.
Table of Contents
Chamomile
Chamomile is a traditional folk remedy. It is most commonly used for insomnia or stress, although it used to be considered as a cure-all of sorts. Nowadays it is mostly drank in the form of tea. What a lot of people don’t know is that it is also a popular incense fragrance.
Cinnamon
When most people think of cinnamon, they likely think of autumn. It is required ingredient in apple cider and pumpkin cake, so the association is strong. Cinnamon has also been added to incense since ancient times. It’s sharp and distinct aroma nearly defines warmth and comfort.
Frankincense
Frankincense has a long history of use, primarily in the Middle East and Asia. Most iconic is the tale of the Three Wise Men from the Bible. In this story, the Three Wise Men brought baby Jesus gifts of frankincense, myrrh, and gold. Historically, the resin was not only burned, but also taken as medicine, although this is no longer commonplace. Frankincense resin is one of the most traditional incense resin and it’s scent is nearly universally loved.
Jasmine
Jasmine is often considered the ‘flower of love’ in the Middle East. Jasmine has also long been used for it’s aromatics. In addition to it being a popular incense fragrance, it is also used to produce my favorite tea, which is jasmine green tea.
Lavender
Lavender is a relaxation classic. It’s floral aroma refreshes the mind and body, leaving a calm and serene feeling. This flower is used for all sorts of things, including floral crafts, aromatherapy, essential oils, tea, spice blends (such as herbs de province) and incense. Burning this fragrance before bed will surely result in a night’s well rest.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass has an uplifting and bright citrus scent which can brighten the mood and vibe of your surrounding environment. If you’re feeling tired or down, lemongrass will surely pick you up!
Nag Champa
Nag champa is probably the most popular incense scent in the western world. This is because hippies who went to India in the 60s for spiritual reasons often brought it back to the western world to share with friends and family.
It is a combination of sandalwood and either magnolia or plumeria.
Although this incense is often associated with meditation or spiritual endeavours, many people also consider it to be quite relaxing. I consider this to be one of the best smelling incense in the world, and there is a reason it is so wildly popular.
Patchouli
Patchouli is a scent often associated with hippies and the counterculture movement. Although this is somewhat true, the practice of using patchouli to combat body odor goes a lot further back. It is also a popular incense fragrance, and is believed to relieve stress and promote mental clarity.
Peppermint
Not only is peppermint a relaxing fragrance, but compounds within peppermint, such as menthol, help clear airways and promote healthy breathing. It is also thought to relieve muscle tension. We recommend burning a peppermint incense stick while taking a warm bath.
Pine
When you think of pine, you probably think of Christmas. The pine tree is iconic and the scent is classic. Due the associated holiday, our minds often consider this scent to be relaxing. When the holidays aren’t around, you could always burn pine incense to get that relaxing holiday feeling you so desire.
Rose
Rose is the ‘flower of love’ in western cultures. If you love somebody, or desire them, it is common to give them a rose. However, rose is not only for love. It is also a very relaxing fragrance, which smells beautiful even when alone. This is another great scent to burn while taking a bath.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood is considered holy in India, in a similar way as palo santo is considered holy in South American countries. It is one of my personal favorite incense scents and I would consider this one of the best smelling incense. It is often used as a base and then enhanced with other compounds. One classic example of this is nag champa, where they take sandalwood, and add either mangolia or plumeria. Sandalwood calms the mind and promotes inner peace.
Vanilla
In contrast to the sometimes overpowering scent of cinnamon, vanilla is much more mild. If you are unable to tolerate some of these stronger scents, then vanilla is probably right for you. Vanilla is a light, classic scent, which many people consider to be quite relaxing.
Ylang Ylang
Ylang-ylang is another ‘flower of love’, except this time pertaining to East Asia. The scent of ylang-ylang is often considered floral and seductive. It is also quite relaxing.
