The 25 best candle brands to know about in 2025 — from under-the-radar gems to the classics
The right scent or candle can make a lasting impression on your home and decor. They're also a go-to as a classic gifts for birthdays, holidays, housewarmings, thank yous, and other occasions.
Whether you're after a signature scent or love exploring up-and-coming candle brands, our guide to the best place to buy candles is a testament that you can never have too many candles — you'll want to try all of these amazing options. The best candle brands are based on our team's collective love for good candles and our own experiences. We've sniffed and lit our way through tens of dozens candles — my candle cabinet as I lovingly refer to it is bursting at the seams. Beyond beautiful fragrance at first sniff, high-quality materials, good throw (how well a scent fills a room), unique, tantalizing scents, and sustainable practices helped influence our favorites.
Fragrance preference is personal; whether you love fruity notes, like to keep it fresh and simple, or want a signature woodsy scent wafting through your home — we've got you covered in terms of the best scented candles. For other great ways to bring scent into your home, try one of the best essential oil diffusers or the best reed diffuser for a constant stream of long-lasting fragrance.
The best candle brands
Voluspa
Where to buy: Voluspa, Amazon, Anthropologie, Nordstrom
Known for their textured jars and patterned tins, Voluspa candles are great for gifting. The thick glass and embossed exterior make each one feel like a statement piece. Plus, the jars are sturdy and attractive enough to be repurposed once your candle burns through.
Voluspa also introduced candle refills on a number of its classics scents to reduce waste and make it more affordable to continue buying a favorite scent.
Voluspa has a number has a number of scents, from cozy and fall-ready Spiced Pumpkin Latte to the bright and citrusy Goji Tarocco Orange. We're particularly eyeing the brand's latest Wicked collaboration, with a scent selected for both Elphaba and Glinda. Each candle is hand-poured in California with a coconut-wax blend. Voluspa is a longtime favorite of BI editors; we loved how the scents diffused throughout the room without becoming overpowering and evenly burned in their vessels…no tunneling here.
Voluspa candles come in many shapes and sizes, depending on your budget and how much candle you're after, from a 4-ounce mini tin to a show-stopping five-wick 123-ounce vessel with 250 hours of burn time. The Voluspa website makes it easy to shop by favorite scent, fragrance profile, or product type.
Worth a look:
Hotel Lobby Candle
Where to buy: Hotel Lobby Candle, Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie
Hotel Lobby Candle has shown me that it's OK to be a candle snob. Founded by Lindsay Silberman, a lifestyle and travel influencer, and her husband, the idea emerged from staying home during the pandemic: bring the scents of their favorite hotels and destinations home. Hotel Lobby Candle is a testament to their top travel hotel experiences and has some of the loveliest scents I've come across. They are fragrant but not overpowering, effortlessly fill the room, and burn gorgeously in reusable glass vessels.
Detail is everything with these candles, from the impeccable packaging (topped with a bow) to the high-quality ingredients. Each candle is made of natural soy wax derived from US-grown soybeans and a combination of phthalate-free essential oils and fragrance oils that adhere to RIFM and IFRA standards for fragrance safety and purity.
Hotel Lobby has developed a loyal following and often sell out on launch day. They've since expanded into reed diffusers, handsoap, and even perfume. The Signature scent put Hotel Lobby on the scent map and is inspired by luxury hotels with a spicy mix of agarwood, vetiver, atlas cedar, amber, and white musk. I was drawn to the gorgeous Linen candle, a fresh blend of pink pepper, linen, sandalwood, iris, and vetiver that lingers with just a hint of sweetness. It's a true under-rated gem. For fall, I'm lighting the complex Paris Nuit candle, a woody and spicy scent that captures the feeling of a dimly-lit cocktail bar.
Worth a look:
Malin + Goetz
Where to buy: Malin + Goetz, Amazon, Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom
If you've already heard of Malin + Goetz, it's either because you love their deodorant or you already know about its viral Cannabis candle, with its deliciously grassy scent and deep brownish-green wax. The brand makes some of the best-smelling candles (and body products) we've ever experienced, with sophisticated scents that fill the entire room. The candles are hand-poured in Brooklyn with an even, slow burn that lasts 60 hours. Explore its richer and more masculine fragrances like Leather and Dark Rum, along with brighter and fruitier offerings like Strawberry, Tomato, or Bergamot.
What we like most is that the fragrances aren't exactly what you'd expect on the nose. The Strawberry candle, for example, has notes of pink pepper, jasmine, and red fruits — nothing like the plasticky, artificial strawberry scent a cheaper brand may evoke. They make beautiful gifts, but if our experience is an example, you might want to buy two and keep one for yourself.
Worth a look:
Otherland
Where to buy: Otherland
Great for gifting or as a treat to yourself, Otherland candles have become a top choice among millennials thanks to their beautiful packaging, art-forward labels, and reusable vessels, coupled with unique, long-lasting scents. Otherland uses a hand-poured signature blend of coconut and soy wax; on average, its eight-ounce candles offer a 55-hour burn time. Each vessel has a lid, which should not be used to extinguish the flame.
They recently halved their pricing, and 8 ounce candles are now just $20, which is an extremely good value. Each candle also ships with a complimentary matchbox inspired by the art of the candle
The Core Collection represents the Otherland essentials, with popular scents including Rattan, a blend of sandalwood, amber, and musk, or Chandelier, with Champagne, leather, and saffron scents. Or feel decadent with limited collections like the Beach or Gilded collections. I particularly love lighting Forest Veil, a wintry mix of cedar, sandalwood, and vetiver as soon as the temperatures drop.
Worth a look:
Capri Blue
Where to buy: Capri Blue, Amazon, Anthropologie, Nordstrom
Whether you want a simple candle with a clean scent for under $10 or a fancy and colorful jar to display or gift, Capri Blue has options for you.
If the brand sounds familiar, it may be because it makes Anthropologie's signature scent, Volcano, which the stores burn all day, every day. The captivating fragrance is a perfect blend of sugared citrus and tropical fruits. It's so renowned that it's available in body care like lip balm, lotion, and even laundry detergent.
There are 48-ounce jumbo jars that burn up to 100 hours, decorative mini tins, 19-ounce signature tins in colors from soothing blue to bubblegum pink, chic glass jars, and more. Scents equally run the gamut, from floral Aloha Orchid to smoky Havana Vanilla.
Worth a look:
Element Brooklyn
Where to buy: Element Brooklyn
Element Brooklyn prides itself on combining affordability, sustainability, and luxury by effectively replicating your favorite designer scents from the most popular candles, lotions, and hand soaps from Diptyque to Aesop at a fraction of the retail price.
The candle offerings live in beautiful, colored glass jars, or you can opt for candle refills, which are also designed to fit in the original vessel. The $23 In Full Bloom candle ($17.50 refill) perfectly captures the Diptyque Baies scent with notes of blackcurrant, rose, and cedar. On the other end of the scent spectrum, The Campfire Stereo Candle is a great dupe of REPLICA's By the Fireplace. The Soy blend wax blend candles with cotton wicks have a beautiful cold throw and effortlessly fill the room when lit. The brand is also plastic negative and cruelty-free.
Read our full Element Brooklyn review.
Worth a look:
Homesick
Where to buy: Homesick, Amazon
Scent ties memories to a specific place or moment in time, and Homesick capitalizes on this notion with carefully curated candles that bring you the scent of a favorite place, celebration, or memory. The brand features fragrances based on every US state, plus many popular cities and countries. It even has aromas to remind you of specific moments and favorite memories, such as Tennis League, Grandma's Kitchen, or Euro Trip. Homesick also offers up several pop culture collaborations, from the KFC Bucket of Chicken candle to the Harry Potter Platform 9 ¾ Candle , and even capturing the zeitgeist of a visit to Emerald City For those trying to recreate a moment not identified by Homesick, you can customize your own; go freestyle with a label and pair with one of five scents.
Each natural soy wax blend candle is 13.75 ounces with a 60-80 hour burn time and comes in a simple glass jar with a distinct black-and-white label. You can also personalize each candle with a message of your choosing. The artful outer packaging, however, makes for a fabulous gift.
Read our full Homesick Candles review.
Worth a look:
NEST New York
Where to buy: NEST NY, Amazon, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's
NEST New York candles easily add to your decor thanks to their simple but elegant glass holders. Plus, they all arrive in attractive boxes, making them a nice option for gifting.
You can choose from large three-wick options, small minis, or classic single-wick candles, depending on your budget. Nest offers festive options like Holiday Classic and complex aromas that work year-round, like Moroccan Amber. In fact, NEST's Holiday Scent has the distinction of being top selling prestige candle in the US for two years in a row, according to research from Circana, and it's only available for a limited period throughout the year.
Worth a look:
Flamingo Estate
Where to buy: Flamingo Estate, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's
There's a certain lifestyle that I envision when I light a Flamingo Estate candle. With its unique, fresh-forward scents, I'm transported to the countryside or a villa on a summer's day. In fact, Flamingo Estate is an entire lifestyle brand, inspired by founder Richard's lush Los Angeles estate. There, they produce olive oil, honey, body care products, and more, which feature ingredients sourced from its network of over 120 farms. Candles are a standout, made of hand-poured vegetable wax in a sleek green glass vessel with a logo sticker on one side and an etching on the other.
Tomato candles are having a moment, and the brand's Roma Heirloom Tomato Candle is fresh and bright, with an earthy aroma that transports me to a vegetable garden. Adriatic Muscatel Sage Candle awakens my senses, and takes me right to my spice drawer with its intense herbal scent.
Worth a look:
LAFCO
Where to buy: LAFCO, Amazon, Bloomingdale's
When I asked my colleagues about their favorite candle brands, several leaped at the chance to tell me about LAFCO, which stands for Luxury Articles and Fragrance Company. The company was inspired by the European tradition of botanical-based fragrances and formulations. I had the chance to meet founder and lead perfumer Jon Bresler, and is passion for scent and deep fragrance knowledge was evident from the start.
These candles use premium, chemical-free ingredients like 100% cotton wicks, essential oils, and non-toxic soy wax. The 6.5-ounce size burns up to 50 hours, but you can also choose 1.9, 4, 15.5, and 30-ounce sizes.
What makes them a favorite around our office are the gorgeous, hand-blown glass jars, from in shiny, candy-apple reds and deep and nuanced cerulean blues that can easily be repurposed and reused. These candles are eye-catching and sure to steal the show, whether they're part of your decor or just adding to spruce up your home office.
However, their rich, layered fragrances continue the sensory experience. For instance, the bespoke ABSOLUTE collection uses a complex process of extraction and concentration rooted in 18th-century French perfumery practices where freshly harvested flowers are absorbed within sheets of lard or tallow and then continuously replenished until the desired fragrance saturation is reached. This is evidenced in the Lavender Flower Candle, featuring lavender harvested from Provence, France, with a "honeyed sweetness" mixed with herbal notes.
Meanwhile, their Source and Story Collection highlights the makers and ingredients indigenous to their communities, like the Madagascar Geranium Bourbon, which is sourced from a farm in Madagascar and offers a fresh, yet spicy aroma.
Worth a look:
Cue
Who knew you could reinvent the way a candle burns? Cue did, and its "Open Wick" technology delivers a cleaner and more even burn — it's also fascinating to see. Once lit, the OpenWick design unfolds into two self-trimming wicks to reduce soot buildup and creates an even pool of wax that prevents tunneling. The scent, even in a small tin, spreads further, too. The candles are made of a soy and coconut wax blend; they are vegan, non-toxic, paraben-free, and cruelty-free. Cue sells its candles in five sizes, from 3.5-ounce tins to 14-ounce glass jars. Some of the white tins feel a little bit plain and minimalist in design, but the scents are where the brand shines.
The candle that I'm buying on repeat is the Apple Rose. My first taste of the scent (combining rose, apple, pear and plumeria) was in just the small tin, and I lit it in small, short bursts to help the scent last. Thankfully, it had a lengthy runtime of 20 hours. For fall, I'm curious about Autumn Leaves and Plum to set the tone with notes of amber wood, plum, and clove, accentuated with cinnamon and sweet orange.
Worth a look:
Literie Candle
Scent tells a story and captures a moment. Literie Candle achieves this in the cheekiest way, like I have a house in the Hamptons (I wish, but my house can smell like I do with a sweet and sweet mix of rose and melon)" or the very relatable mood in I bought another houseplant, a green lemon leaves scent. The brand launched just four years ago as a love letter to New York City — as you'll notice many of the candles tie back to the feeling of New York City, like Bodega Coffee (espresso and cream) and Afternoon in Central Park (bergamot and grass). Literie has also secured unique licenses that span nostalgia with Clueless or Mean Girls to sports partnerships like the US Open or NYC Marathon.
Made of vegan soy and coconut wax blend, the candle burns so evenly and delivers a room-filling throw. Each is housed in a minimalist 9-ounce white jar with subtle labels. Some scents are also offered as two-ounce littles. When you purchase directly from Literie, you can also add a free video note, which is a unique offering if you plan to send the candle as a gift.
Worth a look:
La Jolie Muse
Where to buy: La Jolie Muse, Amazon
The next time you're looking for that perfectly giftable candle, La Jolie Muse is where you'll want to place your bets. It features affordably priced candles packaged in beautiful glass lidded jars that are perfect for repurposing once you burn through the candles. La Jolie Muse has a special collection exclusively with Amazon and can also be found at specialty stores.
The scents are unique, too, spanning warm and spicy to green or floral. The Mandarin Matcha is more subtle in nature; it's earthy and citrus-forward with a touch of floral. Meanwhile, the Sahara Ambre is a great autumnal scent with bergamot, apple, spicy cinnamon, heliotrope, patchouli, vanilla, and amber scent.
Worth a look:
Diptyque
Where to buy: Diptyque, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus
French fragrance company Diptyque is practically synonymous with luxury candles and has been perfecting the art of candle making for over 60 years. Though pricey, its options exude effortless elegance in both looks and scents. They've also taken extra efforts to be more sustainable and responsibly sourced by making all their raw ingredients traceable. Classic favorites like the Baies scent (berries) make for excellent gifts (they've long been my go-to housewarming gift), and the colorful glass and ceramic candle jars will win you compliments.
You'll also find limited edition pop-up collections throughout the year and exquisite accessories to bolster your candle-burning experience.
Worth a look:
Mrs. Meyer's
Where to buy: Amazon, Target, Walmart
Mrs. Meyer's is most well-known for soaps and cleaning supplies. But the brand also makes simple candles that will leave your house smelling fresh and clean. While the candles may not come in fancy containers, they're under $12 and smell great. If you want something that looks a little nicer, you can also opt for the small tins with cute illustrations.
The candles also use soy and vegetable wax, and the glass jars can be repurposed once you're done burning. Choose from crisp scents like Honeysuckle, Lemon Verbena, Basil Soy, and more that match its popular soap and cleaning products.
Worth a look:
Jo Malone
Where to buy: Jo Malone, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Sephora
This luxury British fragrance brand likely makes the perfume worn by your effortlessly cool (and rich) friend. The same delicious and layered scents can also be found in its candle collections.
The beautifully scented candles are housed in simple glass jars that are more timeless than wow-worthy. But that can be a plus if you're seeking a decor-neutral option that's still sophisticated. Each arrives in a gift-worthy box.
As you might expect, these candles don't come cheap. For a more affordable option, you can opt for a travel-size candle. The scent will still pack a sweet punch even in a smaller size.
Worth a look:
Anecdote
Where to buy: Anecdote Candles, Amazon
Need a last-minute but fun birthday gift or still racking your brain for what to bring to your friend's virtual housewarming party? Anecdote Candles are just the ticket.
There are humorous scents for all occasions, and the descriptions of what each candle smells like are even funnier than the names. Options include Quarter-Life Crisis (smells like all panic and no disco), Bottomless Mimosas (smells like good vibes and fresh gossip), and Old Flame (smells like bad mistakes and repeat offenders).
Ranging from $14-$34, each candle comes in a simple glass jar, tumbler or tin. To help find your perfect candle, the interactive Discover Quiz matches you (or your recipient) to the perfect scent. The brand also has a custom candle generator that is powered by AI. You create your own "anecdote" aka label by inputting your mood or the moment you're looking to create, but like Homesick, you are limited to five scents.
Worth a look:
Free Yourself
Where to buy: Free Yourself, Amazon
Candles at their core should improve our well-being, help us unwind, and let us get lost in the scent. Free Yourself follows the principles of nature and emphasizes mindfulness, offering just four scents in candle and perfume form: Air (grapefruit, ginger, vetiver), Feu (cinnamon, neroli, cedarwood), Eau (pink pepper, blackcurrant, orange blossom), and Terre (saffron, davana, amber). Each fragrance is developed by master perfumers in Grasse, France. The Eau fragrance I tried is fresh and instantly transports me to a relaxed state.
Details are at the core of the experience. Free Yourself partnered with Farmhouse Pottery in Woodstock, Vermont, to create its hand-thrown ceramic vessels that can be repurposed into a cup or planter. The ceramics are offered in 12-ounce, 30-ounce, and 60-ounce sizes, while the smaller 4-ounce and 10-ounce are glass. Free Yourself is one of very few candle brands that shares the full ingredients list of its fragrances. The packaging is also splashed with habits and mindsets to free yourself from personal concerns like overanalyzing or envy, to larger societal issues like global warming or fascism — a reminder of the open mindset these candles aim to place you in.
The candles are not particularly affordable (the ceramic candles start at $95), but I feel that, with the brand's attention to detail, if you're looking for a splurge, it is well worth it. Also, 10% of profits go to initiatives supporting environmental stewardship, social well-being, education, and the arts.
Worth a look:
WoodWick
Where to buy: Amazon, Kohl's, Walmart
The signature of WoodWick is their wooden wicks, which make a crackling sound while they burn, reminiscent of listening to a nearby cozy fire. It's a multi-sensory experience that brings together smell, sound, and sight. The candles are remarkably affordable too — a medium nine ounce candle typically costs under $20 — and are made of a soy and parrafin wax blend.
Scents span from woody classics like Fraser Fir that transport you to a campfire in the mountains to the gourmand like Cafe Sweets Trilogy, a trio of vanilla bean, caramel and biscotti that are layered and uniquely blend into each other as the candles burn.
Worth a look:
Harlem Candle Company
Where to buy: Amazon
Harlem Candle Company's signature 12-ounce candles burn for up to 80 hours in opulently designed glass vessels, but what sets them apart are the accompanying backstories. Harlem Candle Company is the brainchild of lifestyle and travel expert Teri Johnson. Each one is named for a historical spot and person with ties to Harlem, where the candles are also made.
For example, the Savoy candle highlights the iconic Savoy Ballroom, evoking a glitzy nightlife scene via rich notes of blackcurrant, Mandarin, green apple, and juicy pear, along with Lily of the Valley, jasmine petals, and sandalwood. The Lady Day candle is inspired by the incomparable Billie Holiday, a floral gardenia scent accented with lush green leaves, neroli, and bergamot.
Worth a look:
Le Labo
Where to buy: Le Labo, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue
Le Labo is beloved for its complex fragrances and rejection of standard perfume practices, with a scientific precision rooted in craftsmanship and special attention to ingredients and customization. What started as a perfumery where each perfume is freshly created at the in-store laboratory, hand-blended, and bottled, has expanded into a beloved home fragrance with a cult-like following. All of Le Labo's fragrances use the main ingredient as the name.
The Santal Collection is one of its best-known scents, and you can opt for the rich scent of sandalwood with a leathery and smoky sensation in a classic glass jar, concrete holder, mini trio, or as a vintage look with an expertly crumpled tin can option. You can even personalize the label, the date, and your name for an extra-special touch when purchased directly from Le Labo. All candles are hand-poured in Mississippi.
Worth a look:
Where to buy: D.S. & Durga, Amazon, Neiman Marcus
When a married self-taught perfumer and an architect come together, you get D.S. and Durga, a brand that uses the power of scent to create narratives. Its founders, David and Kavi Moltz have become celebrities among the fragrance world with their particular, but not too stuffy approach to creating a fragrance house.
The candles, showstoppers on their own merit, are housed in amber-colored glass vessels with a white graphic label, creating an eye-catching effect. The 7-ounce candles are made of soy-vegetable wax with a cotton wick, promising up to 60 hours of burn time.
Mainstays include Big Sur After Rain, bringing together eucalyptus, wet wood, and rainwater to emulate the quiet and calming mood following a rainstorm, while Be Still Candle explores the spirituality of meditation with it's incense forward scent. The pairings are ultimately abstract and unexpected; a fragrance experience like none other.
Worth a look:
Candier
Where to buy: Candier by Ryan Porter, Amazon, Ulta
If Candier candles were given a persona, they would be the life of the party. These colorful and highly fragranced candles feature engaging messages printed on the label and have splashy names. The signature Calm the F Down candle combines notes of cherry blossom and sandalwood, while the Matcha My Freak is made in small batches of 150 candles with scent notes of matcha, brown sugar, and vanilla. It's handpoured with realistic gel "ice cubes" and boba.
Many of the maximalist designs feature original details like biodegradable glitter, sprinkles, and special wax additions in fun shapes like donuts to flowers. If you gravitate toward sweet or fruity scents, you'll love Candier. Feeling adventurous? Try your luck with a Blind Box candle. College students and those living in apartments with open flame restrictions will obsess over the dormables collection, wickless candles designed to be used with warming lamps.
Worth a look:
54Celsius
Where to buy: 54Celsius, Amazon, Etsy
54Celsius places the designer of the candle front in the center of its product lineup, putting an emphasis on detail, and resulting in unexpected candle designs that are meant to be proudly displayed as art pieces. There is no limit as to what can be done with wax here, with the brand working with emerging designers, artists, and craftspeople to develop beautiful and unexpected products.
54Celsius holds collaborations with the iconic Lex Pott and his social-media darling Twist candle. You'll want to check out the intriguing PyroPets, an animal-shaped candle mold that, when melted down, reveals a metal skeleton. There are also Buon Appetito food-shaped candles — think cupcakes, baguettes, and wine bottles — made in Italy to consider, or CandleCans, novelty scented candles deftly sculpted into shapes like berries, chocolate, and beans in a tin.
For such complicated shapes, each product arrived well-packaged in recyclable or compostable packaging, and they all feature intentional, traceable candle ingredients.