Best candles: 16 home scents to uplift your senses

Looking to buy the best candle? There’s nothing quite like relaxing after a hard day at work or looking after the kids at home than running yourself a hot bubble bath, locking the door and immersing yourself in a long hot soak surrounded by scented candles. Add a glass of wine into the mix and you have the ultimate in me-time. 

But before you buy the first candle you see in your local high street shop or supermarket, check out our selection of the very best scents available online right now, which not only come with a long burn-time so you get your money’s worth, but also leave a lovely lingering scent, too.

Check out our best buys below to ensure you choose the perfect scented candle for your home, from those with natural aromatherapy oils to eco-friendly designs. And for candle-buying advice, scroll to the bottom of this buyer's guide.

• The best air fresheners you can buy

What is the best scented candle?

We think that the best home scent you can buy is the True Grace Manor Classic Candle Fig. If you love florals, you can't go wrong with Kate Spade's Bon Voyage Garden candle. 

The best candles

This True Grace candle is the king of fig home scents, of which there are many on the market. 

Scent
The scent has depth and complexity, thanks to the woody base and the addition of rose, while still smelling recognisably of ripe figs. 

Packaging
Packed in a brown branded box to make a lovely gift, the aroma is poured into a handmade brown-tinted branded glass jar, ready to burn. 

What we like about it
It's a bestseller for a reason. It's a juicy fragrance, so if you like your fig strong, this is the option for you.

What we don't like about it
The jar could be a little prettier. We're mad on the scent, but not so much the look. This fragrance is also on the heavy side, though, so avoid burning it in small rooms. 

Shop more candles at John Lewis & Partners

Kate Spade's Bon Voyage home fragrance series is powerful and evocative, with strong fragrance that really travels across the room. 

Scent

Garden is our favourite – a well-rounded blend of peony, jasmine, and rose that really does remind us of a luscious garden in late spring. 

Packaging

Minimalist opaque white glass. Nothing special, but nice.

What we like

This is one hardworking candle: really fills a room.

What we don't like 

This type of fragrance isn't for the faint of heart, and you have to really like powerful florals to enjoy it. 

Cire Trudon are something of a legend in the world of scented candles. Hand-poured into opulent Italian green glass vessels, their home fragrances are perfectly balanced and complex compositions. 

Scent
Our favourite scent is Ernesto, which smells like pipe tobacco and booze, and leather armchairs. Papa Hemingway would've been proud. 

Packaging
Packaged lovely in a light blue box, the Cire Trudon Ernesto Scented Candle sits in a hand-blown glass case which features a signature gold emblem. We can tell you now that it looks as good as it smells.

What we like
This candle is long lasting, classy and most of all, the quality is superb.

What we don't like
We love every.single.other.thing than the price tag!

Browse more Cire Trudon products at Amazon

The Clementine and Prosecco candle from Heyland & Whittle does exactly what it says: it fills your home with the celebratory scent of freshly peeled clementines and bubbly. 

Scent
The only way to describe the scent of this is as light, zesty and fruity. It definitely fills a room.

Packaging
Beautifully boxed to make the perfect gift, the Heyland & Whittle Clementine Prosecco Candle sits in a cream patterned glass vessel which features the logo. As the wax burns away it reveals an etched glass pattern. Fun.

What we like
Perfect for Christmas (or any other celebratory occasion, for that matter), this candle is zesty and fun, and it's the perfect pick-me-up on a dull day. It's also made from clean burning soy wax and is environmentally-friendly.

What we don't like
It doesn't have amazing complexity, or longevity,

Browse more Heyland & Whittle products at Amazon

Think most rose-based home fragrances smell dusty and unrealistic, and nothing like real roses? We're with you. The freshness of a rose is very difficult to get right in scent; Diptyque have nailed it, though, by blending this rose with blackcurrant leaves.

Scent
The Diptyque Baies Scented Candle has a floral scent that's fresh and zesty, and not one bit old-fashioned.

Packaging
Although we love the product, the packaging is pretty basic from Diptyque. The scent sits in a plain glass jar and has the logo in a sticker on the jar.

What we like
The smell of this candle really is amazing and it does a superb job of filling an entire room fast. We also love that you can purchase a matching reed diffuser.

What we don't like
We have found Baies, as all other Diptyque candles, to be rather strong, so it's best to start with the smaller size. It also doesn't tend to last very long in comparison to other candles. So we suggest not leaving it to burn for hours unless you've got the money to keep on replacing.

Shop more Diptyque products at their Amazon page

If ever the title of a home fragrance corresponded exactly to the effect it creates, then this is it. Happiness in a candle? It's not just a marketing ploy. This all-natural Happiness candle by Neom Organics smells absolutely amazing, and is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

Scent
A sparkly, sunny neroli blossom; we can't really smell any mimosa here, and the lemon is in the background rather than dominant. What we really like about this fragrance is that it's very different from most natural or spa-inspired products out there, which usually smell of lavender. This smells strong and distinctive, and not at all herbal.

Packaging
Simple but effective glass with a sticker. It's not particularly interesting, but when the scent is this good, it doesn't really matter.

What we like
This candle smells incredibly natural, which is great for those who prefer organic and natural candles. Having said that, the scent is by no means weak and will fill even the largest of rooms, with the smaller sized candle.

What we don't like
Obviously, if you don't like neroli, steer clear, as it's the dominant note, and it's very, very strong. However, if you're a fan of orange blossom based fragrances (or even just white florals), you will be in heaven, we promise.

Beefayre make terrific home fragrances from natural wax, housing them in beautifully engraved recycled glass holders. What's even more impressive is the small company's commitment to helping the environment: three per cent of their profits go towards bee conservation. 

Scent

Bluebell & Wood Anemone has won us over with its delicate scent of forest bluebells – as close to walking in the woods in April as you can get in your living room. 

Packaging

Gorgeous engraved glass with bees and flowers: so, so pretty.

What we like

The company's ethics and natural ingredients

What we don't like

The scent isn't very strong, and the candle itself won't last long.

Another refreshing number on our list, The White Company's Wild Mint is a bestseller for a reason.

Scent

Its perfectly balanced blend of mint and sweet white tea results in a fragrance that is fresh yet distinctive. This is also a great choice for those who don't love the smell of mint all that much, but would like something fresh and non-floral. 

Packaging

A white ceramic container. We don't love it, but it's nice enough.

What we like

The beautifully balanced fragrance that's perfect for warmer days.

What we don't like

As mentioned, the packaging – it tends to get a bit grimy after a while.

Lovers of Starbucks’ infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte (or PSL, to those in the know) are sure to find this Spiced Pumpkin candle utterly divine. 

The scent

Packed with sweetness and warming spices, it’s a luscious gourmand scent that’ll fill a kitchen or living room with homely goodness thanks to its considerable size and extra-long burning time. But why wait for winter? This warming candle is lovely for autumn use, too. 

The packaging

A glass jar, very similar to those used for the Yankee candles.

What we like

For anyone who loves Yankee Candles, but doesn't love their price tags, this brand offers the best cheaper alternatives.

What we don't like

Some will find this scent overly sweet.

The instantly recognisable label of Diptyque’s candles are almost as much of a treat as their expertly blended scents, making the whole package a wonderful luxury gift with which to treat a friend or loved one (or yourself). 

The scent

We've found that the scent of the Diptyque Pomander Scented Candle was noticeable and distinctive, but never overpowering, with some even likening it to a stronger version of the White Company’s Winter Signature candle. 

The packaging

It's simple glass, but it works! Great if you like something unfussy.

What we like

The superb quality of the fragrance.

What we don't like

The high price.

Best for… 
Creating a relaxing setting in the bathtub just before bed. The Neom Organics London Scented Candle is a great choice if you find you have trouble getting off to sleep.

Scent
Combines 19 essential oils to create a calming, therapeutic scent including English lavender, sweet basil and jasmine.

Natural materials
No petrochemical paraffin or mineral wax in this candle, just the purest possible ingredients for a 100% natural product, ethically sourced and made in Britain.

Sleep soundly
Fill the bath with bubbles and lie back as you relax with this lighted candle, letting the fragrance fill the air. 

Good to know
The advice is to keep alight for 2-4 hours for an even burn.

Find more Neom Organics candles at Amazon

Best for… 
Picturing yourself relaxing on a sun-kissed beach thanks to its heady mix of coconut and vanilla. We looooove the Shearer Candles Vanilla and Coconut Large Scented Silver Tin Candle.

Portable design
As well as making it the perfect gift, the attractive tin means this candle can be taken anywhere such as trips away, overnight stays at a friend’s house or just as easily moved from room to room.

Collect the set
Additional fragrances are also available in the same design, including Orange Pomander and Egyptian Cotton.

Historic heritage
Shearer Candles were founded back in 1897, so they know what they are doing, with 121 years’ experience in handcrafted candle making.

Good to know
Its 40 hour slow burn means you’ll get your money’s worth and you won’t need to be constantly splashing out on a new candle every weekend.

Find more candles at Shearer Candles' Amazon page

Best for… 
The Yankee Candle Large Jar Clean Cotton gives a clean, even burn thanks to its 100% natural fibre cotton wick, which is straightened and centred by hand for the best quality burn.

Elegant design
The classic jar suits all room schemes and makes an ideal gift for family and friends.

Premium wax
The premium-grade paraffin wax gives a clean, consistent burn.

Sweet scent
Using natural essential oils, this candle is so alluring with its sun-dried cotton overtones with hints of white flowers, green notes and lemon.

Good to know
There’s also a matching Car Jar to give your motor a fresh smell, too!

Shop more Yankee Candles at Amazon

Did you ever use to sprinkle slices of lemon with sugar as a child? You will recognise the zingy, intoxicating smell of this candle. We've been obsessed with the Fresh Sugar Lemon shower gel for a long time, and can't quite contain our excitement about the candle in the same fragrance.

The scent

Worried this will smell like lemon cleaner? It's anything but. Somehow it is very sweet and very fresh at the same time, and smells, for want of a better word, expensive. 

The packaging

Pretty basic: it's a glass with a sticker. The idea is to reuse the glass when you've burned up the candle, so there's a positive.

What we like

The smell. Did we mention the phenomenal smell? We can't think of a room in the house that wouldn't smell amazing with this in it.

What we don't like 

We're all for reusing and recycling, but really, for the price, the packaging could be a bit fancier. 

The most gorgeous vanilla candle ever, and we're not even exaggerating. 

The scent

We can't get enough the gorgeous scent of the Wild Blueberry Vanilla candle from Trish McEvoy: imagine filling your home with the most comforting smell of sweet blueberry muffins being baked in the oven, and you're pretty close to the smell of this. 

The packaging

The packaging could be a bit more exciting, but when a home fragrance smells this good, we're prepared to overlook the plastic wrapping. 

What we like

How intense the scent it - you don't even need to light the candle. The wax is of a great quality and burns very evenly.

What we don't like

Could give you a headache, so use sparingly.

Jo Malone is by now a fragrance giant, and there's nothing quite like the spot-on quality of her home fragrances (to say nothing of the timelessly elegant packaging). 

Scent 

Lime, Basil, and Mandarin is a classic for a reason: it's the fragrance that is guaranteed to get someone in the room to exclaim, 'Oooh, what's that lovely smell?'. Fresh and zesty, with sweetness from the mandarin. 

Packaging

Gorgeous! With the signature black bow on top of the lid, this is ready for gifting.

What we like

The overall effect – this is pure luxury from the fragrance to the presentation.

What we don't like

These candles are pricey and gone far too quickly. Better to go for the larger size to avoid disappointment.

How to buy the best candle

It’s all too easy to be guided by price when it comes to buying a scented candle but the most important things are quality, burn time and fragrance. Think about the scent you want to fill your room with – something soft and subtle, calming and soothing or something that packs a punch? Some lose their smell too quickly so read buyer’s reviews to see what others think of their purchase before you buy. Look for good quality wax and for larger candles, two or three wicks for an even burn.

Soy wax candles are better for your health, as they burn cleaner and produce much less soot than paraffin versions. This helps keep your space pollution-free and is kinder on pets, too as well as avoiding stains building up on walls over time.

And if you want to be able to give a candle as a gift, look for a design that comes in an attractive tin, box or jar with a luxe look. Candles are great accessories for room revamps or bathroom makeovers so choose the packaging carefully.

More sweet smelling content:

• Best reed diffusers: 15 buys to make your home smell gorgeous
• Best home scents: 8 buys to fill every room in your house with fragrance