1
best celebration candles
Rewined Magnum Nog Candle
Pros
- Has a minimum of 150 hour burn time
- Have several collections perfect for any occasion or time of year
Cons
- None I can think of!
My first encounter with this Charleston, South Carolina brand was for a promotion and a milestone birthday. So, I highly recommend skipping a congratulatory bottle of bubbly and instead taking the fun, unexpected route and opting for a candle from their cocktail collectionâaka scents evoking a Cosmopolitan, French 75, Paloma, Gin Fizz, and Spritz. The biggest sizes are perfect "You did it!" gifts, and the smaller ones make fab party favors and gift basket additions. And, this nog scent from Rewined's holiday collection? Literally made for your festive soirees, but if you're like me and don't mind your apartment smelling like almond, nutmeg, and cognac all year long, get it.
2
best under-the-radar candles
Golden Gems Hazel Candle
Pros
- Made from 100% soy wax
- 70-hour burn time
- Also comes in a perfumeâa spray and rollerball!
- Hand-poured in small batches
- Comes in two sizes
Cons
- Literally can't think of anyâyou need this
I live and die by this candle, this scent, this brand. If I'm being really real, I diiiid think about gatekeeping, but y'all really need this company In! Your! Life! Golden Gems is a St. Louis, Missouri-based boutique with finds so good, your credit card will be thanking you for swiping it. They have a fabulous apothecary line (all created in-house!) full of perfumes, room and linen sprays, and ofc, candles. I'm fully obsessed with this Rebel scent and how they perfectly blended rose, plum, and pepper, but you literally can't go wrong with any of the fragrance options.
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3
best long-lasting candles
Byredo Burning Rose Candle
Credit: Byredo
Pros
- Chic votive and packaging (glass is mouth-blown!)
- Long burn time
- Handmade in France
Cons
- Some reviews say scent doesn't dissipate as well
In the mood to try something fancy? Byredoâs addictive candlesâwhich were made to translate emotions into fragranceâare worth the splurge. Each of their scents comes in a beautiful black smoked glass that will not only elevate any room with its looks but also its soothing floral aromas. Plus, they've got a loooong burning time (60 hours!). This one has notes of rose petals, violet, and birch tree for a rich but not too overpowering fragrance.
4
best feel-good candles
Mala the Brand Sundays Candle
Credit: Mala the Brand
Pros
- Tree is planted with every purchase
- Made with non-toxic and eco-friendly materials
- Can choose to ship without packaging
Cons
- Must spend $175+ to get free shipping
Calling all "soft girls" (and just anyone who loves a dreamy candle twinkling in their home), Mala the Brand is for you. Made with non-toxic and eco-friendly materials, these vegan candles are ones you can definitely feel good about giving or getting. Oh! And a tree is planted with every purchase!
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5
best funky candles
CaiCaiHandmade Silky Pillar Candle
Pros
- Handmade (and handcarved!) by a one person team
- Affordable
- Labeled "star seller" on Etsy
Cons
- Maker notes that the shapes make the candles overflow when burning, so you'll need to make sure the candle is on a candle plate
At least one fun and unique candle is required in your collection, and they truly don't get any better than when they're in pillar or taper form. And clearly, CaiCaiHandmade knows this! Run to this small biz whenever you need to amp up the visual interest via candles.
6
best beeswax candles
Lomar Farms Honeysuckle & Jasmine Candle
Pros
- Burns clean!
- Can get scented and unscented beeswax candles
- Comes in a variety of fragrances
- All-natural cotton wicks
Cons
- None worth noting!
The story behind Lomar Farms is just as good as the candles themselves. A Harlem-based husband and wife duo their historic brownstone and set out toward their new 200-year-old farmhouse outside New York City. They turned the farm (named after their two daughters) into a business, one of which includes these fabulous beeswax candles that come in the most luscious scents.
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7
best gift-boxed candles
L'or de Seraphine Aurora Scented Candle
Pros
- Comes in two different sizes
- Has a ton of lovely, unique fragrances
Cons
- None worth mentioning, tbh!
L'or de Seraphine is really a triple threat. Each candle arrives in a gorge gift box âïž. Every scent has a decorative vessel with a lid âïž. They are the most perfect canisters once you burn the candle down âïž.
8
best soy wax candles
Bonita Fierce Abuela's Bakery Candle
Credit: Bonita Fierce
Pros
- Paraben-free and phthalate free
- FSC-certified wooden wick
- Plantable seed paper dust cover
- Hand-poured in small batches so no one candle is the same
Cons
- None worth noting!
What started as a quarantine hobby for founder Melissa Gallardo has become a full-on soy wax candle business. Not only are these votives environmentally friendly, but they also smell amazing and feature super cute labels inspired by Melissa's Latinx heritage.
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9
best unique scented candles
Otherland Berkshires Granola Candle
Credit: Otherland
Pros
- So! Many! Fun! Scents!
- Gorgeous packaging you'll want to show off
- All-natural coconut and soy wax blend
Cons
- Smell doesn't dissipate as much as some others on the list
The vibrant packaging on Otherland's candles is incomparable, and their scents are just impeccable. (Shout-out to their non-toxic coconut and soy wax blend and 100-percent cotton wicks!). Their collections always include some v relaxing vibes with bright and bold aromas.
10
best luxe candles
Dr. Vranjes Firenze Rosso Nobile Tormalina Candle
Pros
- Comes in So! Many! great scents
- Can get the fragrance in different forms (diffuser! room spray! car air freshener!)
- Available in six (!) sizes
Cons
- On the pricier side
I am obsessed with Dr. Vranjes Firenze, there is no simpler way to put it. It's straight out of Florence, Italy, so you know it just screams chic. And while you truly can't go wrong with any of the fragrances from the brand, the Rosso Nobile is like a masterclass in candle craftsmanship. If you want to mentally transport from your shabby apartment to sipping outrageously delicious Tuscan red wine on the Italian countryside, light this baby up.
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11
best cult-favorite candles
Le Labo Verveine 32 Classic Candle
Credit: Le Labo
Pros
- Really fills a room with fragrance
- Brand also makes other home and beauty products in the same scents
- Paraben-free, cruelty free, and vegan
Cons
- Preeeetty pricey
Le Labo is another crowd faveâespecially Verveine 32. The brand launched in 2006 with signature names that indicate how many scent notes are in each candle. They also make perfumes, body oils, and laundry detergents.
12
best fun description candles
Anecdote Candles Rooftop Soirée Candle
Pros
- Affordable
- Scents available in jar or tin
- Phthalate-free and cruelty free
- All-natural wax
Cons
- Not the longest burn time
Anecdote Candles' fragrances are made to get people to really ~feel~ something, with smells influenced by "personal recollections and cultural trends." We suggest you get Rooftop Soirée if you want to be transported to boozy summer nights ASAP.
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13
best stress-relieving candles
Spoken Flames Focused Candle
Credit: Spoken Flames
Pros
- Pretty darn affordable
- Vegan, non-toxic, phthalate-free
- Wax has a gold shimmer
- Wick makes a soft crackling sound
Cons
- Must spend $75 for free shipping
Spoken Flames just knows what the people need, and the people (hi, it me) need to relax. I have this exact candle sitting pretty on my desk, so when the deadlines are closing in and the emails are stacking up, the soft blend of vanilla, eucalyptus, and sandalwood remind me it's all gonna get done. The brand also has one one the best smelling melon candles my nostrils have ever encountered.
14
best animal-obsessed candles
PyroPet Einar Dreki Skeleton Candle
Pros
- Eco-friendly packaging
- You're in for a surprise inside when the wax burns down
Cons
- Candle is unscented
These animal-shaped candles are fully about the looks, and we're not mad about it. If you're on the hunt for some seriously cool (and slightly spooky) decor, then go for this one that melts down to reveal a metal skeleton inside (!).
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15
best hand-blown glass votive candles
LAFCO Marine Candle
Credit: Lafco
Pros
- 4 size options
- Gorgeous handblown-glass votives
- Long burn time
- Sustainably made
Cons
- On the expensive side
Thanks to LAFCO's sophisticated handblown-glass packaging and heavenly scents (swooning over fresh-cut gardenia and "Sea and Dune"), this brand is beloved by candle enthusiasts everywhere. Who among us doesn't want to whiff notes of sea jasmine, rose, cyclamen, and bergamot?
Hannah Chubb is the lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things home, travel, food, health, career, and more. She spends pretty much every hour of every day curating the internet for the best new products, trends, and travel destinations. You can typically find her looking for houses she canât afford on Zillow or Airbnb, planning her next meal before she gets to the restaurant, or taking all of the Justin Bieber classes over and over and over again on Peloton. Follow her on Instagram.
Christen A. Johnson is the lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan where she covers health and wellness, home, money, career, pets, food, travel and more for print and digital. She also dabbles in culture writing, and wrote Cosmoâs first-ever digital cover story. Before joining the magazine, Christen was a lifestyle features reporter at the Chicago Tribune. Several of her health and style stories made the paper's front page. When Christen isnât digging through antique stores, she's likely drooling over home renos on HGTV, sharing her latest therapy revelation, redoing old workouts from her college basketball days, or trying to perfect her homemade buttermilk biscuit recipe. Follow her on Insta for BTS ~ editor life ~ tingz!
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