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34 Glorious Scented Candles to Brighten Up Any Evening

Whether for a loved one or yourself, these fabulous finds are enhancing ambiences year-round.

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best scented candles i oprah dailypinterest

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There is nothing better than getting home after a long day of work or errands. A home serves many functional purposes, of course, but we believe your home should feel like more than a place where you rest your head at night—it should be a space that brings peace, joy, and renewal. The smell of your home is connected to how comfortable you’ll feel, and what better way to bring warmth to your space than with a beautifully scented candle?

Our Top Picks

  • 1
    Votive Candle in Ocean Mist & Sea Salt

    Best Scented Votive Candle

    NEST Fragrances Votive Candle in Ocean Mist & Sea Salt

    $20 at Amazon
    Read more
  • 2
     Luxury Purpe Love Scented Candle

    Best Purple Candle

    Harlem Candle Company Luxury Purpe Love Scented Candle

    Read more
  • 3
    Palo Santo & Sage Handmade Soy Candle

    Best Aromatherapy Candle

    Lamarion's Bazaar Palo Santo & Sage Handmade Soy Candle

    Read more
  • 4
    The Three Sisters Candle Set

    Best Overall Scented Candle

    Flamingo Estate The Three Sisters Candle Set

    Read more
  • 5
    Moso Bamboo Candle

    Most Elegant Scented Candle

    Voluspa Moso Bamboo Candle

    Read more

Whether you're filling your room with cozy fragrances or you're looking for the perfect gift to impress a candle lover, we've got the right candle for you. (While you're here, don't forget the USB lighter from last year's Oprah's Favorite Things list.) If you prefer florals, there are lovely scents like jasmine and gardenia to transform your space, while those who lean toward richer, muskier profiles will enjoy vanilla, tobacco, or patchouli. The vessels these scents are housed in are equally diverse and gorgeous. There are plenty of options that come ready for gifting, as well as pretty but practical options like soy votives in reusable decorative stoneware that can later be used to grow seedlings.

You may be thinking that because these picks are so luxurious, they come with a hefty price tag. There are plenty of truly special splurges with strong, long-lasting smells, but we also found several wallet-friendly options that will help you feel like you've been transplanted to a far-flung tropical destination. Discover every editor-approved candle here.

The Best Soy Candles for a Relaxing, Sustainable Night In | Timeless Perfumes for Women

1
Best Scented Votive Candle

NEST Fragrances Votive Candle in Ocean Mist & Sea Salt

Votive Candle in Ocean Mist & Sea Salt
$20 at Amazon
Credit: Nest

Feel that ocean breeze even in the comfort of your home with this heavenly scent from the popular candle brand. Combining the essence of a gentle ocean mist with hints of sea salt, white tea, and coconut, the candle has a burn time of 20 hours.

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Celebrating the new musical interpretation of The Color Purple, this fragrant candle comes from the Black-owned business, Harlem Candle Co. Picked as one of Oprah's Favorite Things, this beautiful candle captures the essence of roses and sandalwood. Oprah said, “This hand-poured candle was created just for us and gives off a lush rose scent, with elements of sandalwood and clove.”

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3
Best Aromatherapy Candle

Lamarion's Bazaar Palo Santo & Sage Handmade Soy Candle

Palo Santo & Sage Handmade Soy Candle
Credit: Lamarion's Bazaar

Whether it's time to rid your space of stale energy or start anew, this handmade soy wax candle has notes of soothing scents like palo santo and sage. It brings a calming warmth to any room of your house.

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4
Best Overall Scented Candle

Flamingo Estate The Three Sisters Candle Set

Oprah’s Favorite Things
The Three Sisters Candle Set
Credit: Flamingo Estate

Ignite your senses each evening with euphoric Rosemary, calming Sage, and the blissful, transportive Roma Tomato. Oprah chose these candles in her 2021 Favorite Things list, saying, "I take pride in growing some pretty impressive tomatoes. There’s a tomato-scented candle in this kitchen-friendly trio, along with herbaceous rosemary and cleansing sage. For each one purchased, a tree is planted."

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5
Most Elegant Scented Candle

Voluspa Moso Bamboo Candle

Moso Bamboo Candle

Taking inspiration from Japanese art, this candle's container features an eye-catching embossed pattern. The candle emits a blend of moso bamboo, black musk, and Japanese cypress that truly is a breath of heaven. Free from parabens, sulfates, and phthalates, and made with a coconut wax blend.

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6
Best Coffee-Scented Candle

Malicious Women Candle Co. Boss Lady, Expresso Yo' Self

Boss Lady, Expresso Yo' Self
Credit: Malicious Women Candle Co.

This 100 percent organic soy candle is infused with the wonderful scent of freshly roasted coffee with hints of caramel, vanilla, and a little bit of attitude, straight from a female-owned business. Buy one for all the boss ladies in your life—including yourself!

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7
Best Scented Candle on Amazon

Chesapeake Bay Candle Reflection + Clarity Scented Candle

Reflection + Clarity Scented Candle
Credit: Chesapeake Bay Candle

One simple way to achieve balance and harmony in your home is through Chesapeake Bay's Mind & Body collection. The combination of eucalyptus, lavender, and sea salt with hints of sage blend perfectly here, emitting a light aroma and providing a sense of calm. Plus, it's 100 percent recyclable in partnership with TerraCycle.

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8
Best Luxury Scented Candle

Diptyque Baies Classic Candle

Baies Classic Candle
Credit: Diptyque

What's a scented candle wish list without this celebrated French brand? Reminiscent of a bouquet of roses, currant leaves, and berries, there's a reason why Baies reigns as the most popular scent among editors (including ours!) and enthusiasts alike. This is the foolproof candle gift for the luxury lover in your life. Rivas says, "This is my post deep-apartment-clean candle because it smells so fresh and lively."

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9
Most Uplifting Scented Candle

Homecourt Mandarin Basile Candle

Mandarin Basile Candle
Credit: Homecourt

Oprah Daily beauty director Kate Sandoval Box hand-selected Homecourt's unique and uplifting candles that will leave your guests asking about the scent. With notes of sparkling mandarin, spiced ginger, fresh green basil, and ripe fig, the scent brings to mind a refreshing and comforting garden walk.

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10
Most Refreshing Scented Candle

Spoken Flames Fearless Cedarwood Citrus Candle

Fearless Cedarwood Citrus Candle
Credit: Spoken Flames

Spoken Flames launched as a BIPOC female-founded and -run company looking to reimagine candles as an immersive, inspiring, and personal experience. The Fearless dual wooden wick candle is crafted from a vegan, nontoxic, and phthalate-free natural coconut wax blend with 50+ hours of burn. You'll be transported by the aroma of orange peel, neroli blossom, cedarwood, and amber.

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11
Best Clean Scented Candle

Dirty Labs Limited Edition Signature Candle

Limited Edition Signature Candle
Credit: Dirty Labs

Enjoy this luxe, warming candle with notes of magnolia, bergamot, and cedar made from biobased and biodegradable ingredients. Dirty Labs is celebrated for science-backed home products that are thoughtfully made with nontoxic ingredients and sustainable materials.

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12
Best Scented Candle Gift Set

Boojee Candle & Vessel Starter Set

Editor’s Choice
Candle & Vessel Starter Set
Credit: Boojee Candle

Boojee brilliantly sells reusable ceramic vessels that can be refilled with its signature fragranced candles. Each candle is made with high-quality ingredients and clean fragrances, like the bestselling Cycladic Native, with notes of freesia, fig tree, and sandalwood. This set comes with one vessel and two candles—all of which can be customized.

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13
Best Candle Gift for Mom

Homesick Thank You, Mom Bergamot, Lavender, and Sage Candle

Thank You, Mom Bergamot, Lavender, and Sage Candle
Credit: Homesick Candles

Looking for a gift that's as gorgeous as Mom? Celebrated Homesick Candles made this from natural and sustainable materials. The scent has top notes of bergamot, lavender, and sage, and base notes of sandalwood and lily. The perfect token of your appreciation.

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14
Most Transportive Scented Candle

Boheme Fragrances Amalfi Mini Tin Votive Candle

Amalfi Mini Tin Votive Candle

Bring a touch of Mediterranean serenity to your space with Boheme's Amalfi scented candle. Featuring notes of bergamot, lemon, lavender, and cedarwood, this handmade candle offers 15 hours of burn time.

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15
Best 60-Hours-Burn-Time Candle

Makana Banyan Classic Candle

Banyan Classic Candle

The husband-and-wife-duo behind Makana, meaning “gift” in Hawaiian, started hand-pouring small batches of candles using simple and clean ingredients. This bestselling Banyan scent has notes of violet lead, fig, cedarwood, sandalwood, coconut, and vanilla, with 60 hours of burn time.

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16
Best Candle Gift for Book Lovers

FlyPaperProducts The Library Scented Candle

The Library Scented Candle
Credit: FlyPaperProducts

There's nothing like a nostalgic scent to bring back good memories of reading your favorite books. This library candle does just that, with its warm notes of eucalyptus and lavender. It'll smell like you just cracked open a classic novel and makes a great gift for bibliophiles.

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17
Best Floral-Scented Candle

Rifle Paper Co. Jardin de Paris Glass Candle

Jardin de Paris Glass Candle
Credit: Rifle Paper Co.

Like a Parisian garden, but in the comfort of your own home. This soy wax candle features notes of peony, white tea, gardenia, and sandalwood, and it comes in an artful—and readily giftable—package.

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18
Best Inspirational Candle

Candier Girl, Make Waves and Turn the Tide Candle

Girl, Make Waves and Turn the Tide Candle

Get yourself (or your best friend) a candle with a side of inspiration. The playful labels make for a motivational piece of decor that comes with a relaxing seaside scent.

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19
Best Contemporary Candle

Apotheke Charcoal Classic Candle

Charcoal Classic Candle
Credit: Apotheke

One of the brand's bestselling candles is this charcoal one, and for good reason. Evoking top notes of burnt maple, raspberry, and unripened tomato skin, this uniquely scented candle will add character to any room.

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20
Best Garden-Scented Candle

Loewe Small Mushroom Candle

Small Mushroom Candle
Credit: Loewe

You may be familiar with the brand's statement bags and glamorous runway shows, but do not sleep on Loewe's fragrances. Hyperrealistic scents bring the garden straight into your home. Case in point: this rich, earthy portobello mushroom one.

Lettermark
Sara Klausing

Sara Klausing covers all things fashion and style for Oprah Daily. Follow her on Instagram.

Headshot of Gaby Keiderling

Gaby Keiderling is a New York–based writer working on fashion, lifestyle, travel, and sports features. She also covers celebrity style for Esquire's “Get Ready with Me” franchise. Her work can also be seen in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and more. Sometimes you can spot her around the West Village, out on a walk with her dog, Sneakers.

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