It's Time to Amp Up the Bougie Vibes in Your Apartment, and These 26 Luxury Candles Will Do the Trick

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One thing about me? Oh, Ima light a candle. Whether it's during a focused WFH day, before I'm hosting friends to catch up on our fave Bravo shows, or after I'm done cleaning my whole apartment, something about making your space smell amazing just does something for the morale. It's science! I liiive for a good bargain candle, and have damn near every candle brand you can imagine, but sometimes you just want an extra luxurious one to really set off the bad and bougie vibes, ya know?

If you're anything like me, though, justifying the very hefty price tag that tends to come with most luxury candles can be hard. But hear me out: Not only do you deserve to splurge on yourself (and your friends and fam!) every now and then, but fantastic scented candles in chic-as-hell vessels boost your mood, mask weird smells, and convince your guests (and yourself) that you're living your best, fanciest life. Not sure about you, but those sounds like money-worthy causes to me—just sayin'!

Still, you don’t wanna throw your coins at just any ol' regular degular candle—you need the crème de la crème. That’s exactly why we put together this extensive list of the best luxury candles your hard-earned money can buy. And I promise they all smell *just* as lovely as they look (and some are even surprisingly affordable!). So read on and prepare your wallet, home, and nostrils for your new fave candle below. Did I mention preparing your wallet???

Candle Rosso Nobile

The soft, fruity notes of this bad boy will swallow up your whole apartment and make you feel like you're sipping red wine on a Tuscan countryside. And if you have coins to blow (like, a lot of them), and want to be even more engulfed in the scent, get the extra large size.

Ivy Wax Candleholder

I can't get over how fun this is! The entire thing is a candle, yes including the candle holder part, and has a woodsy scent when lit. It comes in four other colors and the brand also makes a base you can get too. If you wanna pass on that (especially since this bad boy will already set you back a few hundred bucks), lighting it on any non-flammable surface is just as good.

Damask Rose Scented Candle

I truly can't get enough of this candle, or its lavender counterpart for that matter. I have never seen a creamier, smooth wax, and the fragrance is pure and light, yet powerful. I was delighted that the frangrance lingered in my living room long after I put out the flame. Carrière Frères is known for their single-note fragrances, so if you want something ultra luxe without being too complex on your senses, this one can do no wrong.

Speakeasy 22K Gold

Let me apologize to your wallet rn, because after burning this candle, you're going to want to buy the entire collection. Reminiscent of the Harlem Renaissance, each candle is infused with a piece of history. Speakeasy is my fave, due to the pimento berry and tobacco incense.

Santal 26 Classic Candle

Listen, roll your eyes all you want, but this baby is a classic for a reason. If you've ever wondered why every trendy NYC hotspot smells so damn good, here's your answer.

Frost Moon Luna Candle

I light this candle as a part of my nighttime wind down routine and it truly makes good on its claims to give off all the relaxing vibes. It has a warm scent profile without feeling too seasonal; charming notes of coriander, amyris, and sandalwood fill up my room in a very short amount of time.

Candle

This candle is inspired by Jennifer Meyer's signature eau de parfum and is perfectly delicate and fruity. I lit it during a focused WFH day, and its light but complex scent profile kept my spirits up and brain locked in. Plus, when I (finally) got up to use the bathroom, I could smell it all the way down my apartment's very long hallway. The only thing I'm looking forward to about it being gone is that I can use the chic-as-hell vessel and lid as a gorge canister afterward.

Andean Myrtle Signature Candle

The only way to describe this candle is hot. Between the palo santo and moss notes, mixed with the zesty citrus fragrances, lighting up this candle will make your home smell like you just walked on the men's side of an elite department store.

Cosmopolitan Cocktail Candle

Okay, are we maybe a little biased to this one given it's name...only maybe. But it really is a damn good candle. Like, I could smell it through the shipping packaging damn good. It comes in two sizes and even a variety of vessels, and lighting it up will overtake your room in the best possible way.

High Horse Candle

This Nashville-based company is so fun and unique. Each candle is hand-poured into cocktail glasses that can be used after the final burn (and cleaning ofc). A corresponding cocktail recipe comes in the package too, along with a darling set of branded matches. The citrus and sandalwood notes in the High Horse were so balanced, but each still smelled distinct. Plus! This pick is pretty affordable so you get that luxury, boutique experience without breaking the bank.

Pemberly Candle

Few things have made me as happy as this candle right here. I mean, the soft sweetness of the rose mixed with the huskiness of the suede and musk just makes me feel...exactly how the company said it would: like I'm "perusing a charming old bookstore." Yes! Please!

Scent of Nirvana

Caftari is newer on the candle market and I, for one, am glad they have entered the chat. All three of the brand's scents were created alongside docs and neuroscientists (casual) to create positive emotional responses. This Scent of Nirvana features an oud essential oil that can help with our stress hormone, cortisol. It's smoky, a little sweet, and is perfect to light while meditating, praying, or any other mindfulness practices.

Mini Lazy Sunday Morning Scented Candle

Considering the full-size perfume version of this scent costs upwards of $100, I suggest opting for this mini candle instead. You'll get to enjoy the soft scent of this luxury fragrance that's been redefined with white floral notes.

Baccarat Rouge 540 Candle

Want your guest to think a rich bitch resides at your address? Well, this is the candle for you. You'll be able to fill your home with the signature scent of Baccarat Rouge 540 for a fraction of the price of the actual perfume (it costs upwards of $300!!).

34 Scented Candle

Many of us already know and love (or covet) Diptyque candles—so why not add this unique Parisian scent of the first diptyque boutique located on 34 Boulevard Saint Germain to your home? This is one that's worthy of your nightstand, folks.

Signature Votive - Urban Sanctuary

Make your home feel like a hotel—the Four Seasons, to be exact—with this fruity, floral candle. Staycations never sounded so good.

No. 7 Seven Miles

This minimalist stunner is the type of candle that'll have you coming back for more time and time again.

Maui Escapist Candle

The packaging on this candle is perfecto for anyone with a minimalist aesthetic. And the scent? Fantastic for anyone with a travel bug.

Scented Candle

I think it's pretty cool that Rathbornes is still using 15th century methods to create timeless candles. Over the years, the brand branched out to reed diffusers and body products, but its candles are still A-1.

Grapefruit Scented Candle

When I say this candle is HUGE, I mean it. All 22-ounces of wax —perfumed with grapefruit, lily of the valley, coriander blossom, and green nuances—burn beautifully to create a fresh and citrusy ambiance.

Rose Candle

Yes, Sisley is known for its skincare and makeup, but don’t sleep on its candles. No joke, the first time I lit this 45-hour rose, I thought it was the best thing my nose had ever smelled. The deep purple and yellow wax combined with the logo made it the fanciest thing in my room.

Chandelier

One sniff of this and you’ll be transported to a fancy dinner party. I can’t explain it—maybe it's the subtle notes of champagne—but just know that you need it in your life.

Orange Blossom Scented Home Candle

Thank you, Jo Malone, for combining the smell of orange blossom and water lilies. The black ribbon on the lid makes this candle a perfect gift for a friend—or yourself.

Fabulous Candle

I mean, the name of this one really says it all. Yes, it’s pricey, but it'll last you a while and sometimes you just feel like splurging after payday.

Winter Oranges

Idk about you, but I love the citrus smell of oranges and the coziness associated with winter scents. So, when I found this candle (that combines both!), I. Freaked. Out. Valencia orange, cinnamon, red apple, and clove come together to create a beautifully scented candle. Plus, I'm a sucker for this vintage packaging.

Heirloom Artisan Candle

Not only is the smell ahhhmazing, the handblown glass makes for a pretty nice piece of décor. Light and burn this scent, and save the vessel as your newest statement art piece.

How do I care for my candles?

Trim! Your! Wicks!

After burning a candle, sometimes the wick "mushrooms," meaning the tip of it gets all frayed and a bit ballooned from the fire. If you light this pudgey part, the burn will be smokey and soot-y, and nobody wants that. This is why trimming your wicks is so important. Grab a wick trimmer to clip off that part before lighting your candle and you'll be good to go. And please, for the love of all things holy, don't use scissors (one of my friends told me she was doing this once and I immediately sent her a link to a wick trimmer).

Don't Blow Out Your Candles

There is nothing worse than blowing out a candle to just have all that pleasant aroma taken over by the smell of smoke. To minimize this, use either a candle snuffer or a wick dipper. The snuffer will extinguish the flame by covering it, and there will be minimal smoke once you raise it up. With the wick dipper, you'll push the wick into the melted wax pool to put the flame out. Then just use the tool to pull it back up right.

Get a Candle Warmer

You know how sometimes your candle can start tunneling and burning unevenly? It's so annoying and you're literally not burning all the available wax. The fix? Snag a cutesy candle warmer and it will basically solve this problem for you, while also ofc making everything smell amazing.

Why trust Cosmo?

As you probably know, Cosmo's lifestyle team spends all day, every day scouring the internet, testing products, and reading reviews so we can bring you the type of high-quality content we'd want for ourselves (and our standards are preeeetty darn high, TBH).

It's also really important to us that each of our shopping articles adheres to the 15 Percent Pledge, and we try to make sure the products we feature are good for both you and our planet. If we wouldn't buy something for ourselves, we sure as heck won't recommend it to you—and we're always gonna keep it really, really real. Pinky swear.

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