Over the years, candles have evolved from being just a staple centrepiece to treasured artisanal objects that can enhance and change your mood, from calming chamomile and lavender to relax, warm amber to set the mood, or citrusy scents to uplift your spirits. So it's no surprise that the search for candles has been rising since the start of lockdown [1] in March 2020, according to beauty wholesale marketplace Curate Beauty [2]. Partnering with machine intelligence platform Spate, they discovered that the search for candles reached 1.5 million in July with predictions to grow to two million in September (compared to only 1.3 million searches last September). A result of people spending more time at home? We think so! Whether you want to elevate your WFH [3] space or dress up your place this autumn, read on to find some of the latest and greatest scented candle finds.
Aqua di Parma Aperitivo in Terrazza
Bright yellow vessel, bright sunny scent. Aperitivo in Terrazza [4] (£54) smells exactly what it sounds like — the sunny Italian elegance of enjoying a glass of Spritz on a warm terrace, sparkling citruses, and a fresh summer breeze.
RLI Up In The Andes
Not just a candle but a luxury collectable item for interior-lovers, too, RLI Up in the Andes [5] (£45) has rich notes of blackcurrant, pine needles, aged leather, and pink pepper to elevate your home space.
Our Lovely Goods The Old Library
Inspired by the scent of an old classic book, Our Lovely Goods The Old Library [6] (£20) 100 percent natural and vegan candle has notes of earthy teakwood, warm honeysuckle, and rich amber, making it the ultimate comforting and cocooning scent to curl up to on a crisp evening by the fireplace.
Saint Fragrance London Balearic Isle Candle
Radiant, balmy and warm, the newly launched Saint Fragrance London Balearic Isle Candle [7] (£42) has a soft and exotic scent of tuberose, creamy coconut, warm amber, and sandalwood.
Jo Malone London Fragrance Layered Candle - The Tantalising One
If you're looking for a new striking centrepiece look no further than Jo Malone London Fragrance Layered Candle - The Tantalising One [8] (£150). Blending two of their most popular fragrances into one candle, the layers of wax are hand-poured for alternating scents that mesh beautifully together. The combination of mellow English Pear & Freesia and fresh Lime Basil & Mandarin creates a lively atmosphere.
Flickerwick Arabica Fresh Coffee Candle
Hand-poured and made from 100 percent natural soy wax, the Flickerwick Arabica Fresh Coffee Candle [9] (£15) will fill your home with the warm, invigorating scent of just-ground coffee beans, while notes of cream and sugar add just the right amount of mouthwatering sweetness to the mix.
Bable Lemon Hand Painted Candle
Ideal for dinner parties, these tapered candles have been meticulously hand-painted, making them the prettiest dinner table accessory yet. The Bable Lemon Hand Painted Candle [10] (£10 and up) is our favourite, but you can also choose from other designs including pink strawberry, cherries, leopard print, or floral. Unscented but beautiful, they're almost too good looking to burn.
Anine Bing Pure Noir Candle
Fashion designer Anine Bing came out with her second fragrance this autumn, and tacked on a candle version for good measure. The Anine Bing Pure Noir Candle [11] (£49) fills your home with a mysterious, sensual scent — like the kind you might find at a chic boutique hotel in Paris or Copenhagen — and sees black baccarat rose and black pepper absolute combined with saffron and nutmeg, all layered over earthy, woody bottom notes.
Sun.Day of London VII. Memento Mori
Made with a blend of essential oils, this new earthy scent from botanical candle brand — Sun.Day of London, VII. Memento Mori (£26) [12] — has notes of delicate coriander and fennel with rich green oakmoss, grounding frankincense, and heady vetiver.
Kalmar Love Scented Candle
The Kalmar Love Scented Candle [13] (£45) is the best accessory to practice self-love with. The soothing candle was created to heal the mind, body, and soul and boost your confidence — bringing on positivity and uplifting your spirits. Cool and crisp jasmine leads into heady ylang-ylang, romantic rose, powdery musk, and rich vanilla.
& Other Stories Ode À La Paresse
Relax and restore with this delectable home fragrance, & Other Stories Ode à la Paresse [14] (£23), that meets bright lemon, black pepper, and wild fig before nestling into warm violet and incense for the perfect twilight [15] scent.
The White Company Autumn Large Candle
This fabulous three-wick The White Company Autumn Candle [16] (£60) makes for a great gift or coffee table piece, with its bright and fruity scent that blends crisp pear and apricot with warm musk and amber to welcome in the new season.
Phena London Dusk
Calling all vegans and eco-warriors: you'll love this candle that uses waste cooking oil from vegan cafés and restaurants and turns it into an aromatherapeutic candle. Phena London Dusk [17] (£36) soothes the senses with notes of lavender, chamomile, and clary sage. Plus, 10 percent of proceeds for the rest of the month will go toward the environmental campaigning community Friends of the Earth [18].
Christian Dior Eau Noire
Splurge on a designer candle with this delicious dark option from Dior to light as the sun goes down. The Christian Dior Eau Noire Candle [19] (£75) imbues the home with their signature unisex fragrance that has notes of lavender, vanilla, and cedar.
Auli London Cedrello Citron Candle
If you're not quite ready to say goodbye to summer, you need this captivating, light, and zesty candle. The Auli London Cedrello Citron [20] (£48) features bright citrus and white florals to transport you back to warm and balmy summer days.
Neom Organics Bedtime Hero 3-Wick Candle
Prepare for your best night's sleep yet with Neom Organics' latest launch, the Neom Organics Bedtime Hero 3-Wick Candle [21] (£46). Made for those who want to relax but don't like the smell of lavender, this one's formulated with chamomile, ylang-ylang, and cedarwood instead.
Dandydill Way Wild Pear Blossom Candle
If you love to burn candles but are conscious of having a clean burn around children or pets, this 100 percent natural Wild Pear Blossom Candle [22] (£28) that uses an unbleached cotton wick is your solution. Created by childcare brand Dandydill Way, the delectable scent of wild pear tree blossom, warm vanilla, and delicate florals fills the room with toxic-free scent.
Boy Smells Pride Anjelica
There's never a time to stop celebrating Pride, and you can bring a little joy and colour to your home with Boy Smells' Pride edit. We love the ripe and regal Pride Anjelica [23] (£37) — blended with Sicilian lemon, bitter orange, powdery musk, and angelica seed, housed in a fun, mint-green vessel.
Byredo Tree House
Autumnal scents are green, earthy, and crisp, which is exactly what the Byredo Tree House Candle [24] (£57) encapsulates. Cedar, bamboo, and sandalwood blend together for a spicy, fresh, and woody fragrance.
Liha Queen Idia Candle
While Liha Beauty gained a loyal following for their skin-pampering oils and butters, the brand's only candle is not to be missed. The Liha Queen Idia Candle [25] (£32) — inspired by the famous Yoruba queen of the same name — smells of geranium and frankincense, as well as lavender and hibiscus that help replicate the scent of soft African Moss. And just like the company's skin care, the candle is chemical-free as it's made from a clean burning sustainable coconut wax blend.
Lelo Flickering Touch Massage Candle Vanilla & Crème de Cacáo
Not just any old candle, Lelo's Flickering Touch Massage Candle in Vanilla & Crème de Cacáo [26] (£25) melts down to a nourishing skin-friendly massage oil with a deliciously sweet and musky scent, perfect for couples. This one's for the lovers.
Jo Loves Fig Trees Home Candle
Bring the outdoors in with this fresh, green candle inspired by the Italian mountainside with Jo Loves Fig Trees Home Candle [27] (£55). Fresh, ripe figs meet sweet cassis and earthy amber for a candle that transports you to a sunny Mediterranean location.
Eym. Create Candle
If you're still WFH and need a new candle to inspire and uplift, try Eym's clarifying Create Candle [28] (£39). The invigorating and zesty notes of orange, bergamot, and black pepper have aromatherapeutic benefits which energise, improve cognitive function, and reduce stress levels.
Aery Living Happy Space
The ultimate candle to uplift your mood. Using the finest sustainable ingredients, the Aery Living Happy Space Candle [29] (£25) creates a clean and long-lasting burn. From lead-free cotton wicks, biodegradable soy wax, recyclable packaging, and nontoxic plant based ink, this one's for conscious beauty-lovers.
Earl of East Ceramic Shinrin-Yoku Candle
Indie candle brand Earl of East has launched a clever refill initiative, housing two signature scents in a ceramic vessel. The Shin-rin Yoku Candle [30] (£50) is inspired by the Japanese ritual of forest bathing, notes of cedarwood, oakmoss, and black pepper transports you to the outdoors.
Diptyque Paris en Fleur Candle
You can't go wrong with a classic Diptyque candle, and the new Diptyque Paris en Fleur [31] (£30) scent, housed in a beautiful floral vessel, doesn't disappoint. If you love the smell of fresh roses, delicate flurry petals, and patchouli, this one's for you.
Woodwick Mountain Air Candle
Featuring three layers of delicious fragrance, the Woodwick Mountain Air Candle [32] (£20 and up) takes you on an olfactory journey inspired by the cool smell of a mountain top. Black peppercorn, wood smoke, lavender, and cedar notes blend together for a long-lasting and unique burn.
Espa Restorative Candle
If you're in need of a restful mind and mood, light Espa's Restorative Candle [33] (£35) that uses natural soy wax and a blend of aromatherapy oils to restore harmony and centre your mind.
Sister & Co Holly Candle
An ideal candle to light up this autumn, the Sister & Co Holly Candle [34] (£25) is one part spicy, one part sweet with a blend of cardamom, lemon, black pepper, lavender, cedarwood, and ginger essential oil. Made with a base of 100 percent natural coconut and rapeseed wax and a natural cotton wick, the candle is also free of petroleum, parabens, and phthalates. Even better? £1 from every candle sold will be donated to Solace Women's Aid [35], a domestic violence charity here in the UK.
7 Over 7 Knowing Alpine
Crisp pine, grapefruit, and grounding patchouli makes 7 Over 7's Knowing Alpine [36] (£65) the perfect autumnal scent. Handcrafted in a boho ceramic vessel, this earthy scent brings clarity to the mind and soul.