Intimacy, warmth, calm, bliss. If you want to create an atmosphere that calls forth one or all of these feelings, we’re betting you set the stage by lighting your best-smelling candles. 

Once used to cast an aura of romance or invite spirits back from the Great Beyond, candles have become a mainstay of people’s self-care routine. Their flickering light is intensely soothing, and when you combine that with an alluring scent, you can’t help but feel your worries melt away like… well, like candle wax.

Sure, you could do it without the flame. But if you’re trying to create an ambiance, you need to engage all the senses. And even the best flameless candle is missing the evocative addition of scent. So put away those boring tea lights and votives. We’ve got a list of the 10 best candles that’ll burn brightly, smell sweetly, and send off soothing vibes to help turn your living room, bathroom, or bedroom into a haven from the rigors of everyday life.  

1. Organic Goodness Jasmine Soy Candle

These organic candles are lovingly hand-poured using natural, longer-burning soy wax and crafted with natural essential oils and an eco-friendly, lead-free cotton wick. The sweet scents of jasmine blossoms and fresh mogra gently infuse each candle with a soothing fragrance that elevates and eases your mood.

$12.99

2. P.F. Candle Co Sandalwood Rose Soy Candle 7.2oz

New York meets Los Angeles in this artisanal candle infused with kraft-inspired fragrances. Aromas of cashmere rose, oud, and sandalwood radiate from each minimalist amber jar. It's an intimate woodsy and floral scent that’s perfect for dressers, countertops, and nightstands — basically anywhere.

$24.00

3. Public Goods Cedar & Suede Soy Candle 12.3oz

Notes of sandalwood, jasmine, Turkish rose, amber, and leather combine to give Cedar & Suede its warm and woodsy scent. This vegan-friendly cotton wick candle is elegant and understated, crafted with natural soy wax. Plus, it’s ready to reuse or up-cycle, thanks to 100% plastic-free packaging.

$24.99

4. Paige's Candle Co. Taxonomy Candle Earl Grey 9oz

Paige’s Taxonomy candles are carefully blended to create a holistic fragrance experience that transcends typical scents. These hand-made candles combine high-quality vegan soy wax with uplifting notes of bergamot, honey, black currant, jasmine, vanilla, and cedarwood. Unwind fully with a phthalate-free candle.

$28.99

5. Smoke Out Loving Life Candle 14oz

There are some odors we don’t want in our life. Enter Smoke Out Candles. These 100% soy wax candles eliminate unwanted scents using the fresh scent of pomegranate, apple blossom, peach, ylang-ylang, chamomile, and aloe vera. Make your home smell of natural essential oils and Wisconsin family values.

$14.99

6. Don't Paniq Mango Banana Candle 3oz

The aromas of fresh mango and banana combine into a candle that’ll burn away stress and help ease an anxious mind. Each candle blends 100% clean-burning soy oil and natural aromatherapy scents to help create a calm and relaxing environment, whether at the office or at home.

$8.59

7. Beamer Fresh Out The Dryer Candle

Love the scent of fresh laundry but don’t have time to do a load? Are you feeling homesick? Beamer Candles gets it. They’ve combined a premium soy wax blend with the long-lasting scents to create a candle with a 90-hour burn time and a smell to convince even your Mom that you’ve been doing your chores.  

$12.99

8. Hawaiian Lavender Soy Candle 12oz

Enjoy a clean, relaxing scent with this all-natural, cruelty-free vegan soy wax candle. Each candle comes in a glass vessel with a clean-burning cotton wick to fill your space with a soothing scent, free of harsh chemicals, toxins, and parabens.

$9.69

9. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Peony Scented Soy Candle 7.2oz

Bring the heady, floral scent of peonies from the garden with Mrs. Meyer’s scented candles. Crafted from soy and vegetable wax and blended with other thoughtfully chosen, cruelty-free ingredients, each candle comes in a recyclable glass jar. It’s the perfect gift to warm a house and your spirits. 

$11.49

10. Nicole Home Collection Gardenia Candle 18oz

Who needs fresh flowers when you have a beautifully scented Gardenia candle by the Nicole Home Collection. This paraffin wax jar candle goes beyond mere home decor to create a warm, relaxing atmosphere for the home or spa. It’s clean-burning and lead-free, with recyclable packaging.

$11.99

FAQ

What brand of candles smells the best?

Candlemakers who harmonize their top, middle, and bottom notes craft candles with a full-bodied scent, creating a multi-dimensional aromatic experience that‘s essentially a symphony for your nose. 

As for which candles smell the best, that’s really up to you and your mood. Want to create a cozy atmosphere? Why not bring the warmth of a campfire into your room with the Firewood Taxonomy Candle from Paige’s Candle Company that combines the woodsy scents of charred sandalwood, saffron, and patchouli. 

If you’re looking for some masculine energy, give P.F. Candle Co Teakwood & Tobacco a try. It blends orange, musk, black pepper, and teakwood notes into a scent that’ll convince even the most die-hard naysayers that there are candles for men.

Do you need to bring a little springtime into your space on a dull, wintery day? Public Goods Lavender & Vanilla Soy Candle upgrades the classic candle combination of French vanilla and lavender by adding fresh fir needle and tonka bean scents. 

What type of candle is best?

The main criteria for determining the quality of a candle is the type of wax. There are four main types of wax found in scented candles, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a look.Paraffin wax: Paraffin is the most commonly used wax in candles. It can hold a significant amount of fragrance and casts a lot of scent. But there’s a downside; paraffin is a petrochemical product that releases volatile organic compounds and soot when burned. It may make the best cheap candles for people on a budget, but you’ll need to clean more often. Best save paraffin for citronella candles and other outdoor burning lights.

Beeswax: Naturally scented and eco-friendly, beeswax is the original candle wax. It releases air-purifying ions when burned, leaving your house smelling clean and fresh. The honey aroma makes it challenging to blend with other scents, but a combination of beeswax and either neroli or vetiver make for a pleasing combination.

Coconut wax: Coconut wax is relatively new, and it’s a great eco-friendly and renewable material for candles when harvested sustainably. It doesn’t create a lot of soot as it burns, making it ideal for indoor use. Because coconut oil is used in food, health, and beauty products, it’s not always available in ample supply, meaning coconut wax candles are harder to find and often more expensive than others.

Soy wax: This is probably the best wax for candles. Soy-based wax is naturally sourced, and because it burns cleanly, it emits less soot and is a healthier alternative to paraffin wax. It also has a higher melting point, slowing burning time and making your candles last longer. It also has a neutral scent, so added essential oils and fragrances don’t fight against soy wax’s aroma.

What are luxurious candles?

Candles exude an aura of luxury. It’s why they’re such a popular housewarming or holiday gift and a nice way to indulge. But what makes for a good luxury candle?

First and foremost, it’s a combination of wax and scent. A luxury candle should slowly burn while scenting your room with a rich and luscious aroma. Packaging is a consideration as well. A luxury candle should be as pleasing to your eye as your nose. 

But at the end of the day, you don’t have to buy a candle at Nordstroms or Bath & Body Works for it to be luxurious. If burning a simple eucalyptus or orange blossom scented candle makes you feel happy and pampered, it’s a luxury and the best candle you can buy.