Some people only see soap as something that keeps them clean. I am here to tell you they are missing out on one of life’s great pleasures. Did you know the essential oils of certain scented soaps can do wonders for treating your mind and body? It’s the same with the aromas from candles. Sure, they’re terrific for a little mood lighting or a way to save on your electricity bills, but they may also have a tremendous affect on your aura by helping you reduce stress and altering your mood for the better. And let’s not forget lotions! Like candles and fine soaps, they too can have a profound impact on your body and state of mind.

Welcome to the world of aromatherapy. In this world, the air is filled with refreshing scents for you to enjoy. Aromatherapy is an increasingly popular holistic — and therapeutic — approach that relies on aromatic essential oils to enhance physical and psychological well-being. This is not a new fad. The roots of extracting essential oils derived from plants can be traced back thousands of years to the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. Even then, certain plant oils were used for everything from spiritual relaxation and cosmetics to medicines for their natural healing powers.

The benefits from aromatherapy are amazing. After working all day, my husband and I can’t resist the relaxing fragrance of a Rosie Rings lavender candle. It’s as if the aroma that fills the room actually absorbs the stress from our bodies and purifies our souls. Then again, a variety of other candle selections offered by Mistral, L’Occitane and Volupsa also take us to a very peaceful place far away from the pressures of the day.

The best essential oils — and aromatherapy products — are made from natural and pure ingredients, and do not contain synthetic materials. You’ll find many of them in fine soaps and moisturizing lotions. Massaging these pleasantly scented products into your skin is very therapeutic — physically and psychologically. Breathing in their scents is reinvigorating … and they not only refresh your body, they can also help reduce tension, pain, fatigue and anxiety.

So treat your mind and body to aromatherapy. Light a candle tonight and fill your air passages with pure relaxation. Hop in the tub with an irresistibly rich foaming melon pear or vanilla apricot scented bubble bath. Make sure your next shower includes lathering up your entire body with a wild blackberry or classic olive scented soap. And remember, aromatherapy isn’t just for women. There are many men’s soaps that make for fantastic feel-good aromatic gifts.