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Oct 26, 2024

13 Best scented candles 2024: Diptyque to Neom | British GQ

We’ve lifted the cloche on the best scented candles to create a more relaxing space All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

We’ve lifted the cloche on the best scented candles to create a more relaxing space

All products are independently selected by our editors. If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Scented candles are perhaps the single easiest way to change the general feel (we use the word “vibe” a lot in the following guide, be warned) of a space. Just light one up in the evening and that cold, wintry room is suddenly calming and comforting, turning it right into the relaxing space you want it to be. And as the colder months of the year close in, you have a couple of paths to choose from: whether you opt for a winter-inspired scent like pine or cloves, or for something fresher to take you back to warmer (mental) climes, such as grapefruit or raspberry, there’s no better time to start investing in a few items that'll make your home feel that extra bit cosier.

Here at GQ, we think you should never underestimate the power of scent. Out of all the senses, smell is the one reputed to have the most transportive effect (along, of course, with its cousin taste, though we don’t recommend eating the candles, no matter how temptingly Proustian the experience might sound). As with any classic fragrance that you would wear, the scent of your home speaks volumes for the person you want to be.

Scented candles are the kind of thing that you might never think to buy for yourself, but you should. Likewise, they famously make for some of the best gifts, and are well worth considering inthe run-up to Christmas. Whatever kind of scent you’re after, we’ve tried and tested many of the best scented candles around to find the ones that’ll make your home smell its very best this year, from Acqua di Parma and Byredo to The White Company and Neom Organics. It’s time to wake up and smell the… well – whatever you like, really.

Neom

Amazon

Look Fantastic

Nordstrom

An uplifting scent can do wonders for the vibe of a room, and this one from Neom is the best we've found at refreshing and reviving. Light it up, bask in the refreshing citrusy scent, and prepare to get a little extra spring in your step for the rest of the day.

Drowsy Sleep Co

Drowsy Sleep Co.

Essential oils can do wonders for your sleep, working to trigger your brain to unwind and stay calm. Designed specifically by Drowsy Sleep Co's in-house aromatherapists, the Zen candle is infused with lavender and myrrh for an incredibly calming scent, while also being made from 100 per cent natural soy wax that burns efficiently and slowly, without chemical amplifiers.

Espa

ESPA

What better way to turn your home into a makeshift spa than to grab yourself a candle used in plenty of them across the globe? Hand-poured and made with aromatherapy principles in mind, ESPA's Restorative candle is sweet and calming, combining rose geranium, sweet orange and lavender with the balancing feel of palmarosa.

We've included all of our favourite scented candles below, but if you just fancy a browse, we've spotlighted all of our favourite scented candle brands at a glance here.

Naturally, this all relies on personal taste, but in order to develop that taste, you might want to visit a shop in person and literally stick your nose into some of the candles there (if you live in London, we would recommend Selfridges or Fenwick). If you’re buying online, though, then the best question to ask is: how do I want my home to smell? Or, more accurately: what sort of feel do I aspire to for my home?

Candles come in many scents and you might well prefer to choose one that reflects your taste in, say, music or art. If you like something a little dramatic and moody, say, then Byredo’s Apocalypse scented candle will suit you nicely, with its burned oakmoss and birchwood and black raspberry. But if you want to pursue a Scandi-chic après-ski feel, then pick up a Skandinavisk Skog scented candle to usher notes of pine and lily of the valley into your home. It’s all about the intended effect.

In order to find the best scented candles, we put as many as we could to the test, both at home and in the GQ office. With varying price points in order to suit every budget, we found candles that captured a range of different moods, and worked for different seasons and times of the year. The GQ team knows scent well, and these scented candles all reflect the best around, from some of the more luxury brands we love to a few that are creating some sensational budget-friendly options.

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The White Company

The White Company

Cinnamon, cloves, spices – all are wintry luxuries whose smells take us in that unique way to the heart of the Christmas feeling. The White Company’s “Winter” is a modern classic, concocted more than 20 years ago by the brand’s co-founder, and just as pleasing and warming now as it was back then. Light one up whenever you need to conjure instant winter – and indeed Christmas – cheer. £22. At thewhitecompany.com

Jo Malone

Jo Malone

One of the beautiful things about the British coast is that – unlike, say, the Med – it is always beautiful and striking, year-round. We reckon the candle designers at Jo Malone must have the same opinion, because this remarkably fresh sea-scent candle, with its notes of salt and sage, will transport you to the rugged clifftops you dream about when you’re stuck in the city. £56 for 200g. At jomalone.co.uk

Byredo

End Clothing

Seeing as there’s more than just a whiff of the apocalyptic in our day to day right now, there are few more fitting titles for a scent than this Byredo candle. This is one to light up as you concede to tuning into the news. Byredo has sought to create an aroma that’s impossible to identify, opening with fire iron and black raspberry, followed by oakmoss and papyrus and woody chorus notes of smoked birch. £64 for 240g. At endclothing.com

Cowdray

Cowdray

When a candle comes hand-poured, that extra layer of authentic, genuine care that’s been put into the product and its scent makes us instantly more excited by it. Which is exactly the effect the Cowdray Estate has achieved with its hand-poured grapefruit candle. Made in West Sussex, each element of the fragrance has been carefully considered and selected, all working to create a bright, refreshing feel in your home. Think light and airy lemon and lime, underpinned by the stronger tones of grapefruit. And if you need a gift, the candle comes in a white glass vessel and elegant yellow box that give off that luxury look. £25 for 210g. At cowdray.co.uk

Neom

Neom Organics

Candles make your home smell incredible, but they can have plenty of other benefits too. As such, Neom’s Scent To Sleep range has been specially formulated with natural fragrances that contribute to a relaxing and peaceful environment, helping you wind down in the evenings and fall asleep faster. Formulated with 19 essential oils, including lavender (which has been proven to have positive effects on our sleep) it smells glorious while producing a comforting and calming aroma at the same time. £38 for 185g. At neomorganics.com

Diptyque

Diptyque

Even if you’re new to the candle game, you’re sure to recognise Diptyque’s trademark oval labels. Having been in business since the early 1960s, the French company produces some of the most superb scents around and its iconic blackcurrant and ambergris Baies scent is GQ’s favourite. £56 for 190g. At diptyqueparis.com

Chase and Wonder

Chase and Wonder

Sadly, we can’t all live in an alpine location, and if you’re in the UK, it’s only rare that you get those snowed in, cosy vibes. Capturing a ski holiday in a fragrance, Chase and Wonder’s ‘Alpine Lodge’ candle is perfect for the winter, being less subtle than a Christmas scent, but still having enough of a base of spices to feel festive. Think pine needles and fir trees, but with a warming note of cinnamon. £60 for 300g. At chaseandwonder.com

Skandinavisk

Amazon

If you're missing the fresh scent that comes with pine trees in winter, this is absolutely for you. Beyond just smelling incredible, Skandinavisk has been making significant efforts to use its business as a force for good through maintaining high standards in its raw material and production sourcing, as well as with its refugee integration programme. It’s a fresh and layered home fragrance that you don’t have to feel guilty about buying. £35 for 200g. At amazon.co.uk

Acqua di Parma

Selfridges

Acqua Di Parma’s Luce Di Colonia scented candle is a timeless scent that truly takes you away. Uplifting, with a brightness and light that makes you feel as if you’re on a Mediterranean holiday, it combines citrus notes with floral heart notes and a woody base, a complex and intricate blend that will soon become one of your favourites. Think orange and lemons with neroli and vetiver. £70 for 200g. At selfridges.com

The White Company

The White Company

We’re very here for fragrances that just smell like a summer vacation, and Seychelles is that and then some. Combining the sweetness of vanilla with tropical, fruity notes of orange and coconut, with the warmth of jasmine, bergamot and amber, the candle is the kind of thing you can light year-round, to capture a moment of summer in the winter, or to enhance your sunny vibes in the summer. It’s one of The White Company’s best, without a doubt. £22 for 140g. At thewhitecompany.com

Espa

ESPA

Candles are relaxing enough even without a scent, but throw in a calming aroma of essential oils and restorative fragrances and you've got yourself the ingredients of one chilled self-care evening. Channeling all of the spa vibes that ESPA is known for, with a fragrance defined by rose geranium, sweet orange and lavender, this is a candle you can rely on for a moment of zen. £37 for 200g. At cultbeauty.co.uk

Drowsy Sleep Co

Drowsy Sleep Co.

Celebrating the benefits of aromatherapy, scented candles can be a great way to help you unwind and relax in the evening, especially when they incorporate scents such as lavender into their fragrance. Particularly good for those times when you need a little something to help you de-stress, this Zen candle from Drowsy Sleep Co is one of our current favourites, combining lavender and myrrh for a calming, sleep-inducing scent. Developed with in-house aromatherapists using essential oils, it’s got you covered for many chill nights to come. £59 . At drowsysleepco.com

Neom

Amazon

Look Fantastic

Nordstrom

Scent can really alter how you feel, and what better vibe to channel than happiness itself? Perfect for use during the day, every day, Neom’s Happiness candle has become our ultimate mood-booster, perfect for slow WFH days, or just for lifting our spirits on a chill Sunday. Fresh and vibrant, the fragrance is made with white neroli, mimosa and lemon extracts, with pure essential oils that all tap into an uplifting scent. It’s the candle we keep going back to, and for good reason. From £32. At lookfantastic.com and neomorganics.com