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In the past few years, I’ve become 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.
Update on November 20, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.
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. Coconut wax also burns slightly slower than soy wax, giving candles an even longer burn time. It’s also generally pricier than soy wax, meaning a candle made from coconut wax alone will likely be more expensive. Typically, 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.
Best candle overall
Notes: Cedarwood, sandalwood, vetiver, nutmeg, cinnamon, amberwood | Scent family: Woody | Wax: Soy wax blend | Burn time: 60 hours
When thinking about the best overall candle, I took a few things into consideration: wax composition, how evenly it burns, scent profile, throw. I also thought about cost, because it doesn’t make sense to recommend a candle so pricey that it feels painful to repurchase it. That led me to Maison Louis Marie No. 04. I’d previously recommended the Boy Smells Kush candle as the best overall candle, but I’ve changed my mind for two reasons: First, it seems like the OG Kush is being discontinued, second, Maison Louis Marie has a better burn. Recently, I was burning another Boy Smells candle alongside the Maison Louis Marie one (I love to layer scents) and noticed that my Boy Smells candle was tunneling while the latter burned evenly. It was the first burn for both candles and I let them go for around two and a half hours each. As far as scents go, Kush and No. 04 are different but share an amber note, which I tend to like in a candle. The top notes are sandalwood and cedarwood (another two of my favorites), which smell clean and grounded. No. 04 also has a hint of freshness thanks to the vetiver in the mid-notes, along with nutmeg and cinnamon, which help to round out the scent. In comparison to Boy Smells. I’d say the throw is a little stronger — I notice it more when I’m in a room, and it burns a bit slower. I burn it for many hours at a time and have been impressed with how long a single candle lasts. The price is right, too. Under $40 feels like a good spot for designer candles — a little spendy but not excessive — and an approachable price for gifts as well.
Best less-expensive candle
Notes: Cardamom, ginger, musk, sandalwood | Scent family: Woody | Wax: Soy-paraffin wax blend
For a nice-smelling candle that comes in an attractive votive, you won’t do better than Target. The retailer has a few in-house lines that make candles — Threshold, Room Essentials, Hearth & Hand, and Opal House. There are lots of options within the range with prices starting at $5 and going up to $49. On the whole, the scents are okay. Some are a bit cloying, others generic-smelling, but I’m always impressed by Hearth & Hand (Joanna Gaines’s line), which makes nice scents and heavy ceramic jars. I typically stick to its assortment, but during a recent trip I sniffed Santal and Ginger from Threshold, Target’s signature in-house home brand, and was impressed by how expensive it smelled. This makes sense, because of the brand’s collaborator, interior design firm Studio McGee, which specializes in the modern, rustic luxury aesthetic that has engulfed many American homes. True to its name, the candle’s main notes are sandalwood and ginger, a spicy, woody scent. There’s some cardamom and musk in there too, which adds a resinous element. The price is also unbeatable. An 18-ounce three-wick under $20 is unheard of anywhere else, making it a good, cheap way to scent a room. One thing to keep in mind: It does contain paraffin (adds to the throw and is also very inexpensive), which as I said before isn’t as sustainable as other formulations.
Best sweet and spicy candles
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.
Notes: Hashish, nag champa, vervaine, mesquite | Scent family: Amber | Wax: Coconut-wax blend | Burn time: 40 hours
Lighting this candle reminds me of going to Catholic Mass with my grandmother and walking past an incense table in Brooklyn. It’s nostalgic and comforting, in line with Mar Mar’s goal. The brand, a favorite of Hilary Duff, seeks to “evoke future memories,” incorporating familiar notes alongside woody scents like mesquite and hashish. One of my favorite things about this candle is the packaging. While most wax is white, this one is an amber brown, standing out among my collection. It also has an impressive throw, particularly when lit. After a half-hour of lighting the candle, my entire living room smells like it, lending the space a meditative feel. It’s smaller than some of the other candles on the list — reflected in the 40-hour burn time — but it burns slowly enough that it last a decent amount of time.
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.
Best fresh, clean candles
Notes: Tomato vine, holy basil, black pepper | Scent family: Herbaceous, fresh | Wax: Vegetable wax
Though it’s technically a fruit, tomato candles tend to have a fresh scent profile, encompassing the grassy and spicy and sweet. We’ve previously written about this tomato candle from statusy lifestyle brand Flamingo Estate, which writers Liza Corsillo and Ambar Pardilla describe as “a tiny bit citrusy and floral,” until it opens up to reveal the “unmistakable smell of newly formed tomato vines and freshly picked fruit.” There are three main notes in the candle, tomato vine, holy basil, and black pepper, which re-creates the experience of sniffing a tomato plant in a garden.
Notes: Sage and oat milk | Scent family: Earthy, fresh | Wax: Soy-wax blend | Burn time: 65 hours
The Keys Soulcare candle 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. Another bonus is the incredibly slow burn. At 7.5 ounces, it boasts a 65-hour burn time — making it one of the longest-lasting candles for its size on this list.
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.
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. There’s 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.
Notes: Fig, milk, green leaves | Scent family: Fresh, woody, green | Wax: Paraffin | Burn time: 20 hours
Diptyque Figuier is one of the best-known 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.
Best woody candles
Notes: Black tea leaves, purple iris, warm cedarwood | Scent family: Woody | Wax: Soy-, coconut-, apricot-wax blend
This candle from Athena Club most is my most gifted — I’ve given least ten to friends. It has become my go-to present for everything from housewarmings to birthdays. 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. The scent is room-defining and always elicits a compliment from a new visitor in my space. 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.
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.”
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.
Best bright, fruity candles
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.
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.
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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