15 best scented candles for a delicious-smelling home

Scented candles are a quick and easy way to change the feel of your home. As the nights get longer, candles can fill our homes with smells that are synonymous with holidays. If you’re longing for the return of lazy summer days on the beach, scents that evoke memories of the sea can transport you there in next to no time. On the other hand, notes like cinnamon and ginger can give a cosy, winter atmosphere.

If you’re looking for candles that have a particularly strong scent, ones made with paraffin wax are the best. A more environmentally-friendly option is soy wax as it doesn't contain pollutants. As the wax burns at a lower temperature, soy wax candles tend to last longer too.

Want a home that smells lovely all year round? We've scoured the Mumsnet forums and expert review sites to reveal the very best scented candles to buy this year.

1. Best overall scented candle: Yankee Candle Pink Sands Scented Candle

Price: £19.99 for 623g | Buy now from Amazon

“Pink Sands is my absolute fave. Sweet and fresh.” thequeenbeyondthewall

When it comes to scented candles, most people instantly think of Yankee Candle. With over 200 scents to choose from and a wide variety of shapes and sizes on offer - from small votives that are perfect if you want to try out a new scent, to large candles in a jar which give up to 150 hours of burn time - there’s bound to be a Yankee Candle to suit your taste.

Pink Sands, a popular choice among Mumsnetters, is a mix of sweet florals, citrus and spicy vanilla notes, which will whisk you away to an exotic island even when it’s chilly outside.

Key specs

• Weight: 623g

• Wax type: Paraffin wax

2. Best budget scented candle: Aldi Pomegranate Glass Candle

Price: £3.49 for 310g | Buy now from Aldi

“I had a gorgeous one from Aldi. It had a strong scent and the nice pot came in handy afterwards.” MissBattleaxe

If you’re looking for a cheap but stylish candle, Aldi’s range of budget-friendly scented candles is the one for you. The candles come in a variety of fragrances and sizes to help you give your home a lovely ambience, as well as a glass jar with a metal lid which can be reused once the candle is finished.

The lid can also be used as a surface protector when the candle is lit, and to trap the fragrance when it isn’t in use. We particularly like the Pomegranate offering for its subtle but fruity aroma. Estimated burn time is up to 48 hours.

Key specs

• Weight: 310g

• Wax type: Not specified

3. Best Christmas scented candle: NEOM Christmas Wish Scented Candle

Price: £57 for 420g | Buy now from Amazon

“The best candles are Neom ones. They burn with no soot, have no harmful chemicals in them and burn for a long time.” EasyPleasey

A quick and easy way to sneak some time for yourself during the busy Christmas build-up is to make a cuppa and light a deliciously-smelling NEOM scented candle. With its soothing and traditional fragrance created from a blend of mandarin, cinnamon and tonka beans, the NEOM Christmas Wish Scented candle is the ideal choice to help you relax and unwind. It also comes in a lovely and bright presentation box.

NEOM have a wide range of scents to last throughout the year and their candles have a burn time of up to 50 hours. All candles are made from 100% natural wax.

Key specs

• Weight: 420g

• Wax type: 100% natural wax

4. Best luxury scented candle: Jo Malone Orange Blossom Scented Candle

Price: £50 for 200g | Buy now from Lookfantastic

“I got a Jo Malone scented candle as a gift and I love it all year round. Fantastic scent and it really fills a large sitting room/dining room.” mathanxiety

A Jo Malone scented candle is the ultimate in luxury. Their range of candles are housed in beautiful glass jars which can then be reused once you’ve burned the last of the wick. There’s a huge range of exquisite scents to choose from, from this beautiful, fresh Orange Blossom which will help to lift your mood with its floral blooms, to the tropical sounding Myrrh and Tonka.

There’s also a range of sizes from 60g up to 2.5kg which gives a burn time of up to 220 hours. The 200g range has a burn time of at least 45 hours. Each candle is handmade using a different wax composition to give a stable burn.

Key specs

• Weight: 200g

• Wax type: Varied

5. Best calming scented candle: Rituals The Rituals of Ayurveda Scented Candle

Price: £19.90 for 290g | Buy now from Amazon

“I love Rituals [candles] but they’re pretty expensive.” FizzyPink

The Rituals of Ayurda Scented Candle is the perfect way to create inner harmony for yourself. The scent is based on Indian rose and sweet almond oil to help you find a little bit of calm within the busyness of everyday life.

While this is our favourite aroma for relaxation, the Rituals range comes in a variety of calming scents to help you create a piece of paradise in your home. The sizes go from 290g all the way up to 1kg. Burn time for 290g is up to 50 hours.

Key specs

• Weight: 290g

• Wax type: Natural sunflower or rape seed

6. Best high street scented candle: M&S Jasmine Large Jar Candle

Price: £7.50 for 410g | Buy now from M&S

This Marks & Spencer Jasmine Scented Candle has a fresh floral fragrance which gives off notes of lily of the valley, freesia and rose. It comes in a stylish glass jar with a cork lid and burns for up to 75 hours making it great value for money.

While the type of wax used isn’t specified, it’s one of a range of gorgeous-smelling scents available from Marks & Spencer.

Key specs

• Weight: 410g

• Wax type: Not specified

7. Best seaside scented candle: Woodwick Ellipse Seaside Neroli Scented Candle

Price £29.99 for 1.5kg | Buy now from Amazon

“Woodwick candles make a lovely crackling fire sound as they burn [...]. I find you don't need to burn them for ages to get a lovely scent and they’re quite long-lasting.” Velmasglasses

If you’re longing for summer to return, this Woodwick Ellipse Seaside Neroli Scented Candle could be just what you need to help bring back memories of your favourite beach. It has fresh driftwood and waterlily notes mixed with neroli blossom and mandarin to recreate the scent of the seaside in your home.

The wooden wick gives a long, dancing flame which has a distinctive crackle as it burns. Woodwick scented candles come in a range of varieties from 720g up to 1.5kg with a burn time of up 60 hours for the larger size. Woodwick candles are made from a blend of soy and paraffin wax.

Key specs

• Weight: 1.5kg

• Wax type: Soy and paraffin blend

8. Best fruit scented candle: The White Company Pomegranate Scented Candle

Price: £27.70 for 460g | Buy now from Amazon

“I vote for The White Company - I have a few festive candles and it's for sure the best!” MiniMileyMoo

Looking for a warm and fruity scented candle? The White Company’s Pomegranate collection is ideal for creating an uplifting aroma. It’s pomegranate and mandarin notes are blended with patchouli and amber to help transform your mood and give a welcoming glow to your home. Burn time for this one is approximately 60 hours.

Key specs

• Weight: 460g

• Wax type: A bend of vegetable and food-grade mineral waxes

9. Best herbal scented candle: St Eval Bay & Rosemary Scented Tin Candle

Price: £11.71 for 280g | Buy now from Amazon

“St Eval candles are amazing. Bay & Rosemary is lovely.” udnertheradar

The St Eval Bay & Rosemary Scented Candle is inspired by English country garden herbs and flowers which makes it an ideal candle for your kitchen. Enriched with bay leaf and rosemary, it has deep, earthy pine notes which create a lovely calm and uplifting aroma. It comes in a tin and has a burn time of up to 45 hours.

St Eval candles are hand poured in North Cornwall, which means you can feel extremely smug knowing that the pounds you send their way will be supporting local business. The candles are made using a combination of mineral and vegetable waxes

Key specs

• Weight: 280g

• Wax type: A mix of mineral and vegetable waxes

10. Best wood scented candle: Diptyque Feu de Bois Scented Mini Candle

Price: £29 for 70g | Buy now from John Lewis & Partners

“I buy Diptyque - they're really nice and long-lasting. The fragrances are not strong/overpowering but certainly noticeable.” Happy36

If you’re wanting to feel like you’re in a log cabin, snuggled up by the fire, the Diptyque Feu de Bois will take you there. Made in France, this scent is created from amber stones and resins blended with smoky, woody notes.

While we think the Feu de Bois is ideal for the colder months, Diptyque has a wide range of candle scents and sizes available, the larger of which have a burn time of up to 60 hours. Each candle is made using a blend of waxes.

Key specs

• Weight: 70g

• Wax type: Varied

11. Best aromatherapy scented candle: Parks London Noir Cedar Vetiver, Sandalwood, Orange and Clove Natural Wax Candle

Price £26.99 for 350g | Buy now from BrandAlley

“Parks candles are amazing.” LoafOfSellotape

Fancy turning your home into a personal spa? This three-wick aromatherapy candle from Parks London should well and truly do the trick. Made from 100% natural wax, the candle is scented with essential oils, including sandalwood, to create a relaxing and calming atmosphere.

This candle also has a burn time of up to 50 hours and comes in a stylish black gift box if you’d like to gift it to a special someone this Christmas.

Key specs

• Weight: 350g

• Wax type: 100% natural wax

12. Best floral scented candle: True Grace Lavender Scented Tin Candle

Price £20 for 250g | Buy now from John Lewis & Partners

“My favourites are the True Grace ones. All of them are lovely, but I particularly like the lavender one.” Judystilldreamsofhorses

True Grace’s Lavender Scented Tin Candle has lovely floral notes that will help you to switch off from the busy world around you, even if just for a few minutes. The lavender scent is enriched with Geranium, Clary, Sage and Sandalwood, which will please nature lovers in particular, but you’ll also find a variety of other fragrances including Cedarwood and Moroccan Rose.

The candles are made from a blend of vegetable and natural waxes and come in a stylish tin and have a burn time of up to 40 hours.

Key specs

• Weight: 250g

• Wax type: A mix of vegetable and natural waxes

13. Best citrus scented candle: Wax Lyrical Lemon Verbena Scented Pillar Candle

Price £6 for 460g | Buy now from Amazon

“Such a bargain. They are huge and smell great!” CharlW1

Wax Lyrical scented candles are lovingly made in the Lake District and come in a variety of sizes and fragrances. The Lemon Verbena is a rustic pillar candle which creates a vibrant aroma from freshly squeezed lemons with a note of Verbena to give an elegant finish.

This candle has a burn time of up to 60 hours and Wax Lyrical has a variety of other scents on offer such as Oolong & Stem Ginger and Green Tea & Bergamot. Wax Lyrical candles are made from paraffin wax.

Key specs

• Weight: 460g

• Wax type: Paraffin wax

14. Best countryside scented candle: Isle of Skye Candle Company Highland Gorse Scented Tin Candle

Price: £13.99 for 250g | Buy now from Amazon

“I always recommend Isle of Skye candles. Always first thing on the Christmas and birthday wish list for me.” dementedma

The Isle of Skye Candle Company Highland Gorse Scented Candle is the ideal way to give your home a wonderful countryside fragrance. The scent combines warm, sweet balsamic floral and green herbaceous notes with Scots pine, cedarwood and amber.

Made on the Isle of Skye, the candles are made from natural soy wax and come in a wide range of scents and sizes. This 250g tin has a burn time of up to 45 hours.

Key specs

• Weight: 250g

• Wax type: Natural soy wax

15. Best scented candle for design: Habitat Angel Strawbridge Wisteria Ceramic Scented Candle

Price: £12 for approx. 250g | Buy now from Argos

A beautiful ceramic jar holds this gorgeous scented candle designed by Angel Strawbridge. The jar and fragrance are inspired by the French wildflowers around her home, and the scent is a blend of jasmine and wisteria, with a touch of white tea, to create a fresh, modern aroma. The candle has a burn time of up to 50 hours.

Once you’ve used the last of the candle, the beautiful ceramic pot can then be used to brighten up your dressing table or fireplace.

Key specs

• Weight: 250g

• Wax type: Not specified

What type of candle wax should I go for?

The type of candle you go for depends on things like whether you’d like a strong scent or long burn time.

Candles are made from a variety of different waxes, with each type having different properties. If you’re looking for a candle with a long burn time, soy wax is generally the best. However, the length of burn will vary depending on things like room temperature, the wick and the candle’s container.

Paraffin waxes create the best scent and are used by many high street stores to create their candles. However, they do contain some pollutants and can create soot.

Beeswax is another type of candle wax which is more environmentally-friendly than the traditional paraffin. It has a naturally sweet aroma that can help to purify the air.

You also have coconut, which is a newer type of wax made from sustainable crops. It holds fragrance and colour well and has a clean burn producing very little soot.

How do you care for scented candles?

There are a few things you can do to get the most out of your candle. It’s generally recommended that you let your candle burn until the first layer is completely liquified the first time it’s lit, which usually takes about three hours.

Trimming the wick ensures the candle burns evenly and gives you a nice clean and even burn throughout the use of the candle. It’s recommended that you trim the wick to around 3mm before you burn it, or for every four hours of burn time.

Also make sure you keep the candle clean, so you should ideally dust it to get rid of debris before you light it.

For the best results from your scented candle, it’s recommended that you burn for four hours each time.

What is the best scented candle?

If you ask a friend to name scented candle brands, chances are Yankee Candle will be top of their list. With over 200 scents to choose from and candles that come in a range of sizes, there really is no other brand that comes close. There’s a scent for every season and mood and, with long burn times of up to 75 hours for some sizes, Yankee Candles are good value for money. Mumsnetters particularly rate the Yankee Candle Pink Sands as one of the best scented candles out there.

How we chose our recommendations

The majority of our recommendations came from parents on the Mumsnet forums. We also consulted consumer reviews and trusted review sites to further round out our research.

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide unbiased, independent advice you can trust. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. This helps us fund more helpful reviews like this one.