PTSD Candle

This candle captures my interpretation of what Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder might evoke as a scent—a complex blend reflecting the shadows of past pain alongside the strength of resilience. It is designed not only for those who live with PTSD but especially for their loved ones, to inspire empathy, patience, and a deeper understanding of their journey. A portion of the proceeds is donated to organizations dedicated to supporting trauma survivors, promoting healing, and enhancing mental health care for those affected and their families.

The Scent Profile: Hypervigilance in Fragrance

PTSD doesn’t unfold gently—it strikes suddenly, like a trigger that feels impossible to ignore. Research describes it as “a heightened state of sensory sensitivity and alertness,” a hyper-aroused nervous system always scanning for danger. This candle mirrors that state: sharp, jarring, and evocative of both destruction and endurance.

Base Notes (40–50%): Burnt Aftermath & Survival
The foundation is smoke, ash, and charred remains—permanent marks of what has been destroyed, yet survived.

• Heavy smoke & ash: the lingering scars of trauma.

• Charred leather & burnt metal: hardened but marked, symbolizing endurance.

• Cold steel & copper: sharp metallics capturing the readiness of hypervigilance.

Heart Notes (30–40%): Sudden Shifts & Intensity
The middle embodies PTSD’s unpredictability, mirroring flashbacks and emotional whiplash.

• Whiskey burn: breath-catching, like reliving the past without warning.

• Harsh tobacco & worn leather: symbols of grit and survival mode.

• Ozone before a storm: tense, electric, evoking pounding heart and heightened nerves.

Top Notes (20–30%): Immediate Alarm
The opening hits hard, as PTSD often does, flooding the senses with urgency.

• Bitter grapefruit & bergamot: sharp shocks, like the exaggerated startle response.

• Hot metal & gunpowder: danger and alertness in every inhalation.

• Electrical burn: acrid and jarring, like a system pushed to overload.

The Olfactory Experience: Living Under Siege

This scent doesn’t sit quietly—it mirrors the condition it represents.

• Immediately Alerting: just as PTSD amplifies sensitivity, the fragrance demands instant attention.

• Unpredictably Shifting: changing unexpectedly, echoing sudden flashbacks and triggers.

• Exhaustingly Persistent: relentless in presence, reflecting the fatigue of chronic hypervigilance.

• Isolating: its intensity may overwhelm others—symbolic of how PTSD can separate survivors from those who do not share their experience.

This candle is not just fragrance—it is story, empathy, and witness to what survival smells like. It is equal parts darkness and resilience, offering a sensory metaphor for trauma’s weight and the hard-won strength of living through it.

Information and Important Notes