The 26 Best Luxury Scented Candles To Burn All Year Long
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Candles have always been a self-care go-to, and over the past two years, they’ve become even more intertwined with our daily just-for-me rituals. Candles are accessible, easy and cost-effective ways to transform your environment into something special.
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And if you’re looking to veer into very special territory — including around the holidays when we’re craving nostalgia, peaceful vibes or the fresh, fruity or floral numbers as summer approaches — flaring up that luxury candle nestled inside an Instagram-worthy decorative glass vessel will instantly elevate the moment.
Not to mention, luxury candles make incredible gifts for others and yourself (hello, self-care!), especially from luxury candle brands, like Cire Trudon, Byredo, Le Labo, Diptyque, Boy Smells and Nest New York. They’re a fail-safe Mother’s Day gift while candle gifts are great for a vast range of sophisticated women in your life (aka the ones who enjoy a signature perfume or beauty product), from the wellness junkies who would die for a palo santo scent, to the fashion forward who love a decorative vessel maybe even more than the fragrance, to women who simply revel in luxury. But we also know our fair share of men who adore a masculine, woodsy home fragrance, too.
You’ll know a luxury candle when you see one, because every detail, from the scent to the packaging to even where you purchase it, like a high-end spa, is a dead giveaway. A luxury candle scent has more refined ingredients and a higher concentration of oils than ordinary candles, meaning they’re deeply fragrant and last longer. Their fragrance profiles are also more complex, requiring more notes than your average candle, as well as strategic layering of such notes to ensure they blend together beautifully and seamlessly. Plus, the luxury candle vessels are usually decorated to the nines, housed in glossy containers or decked out with letter-pressed labels. And if you can’t pick just one (who could blame you?), jump into the gift-giving spirit by purchasing a spa gift basket or set that has two or more.
Top Luxury Candles
Different types of luxury candles
There are a variety of waxes that can be used for candles. Most luxury candles are created with soy, beeswax or coconut wax or a blend of the three.
Paraffin wax is the cheapest and fastest-burning type of wax, typically used for tablescaping candles, like votives, pillar and tapers. As by-product of the oil industry, it’s not eco-friendly, though.
Soy wax is 100% all-natural, vegan and eco-friendly, plus it burns slower than parrafin wax. Due to its formulation, it’s also excellent at holding and retaining fragrance.
Beeswax is one of the more expensive types of wax because it relies on a beekeeper’s ability to extract it during the honey-making process.
Coconut wax is fashioned from refined coconut oil, most commonly used for container candles.
As spring and Mother’s Day approach, we’d bet that we’re all looking to show mom a little extra comfort, extravagance and ease — and one of the best aspects of a luxury candle is that it offers immediate gratification. Once the wick is lit, you’ll have hours upon hours of enjoyment. In fact, some luxury brands offer candles with up to 70 hours of burn time. So if you’re wavering on purchasing a luxury candle because of the sticker shock, just know that you’ll get more joy for a longer period of time than you would with a less expensive, faster burning candle that will need to be replaced more quickly.
And even if don’t see yourself as a “candle person,” these merry little luxuries just might convert you. Ahead, we compiled the 26 best luxury candles that look like pieces of art and smell absolutely amazing — whether it emits the aroma of a fresh garden of flowers, a fun fruity cocktail, a crackling fireplace or somewhere in between. Pick your favorite ahead.
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D.S. & Durga Holy Ficus Candle
Size: 7 oz.
Scent type: Spicy
Wax type: Balsalm, resin + plant oils
Vessel: Glass
Burn time: 7 hours
“I think people resonate with the rich narratives, names and expanded world that go with each of our fragrances,” says David Moltz, who co-founded D.S. & Durga with his wife, Kavi. Each luxury candle is crafted using plant oils, balsams and resins, then hand-poured in their Brooklyn studio. This sophisticated and spicy blend of cardamom, frankincense, fig, cedar and saffron was inspired by the revered fig tree of Siddhartha and will burn strong for about 60 hours.
Cire Trudon Abd El Kader Candle
Size: 2.5 oz + 9.5 oz
Scent type: Fruity floral
Wax type: Vegetal wax
Vessel: Glass
Burn time: 18 hours (2.5 oz) + 55 hours (9.5 oz)
Founded in 1643, the French brand Cire Trudon is the oldest and most illustrious candlemaker in the world, creating candles for the French royal family, including the court of Louis XIV, and famous cathedrals throughout the country. Housed in a thick, olive green glass vessel with their signature bright gold plaque, Abd El Kader was inspired by the tea and tobacco from the Arabian Ouled Naïl tribe with notes of blackcurrant, clove, mint, jasmine and vanilla for a fragrance that smells like warm, full-bodied Moroccan mint tea.
Nest New York Bamboo Candle
Size: 8.1 oz
Scent type: Floral
Wax type: Proprietary premium wax
Vessel: Glass
Burn time: 50 hours
With more than 8,000 reviews on Amazon, it’s safe to say this classic luxury candle from Nest New York is a fan favorite. “I purchased the 3-wick Bamboo scent and it is hands down the best candle I’ve ever purchased,” writes one reviewer. “The bamboo smells like the most beautiful garden you could walk through. The scent is clean, like fresh flowers from a fragrant garden, and the packaging is beautiful.”
Diptyque Baies Candle
Size: 6.5
Scent type: Fruity
Wax type: Paraffin wax
Vessel: Glass
Burn time: 50 hours
One of the most well-known and beloved luxury candle brands, Diptyque offers a vast collection of candles that are perfect for lighting up year-round as well as their highly anticipated seasonal masterpieces. Baies, the French word for berries, is a floral-fruity hybrid and ranks as the brand’s best seller, with wafts of Bulgarian roses blended with blackcurrant leaves and buds, topped with ambergris.
Jo Malone London Pomegranate Noir Luxury Candle
Size: 7 oz.
Scent type: Fruity + spicy
Wax type: Soy wax
Vessel: Glass
Burn time: 45 hours
This stunning candle from Jo Malone London is the epitome of English grace, with each candle hand-crafted in a converted dairy on Lord Cowdray’s estate in the lush countryside. Kate Middleton chose a Jo Malone London scent for her wedding day fragrance, and this juicy, fruity fragrance, accentuated with spicy woods and pink pepper, is both intense and lighthearted.
Boy Smells Kush Candle
Size: 8.5 oz.
Scent type: Floral
Wax type: Natural coconut + beeswax blend
Vessel: Glass
Burn time: 50 hours
It’s hard not to fall in love with the Boy Smells Kush candle. Paying homage to the energizing and bold cannabis flower, the instantly recognizable scent presents as warm, fresh and floral. You’ll immediately smell the top notes of cannabis leaf, lemon peel and rhubarb, before melting into almond, tulip sage and eucalyptus. Let it burn for a bit, then watch the fragrance party begin as the scent evolves into a heady mix of suede, musk and amber.
Frédéric Malle Country Home Candle
Size: 7.76 oz
Scent type: Smoky
Wax type: Vegetal + tallow wax
Vessel: Matte porcelain exterior with red glossy interior
Burn time: 50 hours
Frédéric Malle’s candles are beautiful decorative objects that elicit rich and powerful fragrances, and Country Home is no expectation — nearly everything about this candle is ultra luxurious, from the vegetal wax, to the potent ingredients of sharp pine needles, fir balsam and cedar oil, to the long lifespan of 50-hours. And this luxury candle is a full-sensory experience, especially if you love this candle’s scent of a wood-burning fireplace, which elicits a vision of flames dancing across logs and the feeling of comforting warmth. Upcycle the matte and glossy red porcelain jar as a cotton ball or makeup brush holder after the candle disappears.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Oud Satin Candle
Size: 9.8 oz
Scent type: Woody floral ambrette
Wax type: French mineral + vegetable wax
Vessel: Porcelain
Burn time: 55 hours
This mineral and vegetable wax candle is the brand’s newest addition to their Oud Satin Mood collection, which originally launched in 2016. Wood oud, one of the most precious — and most seductive — ingredients used in perfumery, is the star ingredient, before melting into a bouquet of rose and violet, anchored with a generous dose of the amber-vanilla accord. It also comes in a hand-crafted jar made of bisque porcelain from Limoges.
Otherland Rattan Sandalwood Vegan Candle
Size: 8 oz.
Scent type: Woody
Wax type: Vegetable, coconut + soy wax blend
Vessel: Reusable glass jar
Burn time: 55 hours
Born from the credo that luxury candles can also be affordable and clean, Otherland is one of the buzziest brands around. Their candles are non-toxic, vegan and poured into playful, colored glass tumblers that are intended to be reused after the candle expires. Rattan, one of their most popular scents, entwines sandalwood, golden amber and warm musk, to transport you to an airy beachside bamboo bungalow on a faraway tropical island.
Maison Margiela Replica Beach Vibes Scented Candle
Size: 5.8 oz
Scent type: Floral
Wax type: Proprietary high-quality wax
Vessel: White glass
Burn time: 40 hours
Each of the names in Maison Margiela’s candle collection is designed to inspire a specific memory of sensibility, with notes that “are a reproduction of familiar scents and moments of varying locations and periods,” according to the haute Parisian house. A sublime option for summer, Beach Vibes melds the zing of a juicy lemon with creamy coconut milk, sweet ylang ylang topped with spicy pink pepper and finishing with an earthy musky twist.
Overose Valkiria Pink Candle
Size: 8.4 oz
Scent type: Fruity floral
Wax type: Vegan botanxy wax free of phthalates
Vessel: Porcelain
Burn time: 60 hours
Although the Overrose vessel’s signature bubble gum pink and holographic finishes may be the first thing that grabs your attention, the fresh, clean and arresting fragrance of Valkiria will quickly follow. The scent of ripe, luscious vineyard peaches, deep cedarwood and sweet and nutty figs mingle with coconut milk meld together, making it our new go-to summer candle.
Urban Apothecary London Fig Tree
Size: 10.6
Scent type: Spicy fruity
Wax type: Natural soy wax
Vessel: Hand-blown glass
Burn time: 60+ hours
Sometimes what really hits the spot is a bougie candle that feels decadent, yet isn’t a show off. Fig Tree’s fresh, unassuming scent is about as close to universally pleasing as fragrance gets, with a brew of fruity-floral violet, outdoorsy cedarwood, and one of the world’s rarest perfume ingredients, the peppery-raspberry vibes of powdery orris, all coming together to produce a lovely scent you could very happily burn all day.
Hawthorne Dark & Cozy Palo Santo Candle
Size: 7 oz.
Scent type: Woody
Wax type: Soy paraffin wax
Vessel: Matte black porcelain
Burn time: 50 hours
Everyone’s obsession with the cleansing fragrance of palo santo is here to stay and Hawthorne’s fragrant interpretation is poised to become the new It candle. Dark & Cozy Palo Santo has base notes of musky suede and earthy patchouli that dance with smoky Guaiac wood and salty Cypress tree, heightened by sweet sage and nutty cardamom for an end result that feels warm and smells like home.
Baobab Collection Black Pearls Scented Candle
Size: 3 lb with 4 wicks
Scent type: Citrus
Wax type: Paraffin wax
Vessel: Hand-blown glass
Burn time: 60 hours
Crafted in Grasse, France, the perfume capital of the world, with the highest quality natural wax, the Black Pearls Scented Candle was inspired by the natural beauty of the South Pacific. Each Baobab candle is truly one of a kind, as the paraffin wax is poured into a unique glass vessel hand-blown in Poland that doubles as a decorative vase while the rich but subtle aroma is a study of two intoxicating ingredients, ginger and black rose.
Evermore London Flore Mist & Lilac Blossom Candle
Size: 5 oz.
Scent type: Floral
Wax type: Vegan rapeseed wax
Vessel: Recycled glass
Burn time: 30 hours
This feminine aroma opens with a top note of lilac blossom, which according to lore, is believed to spark feelings of joy, happiness and harmony. Infused with petitgrain and balanced with a base of spicy clove, almondy heliotrope and sweet, exotic ylang ylang, the Evermore candle is made from a blend of vegan rapeseed and soy wax, encased within a glossy, jet-black recycled glass basin.
Le Labo The Candle Discovery Set
Size: 2 oz.
Scent type: Calone 17: Aquatic; Laurier 62: Woody; Verveine 32: Citrus
Wax type: Custom blend of waxes
Vessel: Glass
Burn time: 10 hours each
For the indecisive among us, go for a trio of Le Labo’s most popular luxury candles in delightfully varied fragrances to complement any occasion or mood. Composed of 62 ingredients, Laurier 62 is unlike any other luxury candle, ever-evolving into different notes of amber, rosemary, eucalyptus and clove as it burns. Meanwhile, Calone 17 evokes a by the sea sensibility with maritime notes mixed with geranium and amber for a stunning finish. And Verveine 32 presents an uplifting earthy scent of alpine trees.
Nomad Noé Wild In Hollywood Candle
Size: 7.8 oz
Scent type: Oud
Wax type: Blend of vegetable wax
Vessel: Matte porcelain vessel + lid
Burn time: 55 hours
Finally, a luxury candle that celebrates all the optimism, fun and joy that come with the dawn of a new year. Designed to recall New Year’s Eve in Hollywood 1932 — during the pinnacle of the Prohibition — the sultry scent has hazy notes inspired by those you’d fine in an underground speakeasy, like whiskey, citrus, clove, leather, tobacco and warm amber. But don’t wait until New Year’s Eve to light it up — you can party like it’s 1932 any time you want.
Esker Terracotta Plantable Candle
Size: 24 oz
Scent type: Warm herbaceous
Wax type: Soy wax
Vessel: Matte porcelain
Burn time: 65 hours
Daily self-care rituals are more important than ever. And Esker, a clean beauty brand devoted to elevating simple body care routines into meditative, healing rituals, understands the need to relax and destress on the regular. This is especially apparent with its new, hand-poured, soy-based candle. It’s composed of naturally calming ingredients lemon balm, white honey and coriander, all designed to restore and rejuvenate. Light this one next to your bath or bedside table for maximum relaxation.
Ellis Brooklyn Super Ego Candle
Size: 6.5 oz
Scent type: Oud
Wax type: Soy wax blend
Vessel: Recycled, lead-free hand-made glass container
Burn time: 50-60 hours
If you’re not into the idea of a traditional luxury candle but still want a rich fragrance, try the dreamy Super Ego for a moody-meets-fruity scent that’s perfect for cooler temps, but we love to fire it up all throughout the year, too. A heady base of saffron, black leather and oud paired with lighter notes of passion fruit, apple blossom and rose combine to offer just the right amount of juicy boldness.
Byredo Altar Candle
Size: 8.4 oz
Scent type: Spicy
Wax type: Red wax
Vessel: Mouth-blown glass
Burn time: 60 hours
Reissued in 2020 by popular demand, Byrdeo’s Altar candle was inspired by the childhood memories of Byredo founder, Ben Gorham, especially of his nights spent with family in Stockholm. Opulent and strong, this deeply aromatic candle will blanket your home in warm waves of clove buds and sweet floral ylang ylang, brewed with Haitian vetiver for an elegant and earthy scent.
Courtesy of FWD
Goop Edition 1 Church Candle
Size: 10.2 oz
Scent type: Woody
Wax type: Soy wax
Vessel: Matte black glass
Burn time: Up to 65 hours
This magical and highly giftable candle is composed entirely of natural elements, designed to tap into the organic healing powers of plants, flowers and trees. Described by Goop as a “sexy sense of quiet” that evokes the sacred and majestic aroma of a medieval European chapel, the scent exudes fresh cypress, calming labdanum and lightly spiced frankincense with powerful clove-leaf oil.
Tom Ford Lost Cherry Candle
Size: 21 oz.
Scent type: Spicy
Wax type: Soy wax
Vessel: Glass
Burn time: 40 hours
Known for his edgy, distinctive style, designer Tom Ford created a luxury candle with a sensual, provocative sensibility. Sweet and exotic black cherry melts into a deliciously boozy almond flavor before settling into floral Turkish rose and jasmine for a full-bodied aroma that evolves the longer it burns. And this is one we want to burn all night.
Belle Fleur Scarlet Flower Candle
Size: 7.5 oz.
Scent type: Floral
Wax type: Soy wax
Vessel: Glass
Burn time: 50 hours
This radiant floral candle pays homage to the renowned opera, “Carmen,” featuring notes of purple rose and Cassia, smoky myrrh, oud and saffron along with hints of almond and cinnamon. With a finish that is sweetly floral but with a spicy kick, you’ll happily burn this candle all day long.
Nette Chai Milk Candle
Size: 10 oz.
Scent type: Spicy
Wax type: Coconut and soy wax
Vessel: Porcelain
Burn time: 60 hours
This is not your normal chai latte scent, but Nette’s fresh take on the traditional beverage offers a vibrant burst of spices, sweetness and sophistication all rolled into one hand-poured coconut and soy wax blend luxury candle. Nette layers notes of zesty orange oil with spicy clove buds, tonka beans, cinnamon bark oil and peppery cardamom to put a punchy, indulgent spin on a classic brew.
Meet the Expert
David Moltz is one-half of the founding team of D.S. & Durga, the indie fragrance and candle brand based out of their Williamsburg, Brooklyn studio he shares with his co-founder, his wife, Kavi. Their fun-loving and unexpected scents have captured the hearts of hippies and classicists alike.
Meet the Author
Kaitlin Clark is the Beauty + Style Commerce Editor at WWD. She’s a bona fide candle fanatic who believes that there’s a candle to pair with every mood and has at least seven different brands in a constant rotation.
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