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The best scented candles that will make your home smell dreamy
Including some major high-street bargains that you just can't say no to
A good scented candle can be the final finishing note that brings a well decorated room together. It’s also often gifted when moving in somewhere new, instantly bringing a feeling of warmth and comfort to the unknown. So regardless of whether it’s the first or last object in a room, it’s essential you get the scent right.
There’s a lot of different ways to go around scenting your home. You could go for classic fragrances of citrus or linen which will work in nearly every space. Or you could go by room and pick scents that much the tone and objective of the room. Stronger scents, like grapefruit or lemon can be used to mask cooking aromas in the kitchen and people often like to opt for warmer fragrances such as amber or vanilla in the living room, while lavender and sandalwood are often reserved for candles in the bedroom.
But, to put it plainly, the best scented candles you should have in your home, are the ones you like and will constantly return to, matches in hand. So yes, you can opt down the traditional route of matching the scent to the room, or you can just go with your gut and find a smell that works for you.
With this in mind, we've rounded up our favourite scented candles, that range from spicy scents, to floral fragrances, to classic aromas. Scroll down to discover the Cosmo team’s eternal flames (so sorry).
The best scented candles to shop now...
Don't be fooled – despite its provocative name, this one does not smell like a 90's teenage bedroom. Instead, it's a herbaceous, mellow blend, featuring amber and white musk alongside the cannabis flower. Plaid shirt and Nirvana poster entirely optional.
| Burn Time | 50 hours |
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It may only cost £14.99, but the alluring, sensual scent of this H&M candle stands up to luxury players that reach triple-figure territory. Scented with black tea, raspberries and sandalwood, it is perfect for a cosy evening at home.
| Burn Time | 80 hours |
|---|
Yes, Vieve (a.k.a, one of our fave makeup brands) has recently launched a scented candle – and we're obsessed! This sumptuous blend features the brand's signature aroma of neroli, amber and santal to throw a sophisticated and sensual trail. It's the perfect mind-soother to take the edge off and wind down for the festive season.
| Burn time | 70 hours |
|---|
Place a Molton Brown candle in your living room, and it'll immediately become the centre of attention. True to the brand's reputation, this elegant and sophisticated vessel not only makes a pretty coffee table accessory but it will fill your home with a fresh and welcoming aroma too.
With an awakening blend of salted cypress and cardamon, it's the perfect candle to kick-start your morning in the best way possible.
| Burn Time | 30 to 40 hours |
|---|
The most iconic scented candle of all time? We think so. Jo Malone's Pomegranate Noir smells so good it has sparked countless copycats - but none of them quite match up to the original.
The scent brings together rich juices of pomegranate, raspberry and plum, spiked with pink pepper and laced with spicy woods. Divine.
| Burn Time | 45 hours |
|---|
As we head into warmer months, we love a fresh and light fragrance to scent our home for early summer evenings, and Oliver Bonas' amber and orange blossom scented candle just does the job every time.
| Burn Time | 40 Hours |
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The White Company is known for their Signature candle range, and one of our favourites is the Grapefruit and Mandarin, which despite it's name, isn't over poweringly citrus in scent and instead provides a soft warm fragrance to any room you light it in.
| Burn Time | 33 hours |
|---|
Burning with the fan-favourite Glossier You fragrance, this joyful red vessel makes the perfect addition to any home. Its cosy and soft throw is built around key notes of ambrette seeds, ambrox, iris and musk.
But, much like the famous fragrance, You shouldn't be described by what is it, but more by how it makes you feel. Unique to everyone, we see You as a comforting composition that evokes the same feeling as throwing on your fave cashmere jumper. But that's just us. You'll have to discover You for yourself.
| Burn Time | 45 hours |
|---|
We all need a little help to unwind in the evening and when your mind is spiralling, getting it to switch off can be very challenging. This all-encompassing candle throws the relaxing aroma of lavender and camomile, filling any space with a sleep-inducing scent that will have you struggling to keep your eyes open.
| Burn Time | 40 hours |
|---|
Katie Loxton's one worded Sentiment candle range are perfect for paired back aesthetics with their soft pink coloured jar and classic labelling. And this one, aimed at helping you relax, has notes of English pear and white tea. We're feeling more relaxed already.
| Burn Time | 25-30hrs |
|---|
Watching the dancing flame of a candle is calming enough, but throw in the soothing, sea-inspired aroma of Maison Margiela's Sailing Day candle, and you'll be taken to a place where you'd much rather be: the ocean.
Inspired by long walks on the beach, crashing waves and a tropical breeze, this fresh composition will fill your home with a vivifying yet tranquil energy. It's a real 'sit back and relax' kinda candle.
| Burn Time | 40 hours |
|---|
For refreshing and de-stressing, head to Espa. This classic candle bundles up the most calming aromatherapy oils to create something destined for a self-care evening. Rose geranium, orange and lavender envelop your living room in a luxurious, calming scent. A steadfast way to wind down for the eve.
Dunelm's Hotel range is designed to give you that instant relaxing feeling you get at a boujie hotel. This three wick candle has floral notes of white tea, jasmine and geranium layered on top of accents of velvet musk and pink pepper. Sadly, a five-star reservation isn't included.
| Burn Time | 34 hours |
|---|
If you’ve been chosen as the designated host for cocktail night, this is the candle you need flickering in the background: its rich blend of rum, leather, patchouli and vanilla perfectly complement each other to create a snug and utterly delicious aroma.
It’s sweet yet not sickly, fresh yet warm and seems to be a general ground-pleaser for all genders and seasons.
| Burn Time | 60 hours |
|---|
This deep and rich fragranced candle is ideal if you lean towards more masculine scents, with top notes of orange, before middle notes of saffron and base notes of oudh. With the shiny black holder, it's a great candle for a bathroom or kitchen.
| Burn Time | 60 hours |
|---|
Member's price: £20
Each one of Beauty Pie's candles is hand-blended in Grasse – the home of fine perfumery – using the same grade oils as some of the spenniest alternatives out there.
That's exactly why this vanilla and sugared-almond blend sells out almost as soon as it arrives on the site: trust us, anyone will be chuffed to receive it as a B-day gift.
| Burn Time | 60 Hours |
|---|
This? Oh it's only the most cult cool-girl scent of all time... in candle form. Keep it as a mantlepiece decoration, or burn it to enjoy its luxury scent in all of its glory. As long as you're experiencing its heavenly, chic aroma mastered by the overlord of fine fragrances, we don't mind either way.
| Burn Time | 60 hours |
|---|
Clare Stephenson is the Senior Fashion and Beauty E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, ELLE and Harper’s Bazaar. She has been an e-commerce writer since 2022, creating matter-of-fact reviews and shopping pages filled with her favourite products for every budget and need – whether that’s a glow-giving foundation, a high-tech LED face mask or the perfect wear-with-everything blazer.
Alongside writing, Clare loves to be in front of the camera creating shopping content, putting viral products to the test to see which ones are truly worth the hype. Through her work, she has interviewed leading dermatologists, makeup artists and industry experts to bring readers trusted advice and product recommendations.
Clare has contributed to titles across the Hearst UK portfolio, including Women’s Health, Good Housekeeping, Red and Prima. Prior to joining Hearst, she earned a BA in Multimedia Journalism from Bournemouth University, focusing her studies on magazines and editorial. She later worked as an editorial assistant at Voir Fashion Magazine, covering events including Fashion Week and interviewing notable brand founders.
Outside of work? You can find Clare strolling through London’s Columbia Road Market, pouring her fourth coffee of the day or heading to a Pilates class.
Follow Clare on Instagram @clarefrancesstephenson.
Lydia Venn is Cosmopolitan UK’s Senior Entertainment and Lifestyle Writer. She covers everything from TV and film, to the latest celebrity news. She also writes across our work/life section regularly creating quizzes, covering exciting new food releases and sharing the latest interior must-haves. In her role she’s interviewed everyone from Margot Robbie to Niall Horan, and her work has appeared on an episode of The Kardashians. After completing a degree in English at the University of Exeter, Lydia moved into fashion journalism, writing for the Daily Express, before working as Features Editor at The Tab, where she spoke on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and Talk Radio. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of Gilmore Girls and 00s teen movies, and in her free time can be found with a margarita in hand watching the Real Housewives on repeat. Find her on LinkedIn.
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