The Very Best-Smelling Candles

Including one that’s inspired by 18th-century perfume.

The Very Best-Smelling Candles

 

17 items in this article 3 items on sale!

In the time before social distancing — a time that now feels far, far away — I burned candles a few times a week: during the occasional bath, to banish the smell of cooked bacon or the lingering scent of the litter box, and because friends were coming over and I wanted the apartment to smell extra-clean. But now that I’ve been working from home for more than two years and spending more time at home in general, I burn them like nobody’s business — lighting candles (and combinations of multiple candles) for hours at a time. Throughout, I’ve done a lot of testing, smelling, and writing about candles, and I’ve learned what makes a good one. When it comes to fragrance, “good” is subjective and often comes down to a matter of preference of taste. With that in mind, I spoke to a handful of scent obsessives with exceptional taste — and a particular affinity for candles — to find out their favorites, which I’ve listed below.