Scented candles are popular because they can transform a room. Whether you’re looking to relax, focus, or create a cozy atmosphere, there’s a scented candle to match your mood.
The market for scented candles has grown in recent years, and there are a lot of options to choose from. But with so many candles available, how do you pick the best one?
This article will help you find the best long-lasting scented candles. We’ll explore what makes a candle “the best,” including:
- Scent quality
- Longevity
- Burn time
- Overall value
We’ll also look at some of the most popular scent categories, such as warm and woodsy scents, fresh and floral scents, and more. Plus, we’ll share expert opinions and practical tips for candle care so you can get the most out of your new favorite candle.
What makes a scented candle “long-lasting?”
A candle’s staying power depends on a few different things. It’s not just about the amount of wax; it’s also about the type of wax, the fragrance, and even the container it’s in.
Wax types and burn time
You’ll usually see candles made from soy wax, coconut wax, paraffin wax, or blends of these. Each one is different.
Soy wax often burns slowly, so it’ll last longer. But some people find the scent isn’t as strong as with other waxes.
Coconut wax is known for burning cleanly and throwing a good amount of scent.
Soy and coconut waxes are generally considered more sustainable than paraffin.
Fragrance concentration
The more fragrance oil a candle has, the stronger and longer-lasting the scent will be. If a candle has a high fragrance load, it’ll fill a room quickly and keep it smelling good for a while.
But be careful – too much fragrance can be overpowering or even give you a headache. I’ve definitely had candles that were too strong!
Vessel design
The shape and material of the candle holder can affect how evenly the candle burns. Some candle shapes can lead to “tunneling,” where the wax only melts in the center, leaving a ring of unused wax around the edges.
It’s also important to make sure a candle has good ventilation around it, so it burns properly.
Our Top Picks: Warm & Woodsy Candles
If you love a candle that smells like a forest cabin, a crackling fireplace, or a sophisticated cologne, these warm and woodsy candles are definitely worth checking out.
Boy Smells Hinoki Fantôme Candle
This candle has an intriguing and complex scent profile that includes Japanese cypress, jasmine petals, and the distinctive aroma of hinoki wood. It’s a truly unique fragrance that’s both refreshing and grounding. With a burn time of around 50 hours, it offers great value for its price.
Kishmish Kashmiri Chai Candle
If you’re a chai lover, this candle is a must-try. It perfectly captures the essence of Kashmiri chai with its warm and inviting blend of cardamom, cinnamon, and clove. The scent is both comforting and exotic. Expect a burn time of approximately 60 hours, making it a worthwhile investment for cozy nights in.
P.F. Candle Co. Amber & Moss Soy Candle
This candle is a cult classic for a reason. Its blend of amber, moss, and lavender creates a wonderfully earthy and calming aroma. It’s also incredibly affordable, making it a great option for everyday use. You can expect a burn time of around 40-50 hours from this popular soy candle.
Paddywax Tobacco Flower Form Candle
This candle isn’t just about the scent; it’s a beautiful piece of decor as well. The vessel is uniquely designed, adding a touch of elegance to any room. The fragrance itself is a sophisticated blend of tobacco flower, vanilla, and tonka bean. It burns for approximately 60 hours and is a great value for its beautiful presentation.
Apotheke Charcoal Candle
For those who prefer a more masculine and smoky aroma, the Apotheke Charcoal Candle is an excellent choice. It features a captivating blend of cedarwood, sandalwood, and smoke. The scent is bold and comforting. Expect a burn time of around 60-70 hours, making it a long-lasting option.
This candle is perfect for creating a grounding and meditative atmosphere, much like the effect you can achieve with an aromatherapy roller ball.
This candle is perfect for creating a grounding and meditative atmosphere. The blend of palo santo wood, cedarwood, and amber creates a warm and inviting aroma that promotes relaxation. With a burn time of around 50 hours, it’s a great way to unwind after a long day.
Voluspa Baltic Amber Candle
The Voluspa Baltic Amber Candle is a luxurious option that fills your space with a rich and warm aroma. The fragrance combines amber resin, sandalwood, and vanilla for a truly decadent experience. The burn time is approximately 100 hours, making it a splurge-worthy choice for candle enthusiasts.
Fresh & Floral Favorites: Candles for a Refreshing Ambiance
If you love a clean, fresh, floral scent, or want to explore other options, a candle scents list is sure to please. I’ve included a range of price points, so you can find one that fits your budget.
Bath & Body Works Rose Water & Ivy Candle
This candle is a classic for a reason! The scent is a beautiful blend of rose water, ivy, and sandalwood. It’s romantic without being overpowering. Bath & Body Works candles are known for their strong throw, and this one is no exception. You’ll definitely smell it throughout your space. The burn time is usually pretty decent, around 25-45 hours depending on the size, and they often have great sales, making them a fantastic value.
Diptyque Roses Classic Candle
If you’re looking for a truly luxurious rose scent, Diptyque’s Roses candle is a splurge-worthy option. It smells exactly like freshly cut roses, pure and simple. The aroma is sophisticated and elegant, perfect for creating a refined atmosphere. Be aware that at this price point, it’s an investment! The burn time is around 50-60 hours, but you’re paying for the quality of the fragrance and the beautiful packaging.
Otherland Daybed Candle
Otherland’s Daybed candle offers a more delicate and nuanced floral experience. It combines the scents of rosebud, peony, and pear blossom for a light and airy fragrance. It’s perfect for creating a peaceful and calming ambiance. The burn time is around 55 hours, and the candles come in gorgeous packaging, making them a great gift option.
Target Project 62 Lavender + Eucalyptus Candle
For a more spa-like experience, the Target Project 62 Lavender + Eucalyptus candle is a great choice, similar to using essential oil blends for sleep and anxiety relief. The combination of lavender and eucalyptus creates a calming and relaxing aroma, perfect for unwinding after a long day. These candles are incredibly affordable and offer a good burn time, usually around 40 hours. They’re a budget-friendly way to add a touch of tranquility to your home.
Sweet & Citrusy Scents: Invigorating and Uplifting Candles
If you’re looking for a sweet, bright, or energizing fragrance, these candles deliver:
Mala the Brand Cereal Scented Soy Candle
If you grew up eating sugary cereal, this candle will take you right back to Saturday mornings in front of the TV. It smells just like milk after you’ve eaten all the cereal. It’s a sweet, nostalgic scent that isn’t overpowering.
Mala the Brand candles are hand-poured in Vancouver, BC, and they’re made of soy wax. This one burns for 40-50 hours, making it a great value.
Peacesake Neroli and Musk Candle
If you’re looking for a brighter, more complex scent, the Peacesake Neroli and Musk Candle offers a refreshing, clean fragrance. Neroli is extracted from orange blossoms, and it has a sweet, honeyed, and slightly metallic aroma. This candle also includes musk, which adds warmth and depth, and a touch of citrus for brightness.
Peacesake candles are made in small batches in California. This candle burns for up to 50 hours.
Unique & Savory Scents: Exploring Unconventional Candle Fragrances
If you’re looking for something beyond the typical floral or vanilla scents, these candles offer a unique and intriguing olfactory experience.
D.S. & Durga Pasta Water Candle
Yes, you read that right. This candle aims to capture the essence of pasta water, with scent notes of salt, starch, and wheat. It’s an unusual and intriguing aroma that’s surprisingly comforting. The burn time is decent, and while it’s a bit of a splurge, it’s definitely a conversation starter.
Flamingo Estate Roma Heirloom Tomato
For a more earthy and herbaceous experience, the Flamingo Estate Roma Heirloom Tomato candle delivers. This candle smells like tomato leaf, basil, and damp soil. It’s like bringing a bit of the garden indoors. The burn time is on the shorter side for the price, but the unique scent makes it worthwhile for tomato lovers.
Smell House Juice Hoax Candle
If you prefer something fruity and refreshing, the Smell House Juice Hoax Candle is a fun option. While the specific fruit notes are a bit of a mystery (hence the “hoax”), it definitely smells like a medley of delicious fruit juices. It’s a bright and uplifting scent that’s perfect for warmer months. The burn time is comparable to other candles in its price range, making it a good value for those seeking a fruity fragrance.
How We Picked and Tested: A Rigorous Approach to Candle Evaluation
To find the best long-lasting scented candles, we burned a lot of wax. Here’s a peek into our testing process:
Scent Evaluation: Blind Tests and Panel Reviews
Scent is super subjective, so we started with blind tests. Our team didn’t know the brand or price of each candle. We just focused on the fragrance itself. We asked ourselves: Is it pleasant? Is it too strong or too faint?
Next, our panel got together to talk about each scent. We looked for complexity and uniqueness. Did the scent have layers? Did it smell like everything else on the market, or did it stand out?
Burn Time and Performance Testing
We carefully measured how long each candle burned. We lit them, timed them, and noted the results. Burn times varied quite a bit, which is why you’ll see a range in our recommendations.
We also watched for tunneling (when the candle burns down the center, leaving wax on the sides). And we paid close attention to scent throw – how well the fragrance filled the room.
Evaluating Vessel Quality and Overall Value
The vessel matters! We looked for well-designed, durable containers that would look good in your home. We also calculated the cost per ounce to compare value across different brands.
Sustainability and Ethical Considerations
Sustainability in candle-making means using responsibly sourced ingredients (like wax and fragrance oils) and eco-friendly packaging. We considered the environmental impact of each candle during our testing process.
Candle Care 101: Making Your Scent Last
Want to get the most out of your candles? Here are a few tips to help you maximize burn time and fill your home with fragrance.
Trim that wick!
Before you light your candle each time, trim the wick to about ¼ inch. This keeps the flame under control and prevents soot from forming. A wick trimmer gives you the cleanest cut.
The first burn is key.
When you light your candle for the very first time, let the wax melt all the way to the edges of the container. If you don’t, your candle will “tunnel,” meaning it will only burn in the center, which can shorten its life and reduce how much scent it throws.
Don’t burn it too long!
Burning a candle for more than three or four hours at a time can cause it to overheat. This can affect the scent, and it can even damage the container.
Snuff it out safely.
The best way to put out a candle is with a snuffer or wick dipper. Blowing it out can create smoke and scatter hot wax everywhere. A snuffer deprives the flame of oxygen, while a wick dipper gently pushes the wick into the melted wax, extinguishing it without any smoke.
Wick trimmers and other accessories: Worth the hype?
If you really want to get the most out of your candles (and who doesn’t when they’re as expensive as some of these are!), you might consider a wick trimmer. Keeping your candle wick trimmed to about ¼ inch promotes a clean burn and prevents soot from building up on the sides of your candle jar.
Other candle accessories you might like are candle warmers, which melt the wax from the top down, and candle snuffers, which extinguish the flame without creating smoke.
Beyond our top picks
We’ve highlighted some of our favorite long-lasting scented candles, but there are so many fantastic options out there! Brands like Diptyque, Jo Malone, and Nest also offer beautiful scents and impressive burn times. You also might consider trying candles made with soy wax, coconut wax, or beeswax, as these waxes often burn longer than paraffin wax.
Ultimately, the “best” candle is subjective and depends on your personal preferences. So, get out there and experiment! Explore different brands, scents, and wax types to discover your own personal favorites and create the perfect ambiance in your home.
Final Thoughts
A long-lasting, high-quality scented candle can transform your space, creating a specific mood or just making your home feel more welcoming.
When you’re shopping for candles, think about what’s most important to you. Do you prefer soy wax, known for its clean burn? Or beeswax, which is naturally scented? What about throw – the strength of the scent – and burn time? And, of course, what kind of scents do you love?
Use the information here to find candles that truly speak to you and create the atmosphere you desire. You might prefer a cozy, warm scent or something bright and energizing.
So, go ahead and explore the wonderful world of scented candles! Discover the perfect fragrance to make your space feel like your space.