Photo:
@EMMAHOAREAU
Key notes: cedar, bamboo, sandalwood, guaiac wood and hay
Byredo is responsible for creating the chicest of chic candles, and while all of its home fragrance is exquisite, Tree House comes out on top. In fact, it’s potentially my favourite candle of all time. Like freshly cut wood but with the warmth of a crackling open fire, it’s one of the most comforting candles in my collection.
Key notes: resin, hinoki, jasmine, cardamom, moss and guiac
Another woody feat, Hinoki Fantôme is deeper and earthier than the aforementioned Byredo Tree House. It has a subtle floral undertone that delivers a calming aura of zen.
Key notes: wood, Lapsang tea
Another crackling, woody, fire-like scent, this candle won’t fill just the entire room with its cosy but fresh scent but your entire home. This supersized version makes for the perfect table centrepiece and will burn for an impressive 90 hours.
Key notes: bergamot, kaffir lime, spices, camellia, Egyptian jasmine, Turkish rose, Indonesian sandalwood, iris, white musk
Cire Trudon candles embody everything that a luxury candle should. They look beautiful on the shelf, are unlike anything else out there and smell every bit as expensive as they are. This particular scent is floral, earthy and deeply rich all at once.
Key notes: vetiver, sandalwood, camomile
Candles in the bedroom haven’t always been my thing, but this one is really deserving of its place on my bedside table. It’s deeply relaxing and calming, a little bit creamy and totally sleep-inducing.
Key notes: amber, vanilla, Moroccan rose, Indonesian patchouli, Somalian incense, bergamot, cinnamon, coriander seed
It is rare that I find a fragrance that I’m just as happy to burn in my home as I am to spritz over myself as a perfume, but Tiger by Her Side is one of them. It’s deep, warm and exotic but has a creamy sweetness thanks to vanilla.
Key notes: Elemi resin, fir balsam, vetiver, amber, cedarwood, oakmoss, cypriol, cashmere woods, patchouli
The idea of burning a festive scent all year round fills me with dread, but the freshness and earthiness of this fir balsam candle keeps me burning from January through to December. It’s the sort of scent that clears the senses and leaves you feeling freshly invigorated.
Key notes: jasmine, rose, orange flower, ylang-ylang
A La Montaña candle is at the top of my birthday and Christmas list every single year. They are potentially the most deliciously fresh candles in existence, and the scents linger in the air for days after burning. Galán de Noche is potentially my favourite. It’s a floral jasmine candle at its heart, but it has a mountain freshness to it that provides the ultimate escapism.
Key notes: Australian sandalwood, cedar wood, vanilla, amber, coco, musk
Le Labo candles are equally as chic as the brand’s cult perfumes. Santal 26 is woody and smoky but coco, vanilla and musk give it a creaminess that makes you want to wrap yourself up in the scent and stay exactly where you are.
Key notes: sea salt, pine trees
Eden-Roc is the sort of fragrance that makes you want to book a one-way ticket to the South of France. Named after and inspired by the iconic hotel on the French Riviera, Eden-Roc is light, summery and impossibly fresh thanks to Mediterranean notes of pine and sea salt. Just close your eyes, and let it whisk you off to sunnier climes.
Key notes: lavender, lovage
Jo Malone London’s Townhouse collection cranks the brand’s already cult and beautiful candles up a notch. In stunning ceramic jars, I’ve made it my mission to collect the full lineup. This one, however, is my favourite. If you don’t like lavender, it’s not for you, but its freshness is far more reminiscent of the British countryside in spring than it is of the powdery lavender scents you might find in bathroom air fresheners.
Key notes: English lavender, precious jasmine, sweet basil
Another candle reserved exclusively for my bedside table, Neom’s Perfect Night’s Sleep candle has the ability to de-stress me ready for bed after the most stressful of days.
Key notes: bergamot, neroli, English camomile, angelica seed, cedar wood, sandalwood, oakmoss, amber, frankincense
I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting a huge amount from this candle when I first tried it. However, I was seriously mistaken. At first, it is fresh and citrusy thanks to bergamot and neroli, but it has a deep woodiness to it that makes it smell luxe and expensive. It’s the sort of candle you’ll want to light first thing on a Sunday morning when you have nothing to do but enjoy some time at home.
£44
Key notes: fig, cassis, amber
Fresh, delicate and a little bit sweet, this is a candle I would burn in every room if I could. It envelops you in a sense of calm and comfort that you’ll struggle to find elsewhere.
Key notes: vetiver, amber, moss, bergamot, frankincense
This candle does exactly what it says on the tin. With earthy freshness from vetiver and moss, it has a warming sweetness thanks to bergamot and frankincense that instils a sense of peace.
Key notes: sage, rosemary, peppermint, Palma rose, chamomile, rose, sage, lime
If you like a spa-like scent, look no further. This candle is crisp, herby and impossibly fresh. If you want to create a sanctuary at home, this is the one for you.
Key notes: black pepper, cinnamon, cypress, oud, leather, tobacco
Imagine walking into an old member’s club, and the smell of leather chairs, smoke and rich aftershave fills the air. That’s basically what North smells like. It is without a doubt one of the most luxurious scents you will ever stumble across.
Key notes: mint, eucalyptus, basil, Thai ginger
Specifically created to instil a sense of calm and clarity, this fresh scent has a longevity to it that so many other fresh-smelling candles lack. A little bit sweet but a whole lot fresh, it’s a subtle scent that still demands attention.
Key notes: iris, geranium, vetiver
All Jo Malone London home fragrances are beautiful, but this one really stands out. It is predominantly an iris scent and fills the room with the powdery soapiness that iris is known for. However, thanks to geranium and vetiver, it is also fresh and spring-like. It’s the sort of candle that makes you want to throw open the windows and hang your washing on the line.
£37
Key notes: grapefruit, cardamom, geranium, rose, oakmoss, vetiver
Floral, earthy and undeniably vibrant, this blend of citrus, flowery notes and mossy earthiness makes Otto a springtime classic. The moment the clocks go forward, I dust this candle off and burn it all season long.
Key notes: sage, oat milk
The luxurious beauty of this candle resides in its subtlety. It’s creamy and warming but doesn’t hit your nose as soon as you walk into the room. It simply burns away in the background, wafting a little bit of luxury into every corner.
Key notes: bergamot, Italian lemon, rose de mai, magnolia, lily, blackberry, violet, amber, patchouli, sandalwood, white musk
As you can tell from its extensive list of key notes, North Bondi is a perfectly blended feat. It’s difficult, but not impossible, to distinguish each note. Instead, it all just blends together to create a wonderfully fresh, sunny aroma.
