GAD Candle

This candle is my artistic interpretation of how Borderline Personality Disorder might translate into a scent — a sensory portrait of its complexity and depth. It is not created specifically for those living with BPD, but rather for their loved ones, as a way to foster empathy, connection, and deeper understanding. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Emotions Matter, a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing social support, raising awareness, and improving healthcare systems for individuals with BPD and their families.

Base Notes: Electrical Tension and Metallic Undertones
The foundation evokes anxiety’s constant physiological arousal through metallic sharpness and electrical tension—like the smell of copper pennies mixed with ozone, the air before a thunderstorm. This base mirrors the body’s fight-or-flight readiness. The metallic zing resembles the sensation of handling coins or chewing a paperclip, a neurobiological link to anxiety’s phantom metallic odors. Key elements:

• Ozone accord (sharp, pungent, metallic)

• Copper wire essence (raw nerve sensitivity)

• Static electricity (pre-lightning crackle)

Heart Notes: Chemical Sharpness and Overstimulation
The middle notes overwhelm with sharp, stinging chemical scents reflecting anxiety’s intensity. Ammonia activates the trigeminal nerve, causing discomfort and urge to escape. Vinegar adds a sharp, sour, penetrating quality that is impossible to ignore. Additional notes represent anxiety symptoms:

• Concentrated caffeine essence (jitters and overstimulation)

• Sharp grapefruit rind (headache-inducing screech)

• Eucalyptus menthol (medicinal, evoking hyperventilation)

Top Notes: Immediate Alarm and Hypervigilance
The opening hits like a sensory alarm, triggering nervous system alertness:

• Pure menthol (head rush mimicking anxiety spikes)

• Smelling salts accord (immediate wake-up)

• Bleach/chlorine (clean yet sharp, like hospital antiseptics that can trigger anxiety)

This fragrance embodies hypervigilance, keeping you on edge, scanning for danger, unable to relax, longing for calm air. Like anxiety, it transforms safe spaces into electrically charged environments filled with tension and urgency.

A share of every purchase supports mental health initiatives to raise awareness and improve care for those affected by anxiety and their loved ones.

Information and Important Notes