The best scented candles for a cosy home this winter, tried and tested
We've hand-tested the best scented candles to instantly turn your living space into a warm and cosy, luxurious winter retreat
Nothing says "relax" like a scented candle. I’ve burnt around 50 of them for hundreds of hours in researching this piece, so I’m well-versed in what makes the best scented candles – the kind that instantly transform your home and your mood. For me, lighting a scented candle is a ritual that marks the end of the working day. They’re also my go-to gift for friends and relatives, especially those who are tricky to buy for. (I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t love the White Company’s Seychelles candle, for example.)
In winter, you want candles with warming, spicy notes that evoke crackling fires and cosy intimacy, so that's what I've focused on this time around. You can read my full reviews below, along with a guide to what makes a good scented candle. If you're in a hurry, here are my top five:
Which are the best scented candles for winter? At a glance
- Best overall Jo Malone Orange Bitters
- Best scented candle gift The White Company Winter
- Best scented candle for winter Chase & Wonder The Orangery
- Best scented candle for wellbeing Holistic London African Pink Pepper and Peony
- Most relaxing scented candle Aromatherapy Associates Relax
How to use scented candles
A scented candle needs to have the "scent throw" – ie. strength – to fill a whole room, otherwise burning it is pointless. But it mustn’t be overpowering or smell synthetic. Caring for your candles is a necessity, even if that sounds faintly ridiculous.
It’s worth investing in a wick trimmer to keep them in optimal condition (I have an inexpensive one from Amazon). Remember to light a new candle for at least three or four hours the first time you burn it to stop the wax from ‘tunnelling'. Liz Drew, owner of specialist scented candle shop Osmology (and something of a candle expert), says: “This is really important, because wherever the ring of wax gets to when you first burn a candle, that’s where it will burn in future.”
Scroll down to the bottom of this article for Liz's fascinating explanation of how scented candles are made and how to tell a good one from a bad one.
How I tested the best scented candles
After taking Liz Drew's advice, I've spent a year trying and testing a wide range of fragrances, from favourite flames (including The White Company and Jo Malone London) to exciting new releases. I update this guide regularly, as the seasons change and new fragrances come onto the scene.
Best scented candles
1. Jo Malone Orange Bitters Candle
Best overall, 9/10
We like: the sophisticated scent - cosy, but not cliched
Jo Malone’s signature winter fragrance is a winter fixture in my flat. A classic for good reason, its zesty layers of orange bitters and sandalwood make my living room smell cosy, but still fresh and modern. Each 200g candle provides 45 hours of burn time, but it’s also available in a 60g travel version (£25).
2. The White Company Winter scented candle
Best scented candle gift, 9/10
We like: low price for such a high quality candle
This perennially popular candle makes an excellent gift for mum when it's cold outside. It’s a spicy and warming blend of cinnamon, clove and orange that instantly makes you think of crackling fires and mulled wine. This standard-sized candle burns for 33 hours but the large Winter candle (£65), with three wicks, burns for 70 hours. They're part of a Winter Collection that includes 12 types of candle as well as room sprays, diffusers, scented oils and gift sets.
3. Chase And Wonder The Orangery
Best scented candle for winter, 8/10
We like: the gorgeous reusable caramic holder
Cheshire-based Chase And Wonder's range is probably the most cosy and wintery of any scented candle maker. This is my favourite, combining the mulled wine fragrances of orange, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove with a hint of lemon to lift the spirits.
They also do an Enchanted Forest candle that smells of cedarwood, smoked oak and birch and a Library candle with aromas of rich wood, amber and pomegranate. They all come in lovely, reusable illustrated ceramic holders that make the candles last longer and which you'll definitely keep on your bookshelf after the 90-hour burn time runs out.
4. Holistic London African pink pepper and peony scented candle
Best scented candle for wellbeing, 8/10
We like: sources natural ingredients in a way that's fair to female farmers in the developing world
The room-filling scent of this soy candle combines the warm, spicy base notes of patchouli and cedarwood with twinkly top notes of orange an pink peppercorn, with soft, heady peony somewhere in the middle. The combined effect is cosy, but with an uplifting, dreamy glow. This 120ml candle burns for 25 hours, but you can get a 180ml version that burns for 40 hours and a huge 500ml one that burns for 60.
Wellbeing here means not only that it soothes and relaxes you, but also that it's sustainably sourced. The pink pepper comes from the African islands of Reunion and Mauritius and helps to support female farmers there without exploiting them or the environment.
5. Aromatherapy Associates Relax scented candle
Most relaxing scented candle, 8/10
We like: the spa-like simplicity
It doesn’t get closer to an at-home spa experience than this rich, relaxing scented candle, which smells of warm, smooth West Indian Bay essential oils and myrrh – the perfect candle to light as you have a bath or unwind in the evening. You can expect 40 hours of burn time and a hand-poured candle made from quality soy wax, as well as a stylish ceramic candle holder.
6. BYREDO Bibliothèque scented candle
Best luxury scented candle, 8/10
We like: the rich sophistication
I wasn't expecting to love BYREDO's cult favourite candle, as the scent is described as "a world of old books." But it's not leathery nor heavy at all. It's sophisticated; the scent is light enough to burn for hours whilst being rich enough to keep things interesting.
Fruity and floral notes of peach, plum and peony combine with leather, patchouli and vanilla for something unexpectedly comforting, exactly like leather-bound books in a cosy library. Each 240g candle burns for approximately 60 hours.
There are now subscription services for everything you love, from pasta to plants but this is the first scented candle subscription I've come across. For £19.95 a month you get a candle with a 30-40 hour burn time (or you can choose a larger, 40-50 hour candle for £29.95), tailored to your favourite scents after filling out a questionnaire and sourced from a different small, independent candle maker each time.
It's seasonal, too - so the first candle I was sent was a gorgeous orange spice soy candle from Hobo + Co in Lincolnshire. Come springtime, they'll be more fresh and flowery. It's a lovely idea, and you can give Baswick gift subscriptions starting at £54.95 for three months.
8. Hampton & Astley Warm Cinnamon, Pecan and Vanilla candle
Best for room-filling scent
We like: the silver lid and classy box make this one ideal to give as a gift
Never mind room-filling, the cosy aroma of cinnamon, pecan and vanilla (patchouli and musk are in there too) pretty much fills the whole house when you light this natural wax candle from luxury homeware specialists Hampton & Astley, famous for their fluffy towels.
It lasts 50 hours, too, which looks like excellent value for money compared to some of the candles we tested. There are nine candles in Hampton & Astley's range and this is probably the most warm and cosseting – apart, that is, from an amazing Freshly Baked Gingerbread candle, which has sadly sold out.
FAQ
What are scented candles made of?
As with perfume, creating a home fragrance is a fine art that's more complicated than it first appears. Candles can be made from different types of wax and each has its own merits. Soy or paraffin (also known as mineral) waxes are the most common. Soy is generally preferable since it burns slower and is more environmentally friendly. Paraffin is cheaper and more readily available as it's a byproduct of the oil industry.
“Each type of wax has a different personality,” says Liz Drew. “Soy wax is the most popular of the more eco-friendly options and has a nice, clean burn, but it doesn’t give as strong a scent as mineral wax. Other options include beeswax, which gives a lovely long-lasting burn, and coconut or rapeseed wax, which hold scent really well.” Beeswax also gives the "cleanest" burn, free from soot and smoke.
"Cheaper scented candles tend to be made out of a petroleum-based wax, and people are on the fence about whether they give off nasties or not," Drew says. "My opinion is that there's nothing that bad about them – it's just down to personal taste and how strong you like the smell to be."
How are scented candles perfumed?
There are also different ways of scenting the candle itself. "Some customers like to have all natural scents that are essential oil-based, and there are brands which specialise in that," Drew continues. "But then more manufactured or artificial oils can still be incredibly high quality – it just depends what you're looking for. As long as it's a high quality candle, you won't have any issues."
Most candles use a mixture of natural and manufactured scents. Essential oils (such as lavender, jasmine and bergamot) smell beautiful and have calming properties, but go off quickly, says Drew.
Want to freshen the air at home in a more scientific way? Read our guides to the best air purifiers and the best dehumidifiers.