The holidays are beautiful. They are also loud, busy, and demanding.

Between family gatherings, gift lists, end-of-year deadlines, and constant invitations, your nervous system rarely gets a true pause. Even the “fun” parts—shopping, parties, traveling—can leave you overstimulated and exhausted by the time you finally crawl into bed.

At CoMo Vibes, we believe your evenings should feel different. They should feel like a soft landing. A slow exhale. A moment that belongs to you, even in the middle of the holiday swirl.

This guide walks you through a simple, sensory evening reset ritual you can use all season long—plus a few ways to turn CoMo Vibes candles, body creams, and the Candle Bar itself into tools for real rest.

Why the Holidays Feel So Overwhelming (Even When You’re Grateful)

You can love the holidays and still feel completely drained. That tension is real—and common.

Here’s what’s quietly adding to your stress load this time of year:

• Mental lists that never end
  Gifts to buy, travel to plan, meals to coordinate, work projects to finish before the year ends. Your brain is constantly “tabbing” between tasks.

• Social overstimulation
  Parties, family gatherings, school events, office celebrations—your calendar fills up quickly, even if you are an introvert who needs quiet to recharge.

• Financial pressure
  Giving generously feels good. Watching every purchase add up can feel heavy.

• Disrupted routines
  Later bedtimes, travel days, guests in the house—your normal rhythms are interrupted, and your body notices.

None of this means you are doing the holidays “wrong.” It simply means you need intentional moments of calm to balance everything out. That is where a simple evening ritual can make a real difference.

Why Scent Is So Powerful for Holiday Stress Relief

Scent is one of the fastest ways to shift how you feel. A familiar fragrance can:

• Signal to your body that the day is done

• Help your mind separate “work mode” from “rest mode”

• Bring back memories of calm, cozy, safe moments

That is why a single candle can change the vibe of an entire room. It is also why we pour so much care into every CoMo Vibes product—each one is designed to support the way you actually live, not just sit on a shelf.

Some customer favorites for calming and grounding:

• Eucalyptus Mint – Spa-clean, uplifting, and clarifying; a beautiful choice after a long day of errands or travel.

• Day Dream – Soft, airy, and cozy, like fresh sheets and a slow morning.

• Fireside – Warm, crackling, and nostalgic, perfect for evenings when you want to feel wrapped in comfort.

• Woodland Snow – Cool, crisp, and wintry without feeling sharp—a calm walk through fresh snow, captured in wax.

You can explore our full lineup of hand-poured scents here.

Your Holiday Evening Reset Ritual: 5 Simple Steps

This ritual is designed to be realistic. You do not need a whole night off. You just need 20–40 minutes where the world gets a little quieter and your senses get to soften.

Use this ritual whenever the season starts to feel too loud: after a long shopping day, after hosting, or on any night when your mind just will not slow down.

Step 1: Turn Down the Noise

Before you reach for a candle, reach for the volume dial on your life.

• Silence notifications for the evening or switch your phone to “Do Not Disturb.”

• Close your laptop and physically move it out of sight.

• Turn off bright overhead lights and switch to lamps or string lights instead.

You are telling your brain, “We are off duty now.” The rest of your ritual will sink in more deeply once you have created that separation.

If you share a space with family, roommates, or kids, try choosing a “quiet hour” where everyone tones things down—no loud TV, no big to-do lists, just low conversation, music, or soft activities.

Step 2: Light Your Calm

Now it is time to invite scent in. This is where CoMo Vibes truly shines.

Choose one candle that matches the mood you are craving:

• For a spa-level reset after holiday shopping:
  Reach for something refreshing and bright like Eucalyptus Mint. The cool mint and herbal notes help clear the mental clutter of the day.

• For a cozy “snowed-in” feeling even if you are not:
  Try Woodland Snow or Fireside. These scents wrap the room in warmth and quiet, like a blanket for your senses.

• For a gentle, everyday calm:
  Day Dream is perfect for low-key evenings spent reading, journaling, or catching up with someone you love.

Set your candle somewhere safe—on a coffee table, nightstand, or near the bathtub if you plan to soak. Light the wick, then pause for a moment before doing anything else.

Watch the flame catch. Notice the first waves of fragrance as they reach you. Let that be your signal: this is a different part of the day now.

You can start exploring your perfect calm scent here.

Step 3: Create a Soft Landing

Your body relaxes faster when your environment feels intentional. Think of this as making a landing strip for your nervous system.

Choose one area to turn into your “holiday calm zone”:

• A cozy corner of the couch

• A favorite chair with a side table

• The bathroom if you are planning a bath

• Your bedside area for a pre-sleep wind-down

Then add small comforts:

• A soft blanket or throw

• Your coziest sweats or robe

• A glass of water, tea, or something warm to sip

• A book, journal, or simple crossword puzzle nearby

If you love layering scent on your skin, this is a beautiful time to apply a rich body cream:

• After a warm shower, massage in FRESH Eucalyptus and Spearmint Shea Jojoba Butter Cream for a cooling, spa-like feel.

• For something a bit more indulgent, try a fragrance-forward option like PINK SUGAR Shea Jojoba Butter Cream or BLACK WOMAN Shea Jojoba Body Butter—soft, sensual scents that linger just enough to make you feel put-together, even in loungewear.

Explore our body creams here.

This step is about signaling to your body: “You are safe here. You can let your shoulders drop.”

Step 4: Trade Scrolling for Something Slower

Holiday stress grows in the constant scrolling—sale emails, family group texts, endless social updates. Your brain never gets an empty moment.

For just one evening reset, make a gentle trade:

Instead of:

• Doom-scrolling sales and wish lists

• Comparing your holiday to everyone else’s highlight reel

Try:

• Reading a chapter of a book

• Writing down three things you are proud of yourself for this year

• Stretching on the floor for ten minutes beside your candle

• Taking a long, quiet bath

If you love scent layering, this is also a perfect moment to add a designer inspired body oil to your ritual. Choose a fragrance that makes you feel grounded and confident, like:

• Midnight Muse – Inspired by YSL Black Opium – Deep, warm, and a little mysterious; perfect for a solo wind-down that still feels special.

• Adore Bloom – Inspired by Dior J’Adore – Soft, floral elegance for evenings when you want a gentle boost instead of full glam.

A few drops pressed onto your wrists, neck, and collarbone turns even an ordinary night in into a small, private luxury.

Browse our designer inspired oils for women here.

Step 5: Breathe In, Let Go

Finally, give yourself permission to truly arrive in the moment.

Sit near your candle. Let your gaze soften on the flame, or close your eyes if that feels better.

Try this simple breathing pattern for a few minutes:

1. Inhale slowly through your nose for a count of four.

2. Gently hold for a count of four.

3. Exhale through your mouth for a count of six.

As you breathe, notice the scent in the air: the mint, the wood, the sweetness, the warmth. Imagine each exhale carrying away a little bit of the day’s tension—unfinished tasks, family logistics, gift worries.

They will still be there tomorrow if they need to be dealt with. Tonight, they do not get to come into this space.

Turn the CoMo Vibes Candle Bar into Your Holiday Reset Night

If you are in or near Columbia, Missouri, you are not limited to at-home rituals. You can turn your stress relief into a shared experience at the CoMo Vibes Candle Bar.

The Candle Bar is our hands-on, custom candle-making studio where you and your favorite people can come together, slow down, and create something that will keep comforting you long after the night is over.

Why the Candle Bar Works So Well for Holiday Stress

• It gets you offline and into the moment
  When you are smelling oils, choosing vessels, and pouring wax, your mind naturally anchors to what is right in front of you.

• It turns connection into the main event
  Instead of shouting over loud music or standing in lines, you are seated at a table, talking, laughing, and experiencing something new together.

• You leave with a physical reminder of calm
  Every time you light the candle you made—weeks after your visit—you revisit the ease of that evening.

Who the Candle Bar Is Perfect For This Season

• Girls’ Night Reset
  Invite your friends to skip one more crowded restaurant outing and meet at the Candle Bar instead. Pour candles, trade stories, and head to dinner or drinks afterward feeling relaxed instead of rushed.

• Moms’ Night Off
  Coordinate childcare, bring your favorite snacks, and gift yourselves a few hours where nobody calls you “Mom.”

• College Break Reunions
  If you are a Mizzou, Stephens, or Columbia College student home for break, the Candle Bar is a cozy way to reconnect with friends without the bar scene.

• Team Building with Actual Calm
  For local businesses, a Candle Bar reservation is a refreshing alternative to the usual end-of-year happy hour. Your team gets to decompress, chat, and make something they can take home.

You can reserve your spot—solo or with a group—right here.

Make Your Ritual a Habit, Not a One-Time Treat

The real magic happens when your holiday reset is not something you do once, but something you return to again and again.

Here are a few ways to keep it going:

• Stack it onto something you already do
  Do you always make tea at night? Start lighting your candle when the kettle boils. Always wash your face before bed? Finish with body cream and three deep breaths near your candle.

• Keep your tools visible
  Store your favorite candle, wick trimmer, lighter, and body cream in one dedicated spot. When everything is within reach, you are more likely to use it.

• Refresh your scent wardrobe when needed
  If you find yourself craving something new as winter moves on, explore additional fragrances or consider joining our candle subscription options, like the Monthly Candle Club – Handcrafted Scents, Delivered to Your Door. Fresh scents keep your ritual feeling exciting and intentional.

Your Peace Is Part of the Holiday, Too

The holidays are not just about what you do for everyone else. They are also about how you care for yourself in the quiet spaces in between.

A glowing candle on your coffee table. The soft richness of body cream on your skin. The familiar warmth of a favorite scent. A night at the Candle Bar with people who make you feel like yourself.

These are not extras. They are the moments that help you remember who you are beneath the noise.

At CoMo Vibes, we are here to make those moments easier to reach—whether you are shopping online from the comfort of your couch or stepping into our Columbia, Missouri studio for an evening you will want to repeat every season.

When the holiday pace picks up, let your ritual slow you down.
Light the candle. Take the breath.

And let the calm find you.