Some floral candles smell sweet. Others smell rich, almost musky, and make a room feel instantly calmer. That second kind is usually built on ylang ylang, a floral note most people have smelled without knowing its name. Fragrant candles built around it do more than scent a room. They change how the room feels to sit in.

What ylang ylang actually is

Ylang ylang comes from a yellow, star shaped flower grown across South East Asia and the Pacific. The Tisserand Institute describes its smell as rich, exotic and intensely floral, with a musky undertone. That musky edge is why it reads differently to a light floral like jasmine.

In fragrance in candles, ylang ylang rarely stands alone. It gets paired with a lighter bloom to stop it feeling heavy, which is the blend Glow uses across most of the Floral range.

Why do florals smell different from person to person?

Everyone's nose picks up slightly different parts of a blend first. That is normal, not a fault in the candle. Cold throw, how it smells unlit, is often lighter than hot throw, how it smells while burning.

What candles and fragrances can honestly claim about mood

Research on jasmine, a related floral, found it can lift alertness when inhaled. Glow will not claim a candle fixes anxiety or changes how you sleep, because a candle is not medicine. What is fair to say is that many people find a warm floral calming, comforting or simply nice to come home to. That distinction matters more than it sounds, because it is the difference between an honest claim and a hopeful one.

• Light a floral candle during the wind down part of the evening
• Pair it with the Mood collection for a softer glow alongside the scent
• Give a floral candle twenty minutes to breathe before judging the throw

Choosing a floral if you are new to them

Jasmine leans bright and green. Ylang ylang leans rich and musky. Rose sits in the middle, which is why it turns up in almost every blended floral on the shelf. If you are buying for someone who says they do not like floral candles, they have probably only tried the bright end. A wellbeing gift built on ylang ylang is worth trying instead, especially for someone who already reaches for rich, warm scents in perfume.

Quick answers

Do fragrant candles really change your mood?

They will not fix anxiety or change how you sleep, but many people find a warm floral calming or comforting to burn in the evening. That is a fair, honest claim, nothing stronger.

Is ylang ylang the same as jasmine?

No. Both are floral, but ylang ylang is richer and slightly musky, while jasmine is brighter and greener. Glow blends both across the Floral range for different moods.

If your idea of a floral candle stops at something sweet and light, ylang ylang is worth a second look. Browse the Floral range to see where it sits in the line-up.

Related reading

• A Jasmine Candle Explains What Floral Really Means: the brighter end of the floral family.
• Your Lavender Candle Just Got A Fresh Spring Update: another floral worth knowing.
• Why The Same Candle Every Evening Works So Well: on building a scent into a routine.