Candles are a powerful way to transform the scent of your space, elevate your mood or enhance the ambiance of a room. The fragrance of a good candle can also remind you of fond memories or create a relaxing environment to unwind and relax. And the best candles can do all this and more.
When shopping for candles, pay attention to the type of wax and wick of your candle as each can impact the quality, durability and length of the burn time of the candle. For example, soy candles are one of the longest lasting candle options in the candle industry, while paraffin candles are everywhere and more affordable. In terms of wicks, you can expect wooden wicks to give your candle an even, smoother and longer burn than cotton wicks. However, cotton wick candles perform just as well when properly trimmed using a candle trimmer.
Fragrance is another important factor to consider when shopping for candles. Natural and synthetic fragrances offer different benefits. If you want your candle to carry its scent an impressive distance (referred to as ‘throw’), a synthetic fragrance is the way to go. Natural scents on the other hand are preferred for having a similar throw without the chemicals.
Since candle shopping requires your sense of smell, it’s often a uniquely in-person experience so customer reviews are crucial when searching for the scented candles online. Make the the process easier on yourself and check out our list of the best candles, according to glowing reviews, below.
- Most Popular Candle: Diptyque Baies/Berries Candle
- Best Candle On Amazon: Benevolence LA Soy Candle
- Best Candle For Nighttime: Brooklinen AM to PM Candle Set
- Best Large Soy Candle: P.F. Candle Co. Golden Coast Large Soy Candle
- Best Luxury Candle: Tom Ford Fabulous Candle
- Best Fall Candle: Boy Smells x Kacey Musgraves Slow Burn Scented Candle
- Best Soy Candle: Homesick Pumpkin Picking Candle
- Best Vegan Candle: Brown Girl Jane Velvet Moon Perfumed Candle
- Best Parisian Candle: Cire Trudon Ernesto Candle
- Best Minimalist Candle: Brooklyn Candle Studio Sunday Morning Candle
- Best Wooden Wick Candle: WoodWick Fireside Jar Candle
- Best Hand Poured Candle: Le Labo Santal 26 Classic Candle
- Best Candle Set: Voluspa Japonica Archives Candle Set
- Best Long-Lasting Candle: Capri Blue Giant Volcano Metal Jar Candle
Most Popular Candle
A Splurge-Worthy Candle Worth The Hype
- Burn Time: 60 hours
- Wax Type: Paraffin
- Size: 10.2 ounces
There are plenty of luxury candles on the market, but few can hold a flame to renowned brand Diptyque. These French-made candles feature rich, captivating scents inspired by the famed Parisian perfume house and have become iconic in recent years.
Some of the most outstanding features of Diptyque candles include a hand-adjusted lead-free wick that helps its candles to burn to the very bottom of the wax. In addition, every Diptyque fragrance is the result of only pure, natural ingredients—no synthetic products or chemicals are used. As one enthusiast expressed, this is the candle for anyone who wants to “set their olfactory cells on fire,” in a good way. Others say that this is “hands down the most expensive candle” they’ve purchased, but it’s long-lasting life and ability to fill a room with the scent justify the cost.
Best Candle On Amazon
A Highly-Rated Candle With Great Throw
- Burn Time: 45 hours
- Wax Type: Soy
- Size: 8 ounces
This well-rated candle from Benevolence LA uplifts the mood of any room. Each candle is made with pure essential oils and fragrances for an aromatic throw. There are eight scent profiles to choose from, including bergamot and jasmine, rose and sandalwood and lavender and lilac. The simple matte black and gold stamped packaging adds to its appeal and ability to fit the aesthetic of wherever you put it.
“These are the most amazing candles EVER! As soon as you light it, the scent takes over the room!” exclaims one happy customer. “They burn for so many hours. Even when they are not lit, they make the home smell so clean and fresh. For the price, this candle has SO much value. It blows the super high priced candles out of the water! It will be my go to candle from now on!”
Best Candle For Nighttime
A Curated Collection To Help You Wind Down After A Long Day
- Burn Time: 50-60 hours
- Wax Type: Soy
- Size: 3.5 ounces each
This candle set from Brooklinen helps create a cozy sleep environment, especially when paired with the brand’s super-soft sheet sets. The AM to PM set includes Wake (ocean-inspired scent) and Magic Hour (sunny, floral scent) for getting your day going, and Dusk (think: woodsy cabin) and Nightcap (bourbon and blood orange blend) to set the mood for your evening routine. Each candle is 3.5 ounces and will burn for close to 60 hours.
Reviewers love the variety: “Each scent is really distinct and unique. The colors of each candle and design/packaging are beautiful too.”
Best Large Soy Candle
A Scented Candle That Brings The Magic Of The Outdoors Inside
- Burn Time: 60-70 hours
- Wax Type: Soy
- Size: 12.5 ounces
Soy candles are often sought-after since they burn cleaner and slower than petroleum-based paraffin wax candles. P.F. Candle Co. produces vegan soy candles that come in fragrances inspired by nature, like popular piñon wood, juniper and patchouli sweetgrass. Other stand-out options include Golden Coast, inspired by California’s iconic coastline.
Reviewers point out the fantastic, soft scent of this soy candle makes it a must-have: “This candle has clear, notable smells that don't get lost in the room, but it's not overwhelming and too perfume-y—it won't leave you with a headache, just warmth and joy.”
Best Luxury Candle
An Indulgent Option Inspired By The Designer’s Iconic Perfume
- Burn Time: 40 hours
- Wax Type: Soy
- Size: 21 ounces
Inspired by the best-selling perfume with the same name, Tom Ford’s Fabulous candle is a sensuous indulgence housed in a matte black glass vessel. With notes of lavender, leather and blonde woods, this fragrance “evokes the private exchanges where fantasies come true” according to a note by the designer himself. Hand-poured in the United Kingdom, this single wick candle is composed of high-quality soy wax and delivers a 40-hour burn time. Once you’re done, reuse the thick glass jar to store make up brushes or serve as a petite vase for your WFH station.
If you’re already a fan of Tom Ford’s fragrances, you’ll love this candle even more, according to one happy customer: “The candle smells even better than the fragrance. It burns evenly and cleanly. I burn it for an hour or two at a time and it carries through the entire apartment and lingers all day. It is worth every penny. Brilliant job, Mr. Ford.”
Best Fall Candle
An Autumnal Option That Looks As Good As It Smells
- Burn Time: 50 hours
- Wax Type: Coconut wax, beeswax
- Size: 8.5 ounces
If you want a pretty candle that throws a warm scent as the temperatures start to dip, check out the Slow Burn candle from Boy Smells x Kacey Musgraves. With a scent profile that includes fall-forward fragrances like black pepper, ginger zest and cedarwood, this candle gives off major cozy vibes. Plus, the color of the glass jar will seamlessly blend into any fall decor without coming off as cheesy.
Thanks to its permeating throw, this buyer had to get another one: “Second time buying and the smell fills the room. I didn’t even light it! After opening the box my room immediately smelled like this candle.” One Kacey fan and candle buyer also thinks it’s best for autumnal nights: “This smells lovely and warm, perfect for those cozy fall nights.”
Best Soy Candle
A Solid Option With A Scent For Every Moment
- Burn Time: 60-80 hours
- Wax Type: Soy wax blend
- Size: 13.75 ounces
Homesick candles are hand-poured in the United States, have 100% organic cotton wicks and come in scents that aim to bring you closer to the places and memories you love. With popular candles such as Hawaii, Los Angeles and Birthday Party, Homesick candles have a transportive quality that captures the smell of cherished places and life’s sweet moments in a 13.75-ounce jar.
“This candle is everything!” says one happy customer. “All the love of your grandma in this candle. A mix of all the best Thanksgiving Christmas and even Easter dinner all in one candle. While another reviewer adds: “Smells fantastic—just like Grandma’s kitchen on a Sunday afternoon!”
Best Vegan Candle
A Women-Owned Candle Brand With A Velvety Smooth Fragrance
- Burn Time: 65 hours
- Wax Type: Coconut and soy blend
- Size: 8 ounces
Usually made from a blend of coconut and soy wax blend, vegan candles are made without animal products, specifically beeswax. A women-owned Black lifestyle brand, Brown Girl Jane’s Velvet Moon Perfumed candle has notes of Italian bergamot, orange blossom and amber with base notes of amber and vanilla bean. The velvety smooth fragrance is meant to the evoke the nostalgic scents of evenings in Cape Town, South Africa.
“Warm. Sultry. Invigorating,” says one customer. “This candle is so rich in scent and look.” While another reviewer adds, “with every inhale, I feels like I’m being wrapped into a warm embrace. This candle is definitely a must buy.”
Best Parisian Candle
An Iconic Option That Will Transport You To The City Of Lights
- Burn Time: 60 hours
- Wax Type: Vegetal Wax
- Size: 9.5 ounces
There is no question that Cire Trudon is an iconic candle with a hard-to-beat heritage. This French candlemaker has been in business since 1645, when Trudon opened the doors to its first Parisian storefront. By the 1700s, the company was supplying candles to the royal court of France. Today, the company continues its legacy of fine candle making and exquisite scents, with options like the Ernesto being a top seller.
The Cire Trudon Ernesto candle evokes notes of rum, oak and tobacco. Unlit, it offers a soft scent that discerning noses will appreciate. When lit, the intensity of this candle justifies its spendy price tag and will have you hooked: “The throw is also amazing; it easily fills a room if not a small home or apt. If I could only have one candle for life, this would be it.”
Best Minimalist Candle
A Fragrance As Easy As Sunday Morning
- Burn Time: 50 hours
- Wax Type: Soy blend
- Size: 7.5 ounces
Make every day as easy as Sunday mornings with this fragrant soy candle from Brooklyn Candle Studio. The minimalist fragrance has a fresh scent with pear, bergamot, jasmine and gardenia, making it an ideal scent to refresh your home and your mind after a long, hard week at work. Brooklyn Candle Studio also uses soy blend wax, all-cotton wicks and fragrance blends infused with natural essential oils. You may appreciate knowing that the brand’s candle line-up is vegan, cruelty-free, phthalate-free and petroleum-free for added peace of mind.
Find proof of its chill vibes in reviews like this one, “I feel so relaxed every time I burn it. It puts me in such a calm, peaceful mood.”
Best Wooden Wick Candle
A Wooden Wick Option With A Slow Burn and Comforting Scent
- Burn Time: 180 hours
- Wax Type: Paraffin and soy blend
- Size: 22 ounces
Wooden wicks are a preferred alternative to cotton wicks because of their durability. They evenly heat and disperse the fragrance of your candle thanks to their lower flame. Plus, the crackling wood sounds it makes as it burns is reminiscent of a fireplace. WoodWick offers wooden wick candles in a variety of sizes and scents such as Cinnamon Chai, Coastal Sunset and Evening Bonfire, although the brand’s most popular scent is Fireside. With notes of amber and musk, this candle has had candle buyers invested for years.
“It is my all time favorite candle scent,” says a loyal customer. “It is a very warm, little sweet, woodsy and exotic fragrance that throws very well. It spreads throughout my entire house, 2600 sq. ft.! It has a strong, but cozy scent.” Whole another longtime buyer explains it will also invoke a sense of gratefulness, “It is a fragrance that wraps its arms around you and tells you all is well. It makes you look around at your home with gratitude for what you have and not envy for what you don't have. It is both elegant and homey.”
Best Hand Poured Candle
A Scent With A Cult-Following
- Burn Time: 60 hours
- Wax Type: Soy
- Size: 8.6 ounces
Made from hand-poured pure soy wax and a cotton wick in Mississippi, this apothecary-style candle is popular for it’s tremendous throw and inviting scents. When shopping for Le Labo candles, it’s helpful to know that each name provides insights into the candle’s scent profile. For example, best-selling Santal 26 has top notes of santal (a compound extracted from sandalwood) and features 26 expertly blended fragrance notes for an iconic scent that you will want to fill every room of your house.
Just like the brand’s famous perfume, Le Labo’s Santal 26 candle has a loyal following and is notoriously famous for its powerful fragrance. “The best smelling candle on the planet,” says a reviewer. “It's such a strange combination of scents, waxy violet, something smoky, a little leathery, resinous, also fresh, almost cucumber-y.”
Best Candle Set
A Candle Set For A Distinguished Scent In Every Room
- Burn Time: 15 hours each
- Wax Type: Coconut
- Size: 1 ounce each
If variety is the spice of life, this Voluspa candle set is an ideal way to add a different fragrance to every room of your home. These handcrafted candles are made in California from coconut wax and feature scents that ignite the senses, like Santiago Huckleberry, Yashioka Gardenia, Persimmon & Coral, Crane Flower and more.
Each one-ounce candle in the Japonica Archives set has a substantial 15-hours of burn time. Happy reviewers agree that the “candles burn for a long time and remain fragrant.” The glass votives are also popular: “Not only are they fragrantly wonderful, the glass and the box make an awesome gift presentation for that someone special.” Whether you want to use this set for travel candles or to sample Voluspa scents, this is a worthwhile buy.
Best Long-Lasting Candle
A Best-Selling Option That’ll Make Your Home Smell Like An Anthropologie Store
- Burn Time: 100 hours
- Wax Type: Soy blend
- Size: 48 ounces
If you’ve ever walked into an Anthropologie store, you’re probably familiar with that welcoming universal scent that draws you in and encourages you to linger for just a little while linger. Turns out, the credit goes to one scent: Volcano from Capri Blue. As for the fragrance, it’s a distinctive scent, that’s a little sugary, a little citrusy and seems to work year round. Sure, you can snag a small size but for the best bang for your buck, we recommend this giant metal jar that burns for a whopping 100 hours.
“The matte black vessel is gorgeous and the classic volcano scent never disappoints,” says one loyal customer. “So happy to see that this size candle now has three wicks instead of two. It burns beautifully.”
