The 13 Best Smelling Candles for Your Home, According to the Pickiest Person Ever


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Best Woodsy Fragrance

LAFCO New York Feu de Bois Signature Candle

Feu de Bois Signature Candle

Best Woodsy Fragrance

LAFCO New York Feu de Bois Signature Candle

This LAFCO favorite offers a woodsy reverie, blending pine, sandalwood, and Virginia cedarwood. The addition of frankincense and myrrh lends an enchanting finish that leaves a memorable impression. It’s the kind of candle that garners compliments at cocktail parties and leaves guests wanting to add it to their collection.

Burn time 90 hours

Best Mint Fragrance

Cire Trudon Abd El Kader Candle

Abd El Kader Candle

Best Mint Fragrance

Cire Trudon Abd El Kader Candle

Credit: Cyrille Robin

This candle captivates with its crisp blend of ginger, lemon, and mint, offering a truly refreshing experience. Accents of apple and black currant infuse it with an intoxicating, fruit-forward allure while jasmine and vanilla provide a comforting layer of familiarity.

Burn time 55 – 60 hours

Best Vegetal Fragrance

Flamingo Estate Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle

Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle

Best Vegetal Fragrance

Flamingo Estate Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle

Tomato vine, holy basil and black pepper sing together in this unexpectedly delightful candle. Its fresh aroma rivals that of a bountiful vegetable garden at the height of summer. However, there’s a lightness to the candle that keeps it from smelling like your neighborhood Italian restaurant.

Burn time 60 hours

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Best Clean Fragrance

Maison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt Natural Soy Wax Candle

No.04 Bois de Balincourt Natural Soy Wax Candle

Best Clean Fragrance

Maison Louis Marie No.04 Bois de Balincourt Natural Soy Wax Candle

The top note of sandalwood may suggest a woodsy profile for this candle, but it surprises with middle notes of nutmeg, cedar, and vetiver that impart a cleaner aroma. The rich amber wood base builds on the candle’s warm aura. With its subtle throw, it’s ideal for smaller, more intimate rooms in your home.

Burn time 60 hours

Best Fruity Fragrance

Boy Smells LES

LES

Best Fruity Fragrance

Boy Smells LES

Black currant and cardamom stand out immediately upon lighting before tender florals—such as peach blossom, peony and rose—lend a soft, almost nostalgic touch to the candle’s scent. A base of toasty jasmine rice and robust cedarwood balances the fragrance, ensuring it remains delightfully fruity without being overly sweet.

Burn time 50 hours

Best Vanilla Fragrance

Dreamer in London Candle

Dreamer in London Candle

Best Vanilla Fragrance

Dreamer in London Candle

This candle blends a little bit of everything—leather, raspberry, clove, violet, iris, cedarwood and tobacco—setting it apart in the vanilla category. The intriguing moss middle note brings out the earthy side of the signature gourmand note.

Burn time 60 hours

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Best Rose Fragrance

D.S. & Durga Salt Marsh Rose

Salt Marsh Rose

Best Rose Fragrance

D.S. & Durga Salt Marsh Rose

This is not your grandmother’s rose candle. Surprising mallow and sea lettuce top notes bring the New England coast into your home. The fresh scents of creeping bentgrass and lichen moss provide a verdant scent, while swamp rose and sweet pepper bush in the middle elevate this complex fragrance.

Burn time 60 hours

Best Amber Fragance

Diptyque Ambre Candle

Ambre Candle

Best Amber Fragance

Diptyque Ambre Candle

Diptyque’s unsung hero fills the room with its intoxicating scent perfect for late winter nights. The harmonious blend of resinous spices and a smooth tonka bean delivers a potent aroma that embodies elevated comfort.

Burn time 50 hours

Best Citrus Fragrance

Hazeltine Saint Enzo

Saint Enzo

Best Citrus Fragrance

Hazeltine Saint Enzo

From the heart of New Orleans, Hazeltine’s captivating candle transports you to a summer galavanting along the Amalfi coast. The initial allure of Calabrian bergamot and lemon leaf is just the beginning; as the complex notes of salt, ash, suede, and black tea unfold, they keep the experience intriguing. It’s a sunny getaway in a candle.

Burn time 40 hours

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Best Leather Fragrance

Byredo Bibliotheque Candle

Bibliotheque Candle

Best Leather Fragrance

Byredo Bibliotheque Candle

Experience the wonder of this cult-favorite candle that’s as enchanting as your beloved novels. The juicy plum and warm cinnamon top notes evoke the comforting aroma of a freshly baked pie, while the heart of the scent—a rich, leathery essence—conjures images of a library brimming with classic tomes. Anchored with a base of birch woods, patchouli, and vanilla, this candle offers a familiar yet irresistible allure.

Burn time 60 hours

Best Relaxing Fragance

Bastide Miel de Lavande Wax Candle

Miel de Lavande Wax Candle

Best Relaxing Fragance

Bastide Miel de Lavande Wax Candle

Let the soothing essence of Provence’s fragrant lavender fields envelop you as you unwind with this candle. The hints of honey celebrate the diligent bees that buzz among the flowers. Bonus: After the candle has burned away, the stunning hand-blown amber glass holder becomes an eye-catching vessel for your home.

Burn time 45 – 50 hours

Best Fig Fragrance

Village Apothecary Fig Garden Candle

Fig Garden Candle

Best Fig Fragrance

Village Apothecary Fig Garden Candle

Nothing perfectly embodies the feeling of biting into the first ripe fig of the season more than this number. The Birmingham, Alabama-based candle company blends green fig, black tea, and sandalwood to create the ultimate juicy treat.

Burn time 60 – 65 hours

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Best Honey Fragrance

Catbird Summer in Italy Candle

Summer in Italy Candle

Best Honey Fragrance

Catbird Summer in Italy Candle

Catbird may be known for its ethically made jewelry, but its unique line of candles should not be overlooked. This cult favorite stands out for its honeyed orange blossom notes that remind you of a day spent daydreaming in the garden.

Burn time 70 hours
Headshot of Sarah DiMarco

Associate Editor

Sarah DiMarco (she/her) is the associate editor at VERANDA, covering all things design, architecture, art, gardens, jewelry, travel, wine and spirits. She also manages social media for the brand.

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