You definitely don't need a special reason to light a scented candle, but they somehow have a way of making any mundane activity at home feel like a self-care moment. Even without being lit, their fragrances pervade through a space, giving your home its own signature scent.
The best scented candles are largely a matter of personal preference, and olfactory tastes range far and wide. Some love the generous throw of a strongly perfumed candle, while others may prefer one with a barely perceptible scent. We've chosen the candles in this guide to appeal to all scent profiles and strength preferences, and we've denoted the type of wax each one uses. We encourage that no matter which candle you choose, you use it in a well-ventilated area and keep the wick trimmed to prevent it from creating smoke as it burns.
From the cult favorites to the lesser-known hidden gems, these are the 20 best scented candles to spark whenever the mood strikes this season.
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This soy-wax candle smells like the signature scent of a person you might have a crush on.
Its alluring sandalwood and rose scent is an ode to gothic romance, and its lidded amber-glass jar has a rugged, yet refined aesthetic that looks right at home anywhere.
Mrs. Meyer's home scents prove that expensive doesn't always mean better. These soy-wax, jam-jar candles are available everywhere, and their calming and clean lavender smell is widely beloved.
It's simply not a complete best-candle list without mentioning Capri Blue's Volcano scent — also known as the Anthropologie Candle. This soy-paraffin wax blend has a sunny, slightly citrusy scent that's reminiscent of a tropical island getaway or a glass of lemonade.
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The Uplifting Candle
Bath and Body Works White Barn Midnight Blue Citrus 3-Wick Candle
Some of us like a candle that's strong, but not so strong that it leaves us feeling woozy afterward.
The soy-and-paraffin-wax White Barn Midnight Blue Citrus candle strikes the perfect perfumed balance. It has a citrus scent, but it's not nose-ticklingly sweet.
Brooklinen's Magic Hour soy-wax candle has the soft, yet sumptuous scent of sun-dried roses. Its musk and pepper notes lend themselves to the scent's heirloom elegance.
The appeal of a great scented candle isn't only in its scent, but in how it looks in your space. This one in particular seems to always make me smile when I see it.
Homesick's soy-wax Book Club candle is generously sized and softly scented. I actually have to put my nose up to it to pick up its notes of vanilla, sandalwood, and nutmeg. It all combines into a nice, aged-leather smell that's very welcoming and cozy. It's great if you prefer a more mild scent.
With its clean-burning coconut-and-soy-wax filling a beautifully designed, endlessly reusable glass vessel, this candle looks right at home on any bookshelf.
Otherland's Dappled Wood candle has notes of sandalwood, toasted walnut, and sweet hay. Basically, it'll make your home smell like a comfy cabin getaway. It’s perfect for spicing up the air when you need it most.
Imbue your space with elegance by sparking this soy/vegetable-wax scent from Harlem Candle Co. The enchanting scent has notes of bourbon, tobacco leaves, vanilla, patchouli, and chocolate.
We're also head over heels for its 22-karat gold-detailed votive — once you burn through the candle, you're left with a gorgeous cocktail glass.
The best scented candles not only smell beautiful, but they look like an art object that we want to keep on display at all times. The pink grapefruit, raspberry, and rosy cassis scent of the soy/paraffin-wax Jonathan Adler Champagne candle makes it celebratory.
The very best scented candles are the ones that do the most good in the world. The three young brothers behind the Frères Branchiaux donate 10% of their brand's profits to Washington D.C. homeless shelters.
Their Vanilla Spice scent is a soy-wax candle with comforting gourmand notes like vanilla, sugar, cream, and clove.
Life is short — light your fancy candles. The cult-favorite Diptyque Baies candle is made of paraffin wax, but the jammy scent is naturally derived.
While rose is the most prominent scent, it’s overall not too floral. Black currant leaves balance out the sweeter notes, giving it an earthy vibe that smells warm, but still dainty and luxurious.
You don't even need to light this luxe, soy-wax candle from Le Labo to enjoy its spicy, amber-tinged perfume.
Beloved by reviewers for its clean, even burn and legendary throw, it's very similar to the brand's cult-favorite Santal 33 fragrance, just in candle form.
This candle from Brown Girl Jane makes us long for hot summer nights and the warm breezes they bring.
Woody notes are the base for this vegan candle, made with a soy and coconut wax blend. It's topped off with light musky-citrus scents, and the overall effect is airy and comforting.
All of Tocca's paraffin/vegetable-wax candles are a treat-yourself moment in and of themselves. But the Giulietta candle is the one that's totally won us over.
Its scent is a perfect commingling of citrus and flowers, somehow making a room feel cleaner and brighter.
This soy-wax candle from Paddywax has us longing for the smell of sea spray. Anchored with a woody base, its aquatic florals and squeeze of citrus make it a smell that's best enjoyed up close.
For those who wish it were Christmas every day, this scented soy candle smells like a wintry tree farm, with its pine-needle notes and airy, camphorous scent.
If you're not the outdoorsy type, lighting Illume's Balsam & Cedar candle can be your way of enjoying the great, snowy outdoors while staying tucked in.
No two citrus scents are alike — some are pure zesty rind, others are sweet and juicy, and some, like Nest's paraffin-wax Grapefruit Candle, encompass notes from even the flowered branches that the fruit grows on. It's a bright and sunny scent, lifting your mood even on the rainiest of days.
Some buy candles to burn, enjoying their lovely scent and flickering flame during their #selfcare time. And then there are those people who will splurge on candles purely for their looks, never to light them, ever.
This faux, soy-wax terrarium may be in the latter category, but we still enjoy the range of yummy scents it comes in, from white sage and lavender to grapefruit and mint.
Melanie YatesSenior Home Decor EditorMelanie is the senior home decor editor of Best Products, where she's been researching and testing out home and bedding products since 2015 — her work can also be found on House Beautiful and Women's Health.
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