Fact: your sense of smell is a powerful tool. We’re not talking about the way that lighting a candle can instantly give your living room a cozy vibe (although we’re so here for that). We’re talking about the psychological and physiological effects of scent. Ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Indian civilizations have been using aromatherapy for thousands of years as a way to heal the mind, spirit, and body. And modern studies have proven how fragrance can boost your mood, trigger vivid memories, and, according to Scientific American, even improve your performance at work.

If there’s one thing we could all use right now, it’s a bit more positivity, which is where these scents come into play. We put our noses together to narrow down the best, most award-worthy scents — from perfumes to candles to room sprays and everything in between. Keep scrolling for the 16 best scents that will help you perform and feel your best . . . and smell damn good doing it.

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