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The Spruce / Amelia Manley
Nothing feels quite as luxurious as entering a home with a signature scent provided by a candle. And with so many brands on the market, finding high-quality options can feel relentless—but not impossible.
"A lot of how the candle performs is up to the person burning it," says Kathy LaVanier, spokesperson for the National Candle Association. But not so much so that you shouldn't "pay attention to the ingredients," warns Carol Han, founder of Nette. Keeping this in mind, we spent hours researching and testing top-rated options, considering factors like burn time, fragrance profile, and vessel size.
Best Overall
Homecourt Candles
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Homecourt
Cotton wick
Long burn time
Reusable vessel
Higher price point
Limited scent range
Between the reusable candle vessels and 60 hours of burn time, these candles from Homecourt are our top choice for 2023.
The brand is cruelty-free and vegan, opting for plant-based and skincare-grade level ingredients across its curated assortment of products. with the candles offering a clean burn. The brand uses a soy wax blend to extend the burn time and a cotton wick to minimize ash and soot residue. Each candle is eight ounces and hand-poured into a kiln-fired ceramic casing that elevates any home's aesthetic, justifying the overall price.
Price at time of publish: $65
Scent: Cipres Mint, Steeped Rose, Neroli Leaf, CeCe | Size: 8 oz. | Burn Time: 60 hours
Best Budget
Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Scented Soy Aromatherapy Candle
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Amazon
Lingering scent throw
Affordable
Soy wax blend
Low burn time
Affordability does not equate to sacrificing quality when it pertains to Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Candle Collection. The Lavender-scented option offers a noticeable scent that is both comforting and refreshing. And while the fragrance itself is noteworthy, the burn time on the candle is lower than others on the list of similar sizes. However, for a budget-friendly option, this candle checks off all the right boxes. We’re also fans of the brand's cleaning products, which have matching scents to keep the scent of your home cohesive.
Price at time of publish: $19 for a set of two
Scent: Lavender | Size: 7.2 oz. | Burn Time: 35 hours
Best Splurge
Diptyque Baies Candle
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Diptyque
Multiple sizes
Maximum scent throw
High price point
Discrepancies with candle wax filling
The Diptyque Baies Candle is an instant crowd-pleaser, thanks to the irresistibly fresh and fruity scent. Notes of roses and blackcurrant envelop any home, with ranging burn times of 20 to 120 hours, depending on the candle size. Notably, the overall scent throw of this candle is high, especially considering the elevated price point. As a bonus, the candle vessel can be repurposed as home decor for trinkets or jewelry storage.
Price at time of publish: $42 for 2.5 oz., $74 for 6.5 oz.
Scent: Roses and blackcurrant leaves | Size: 2.4, 6.5, 10.2, 21, 51.3 oz. | Burn Time: 20-120 hours
Best Small Business
The New Savant Dream Girl Candle
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The New Savant
Handmade
Unique scent profiles
Affordable
Limited scent assortment
Sells out quickly
Limited stockist options
Small businesses are the backbone of any industry, and The New Savant is a candle company worthy of stock-piling. Each candle is handmade in Brooklyn, New York, and uses high-quality and vegan-friendly ingredients to produce candles with full-bodied and well-rounded scent profiles. Each seven and 14-ounce variety is stored in recyclable vessels, selling out quickly with a burn time of over 50 hours. Considering how involved the founders are with the brand, each The New Savant purchase evokes a sense of community.
Price at time of publish: $38
Scent: Varies | Size: 7 or 14 oz. | Burn Time: 50+ hours
Best with Unique Scents
D.S. & Durga Candles
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Dsanddurga
Cotton wick
Reusable vessel
Wide range of scents
Higher price point
Soy wax blend
The unique scent profiles of D.S & Durga perfumes are a through-line in the brand's iconic candle catalog. Fragrance note examples include gourmand profiles like scotch marmalade and pastry to smokey hints of copaiba resin and leather.
With a repurposable glass jar and seven ounces of soy wax that offer 60 hours of burn time, these distinctive candles will fill your space with a fragrance and leave each guest who visits with an unforgettable story.
Price at time of publish: $70
Scent: Varies | Size: 7 oz. | Burn Time: 60 hours
Best Scent Throw
Boy Smells LES Candle
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Amazon
Aesthetically pleasing
Reusable vessel
Strong scent throw
Prone to tunneling
Prone to smoke if wick is untrimmed
Boy Smells candles can be seen all over social media thanks to their aesthetically appealing black packaging and compelling, gender-defying fragrance profiles. Still, the ever-popular LES candle is our top choice for a candle with the best scent throw. Notes of black currant, peach blossom, and vanilla make up this eight-and-a-half-ounce candle and envelopes a room quickly with each use. With 50 hours of burn time, this candle might tend to tunnel, but if you follow the brand's recommended wick-upkeeping practices, you get nothing but a clean, soot-free burn. Trust us when we say this is a candle you should not sleep on.
Price at time of publish: $38
Scent: Black Currant, Peach Blossom, Vanilla | Size: 8.5 oz. | Burn Time: 50 hours
Best for Gifting
Homesick Let’s Toast Candle
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Homesick
Unique scent options
Feels personalized
Elevated price point
Soy wax
Not all candles have a noticeable scent throw
Homesick is a well-received candle brand that makes gifting a breeze thanks to the brand's powerful use of storytelling. Each collection and scent tie back to specific memories, themes, or locations that are the antithesis of gifting.
Using a soy wax blend, Homesick manages to create a candle with a significant scent throw, 60 to 80 hours of burn time, and personalization options for the reusable glass jar, making it the perfect present for holidays, birthdays, and everything in between.
Price at time of publish: $38
Scent: Varies | Size: 13.75 oz. | Burn Time: 60-80 hours
Best Clean Brand
Snif Prenup Scented Candle
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Snif
Strong scent throw
Direct-to-consumer only
Not available for trial
The category of clean-burning candles was once bleak, with scents that offered little to no room for personality or unique scents. The brand Snif, however, has changed the conversation when it comes to this class of candles. Scents like 'Prenup' offer distinctive scent profiles that fill up a space just as unapologetically as the brand's transparency in candle-making standards. While this particular scent isn't a part of Snif's at-home trial program, notes of black amber, musk, vanilla, and tonka bean are so universally adored that making it the signature scent for your home feels effortless.
Price at time of publish: $44
Scent: Black Amber, Musk, Vanilla, Tonka Bean | Size: 8.5 oz. | Burn Time: 50+ hours
Best Citrus
Nest Fragrances New York Grapefruit Candle
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Sephora
Multiple sizes available
Long-lasting scent throw
Prone to tunneling
Prone to leaving smoke residue
Citrus candles are notoriously hard to get right, but Nest manages to achieve the perfect balance between fresh and tangy, never overwhelming, with their signature Grapefruit candle. Coming in multiple sizes and burn times, notes of pink pomelo and grapefruit are grounded in the lily of the valley to distribute fragrance evenly throughout any home. Users note that the candle is prone to tunneling, so be sure to burn for at least four hours to help with tunnel prevention.
Price at time of publish: $46
Scent: Pink Pomelo, Grapefruit, Lily of the Valley | Size: 2.1, 8.1, 21.2, 43.7 oz. | Burn Time: 20-120 hours
Best Floral
Nette Gallica Rose Scented Candle
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Nette
Aesthetically pleasing design
High-quality ingredients
Long-lasting scent throw
Expensive
Available at limited retail locations
Nette offers candles at a luxury price point, which is a sheer testament to the quality of the ingredients, aesthetics, and scent profiles on its candles. Hand-made ceramic vessels house these coconut and soy wax candles with an extended burn time of 65 hours per each 12-ounce variety. Standouts include the brand's floral scent selections, including the Gallica Rose, which offers notes of roses, lily of the valley, and green leaves.
With 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton wicks and avoidance of parabens, sulfates, and dye, this is one of the few candle brands worth investing in this year.
Price at time of publish: $82 for 10 oz.
Scent: Rose, Lily of the Valley, Musk | Size: 10 oz. | Burn Time: 65 hours
Best Woody
Apotheke Charcoal Candle
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Apotheke
Strong scent throw
Reusable vessel
Prone to tunneling
Pricey
The Charcoal Candle from Apotheke is the brand's best-seller, and for a good reason. Particularly suited as a fall seasonal candle, this strongly scented candle quickly fills the home with a blend of cedarwood, sandalwood, and amber that's especially suited for the cooler months. The 32-ounce option from the brand offers roughly 120 hours of burn time in a reusable matte black vessel that mimics the somewhat moody ambiance created by the scent profile.
Price at time of publish: $44 for 11 oz., $78 for 32 oz.
Scent: Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Amber | Size: 11 oz., 32 oz. | Burn Time: Varies
Best Fresh
Jo Malone London Orange Blossom Candle
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Sephora
Aesthetic packaging
Strong scent throw
Higher price point
Discrepancies in wick placement
Lower burn time
Burned at the wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William, the Jo Malone London Orange Blossom Candle does not disappoint in scent profile, throw, and longevity. Notes of clementine flower, white lilac, and orriswood work year-round to create an atmosphere of nostalgia and freshness with subtle floral vibes. While the burn time is on the low side, at just 45 hours, the lingering nature of the candle after use makes up for it. Beautifully packaged, this candle is equal parts aesthetic and purposeful.
Price at time of publish: $75
Scent: Clementine Flower, White Lilac, Orriswood | Size: 7 oz. | Burn Time: 45 Hours
Best Vanilla
Le Labo Santal 26 Candle
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Nordstrom
Paraben-free
Reusable vessel
Elevated scent profile
Higher price point
Prone to tunneling
The vanilla scents of youth have grown more sophisticated with brands like Le Labo and their iconic Santal 26 candle. Gourmand notes of vanilla and cocoa blend seamlessly into woody undercurrents of cedar, spice, and sandalwood to quickly fill your home with a luxurious aroma. Just shy of nine ounces, this paraben-free candle offers 60 hours of clean burn time in a modernist vessel that makes any home feel like it belongs in the pages of a design publication.
Price at time of publish: $82
Scent: Amber, Cocoa, Vanilla, Cedar, Spices, Sandalwood | Size: 8.6 oz. | Burn Time: 60 hours
Best Soothing
NEOM Organics De-Stress Scented Candle
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Nordstrom
Strong Scent Throw
Discrepancies in burn time
Limited size options
Nothing beats lighting a candle as you unwind at the end of a stressful day, and the NEOM Organics De-Stress Candle is a perfect choice. Notes of lavender, jasmine, and Brazilian rosewood turn any bathroom into a spa-like atmosphere with a scent throw that feels subtle, not overpowering. While the size options for this candle are limited, the brand states each vessel has roughly 50 hours of burn time, making it last through countless nightly routines.
Price at time of publish: $39 for 6.5 oz, $55 for 14.8 oz.
Scent: Lavender, Jasmine, Brazilian Rosewood | Size: 6.5 and 14.8 oz. | Burn Time: 50+ hours
Best for Kitchen
Voluspa Goji Tarocco Orange Large Embossed Glass Jar Candle
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Amazon
Several color & scent options
Uses coconut wax for a cleaner burn
Sustainably produced
Somewhat weak fragrance
When you burn a candle in your kitchen, it's best to opt for a scent that meshes well with the things you eat. In other words, go for something that smells delicious, like the Voluspa Glass Jar Candle in Goji and Tarocco Orange. This particular candle has a mouth-watering aroma of goji berries, fresh mango, and blood oranges. It's fruity, fresh, and sets the scene of a warm spring day. Although this candle has a great fragrance, it's best suited for a small room as it does not have a strong fragrance reach while burning.
AVoluspa's proprietary coconut wax boasts a 90 percent cleaner burn than soy wax candles, which is ideal for the kitchen. This notably large candle contains 18 ounces of hand-poured wax for a burn time of 100 hours. It comes in a gorgeously embossed red glass jar with a floral tin lid. When the candle is gone, you can remove the remaining wax and use the jar to hold flowers, jewelry, pens, or even kitchen utensils.
Price at time of publish: $37
Scent: Notes of goji berry, ripe mango and tarocco orange | Size: 18 ounces | Burn Time: Up to 100 hours
For a subtle yet refreshing scent, we recommend the Homecourt Candles, which are made with an organic cotton wick and clean-burning soy wax. We also love the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Soy Aromatherapy Candle, which offers many of the same scents as its cherished cleaning products, in candle form.
What to Look For
Wax Type
The type of wax used to make a candle can vary. You will typically see vegetable waxes, like soy or coconut, used by candle brands promoting clean, natural, or vegan. Other wax forms include beeswax, considered clean but not vegan, and paraffin. Each wax can present unique challenges, from tunneling to producing a low-scent throw. Ultimately, the quality of the candle's wax creates a pleasant candle-burning experience.
Wick
When it comes to candle wicks, Han states, "If a wick is too large for the wax and the vessel, it'll burn too quickly. If it's too small, the burn will be uneven, and the wick will likely get buried with time." And while the wick size is worth knowing, LaVanier states that you have to burn the candle to grasp the quality of the wick, and the wick's performance depends on the owner's upkeeping of the candle. "The candle maker will spend up to 16 weeks selecting the right wick for each fragrance (how the fragrance combusts is what determines the wicking, so every fragrance is different), but all that work is undone if the consumer does not burn it according to directions.”
She continues by recommending candle owners trim their wicks before each candle burning, burn for four hours to prevent wax tunneling, and light candle wicks upright to keep from getting soot on the candle vessel.
Fragrance
While candle fragrance is personal, it's worth understanding the ingredients used to make your candle have a significant impact on its scent. Han explains that if the ingredients are not of good quality, the candle won't produce a fragrance that envelopes a room and justifies the purchase. And, while LaVanier states that "there is no easy quality indicator based on the candle's unburned appearance," researching the brand of candle you are interested in before purchase can ensure you are selecting one with top-quality fragrance and scent throw.
Burn Time
A candle's burn time will vary based on the size of the vessel and wick diameter. The larger the candle vessel and the thicker the wick, the longer the burn time. If a candle is a votive candle–think mini candles–with a thin wick, the faster the burn time.
Another factor that can alter the burn time is wick maintenance and wax type. If you are not accurately trimming and lighting your wick, the candle will likely have a swift and sooty burn. Similarly, wax types like soy will also burn quickly.
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How can you tell if a candle is of good quality?
Candle quality can be difficult to assess before burning. LaVanier suggests looking for a safety label on the vessel, indicating that the candle maker or brand is aware of the "industry accepted ASTM testing standards." She also explains that a sign of a high-quality single-wick candle is a centered wick.
For Han, quality lies within the candle's scent. "It should also have a good cold throw and hot throw," and the fragrance should be "sophisticated and complex, much like a perfume, instead of overly simple or one-note."
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What makes a high-quality candle?
According to both Han and LaVanier, a high-quality candle will have a clean and even burn, thick wick, high-trow scent profile, and a wax type aside from paraffin. These factors will create a luxurious candle-burning experience.
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Do candles lose their scent?
Yes, a candle can lose its scent over time. "Scented candles may poorly perform once they pass six months old,” says LaVanier. “Some fragrances have delicate scent components that can change with time, causing them to smell differently, change color, or become sticky." Echoing a similar sentiment, Han adds that its exposure to the elements and lack of burning catalyzes fragrance dissipation.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Samantha Parsons has been a freelance writer for The Spruce since 2021 with bylines in publications like Real Simple, The/Thirty, and The Quality Edit. She spent copious time on this piece to ensure the above candles were functional with scents appealing to large demographics. For extra insight, she spoke with National Candle Association spokeswoman Kathy LaVanier and Carol Han, founder of Nette NYC. When she is not writing, Samantha works for a skincare brand and stays up-to-date on the latest news and releases across industries.
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