If you are searching for the best candle to light at home to impress guests and spruce your space, then you've landed in the right place. Our Deputy Ecommerce has been testing some of the best home fragrance buys – that's everything from scented candles to reed diffusers – or the best part of a year now. The result? A list of 10 of the top fragrances that you definitely want to buy for your home. These scents have been listed by scent, season, and even by room.
We consider a candle to be an essential element of décor at home. They can help set the mood and atmosphere of space, plus a delicious-smelling candle can put your mind at ease, help set the mood for another dinner at home, or add to seasonal celebrations.
When choosing the best candle for you, it all bubbles down to personal preference. Some of us might prefer a fresh fragrance, whilst others will be a fan of floral scents, or warm or spicy candles might be more of their thing. Whether you're looking for a subtle, striking, or in-between scent, we've rounded up a shortlist of the best candles that are brilliant for lighting at home.
The candles in this guide that have badges have been tested by our Deputy Ecommerce Editor, Annie, otherwise, she has selected the candles without a badge as after plenty of research, she has considered them to be the best option on the web, based on reviewers' opinions.
The best candles to buy in 2022
The best candle for spring
This exquisite blend from Soak Sunday will be sure to impress this spring – in both looks and design. A fitting blend of honey and oat, it's the perfect signature candle for the start of the warmer weather season. Plus, it's light enough to enjoy inside any room of your home, though we'd recommend confining it to your bedroom, entryway, or living room. I preferred lighting this candle in my bedroom, and it burned clean, though bear in mind you'll want to trim your wicks regularly.
Scent
Unlike any other fragrance combination we've ever smelled, this candle is made using spring flower honey and soothing oatmeal and then balanced with vanilla, honeycomb, and roasted oats. It's light making it perfect for spring and summer, yet its throw ability is impressive. We've had guests comment on the scent of this candle, saying how impressed they are by its aroma.
Packaging
We love the white glass vessel that this candle is poured inside. It's elegant, with a quote reading 'Sink into your soul & emerge eternally glowing' wrapped around its front. The glass vessel itself is thick and sizeable at 230g. Oh, and it has a 35 hour burn time.
The best candle for summer
We've said it before and we'll say it again: this Skandinavisk candle is one of our top favorites around. It's the perfect floral candle that never takes over a room, giving off just the right amount of fragrance to reach from one corner of a room to the other. Plus, it burns nice and evenly every time. This candle will always be one of our favorites, in fact I've repurchased it again and again. Every time it burns evenly, and its aroma always manages to fill my living room and impress my guests.
Scent
The Lempi candle is fragranced using all of the best floral scents, including peonies, roses strawberries, and even mosses for good balance. To remind you of spring and summer blooms, even when you might be stuck inside. We sometimes find floral scents to be a tad overpowering, but this is never the case with this Scandinavisk candle. In fact, it boasts an impressive throw and is quite nice and subtle.
Packaging
Poured into a white glass Scandi-style vessel that's made from 30 percent recyclable materials, this candle even has an FSC-certified wooden lid for keeping dust away. It's made of a Swedish rapeseed wax blend. We think it looks as pretty as it smells.
The best candle for fall
This Village Candle Spice Pumpkin scent is like fall in a jar. It's perfect for those chilly early autumn days when you're cozying up at home. I've not yet had the chance to test this candle and smell it first-hand, though more than 2,000 reviewers have left it an average 4.6-stars out of five on Amazon. Due to this nature, though, this candle is obviously not a scent you'd want to light in the summer or springtime.
Scent
For all you Pumpkin-Spice Latte-lovers out there: this candle is for you. Village Candle has blended warm cinnamon, rich vanilla, and tangy ginger with the freshest notes of pumpkin for an energizing and cozy homage to fall.
Packaging
You can find this candle in a range of sizes, but we say that the 16oz option is the best for lighting throughout fall. Any larger and you might be lighting it into December and beyond. This fragrance sits inside a classic Village Candle jar, plus its wax is orange to add some autumnal colors to your home decor. We love a high-quality fragrance, and when you factor in the food-grade paraffin wax for a clean, even burn, it's hard to pass up this perfect piece. The lead-free hand-trimmed cotton wick assures shoppers that we're not only investing in a worthwhile candle but will enjoy it with peace of mind as well. What's better than that? Nothing.
The best candle for a bedroom
Aptly named the Real Luxury candle, this Neom offering ticks all our boxes when it comes to finding an appropriate candle for your bedroom. Plus, it comes in a range of sizes whether you are searching for a single wick candle or a three-wick option. Moreover, it burns super clean, and whilst testing I used it in both my bedroom and my entryway. I preferred burning this candle in my bedroom, before bed to help me unwind.
Scent
This candle gets its aroma from a blend of 24 natural essential oils, meaning that it's kind to light inside the room in which you sleep and breathe all night long. Its main fragrance notes come from lavender, jasmine, and Brazilian rosewood. It's a floral blend overall, but it's also, as its name suggests, relaxing and also slightly warm. Its scent is one you can light pretty much year-round.
Packaging
Hand-poured inside a classic Neom glass vessel, this candle comes in your choice of three sizes, with a maximum burn time of up to 50 hours. This vessel is quite often used once the candle has fully burned, and cleaned out to become a plant pot or makeup brush holder.
The best candle for bathrooms
Inspire is Yankee Candle's scent of the year for 2022, and it's safe to say that this citrus fragrance is nice and fresh. We think it's the best fit for freshening up a bathroom, and with its impressive burn time you can leave this candle alight whilst you have guests over, to make an everlasting impression in your bathroom. It has been doing an incredible job at scenting my bathroom so far, though this space is small and windowless, it's never too overpowering and offers the perfect balance of a fresh aroma.
Scent
Inspire is a very fresh and citrus-based scent, and on the first sniff, you can definitely smell the ocean breeze accords as well as a hint of the lime. Undertones include bamboo, ginger, cedar, verbena, driftwood plus more. This fragrance will be sure to add an uplifting effect to your bathroom.
Packaging
Nothing dissimilar to the usual Yankee Candle packaging, Inspire comes in an apothecary jar with a glass dome lid, with a fancy blue pattern for adding some color to your bathroom.
The best floral candle
If it's a floral candle you are searching for, perhaps for your bedroom or your living room, then this one from Diptyque gets five stars from us. It's rose-based and a little fresh yet zesty. The freshness of a rose is very difficult to get right in scent; Diptyque has nailed it, though, by blending this rose with blackcurrant leaves. Whilst our I've not yet had hands-on experience with this candle, it made it on our list as the best floral candle due to the fact this scent is Diptyque's bestseller. Reviewers rave about it.
Scent
The Diptyque Baies Scented Candle has a floral scent that's fresh and zesty, and not one bit old-fashioned. It's balanced well with blackcurrant leaves so as to ensure it doesn't come off as being too floral. Just be warned: it's strong so we would avoid placing it inside smaller rooms. The smell of this candle really is amazing and it does a superb job of filling an entire room – fast.
Packaging
All Diptyque candles are housed the same – inside a glass jar – with the exception of different labelling. This design is somewhat iconic, with some people using their empty Diptyque candle vessels as pots for their succulents or as a holder for makeup brushes. This candle comes in five sizes, with the largest being a 1.5kg candle. We also love that you can purchase a matching reed diffuser and room spray.
The best vanilla candle
Floral Street fragrances are one of a kind, and their Vanilla Bloom candle is definitely something to shout about. It's warm, creamy, and best of all: not too powerful once lit. We think this is a candle you can light at any time of the year, whether during summer on a cold evening, or in the winter for a cozy welcome. I tested this Floral Street candle in several rooms, including my living room and my entryway, and in my opinion there's no right or wrong place to enjoy this in your home. It burned well, unsurprisingly.
Scent
It's fragranced with, you guessed it: vanilla, but also plum for added sweetness, ambroxan to add a musky scent and obviously a hint of crisp amber and cashmere woods for warmth. We sometimes find vanilla fragrances to be too sweet, but rest assured this one is the perfect blend of almost every fragrance family there is.
Packaging
This Floral Street fragrance sits inside a yellow glass vessel so as to stand out as much in looks as it does in scent. It arrives inside gorgeous floral packaging, making it ready to gift and receive. As a brand, Floral Street is vegan, cruelty-free, sustainable and all of their products are responsibly made. Yes, this candle comes inside planet-friendly packaging that's recyclable. This scent also comes in the form of a reed diffuser, which we love.
The best citrus candle
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). This candle in particular is a classic citrus fragrance that is suitable for refreshing any room in the house. I've never had the chance to test this classic Jo Malone scent at home, however rest assured that this is a signature fragrance of Jo Malone's, and for good reason. The candles are specifically a bestseller, so I thought it was a no-brainer to feature it as our best citrus candle.
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. You can light it year-round, and it even works well in a kitchen or bathroom. We're yet to find someone who doesn't like this fragrance.
Packaging
Poured inside a classic Jo Malone vessel with the signature black bow on top of the lid, this candle is ready for gifting. Simply enough, it's pure luxury from fragrance to presentation. Though we do suggest buying a large size as they burn quite fast.
The best ozonic candle
A simple way to achieve balance and harmony in your home (or to mentally transport yourself to the spa) is through Chesapeake Bay's Reflection + Clarity Candle. Similar to taking a relaxing bath, this candle has the same effect on our mind, body, and soul – but with a long-lasting effect. With a burn time of up to 50 hours and a formula that includes essentials oils, it's the one-stop shop for restoring mindfulness. I'm yet to test this candle inside my home, so I included it on our list based on happy Amazon reviewers' recommendations. Nearly 45,000 people in total have reviewed this candle, with an average 4.5-star rating out of five. I also consider its unique fragrance blend to be a great ozonic option.
Scent
Awaken your senses with this candle's diverse blend. Designed with a combination of eucalyptus, lavender, and sea salt with hints of sage blends perfectly here, emitting a light aroma and providing a sense of calm.
Packaging
This subtle candle is poured inside a tinted blue glass vessel, which will equally prove itself to be a calming addition to your interiors. This vessel is 100 percent recyclable in partnership with TerraCycle. It also has self-trimming wicks, and it comes with a wooden lid for keeping dust away whilst not in use.
The best fresh candle
Rounding out our list is by far one of the most long-lasting fragrances on the market, and that Yankee Candle's Coconut Beach Candle. This super-affordable jar is the vacation-in-a-bottle we all need ASAP. There are so many reasons to love this candle, but let's state the obvious: the burn-time. Most options on the market have a candle-life expectancy of 40 to 50-hours when used, but not here. It comes in a range of sizes, with its largest jar boasting a burn time of 110 hours. I've not (yet) had the chance to get my hands on this candle to light it at home. However, I chose it to be the best fresh candle mostly due to its scent combination, also whilst considering the fact it has 15,000+ reviews on Amazon, and a 4.6-star rating.
Scent
Transport yourself to a tropical paradise courtesy of this candle. Designed with an intoxicating fragrance of wind-swept palms and coconut milk, it's the peace paradise we're all in desperate need of. Not only that, but the scents of sea salt, vanilla, and blossom work well to balance the strong coconut scent.
Packaging
This Yankee candle comes in a huge range of sizes, with everything from tea lights to a large jar to choose from. Depending on the size of the candle, it should come in a glass vessel that's recyclable in partnership with TerraCycle. Moreover, this candle also has 100 percent natural-fiber wicks for an even, clean burn. It comes in either a soy blend or a paraffin blend. The classic apothecary-style shape candle is paraffin, whilst the candles similar to the photos above will be a soy blend.
How did we choose these scented candles?
Our Deputy Ecommerce Editor, Annie, who is also our home fragrance expert, has had hands-on experience with the majority of these candles. The candles in this guide with a badge on have been tested by her, inside her 2-bedroom apartment. She tests these candles until they run out, considering everything from their throw ability to how clean they burn, and of course: their scent and packaging.
Otherwise, the candles without badges have been selected by us, based on positive reviews from candle lovers who have enjoyed these scents. Either way, all of the products above have been carefully chosen for this guide.
How to know which scented candle is best for me?
It's crucial to estimate the place where you're looking to store your fragrance, ahead of choosing a scent.
For the living area, it's best to consider your aesthetic or decor. You can pretty much go for any scent in this room, from floral to herbal and even spicy. We would recommend going for a scent to match the season, and avoiding any heavy woody or spicy scents in the spring and summer. However, you do want to go for a strong scent, to fill each corner of this room especially if you spend a lot of time in here.
For kitchens it's best to reach for something lighter and airier; the last thing you want to do is compete with food aromas, so we suggest a herbal or ozonic aroma.
For a bedroom you'll want to opt for an aroma that's lavender or vanilla-based; you'll want to calm your senses and create a peaceful oasis. Anything scented with essential oils is also a great option for a bedroom.
What to consider when buying a 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.
Another way to fragrance your home is with a reed diffuser. These are safer to use than a candle, plus they emit a constant fragrance.
