Allow Me to Introduce the 19 Best-Smelling Candles to Ever Exist
Must! Have! One! Of! Everything!
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You wanna know one thing haters are gonna do? Try to get you to believe that there is a such thing as "too many candles." Pssht, not in my world! In fact, I live in a very particular part of the universe where so many different types of candles take up an (embarrassingly) sizable bin in my home. Of course, there are the seasonal ones, but there's also CBD-infused candles, candles that have the chicest vessels, or scents that trigger tender mems. It is quite literally impossible to have just one candle! And it'd be boring as hell to have just one, anyway! Whether you lean towards floral, sweet and fruity, cozy, romantic, or super luxurious scents, falling in love with a new candle—and subsequently burning it down to the last drop of wax—is an unmatchable tiny joy.
With that said, I went ahead and rounded up the best-smelling candles on the market that I have tested and smelled myself. Because as an obsessive candle connoisseur a longtime lifestyle editor, my nose has encountered hundreds—if not thousands—of wicks and waxes from fragrance brands far and wide. Not to brag, but basically if candle sniffing was a sport, I'd be a gold-medal-wearing Olympic athlete.
Our Top Picks for the Best-Smelling Candles in 2024:
Below, I’ve curated a list of the crème de la crème candles, with notes ranging from amber, vanilla, and patchouli to leather, lavender, and bergamot. Read on for the 19 best-smelling candles you should add to your cart yesterday. I take my thank yous handwritten and via snail mail :).
Pros
- Slight shimmer once lit
You KNOW a candle is one-of-a-kind when you don't even have to light it (!!) for its aroma to take up a whole space. That is this melon-y goddess right here. And then she has the nerve to offer a gentle crackle from the woodwick once I actually do light her? Ugh, we really can have it all sometimes.
- Notes: Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew
- Burn time: 50+ hours
- Wax: Coconut wax blend
Pros
- Comes in two sizes
- Arrives in a fab gift box
- 100% organic cotton wicks
This is not your little sister's warm vanilla sugar body mist, let me tell you that. This is one of the most seductive vanillas that'll ever grace your nostrils, with a soft woodsy hint layered within. Plus, after you burn it down (and trust, you will) the ceramic vessel will make the chicest canister.
- Notes: Sandalwood, amber
- Burn time: 45 hours
- Wax: Palm wax
Pros
- 3-wick candle for maximum scent coverage
- Currently 50% off
This baby smells like a super-hot guy, and if you've never had the chance to nose-dive your way into one, I urge you to go to the mall RN. It also has three wicks, so you know the scent fills the room.
- Notes: Rich mahogany, black teakwood, dark oak, frosted lavender
- Burn time: 45 hours
- Wax: Vegetable wax
Pros
- Free of parabens, phthalates and other gunk
- No sulfates here, tyvm
- Cruelty free
Featuring a unique blend of rich and spicy scents, this candle is "sophisticated" and "smells like nothing else out there," according to a reviewer.
- Notes: Champagne, saffron, leather
- Burn time: 55 hours
- Wax: Coconut and soy wax blend
The perfect rich candle you've been looking for. It's a classic for a reason.
- Notes: Woods, vetiver, and patchouli enhanced with radiant aniseed, insolent spices, mysterious incense, and tonka bean.
- Burn time: 60 hours
- Wax: Paraffin wax
Pros
- Doesn't smell synthetic
- Contains ~soothing~ notes of eucalyptus
Reviewers say this earthy lavender candle smells totally authentic—none of that synthetic nonsense!
- Notes: Lavender, eucalyptus, amber stone
- Burn time: 60 hours
- Wax: Soy wax blend
Pros
- Smells like summer
- Perfect housewarming gift
This candle smells like taking a nap on a sailboat (I know that's what it says on the website...but I have one and it really, truly does). It also comes in a super-chic votive that you can reuse once the wax burns down.
- Notes: Island lime, ocean breeze, sea salt, blue lotus, water hyacinth
- Burn time: 51 hours
- Wax: Soy/paraffin blend
Bohéme designs candles that'll transport you back in time or across the globe—this bergamot-scented one is inspired by the Arabian Sea.
- Notes: Sparkling citrus, rose, sandalwood, patchouli
- Burn time: 50 hours
- Wax: Sustainable natural wax
Pros
- Fan-favorite scent
- 100% soy wax candle
You know her, you love her, and she's totally worth the hype.
- Notes: Amber, cocoa, vanilla, cedar, spices
- Burn time: 60 hours
- Wax: Soy wax
Pros
- 3 wicks for maximum scent distribution
- Burn time of 100+ hours (!!)
Three wicks make this sexy fragrance three times as potent, with several reviewers saying the rich scent fills their whole house.
- Notes: Cedarwood, sandalwood, oud, smoky amber
- Burn time: 120 hours
- Wax: Soy wax blend
Pros
- Matte black finish
- Limited edition scent
From one of our fave ready-to-wear brands comes this rich blend of spicy and floral fragrances....in the chicest matte black vessel ever.
- Notes: Black baccara rose, papyrus, saffron
- Burn time: 40-56 hours
- Wax: All-natural coconut and soy wax blend
Pros
- Minimalist concrete votive
One reviewer said this clean-burning candle is so invigorating that "everyone who comes over asks what it is."
- Notes: Jasmine, patchouli, saffron
- Burn time: 65 hours
- Wax: Soy-based wax
Pros
- No-fail gift idea
- A steal at under $30
This intricately-poured candle actually smells as good as it looks—if you can believe it!
- Notes: Jasmine, white tea
- Burn time: 30-35 hours
- Wax: Soy wax
Pros
- Glass jars can be upcycled after use
- Can't beat that $20 price point
It's the summer scent of our dreams, thanks to refreshing fruits you'd love to taste in your next cocktail.
- Notes: Lychee, cassis, juicy Asian pear
- Burn time: 100 hours
- Wax: Coconut wax blend
Pros
- Poured into a porcelain votive
- Wood wick
This handmade ceramic jar (which makes the perfect table accessory!) is filled with fruity and floral fragrance oils.
- Notes: Frangipanis, jasmine, orange
- Burn time: 70 hours
- Wax: Natural soy and bee waxes
Pros
- Vegan formula
- Handblown votive
This cult favorite "smells like a rich person's library," according to one reviewer. The glass votive is handblown and the wax is Byredo's signature black.
- Notes: Peach, plum, violet, peony, patchouli
- Burn time: 60 hours
- Wax: Signature black wax
Pros
- Free of sulfates and phthalates
The name says it all. No, literally—this candle has notes of cannabis in it.
- Notes: Cannabis, suede, white musk, tulip, amber
- Burn time: 50 hours
- Wax: Coconut and beeswax blend
Pros
- 80+ hour burn time
According to the brand, this candle "evokes the irresistible excitement of [Billie Holiday's] Harlem nights and joyful appetite for life." One reviewer said it pairs well with a glass of wine and some relaxing jazz music.
- Notes: Neroli blossom, sparkling bergamot, gardenia, jasmine petals, ylang ylang
- Burn time: 80 hours
- Wax: Soy vegetable wax blend
Pros
- Toxin-free fragrance
- 100% cotton wax
We love the simple chic jar almost as much as the comforting scent (which is earthy and woody with just a hint of musk).
- Notes: Sage, oakmoss, sandalwood
- Burn time: 50 hours
- Wax: Soy wax
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