I've Spent 5000 Hours Burning The Best Candles – These Are My Top Picks for Luxury, Natural, and Affordable Brands

Burning the very best candles to elevate your home is a delightful summer indulgence that sets the mood in an instant. And, as the resident home fragrance tester here at Homes & Gardens, I have tested hundreds, from affordable to sheer luxury candles, and know exactly what makes one truly worth the spend.

To find the best home fragrances, I've spent more than 5000 hours – that's 208 days – burning candles. I look for a clean, even burn without tunnelling, a wick that doesn't fray and cover the vessel in soot, and a scent throw that fills a room. Accurate burn time is important, too, as are the materials used, with non-toxic elements being the gold standard I look for.

My criteria for separating the best from the rest in this guide involve a thorough consideration of wax type, wick quality, and a gorgeous scent to match. To that end, I've tested each of these picks in different rooms around my home, from small bathrooms to open-plan kitchens and living rooms, to ensure every one is effective, smells stunning, and most importantly, is worth the investment.

The Homes & Gardens Guide to the Best Candles to Scent Your Home this Summer

My One-Minute Verdict

After testing these six candles in my home, my top pick has to be Diptyque's new Sésame Noir. It's chic, high-quality, long-lasting, luxurious, and, perhaps most importantly, unique. Think smoky yet perfectly suited to spring and summer, with an elevated toasted scent that's perfectly captured by this new release from the iconic French brand. Like all candles I've tried from Diptyque, it burns impressively evenly, and quickly fills a room with fragrance.

If you want something a little more herbal and refreshing, the Malin+Goetz tomato candle is effortlessly cool, fresh, and strong. I can smell it from across the room, even when unlit, and it features a vegetable wax blend that burns so cleanly you can reuse the vessel for cocktails afterwards (trust me, I've enjoyed one straight from it!).

For something perfect for summer, NEOM's Happiness Scented Candle is like sunshine in a scent, with mood-boosting notes of neroli, mimosa, and lemon, 100% naturally derived fragrances and wax, and three naturally-derived wicks to ensure no harmful chemicals are released when lit.

If you prefer something fresher yet still fruity, the Skandinavisk Fjord Scented Candle is my go-to, and features a non-GMO Swedish rapeseed wax blend, if you prioritize sustainability, while the ScentAir Eucalyptus Mint Tin Candle is fresh, affordable, and impressively strong for such a small size.

Finally, you can't go wrong with the trusty classic Yankee Candle Clean Cotton Candle, which brings the outdoors in year-round with a light, subtle scent that won't overpower your space or cause any headaches, and a generous size for such a low price point, that will last you all summer.

Best Luxury And Mineral Wax Candle Brands

Best Newcomer: Diptyque Sésame Noir

Scent: Roasted sesame and wood.

If you've perused my guide to the best reed diffusers, you'll know that the French fragrance stalwart Diptyque sits among my favorites for all things home fragrance. This brand-new Diptyque Sésame Noir candle is no exception

This candle is just what you'd expect from a roasted sesame candle, and I love it for a twist on traditionally zingy spring and summer scents. It's interesting, it's original, and it's only just been released. After all, who says warmer, woodier scents are only suited to the colder months?

It's worth mentioning that Diptyque candles do come at a higher price point than most, but you certainly get what you pay for. Looks, scent, and burn are all 10/10, making it simple and easy to avoid candle tunneling, and this new vessel has just had a chic redesign, too, with a bold oval carved around the signature decorative label.

If you do prefer something a little lighter, there are plenty of other seasonal scent picks to try, too, like Baies, Roses, and Figuier, all of which are available to explore at Diptyque, and pair perfectly with the gorgeous Gold Snuffer, also available at Diptyque.

Plus, if, like me, you're someone who likes to reuse candle jars around the house, you won't find a more versatile option for storing makeup brushes, pencils, and more.

Best Natural And Soy Candle Brands

Best for Strong Scenting: Malin+Goetz Tomato

Scent: Tomato, basil, lavender, and mint.

Malin+Goetz is a New York-based brand, known for combining natural, high-quality ingredients with unusual scent profiles. This garden-inspired tomato pick might just be the most out-of-the-box of them all, and it's perfect for spring and summer.

It's fresh, complex, and boasts an unapologetic strength – I can smell it across the room even when it's unlit, working almost like a diffuser, and once it's lit, expect it to fill your entire home, yet never be overpowering. For that reason, it's now my signature scent of choice for warmer weather.

This universally appealing pick is also effortlessly versatile in terms of where you place it – use it in your living room, entryway, or even to get rid of musty smells in a bathroom. It really does it all, and with natural ingredients at that: The wax is a vegetable blend, and the wicks are lead-free cotton, so you won't have to worry about polluting your indoor air when burning it.

Last year, I attended a Malin+Goetz fragrance event, so I can also vouch for the equally surprising sage candle, as well as the matching sage home spray, all of which are available to explore at Malin+Goetz.

What's more, the ultra-clean, 60-hour burn means the candle vessels are totally reusable as stylish drinking glasses afterwards – trust me, I enjoyed a cocktail in one! Now there's an excuse to put your best cocktail glasses aside.

Best for Brightening Spaces: NEOM Happiness

Scent: Neroli, mimosa, and lemon zest.

In the past six months or so, I've become a bit of a NEOM obsessive. The British wellness and natural beauty company boasts an impressive array of scents for different wellbeing concerns, and the Happiness luxury scented candle sits among the 'Mood Boost' category – and does exactly that.

Citrussy, zesty, and vibrant, this candle is my first choice for an instant lift and summer feeling. Blended with 10 essential oils, it's fun and fresh, and embodies warmer, brighter weather.

As it's made with 100% naturally derived wax, it's also a great pick if you prefer to pick non-toxic candles, and with a three-wick size option, it should provide plenty of positivity and last you all spring and summer long. To get the full experience, always make sure you light all three wicks at once. Not only will this provide the strongest scent dispersion, but it will also ensure an even burn and allow the wax to pool fully, right to the edges of the vessel.

As I mentioned, this isn't the first thing I've tried from NEOM. I also love NEOM's Perfect Night Sleep Range, which helped me drift off and sleep soundly all night long.

Best for Relaxation: Skandinavisk Fjord

Scent: Apple, pear blossom, orchard fruits, and redcurrants.

When you think of spring and summer scenting, your mind might immediately go to classic, yet sometimes cloying, fruity florals. But what this Skandinavisk Fjord candle available at Amazon brings is a Norwegian freshness – think crashing waterfalls, cascading forests, and rolling orchards.

I received this candle as a gift last Christmas, and love the unassuming yet tasteful vessel, while the scent is one of the very best for those who like something a little unexpected, particularly when unwinding at night time.

I've been regularly using it to make my bedroom smell good for sleep throughout fall, winter, and into spring, and I'm sure it would work just as well as one of the most welcoming fragrances for a guest bedroom, too.

What's more, with this candle you're supporting a good cause – Skandinavisk prides itself on creating beautiful and cruelty-free products, with FSC-certified packaging, a non-GMO Swedish rapeseed wax blend, and pure cotton wicks – ideal for those looking to be more sustainable at home. Once burned, you can recycle or reuse the jar, and pop the lid on your fire or bonfire, which I did before replenishing my supply of this candle almost immediately.

For these warmer months, the HAV, or Sea, Scented Candle, also available at Amazon, is another perfect pick, while the SKOG Scented Candle available at Amazon is another staple in my home throughout the colder months, with notes of pine needles, fir cones, birch sap, and woodland lily of the valley.

Best Affordable Candle Brands

Best for Freshness: Yankee Candle Clean Cotton

Scent: Sun-dried sheets, white flowers, and lemon.

To fill your home with a fresh laundry smell all year, this is the candle I'd recommend.

Yankee Candle is one of the most well-known, budget-friendly home fragrance brands, and for good reason. A clean burn, a strong scent, poured in a classic, chic apothecary jar, this candle burns for a staggering 110 to 150 hours, and comes in at only $24.99.

It's not only suitable for your laundry room ideas, either. I've used mine in my bedroom, bathroom, living room, and hallway, making it one of the very best scents for every room of your house. Burning it is one of the quickest and easiest ways to make your home smell nice, and there's a reason so many people rely on it for a fresh-smelling home all year round.

I've also used and loved the Yankee Amber & Cedarwood and Bayside Cedar scents in the past, if you prefer something a little muskier, and Ocean Air is a good pick for a seasonal salty, sparkling sea scent.

Best Affordable Pick: ScentAir Eucalyptus Mint

Notes: Peppermint, clary sage, and eucalyptus.

This small yet mighty candle packs a punch at an unparalleled price point – I love it. ScentAir is a brand I got to know after testing their non-toxic dry fragrance reeds earlier this year, and like those, this candle boasts a certified safe fragrance, this time with a soy wax blend and lead-free wicks, so it really is one of the best non-toxic ways to make a home smell nice that I've tried.

It's not just that that makes this pick so attractive, though. It also smells stunning.

If you want to infuse your bedroom with a sense of calm or tap into the entryway fragrance secrets used by spa directors, this is the one I'd opt for. Like the Yankee Clean Cotton scent, it's fresh, it's clean, but this time it's just that little bit different, with earthy notes of bergamot and peppermint, and soft floral notes of sheer musk.

Of course, it's not all about the price, but with this candle, you get far more than you pay for. It burns impressively cleanly and evenly, never becomes overwhelming, and is housed in a sweet decorative tin to complement any decor.

What's more, it burns for up to 20 hours, even at such a small size. There's also the Isle of Capri Tin Candle, which one happy shopper says has 'lasted so many hours and the smell is magnificent,' and the Sage & Pomegranate Tin Candle, which is described as 'heavenly' with a 'sweet, herbal and fruity aroma.'

Real-World Tips: Placement, Maintenance and Common Pitfalls

While testing candles for this guide, my lifelong love for candles has transformed into a professional understanding of getting the most out of them, guided by industry experts and my extensive vetting, year-round. These are my top tips:

• The best place to put your candle is in the center of the room, on a sturdy, heat-resistant surface. If I'm lighting mine on a wooden table, I always pop a coaster underneath. Always make sure your candle is away from any flammable items, like curtains, paper, or other soft furnishings, as well as out of reach of pets and children. Your candle should also be away from drafts, air currents, windows, and vents.
• Always stop burning a candle when half an inch of wax remains, to prevent overheating or common fire risks in your home. Learn what to do with a candle when it's burnt out in our dedicated guide.
• Always burn your candle all the way to the edges on the first burn, to prevent tunnelling. If my candle ever does tunnel, I wrap it with tinfoil before lighting it, which helps melt and flatten the wax. If you have one, you can also use a blowtorch, with caution, to do this.
• Regularly trim the wick of your candle before burning to approximately 1/4 of an inch for a long-lasting, clean burn. You can do this with scissors, nail clippers, or a dedicated wick trimmer, available at Diptyque.

How We Test Candles

When testing, I always want to get a real sense of how these candles work alongside a day-to-day home life. For that reason, I tested and enjoyed each of these candles for over a month all around my house, assessing how well the fragrance disperses, how long (and how well) the candles burn for, and which placement works best for each, moving them between smaller and larger rooms to assess how they fare in different-sized spaces.

When testing to seasonally update this buying guide twice a year, in spring and fall, I always burn the top layer of each candle until it's entirely liquid, which helps to prevent tunnelling, and assess the scent, speed of burning, and appearance of the candle. I also note down any unique selling points – like natural ingredients, an unusual wick type, or a sustainable vessel.

I also spend time deep-diving into the wax type and burn time of each candle, to ensure that prices, particularly those at the higher end, are justified, which is why we now include a value-to-burn-time metric in our buying guide.

Of course, we acknowledge that scent is subjective, and just because these are my favorites doesn't necessarily mean they'll be yours. That's why I also spend time researching other scent options from the same brands for inclusion. Chances are, if I've had a positive experience with a certain brand, another scent that suits you more from the same brand will be just as beautiful to burn, and you can shop from them comfortably with a professional recommendation and be steered on what to expect for quality and performance.

You can find more info on how we test products at Homes & Gardens.

FAQs

How to Find Great Deals on the Best Candles

Most of the time, the best reductions can be found during Amazon Prime Day, in July, Black Friday, on the last Friday in November, and Cyber Monday, the first Monday in December. So, keep those dates in your diary and add anything you're after to your basket ahead of time.

You can also bookmark our home fragrance buying guides, which I will be updating with deals as they drop throughout key sale periods, sign up for retailer newsletters and let them do the alerting for you, and create wish lists on Amazon.

What Do I Do if My Candle Wick is Too Short?

If you can’t light your candle wick because it’s too short, try to take a little bit of the wax away from around the candle. You could scrape this away, or soften up the surrounding wax using a blow drier or candle lighter. Be careful doing this because you’ll have the flame at different angles.

Remove the wax around the wick using a Q-tip or tweezers, or by pouring. Then light the wick, and it should burn down like it used to. Let it burn for 30 minutes to establish a pool of melted wax around it.

Why is My Candle’s Glass Black?

This is an accumulation of soot, which can occur for a number of reasons. If your wax is paraffin, it’s probably that. The Harlem Candle Company reassures customers that all candles can produce soot, especially if they aren’t maintained and trimmed.

They explain, 'Incomplete combustion occurs if that balance is upset and wax is drawn into the flame faster than it can be burned. When this happens, the excess wax is released as soot instead. You might see soot being produced in the form of black smoke, which slowly settles on the sides and around the rim of your candle jar.’

It's nothing to worry about, but it might be a little tricky to clean when it comes to removing the wax from your vessel for reusing around the house.

Why Is My Candle Tunnelling?

Candle tunnelling is a real pain, but luckily, it tends to be avoidable. If you have a draft, cheap wax, or don’t burn your candle until the whole surface is a liquid, it might not burn evenly.

Make sure that the first burn of your candle makes a pool of wax up to the edge of the container. Try to do this every time you use the candle and make sure to trim the wick. If you keep up your candle maintenance routine, you should be fine.

I've also put together a guide on the best essential oil diffusers on the market if you prefer flame-free scenting.

Love the latest product news and helpful shopping advice? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.