The 20 best candle brands of 2024: Where to buy candles (2024)

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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

The brand has a variety of scents, from seasonal Crushed Candy Cane to timeless Santal Vanille, and each candle is hand-poured in California with a coconut-wax blend. Voluspa is a longtime favorite; 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.

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Otherland

Where to buy: Otherland, Anthropologie

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.

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 Adorned or Gilded collections; we can't stop lighting Forest Veil, a beautiful wintery mix of cedar, sandalwood, and vetiver.

If you can't quite decide, you can build a three-pack and save 18%. Choose from signature (white gift box with artwork) or eco-friendly and recyclable packaging. Both include a complimentary matchbox.

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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. 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.

If you're vigilant enough to check for its annual limited-edition city candle collection, which usually sells out fast, you can score decor-worthy candles featuring aromas that will transport you to Tokyo or Berlin from the comfort of your living room. You'll also find limited edition pop-up collections throughout the year and exquisite accessories to bolster your candle-burning experience.

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Capri Blue

Where to buy: 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.

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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.

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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.

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Nest New York

Where to buy: Nest NY, Amazon, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's

Nest 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.

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Hotel Lobby Candle

Where to buy: Hotel Lobby Candle, Neiman Marcus

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 to the high-quality materials. 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 sells out on launch day. The Signature scent 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. For something seasonal, get cozy with Cabin, an earthy mix of smoked oud and forest wood with a hint of peppercorn.

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Homesick

Where to buy: Homesick, Amazon, Nordstrom, Macy's

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 specific 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 Ski Trip, Pumpkin Picking, and Grandma's Kitchen. Homesick also offers up several pop culture collaborations, from the Barbie Dreamhouse candle to the Harry Potter Platform 9 ¾ Candle.

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. The artful outer packaging, however, makes for a fabulous gift.

Read our full Homesick Candles review.

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Boy Smells

Where to buy: Boy Smells, Amazon, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, Sephora

With a marketing mission to make its candles "genderful" — as opposed to specifically targeting men or women — Matthew Herman and David Kien launched Boy Smells in 2016. Though a relative newcomer on the candle block, the brand has a devoted following thanks to its unique black candles with pink labels. Plus, they smell great, with a sophisticated scent palette. The candles use a coconut and beeswax formula, with the 8.5-ounce vessels offering about a 50-hour burn time. Votive trios and a 27-ounce magnum are also widely available options.

Boy Smells may be best known for its signature candles that include scents you won't find anywhere else. The popular Kush predictably smells of pot mixed with suede, white musk, tulip, and amber. Celebrity partnerships include Kacey Musgraves' Slow Burn collection, described as a spicy and smoky blend of incense and raspberry. Meanwhile, a collaboration with actor and singer Grace Jones opts for a spicy and earthy scent profile featuring black pepper, freesia, water lily, cedarwood, and salted musk that celebrates the idea of gender fluidity, with a nod to Jones' Jamaican homeland.

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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 $10 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.

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Harlem Candle Company

Where to buy: Amazon, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue

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 Ellington candle pays homage to the jazz legend Duke Ellington with scents of bergamot, cinnamon, sage, lavender, crystalline amber, and more.

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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.

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, which come 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 holiday decor or just adding spruce to 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.

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Le Labo

Where to buy: Le Labo, Nordstrom

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.

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Bath & Body Works

Where to buy: Bath & Body Works

Bath & Body Works has long been known for its scented candles with a loyal fan base. But if you haven't looked at its candles for several years, you might be surprised at how much the shop has upped its branding game. Striking glass jars with three-wick candles and elegant labels are not only worthy of sitting out on the coffee table, but they will also last you months and are an excellent value.

Between a rotation of signature and seasonal scents, Bath & Body Works constantly keeps things fresh by constantly releasing new decorative containers.

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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).

Each candle comes in a simple glass jar or tin. Fun holiday options come in gold jars, like Mistletoe (smells like a silent wingman). To help find your perfect candle, the interactive Discover Quiz matches you (or your recipient) to the perfect scent.

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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 empowering messages printed on the label and have splashy names. The I See It, I Like It candle is an ode to queen Ariana Grande that smells deliciously of Mandarin orange, peach, grapefruit, red currant, vanilla, and orange, while the What Would Dolly Do with pear, agave, powder, rose, cherry blossom, dark musk, and amber is more powdery and fresh forward.

Many of the maximalist designs feature original details like biodegradable glitter, sprinkles, and special wax additions in fun shapes like donuts. If you gravitate toward sweet or fruity scents, you'll love Candier.

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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.

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L'or de Seraphine

Where to buy: L'or de Seraphine, Amazon, Bloomingdale's

At L'or de Seraphine, you're choosing your candle because you're obsessed with its vessel and its accompanying scent. These ceramic jar candles with a domed lid are highly giftable and gorgeous to display at home. And once you burn through, the empty candle can easily transition into a keepsake vessel.

The brand also has collaborations with interior designer Sheila Bridges, textile designer Lori Weitzner, and a special edition just for Bloomingdale's lovers that captures the essence of the store's NYC flagship.

The brand uses an environmentally-friendly RSPO-certified palm wax blend, sourced close to its manufacturer in Vietnam. The wax has a high melting point and a very clean burn, and it is compatible with essential oils.

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D.S. & Durga

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 Spirit Lamp smells like "the flame on a silver tea service in a place of ill repute in colonial era Boston." It's an unconventional metallic scent with notes of hot metal, coconut milk, and musk.

The brand also creates limited edition batches, like Portable Xmas Tree, which will recreate a realistic pine and spruce scent among the best artificial Christmas trees. I've personally experienced a past limited edition, Lightable Latkes, which quite literally smelled of fried potatoes in oil with a sprinkle of citrus. Spot on.

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