best in class

The 14 Very Best-Smelling Candles

Including one that smells like Big Sur after rain.

Photo: Marcus McDonald
Photo: Marcus McDonald

In this article

In the past few years, I’ve become a bit of a candle obsessive. It started out sporadically, during the odd bath or to banish the smell of cooked food, but now it’s a full-on hobby. I burn them for hours at a time, picking scents according to the room in my home and practice identifying scent notes with a few sniffs. I even trim my wicks! Which, by the way, you should be doing too if you want an even pool of wax. I’ve also done quite a bit of writing about candles and tested a bunch too. As a result, I’ve learned what makes a good one. When it comes to fragrance, “good” is subjective and often comes down to a matter of preference of taste. With that in mind, I spoke to a handful of scent obsessives with exceptional taste — and a particular affinity for candles — to find out their favorites, which I’ve listed below.

What we’re looking for

Notes

The notes make up a candle’s scent. It can be a blend of things or just a few. When mixed together, these make up a candle’s scent profile. Like perfume, the scent opens up and evolves the longer it burns. Some notes stand out the moment you open the lid — these are called top notes. Then there’s the middle notes, which emerge after the candle has been burning for a little while (around 10 or 20 minutes). Finally there are the base notes, which linger after the candle is blown out.

Scent family

These notes belong to various scent families, categories that explain the relationship that scents have to one another. There have been various classifications over the years, but the most recent (and most popular) is the fragrance wheel, which was invented by fragrance expert and consultant Michael Edwards in 1984 to help stores sell perfumes more efficiently. It has since become the standard by which scents are described. There are four families: floral, amber (previously known as oriental or exotic), woody, and fresh. Within those are subfamilies, which are mixtures of the original four. Scent families (and the fragrance wheel) can be helpful for figuring out the kinds of scents you gravitate toward.

Wax

As I said before, “good” can be subjective when it comes to fragrance — but all candles are made of the same stuff: wax and fragrance. Turns out, wax is a bit easier to judge. There are a few different types of wax. The first and most common is paraffin, which you’ll find in lots of mainstream options like Yankee Candle and Bath & Body Works. Paraffin holds scent well, which makes it a popular option, but it’s a by-product of petroleum, which isn’t as sustainable as other candle wax options like coconut or soy. Soy wax is often touted as the ecofriendly alternative to paraffin and is popular among candle brands that label themselves “clean” or “nontoxic.” Soy wax burns slower, meaning your candle will last longer. On the flip side, it doesn’t hold scent the same way paraffin wax does, decreasing its throw. Beeswax is an OG candle-wax option. It has a naturally sweet scent, which can be a positive or negative, depending on preference. Coconut wax is the newest wax of the four. It’s made from coconut oil and tends to have a better throw than soy wax. It also burns slightly slower than soy wax, giving candles an even longer burn time. But coconut wax is pricier than soy wax, meaning a candle made from coconut wax alone will be more expensive. Generally, most brands use a blend of waxes with the goal of producing an ideal candle-burning experience.

Burn time

When it was available, I also noted burn time, an estimate of how long a candle will last you before it burns out.

Vibe

Just about everything — from the clothes you wear to the pen you write with — says something about you. Same goes for candles. So everything is broken down into three categories — statusy, luxury, and budget. Statusy candles tend to fall within the $32 to $48 category; have cool, recognizable branding; and are likely stocked at specialty shops with cute names. Occasionally you’ll find them at Nordstrom. Then there’s luxury, which comes from brands that are on the more expensive end and run you upwards of $40. Budget candles are what they suggest — price conscious, under $30, still solid and good. Sometimes they’re also branded well, though this isn’t a de facto requirement.

Best overall candle

Boy Smells Kush Candle
$30
$30

Notes: Cannabis, suede, white musk, tulip, and amber | Scent family: Green amber | Wax: Coconut-and-beeswax blend | Burn time: 50 hours

I’m a longtime fan of Boy Smells’ Kush and all of its offshoot siblings because it’s one of those instantly recognizable scents that doesn’t smell like anything else. The brand is known for its signature scents — so much so that we dubbed it the statusy candle in 2018, and in the years since, the company has maintained its cachet. I credit Kush’s uniqueness to the heady mix of amber, floral, and green notes. At the top is cannabis leaf, lemon peel, and rhubarb — which you smell immediately. Then there’s almond, tulip, sage, and eucalyptus. Finally, when you blow it out or let it burn for a while, you start to smell the suede, musk, and amber. It’s intoxicating; the scent evolves like a conversation with an old friend: bright at the surface and then increasingly complex as the hours stretch on. Stylist Mecca James-Williams calls it a “less grown-up version of Dark Rum,” which she’s kept on constant rotation since she bought it after smelling it at Kith. She likes that it leaves a scent impression in the room long after you blow it out.

Best overall candle for a sensitive nose

Notes: Sage and oat milk | Scent family: Earthy, fresh | Wax: Soy-wax blend | Burn time: 65 hours

If Boy Smells Kush is a bit overpowering for you, then allow me to direct you to this candle from Keys Soulcare, which will be ostensibly inoffensive to most people (including those with sensitive noses). It’s heavily scented without being overpowering and has just two notes: sage and oat milk. The combination is luxurious without being fussy. The sage is strong and head clearing, and the oat milk gives it a creamy, subtly sweet finish. It smells incredible (so much so that I’ve penned an ode to its versatility) and can be burned all day without inducing a headache. It comes in a sleek, all-black votive that looks nice sitting out and has the serif font of a fancy DTC brand. But you can buy it at Ulta. It’s also fairly affordable (though a few dollars pricier than the Boy Smells) and under the radar enough that it probably won’t sell out. It has an incredibly slow burn. At 7.5 ounces, it boasts a 65-hour burn time — making it one of the longest-burning candles for its size on this list.

Sweet and spicy scents

The best status sweet-and-spicy candle

Photo: Maison Louis Marie 2013

Notes: Anise, nutmeg, tobacco, clove, ginger, vanilla, tonka | Scent family: Amber | Wax: Soy-wax blend | Burn time: 60 hours

Several of the scent nuts we spoke to said they gravitate toward warm, musky scents, which they say can help transform the mood and energy of any space. “They make my space feel sexy and vibe-y,” says Siraad Dirshe, a writer, producer, and self-described “huge candle person.” One such candle is Maison Louis Marie No.03 L’Étang Noir, which has notes of anise, nutmeg, and tobacco, along with ginger and vanilla. “It’s a nice middle-of-the-road candle,” adds Dirshe. “It feels elevated but isn’t $80, so I don’t feel guilty burning it for hours at a time, and you can usually snag them on sale.” A slow burn time also makes it worth the money, she says, with an 8.5-ounce candle offering around 60 hours of scent.

The best luxury sweet-and-spicy candle

Notes: Ambroxyde, musk, wood, jasmine | Scent family: Amber, woody, floral | Wax: Soy-wax blend

When I hear the words Le Labo, a joke about everyone smelling like Santal 33 immediately comes to mind. But the fragrance house is so much more than the signature scent of people who live off the Myrtle-Wyckoff subway stop. It makes distinct, signature fragrances (inclusive of Santal 33, despite its ubiquitousness) and exceptional candles. Ambroxyde 17, which is based on the perfume Another 13, is particularly special. Its main note is ambroxyde, a synthetic molecule that mimics ambergris, and then it’s layered with musk, wood, and jasmine. Altogether, it’s intoxicating. So much so that I sniffed it cold for weeks before actually taking the plunge and lighting it. In addition to a well-balanced scent, it also burns evenly. The brand doesn’t disclose its exact wax blend, but from the burn, I suspect there’s soy involved.

The best budget sweet-and-spicy candle

Notes: Apple, peach, grapefruit, vanilla, jasmine, cedar, amber, sandalwood | Scent family: Amber, woody, citrus | Wax: Soy-wax blend | Burn time: 80 hours

For something that leans a bit more sweet than spicy, there’s the Love Jones candle from Fréres Branchiaux, which candle influencer Kudzi Chikumbu called “the perfect vanilla candle for people who don’t like vanilla.” It has fruity top notes of apple, peach, grapefruit, vanilla, and mandarin. As it burns, it reveals more floral and amber notes like lilac, amber, jasmine, cedar, cherry blossom, and hydrangea. The heart of the candle is both exotic and woody, grounding the scent profile with notes: amber, sandalwood, dark musk, vanilla, and powder. It’s deliciously complex and warm with a dash of ’90s nostalgia. It also is made from a soy-wax blend and — in the four-ounce size — has a burn time of 15 to 25 hours.

Fresh, clean scents

The best statusy fresh candle

Notes: Chinese eucalyptus oil, spearmint, black tea, Texan white cedarwood, and dried Indian papyrus | Scent family: Fresh, herbal | Wax: Soy wax blend | Burn time: 60 hours

This candle from Homecourt, Cipres Mint, is the white T-shirt of candles. It hits all the right notes — herbal, a touch citrusy, woody — but doesn’t overpower the entire space. I consider it the base layer of my apartment, the scent I burn before introducing something brighter or muskier. It has notes of Chinese eucalyptus oil, spearmint, black tea, white cedarwood, and Indian papyrus. It has a strong throw (I can smell it even if it’s unlit), and if I burn it in my bathroom with the door closed, it only takes about 20 minutes before the scent fills the room.

The best luxury fresh candle

Notes: Fig, milk, green leaves | Scent family: Fresh, woody, green | Wax: Paraffin | Burn time: 60 hours

Diptyque Figuier is one of the most iconic candles from the statusy brand —in fact perfumer Aurelein Guichard, founder of Matiere Premiere, says it’s one of the best candles of all time. Diptyque is generally known for its high-quality fragrances and being the scent on record for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding. Its scent is inspired by “the entirety of the fig tree.” It’s a sweeter take on a traditional fresh profile. The result is a fruity (but not overpowering), woody, and green scent. It’s the only wax on the list made from pure paraffin, which burns a bit quicker than a soy or coconut wax but has an intense throw.

The best budget fresh candle

Notes: Lavender | Scent family: Floral | Wax: Soy-wax blend | Burn time: 35 hours

If you’re looking for something clean smelling and affordable that you can burn all day, Dirshe recommends Mrs. Meyer’s lavender candle, which Strategist writer Dominique Pariso also dubbed the best drugstore candle. “Lavender always makes me feel at ease,” says Dirshe, adding that the $10 price tag means she feels fine burning them more or less all the time — unlike her pricey Trudon Abd El Kader, which she only lights on very special occasions. Pariso called it “powerful” without being overwhelming.

Woody scents

The best statusy woody candle

Notes: Black tea leaves, purple iris, warm cedarwood | Scent family: Woody | Wax: Soy-, coconut-, apricot-wax blend

I burn this candle from Athena Club most often and have gifted at least ten to friends. It has become my go-to present for everything from housewarmings to birthdays. The scent is room-defining and always elicits a compliment from a new visitor in my space. It’s both sexy and warm, which pairs well with low-wattage lighting and my endless assortment of books. Said to be inspired by a “crisp fall day,” the candle has just three notes: black tea leaves, purple iris, and warm cedarwood, which gives it a grounded, woody scent that’s a bit herbal and floral. It also lasts a long time. With regular use (I burn it about three-to-four times a week for two-to-three hours at a time), it lasts me about a month to six weeks, in line with its reported 60-hour burn time. Of all the candles on this list, it’s the only one that incorporates apricot wax, a “clean” material that produces less soot and smoke than 100 percent soy wax and holds a considerable amount of scent.

The best luxury woody candle

Notes: Bergamot, plum, anise, leather, rum, vanilla, patchouli, amber | Scent family: Woody amber | Wax: Soy-wax blend | Burn time: 60 hours

Woody scents also encompass notes like leather. If that seems more your speed, consider Malin+Goetz’s Dark Rum, which comes recommended by fashion stylist and home décor enthusiast Mecca James-Williams. “This was the first ‘expensive’ candle I purchased when I moved into my apartment,” she says. In addition to the rum, the candle has notes of leather, ripe plum, bergamot, and creamy milk, which according to James-Williams “makes the room feel much more romantic.”

The best budget woody candle

Notes: Leather, teak, orange | Scent family: Woody citrus | Wax: Soy wax | Burn time: 40-50 hours

In the world of affordable candles. P.F. Candle Co is king. The amber votives and simple, the typewriter labels are unmistakable, and the scents smell much more expensive than they are. Expert Kudzi Chikumbu is a fan of P.F. Candle’s Teakwood and Tobacco, which has notes of leather, teak and orange.

Bright scents

The best statusy bright-smelling candle

Notes: Orange, clove, cedarwood | Scent family: Citrus, woody | Wax: Coconut-wax blend | Burn time: 55 hours

While there’s an abundance of candles in the smoky, woody, earthy space, good bright scents can sometimes be harder to find. This candle from Spoken Flames manages to do both. It has notes of cedarwood, orange, and clove — balancing the bright citrus with a heady woodiness. It smells ridiculously expensive despite the $34 price point. Every candle also comes with a QR code, which links out to an audible affirmation that you can play while you burn.

The best luxury bright-smelling candle

Notes: Pink grapefruit, white grapefruit, green vine, pink freesia, passion fruit | Scent family: Citrus, fresh, floral | Wax: Soy-and-paraffin blend | Burn time: 40 hours

I’ve been burning this candle from Jonathan Adler recently in my kitchen and can attest that the scent really takes over a space. It’s the same candle that burns in SoulCycle studios everywhere, which tracks, given its energizing and mood-lifting effect. It has a powerful cold and hot throw — which can be attributed to the soy and paraffin wax blend. This makes it a powerfully scented option, which I think makes it worth the money.

The best budget bright-smelling candle

Notes: Citrus, cassis, Asian pear | Citrus, fruity | Wax: Coconut wax | Burn time: 100 hours

Content creator Yaminah Mayo is also a believer in a candle’s ability to affect the energy of a home, and she gravitates toward woodsy, musky scents that she says help to ground and stabilize her mood. “I’m a creature of habit, so I’ve been returning to the same comforting scents. I really love Voluspa candles (I buy them at Anthropologie) because they last a really long time,” she says. Mayo is partial to Panjore Lychee and Goji Tarocco Orange, both of which have bright, citrusy scents. Escobar-Thomas likes Voluspa candles too and recommends its Blond Tabac, which reminds her of palo santo and “provides a great earthy musk scent on a budget.” They’re also a great affordable option. A small jar, which clocks in at 5.5 ounces, is just $20, and the larger size, at 16 ounces, is $30.

Some more candles we’ve written about

Our experts

Hannah Baxter, deputy beauty editor at the Zoe Report
• Kudzi Chikumbu, candle expert
Siraad Dirshe, writer and producer
Evelynn Escobar-Thomas, content strategist
• Aurelein Guichard, founder of Matiere Premiere
Mecca James-Williams, stylist
Yaminah Mayo, writer

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The Very Best-Smelling Candles