As a home fragrance enthusiast and tester here at Homes & Gardens, I've tried budget-friendly, averagely priced, and high-end candle splurges. And, if there's one shop I love going into for a snoop and a sniff, it's Anthropologie.
Naturally, the brand new Hobby Lobby x Anthropologie candle collection, which launched just yesterday, couldn't be more exciting to me.
The Hotel Lobby x Anthropologie Collection is Now Live
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
This brand new collection is perfect for gifting this holiday season, particularly if you're buying for a homebody or home fragrance lover. Each comes beautifully packaged in a decorative presentation box.
Over the past year, I've been lucky enough to spend so much time testing and writing about home fragrance, but there hasn't been such a new and exciting launch, in my opinion, for a while.
That's been no problem – I've got plenty of tried and true candles and best home fragrance picks that I use daily as quick ways to make my home smell nice – but now I can't wait to add the new Hobby Lobby x Anthropologie candle collection to my arsenal.
'When Anthropologie asked us to explore the renewed love of ‘grandma hobbies’ through scent, we immediately said yes,' says Lindsay Silberman, the founder of Hotel Lobby.
'People are craving rituals that ground them – moments that feel unplugged, tactile, and intentionally slow.
'Anthropologie understands that world deeply, and partnering with them allowed us to translate this return-to-coziness movement into fragrances that truly feel comforting.' And while I haven't tried them yet, they certainly sound it.
The first of the two is the Mahjong candle, available at Hotel Lobby, described as a green, smoky and fresh scent that I think would work beautifully to make my bathroom smell like a luxury spa, with notes of jade bamboo, saffron, incense smoke, orris, and sandalwood.
'Mahjong was a constant in my grandmother’s life – something she played with her friends for decades,' explains Lindsey. 'As I started taking my own lessons, I fell in love with the rhythm of it: the clack of the tiles, and the ritual of getting together with friends… away from our phones for a few hours.
'I wanted to capture Mahjong’s calming, communal energy in a scent. We layered crisp, green notes with gentle smoke to evoke the quiet focus and warmth of gathering around a table.'
The Mahjong candle is inspired by the clack of Mahjong tiles – an homage to the 19th-century Chinese game.
The other Needlepoint candle, also available at Hotel Lobby, is a warm and powdery scent, with notes of blush peony, lily of the valley, antique rose, vintage lipstick, and silky musk – bringing all that cozy comfort of visiting your grandmother's house.
'Needlepoint was inspired by the idea of stepping away from our phones and sinking into something more tactile – a ritual that keeps your hands busy and your mind calm,' says Lindsey. 'When creating the scent, I kept coming back to the charm of vintage perfumes: soft powder, quiet florals, a touch of warm vanilla.
'We wanted something that felt familiar and comforting... a fragrance that could accompany you while you’re stitching, unwinding, or simply taking a moment to slow down.'
Needlepoint is soft and floral, with hints of sweet vanilla.
While both scents sound beautifully nostalgic and comforting, the candles are comprised of vegan, non-toxic 100 per cent soy wax with a braided cotton wick, both of which, I've found, guarantee a clean burn and a room-filling sensory experience. This also makes them the perfect choice if you strive to pick non-toxic candles.
They feature a burn-time of up to 65 hours, too, weighing 9.75 oz each, which is excellent value for money at $58, particularly against other more luxury brands.
Additionally, the vessels are designed for reusing candle jars around the house – I use mine for organizing makeup, but they also work perfectly in bathroom cabinets or on countertops, for storing toothbrushes, tubes and other essentials.
So, if you're looking for a beautiful, thoughtful gift idea for friends and family (or yourself) look no further – this collection is guaranteed to delight this holiday season.
Shop My Hotel Lobby Holiday Gifting Picks
Described as a clean, grounding, and meditative scent, this Mahjong candle is fresh and unisex, and made without paraffins or synthetic oils.
I'm a real believer that matches always make a beautiful gift, so why not buy the accompanying duo to complement your candle choice?
This candle from the collection has a vintage, powdery, delicate decadence, and is hand-poured in the USA.
Created in collaboration with the historic Hotel Jerome, this classic Christmassy candle has notes of smoke, pine, and tooled leather. It's also non-toxic.
There are also matching matches to the Needlepoint candle, and how cute are these? A set of two in decorative boxes makes them great value, too.
Prefer something a little more low-maintenance? The best reed diffusers are a brilliant alternative, and this one, scented with balsam fir, is refillable.
Got guests coming to stay over the holidays? These are the fall scents hotels use for luxurious guest rooms – and now you can too.
