I Only Buy This $4 Decor Gem at Trader Joe’s (Every Time I Shop There!)
If there’s a candle in the vicinity, chances are, I’m going to buy it — I’m not exaggerating. At any given time, there are at least 30 deliciously scented candles littered around my apartment. They’re in my living room, bathroom, bedroom, and, of course, my kitchen. I have whole shelves dedicated to them. They’re on every countertop, even my nightstand and dresser. Yes, I may be obsessed, but hey — at least my apartment always smells good. And the one store where I continuously stock up on candles? Trader Joe’s.
The grocer is a favorite of mine for many household essentials, including gorgeous fresh flowers, so it makes sense that I’d stroll the aisles looking for other weekly must-haves, too. There are many reasons to love Trader Joe’s candles, so I’ve broken down why they’re a must-have every time I shop.
1. They’re affordable.
Trader Joe’s candles are $4 — well, $3.99, to be exact. Yes, you read that right! Every Trader Joe’s candle is less than $5 for 5.7 ounces. How could I say no when the price is so appealing? (You guessed it — I can’t.)
2. They smell delicious.
I’m not one for platitudes — but I’ve never been disappointed by a single Trader Joe’s candle scent. Remove the lid, take a deep breath, and the accompanying scent that wafts out is just divine. Now that spring is here, I’m adding candles that are sweet, fresh, and light to bring calming vibes to my space. My favorite candle right now is Grapefruit — its crisp, zesty aroma is so perfect for spring. I actually love it so much, I bought two on my last TJ’s run! And, really, who wouldn’t want to burn a bright, sweet-smelling grapefruit candle as the warmth of spring rolls in?
3. The scents? They change with the seasons.
I’m always a fan of stores that release updated versions of classic favorites. So the fact that Trader Joe’s consistently updates its candle scents with the seasons makes me truly happy. Fall sees rich scents like vanilla pumpkin and maple sugar, summer gets sweet scents like mango tangerine, wintertime enjoys “red fruits in the forest,” and spring is treated to tomato leaf and, of course, the aforementioned grapefruit.
The store also does a 12 Days of Scented Candles advent calendar (for under $30!) around the holidays, but I haven’t been lucky enough to snag one in stores yet. I’m definitely going to be on the lookout this year!
4. The packaging is superchic.
Truth be told, I’ve been known to buy beauty products solely based on their packaging. Trader Joe’s delivers not just on the packaging aspect, but on the scents, too. I love the little silver tins I’m able to reuse, the sleek white labels with the black lettering, and the single, bold letter at the center indicating the scent. I always have one sitting on my kitchen island!
5. They have a long burn time.
For such small packages, they pack a major punch. These hand-poured, coconut soy wax candles have an impressive 20-hour burn time. I like to burn my candles in 3- to 4-hour increments (it makes the candle last longer), so one Trader Joe’s tin can lasts me at least five days — perfect to tide me over until my next TJ’s run!
I’m waiting with bated breath for Trader Joe’s to add the next scent to the store’s shelves. Every time I go (which is at least twice a week), I walk by the beauty aisle to see whether another candle has dropped. Obsessive? Maybe. Necessary? Definitely.
Now that I’ve waxed poetic about my love of Trader Joe’s candles (pardon the pun), I’m off to light that grapefruit gem I’m so in love with right now. What a great, budget-friendly way to refresh my space every day!
Not Near a Trader Joe’s? Don’t Worry!
Trader Joe's Grapefruit Scented Candle
In case you’re not near a store — or your local TJ’s is all out — you can snag the same candle on Amazon for just a few dollars more. Happy burning!
Buy: Trader Joe’s Grapefruit Scented Candle, $11.98
