One of the best reasons to buy scented candles is the benefits due to their aromatherapy properties. Aromatherapy is an alternative approach for helping the mind, body, and spirit through the use of essential oils and fragrances to create an atmosphere and stimulate the senses. Science and research has shown that many moods and negative emotions can be lifted due to the fragrances or scents that are introduced into the environment. According to Dr. Solomon H. Snyder, a professor and director of the department of neuroscience at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, the parts of the brain that are the olfactory regions are also known to be major parts of the brain that regulate emotions. “Dr. Gary E. Schwartz, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at Yale University, has found that certain scents produce changes in blood pressure and other physiological responses comparable to those achieved through meditation, a standard relaxation technique used to help people deal with stress. The smell of spiced apple, Dr. Schwartz says, is especially effective. In studies of healthy volunteers under stress, it has brought systolic blood pressure down an average of three to five points and in some instances has lowered diastolic blood pressure as well.”