Candles are a great way to set the mood in any space. But finding the right one can be tricky, especially when it comes to choosing scents that last and burn evenly.
Natural waxes like beeswax, soy, and coconut burn cleanly with minimal soot and have longer fragrance throws. They’re also a better choice than paraffin waxes made from petroleum.
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Boy Smells
Whether you love the scent of old books, fresh flowers, or an afternoon spent at the park, Boy Smells’ coconut and beeswax candles are just what you need. The scents, which are influenced by the brand’s personal catalog of olfactory memories, are layered and complex. This year’s standout, Petal, combines magnolia, night-blooming tuberose, and wild geranium with notes of golden amber, patchouli, and exotic musk to create a heady and intoxicating accord.
If you want to get the most longevity out of your candle, trim the wick every time before burning it. This will prevent the wax from developing craters and can also help prevent your candle from smoking.
While it may sound obvious, the type of candle you buy will greatly impact how long it lasts. Using a clean cotton wick and storing your candle away from direct sunlight will also help extend its lifespan.
The aptly named Slow Burn is a must-have for country crossover star Kacey Musgrave fans. The scented candle has cedarwood, vanilla, and papyrus notes to give it that classic summer bonfire smell. The vegan soy wax candle has a 50-hour burn time and comes in a clear glass vessel, making it easy to see when you’re getting close to the end.
Inspired by Montana’s Glacier National Park, this candle from Paddywax smells like a forest getaway. It has a white pine, hemlock, and spruce base, rounded out with earthy notes of rhubarb and orange tree bark. This candle is also infused with natural oils to bring out the woody smell of the outdoors.
Another great option is the Sacred Cedar from Birthdate Co. The candle takes its name from Zodiac signs and tarot cards, which is reflected in the fragrance of lavender bushels, freesia, and magnolia mingled with fresh cotton sheets and a touch of musk. You can also find this candle in a jar, which is perfect for those who love the look of a repurposed jar or glass container. A quick tip: The darker the candle, the longer it will last. This is because the light will reflect off the surface of the wax and cause it to melt faster.
Chesapeake Bay
Whether you need some soothing lavender or a little citrus in your life, Chesapeake Bay offers a wide variety of scents. The company also has unscented candles for those with sensitivities or who prefer a neutral ambiance. In addition to its extensive selection of scents, the company has a great reputation for high-quality products. Their candles are long-lasting, and their wicks burn evenly without dripping. The company has also made an effort to use recyclable packaging.
The health and wellness trend that has swept the nation has also touched home fragrances, specifically candles and smell-goods. The scents, paired with wellness characteristics like calmness and serenity, help the user enter a Zen zone. Like the Balance + Harmony candle from Chesapeake Bay, these candles also offer a long burn time.
When it comes to scented candles, the fragrance is just as important as the wax. The best-scented candles have an intense throw that fills the room with a wonderful aroma. This can be achieved by using the highest quality ingredients. Some of the most popular scents include rose, jasmine, and lily. These scents can be infused into the candle’s wax, which will make it last longer.
Some of the best-smelling candles come from brands that specialize in eco-friendly products. One example is Otherland, which uses a blend of soy and coconut waxes to create a clean burn. Their candles are also made with double cotton wicks, which results in a smooth, even burn. This allows the candle to last up to 80 hours.
Otherland’s candles are available online and in stores that specialize in eco-friendly products. These candles are made from a wide variety of natural ingredients, including essential oils and jojoba oil. They are also free of harmful chemicals, making them a healthy choice for the environment.
Many people choose to purchase scented candles from Chesapeake Bay because they are natural, safe, and have an excellent scent throw. The company’s scented candles are available in a variety of different sizes and colors and are sold at local retail stores and online marketplaces. Some customers have experienced minor hiccups with the product, but these issues can usually be resolved by reaching out to the customer service department.
Makana
The husband-and-wife duo behind Makana—the name means “gift” in Hawaiian—hand-pours small batches of candles with simple, clean ingredients. The 10 oz size of their bestselling Banyan candle is an especially great buy, with a burn time of 60 hours and a scent that covers a large area. The fragrance is a mix of sweet and green, with hints of violet lead, fig, sandalwood, cocoa, vanilla, and coconut.
GQ editor Chikumbu cites this one as an all-around favorite for its calming effect, but it’s also a great choice if you want to set a cozy scene. It contains the classic combination of vanilla and lavender, which have been shown to promote relaxation, and it’s available in a sleek jar that makes it perfect for your vanity or desk.
Diptyque is well-known for its high-quality perfumes, but the brand also makes candles that smell amazing and last a long time. The fig-scented Figuier, which was on record for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, is a fan favorite, and it also comes in a smaller votive for the bathroom or bedroom.
Another favorite is Hemlock Park’s Balsam & Cinder, which is reminiscent of a chilly night by the fire. The candles are made from 100% soy wax, a lead-free cotton wick, and phthalate-free fragrances with pure essential oils. And, like the other candles on this list, the Hemlock Park candles are made with natural ingredients that don’t produce excess smoke or soot.
The most luxurious candle on this list is a Le Labo candle, which costs a bit more than the others but will fill your home with an elegant aroma. The Santal 26 scent is particularly popular, with a composition of amber, vetiver, and musk that’s both masculine and feminine.
If you’re looking for something more affordable, check out the candles from Boy Smells, which come in a variety of jar sizes and are scented with quirky mashups of typically feminine or masculine fragrance notes. For example, Cinderose blends rose and smoke, while Les combines blackcurrant and peach with cardamom and white cedar.
Lush
Lush has you covered if you’re looking for a candle that smells incredible and lasts for hours. Its vegan candles use a blend of vegetable waxes and cotton wicks, meaning they burn cleanly and emit less soot than standard paraffin options. They also come in reusable glass jars, which you can use as drinking glasses after the candle’s 60-hour lifespan is over. You’ll find a selection of hero scents here, including the sweet but spicy Orange Blossom, the olive-y The Olive Branch, and the calming Sleepy.
Designed to help you decompress and focus, this one uses eucalyptus, rosemary, and peppermint to create a calming scent that smells like you just walked out of the spa. It’s a perfect option for the bathroom or bedroom.
For a more complex and earthy scent, check out this offering from Le Labo. The husband-and-wife duo behind the brand hand-pour their soy wax candles in Mississippi, using high concentrations of essential oils to ensure a pure and powerful fragrance. The result is a soft and smokey fragrance that never fails to impress. This 7.2-ounce candle comes in a heavyweight glass jar and has a burn time of up to 50 hours.
Another great option is this one from DS & Durga. It’s scented with notes of sea spray, cypress, and magnolia, which combine to smell clean and fresh. It’s a little pricey but well worth the splurge.
You’ll also find an array of scents from Diptyque, a perfumery that’s been in the business for over 60 years. Their best-selling Baies/Berries Candle is floral and fruity without being too overpowering, which is a feat for most floral fragrances. You’ll find other bestselling scents, like the winter-scented Winter and the lighter but equally heavenly Wild Mint. The brand also offers a variety of seasonal and holiday-themed candles that’ll fill your space with warm and inviting aromas. For a more masculine scent, try their Hemlock Park Candle, which is rich with hints of cedarwood and palo santo for a woody scent that’ll instantly transform your space. It’s a little more expensive than some of the other candles on this list, but it will certainly smell amazing and make your room feel extra cozy.
