Whether it has spicy, floral, or woodsy notes, a scented candle is the perfect way to create a cozy mood. And, besides smelling good, scented candles also instantly elevate your home’s decor.

When using them as decorations, one factor you should keep in mind is size. Kathy Kuo says, “I find that 7.5-ounce candles are a nice size to add to vignettes on decorative trays and on the counter in a bathroom or kitchen.”

Kathy Kuo is the interior designer and CEO of Kathy Kuo Home.

Besides size, it’s also important to keep a candle’s scent, burn time, and wax type in mind. Fortunately for you, we’ve already done the hard work. We surveyed our staff on their favorite candles to find the best scented candles on the market. 

We asked them about burn time, scent throw, and other attributes to provide you with this curated list. We also spent hours researching scented candles and spoke to Kuo for tips on size, scent, and wax type.

　　 Best Woodsy

　　 P.F. Candle Co. Teakwood & Tobacco Candle

$27 at Amazon $24 at Pfcandleco.com $24 at Shoppigment.com For all the nature lovers out there, this one’s for you. Made with your typical woodsy notes along with orange and black tea, lighting this candle will remind you of taking a peaceful walk through the woods. When we lit this candle in our home, it quickly filled the room with a strong, pleasant scent.

Scent Notes: Teakwood, tobacco, orange, leather, black tea, pepper, tobacco leaf, sandalwood, teak, patchouli, musk, amber | Size: 7.2 ounces, 12.5 ounces | Wax Type: Soy

　　 Boy Smells Slow Burn Candle

$56 at Nordstrom $56 at Sephora $56 at Boysmells.com Kacey Musgraves collaborated with Boy Smells to create this Slow Burn candle. Each time that we burned this candle, it left us with an unforgettable aroma (thanks to the wide variety of scent notes). And, if you thought this candle couldn’t get any better, know that the unique scent lingers in your room for up to four hours. From the warm glow to the amazing scent, this candle has the power to give your space a relaxing feel.

Scent Notes: Elemi, black pepper, ginger, incense, labdanum, raspberry, rose, guaiac, amber, tonka bean, smoked papyrus, cedarwood | Size: 8.5 ounces, 27 ounces | Wax Type: Coconut, beeswax

　　 Hotel Lobby Candle Signature Candle

$58 at Hotellobbycandle.com $58 at Neiman Marcus This luxurious candle from Hotel Lobby is unlike any other. When lit, it releases a complex but lovely aroma. When company is over, we receive nothing but compliments about how wonderful our home smells.

While it is more expensive than some of our other picks, this candle is worth every penny. With the high-quality packaging, feel free to give this candle to a loved one on a special occasion.

Scent Notes: Agarwood, vetiver, atlas cedar, amber, white musk | Size: 9.75 ounces | Wax Type: Soy

　　 Best Floral

　　 P.F. Candle Co. Sandalwood Rose Candle

$27 at Amazon With a hint of cashmere rose and notes of oud and patchouli, P.F. Candle Co. has created a unique candle with a balanced scent. The apothecary-inspired jar is perfect for topping your nightstand or dresser to fill your room with a lovely fragrance anytime you want it.

When you’re finished, just pop the lid back on top. We found that after being extinguished, the candle’s aroma lingers around for about two hours.

Scent Notes: Musk, labdanum, oud, amber, cashmere rose, iris, patchouli, violet leaf, marine accord | Size: 3.5 ounces, 7.2 ounces | Wax Type: Soy

　　 Capri Blue Aloha Orchid Scented Candle with Blue Signature Jar

$32 at Amazon $34 at Nordstrom $34 at Capri-blue.com Fresh flowers are a great way to brighten up your home. But with their limited lifespan, you’re always having to frequently replenish your vase. Fortunately, we have the next best option—a candle that releases an especially lovely floral aroma.

From the scent to packaging to overall quality, this candle has easily become one of our favorites. Even though we wanted the scent throw to be a little stronger, we just couldn’t beat this unique jasmine and gardenia fragrance.     

Scent Notes: Orchids, jasmine, gardenia | Size: 19 ounces | Wax Type: Soy, paraffin

　　 NEST Bamboo Classic Candle

$48 at Ulta $48 at Sephora $48 at Nestnewyork.com The best candles are the ones that you get to customize. With this Bamboo Classic candle from Nest New York, you can pick the burn time that suits you. This candle is also beautifully complex in its scent profile.

As soon as you light it, the candle fills the room with notes of lotus, jasmine, and hyacinth. Besides the scent, we also loved the jar and will upcycle it for other purposes around our home.  

Scent Notes: White lotus, lush jasmine, hyacinth | Size: 8.1 ounces | Wax Type: Proprietary wax

　　 Grove Collaborative Sanctuary Soy Candle with Lavender, Blue Sage and Clove

$18 $14 at Grove.co Don’t be fooled by the demure packaging of this candle, it packs a powerful aroma. As we burned it, we found that it’s best to light it for a short amount of time because it has a very strong scent throw. 

When lit, this candle releases notes of lavender, blue sage, and clove, so it’s perfect for those who love floral and herbal scents. Plus, since lavender is known to help you relax, feel free to light this option when you plan to wind down for the day.

Scent Notes: Lavender, blue sage, and clove | Size: 7 ounces | Wax Type: Soy

　　 Best Fruity

　　 Anthropologie Capri Blue Volcano Mercury Jar Candle​

$38 at Anthropologie Hand-poured in Starkville, Mississippi, the Capri Blue Volcano Mercury Jar Candle emits a refreshing citrus scent that you will want to enjoy regularly. From the bright and tropical fragrance to the packaging, we loved everything about this candle. Not only does it have a wonderful aroma but when lit, the jar looks like a starry night sky. You can choose to purchase this candle in four different sizes.   

Scent Notes: Tropical fruits, sugared oranges, lemons, limes | Size(s): 19 ounces | Wax Type: Paraffin soy

　　 Free People 1809 Collection Surf 2-Wick Candle

$42 at Freepeople.com Featuring 10 beautiful scent notes and simple packaging, this two-wick candle was the perfect addition to our home decor. When lit, the candle distributed a unique smell that easily filled the room. Plus, we could still smell the sweet fragrance for some time after we blew it out.

This is the perfect pick for someone who favors small candles but doesn’t mind a strong scent throw to go with it.

Scent Notes: Jasmine sambac, coconut, ylang ylang, lemon, tonka bean, palo santo, clove bud, patchouli, vanilla absolute, black pepper | Size: 10 ounces | Wax Type: N/A

　　 Terrain Linnea Pear Galette Candle

$42 at Shopterrain.com After lighting this candle, you’ll smell the fruity note of anjou pears and spicy notes of clove and amber. Think crisp fall days, warm apple cider, and tasty baked goods featuring delicate pears. 

As the handcrafted candle slowly burns, your space will transform into a more cozy environment. It has quickly become one of our favorites.

Scent Notes: Anjou pear, clove, amber | Size: 11 ounces | Wax Type: Soy

　　 Best Spicy

　　 Brooklyn Candle Studio Brooklyn Escapist Candle

$42 at Nordstrom $42 at Brooklyncandlestudio.com One whiff of this candle from Brooklyn Candle Studio, and you’ll say goodbye to all your plug-in air fresheners. The Brooklyn Escapist Candle has a clean burn with a subtle scent of orange blossoms, neroli, and leather. 

We found that it released an earthy and spicy smell in our bedroom that lasted around two hours. Even if you’re not a fan of candles, their company does sell a reed diffuser with the same scent.

Scent Notes: Orange blossom, neroli, leather, cassis, patchouli, wild sage | Size: 13 ounces | Wax Type: Soy

　　 Homecourt Cece Candle

$65 at Amazon $65 at Homecourt.co $65 at Revolve Featuring classic fall spices, this simple candle has a balanced scent that’s strong but not overpowering. While it does have notes of cinnamon, cardamom, and carrots, this candle is perfect for all-season use. Besides the blend of spices, the low burn of the candle is another added plus for us.

Scent Notes: Guatemalan cardamom, dried mate absolute leaves, Sri Lankan cinnamon, carrot seeds and leaves, Indonesian patchouli oil, vetiver oil | Size: 8 ounces | Wax Type: Soy

　　 Maison Louis Marie No.4 Bois de Balincourt Candle

$38 at Amazon $38 at Sephora $38 at Maisonlouismarie.com If you prefer candles that don’t have a lingering scent, this option is for you. The Bois de Balincourt candle from Maison Louis Marie is made up of a blend of notes that release an earthy fragrance of sandalwood, cedar, and vetiver. When lit, this candle will provide your space with a warm and relaxed feel. If you’re still unsure about purchasing this option, note that you can try out a sample from their company website.

Scent Notes: Sandalwood, cedarwood, nutmeg, vetiver, cinnamon, amber wood | Size: 8.5 ounces | Wax Type: Soy

　　 Best Seasonal

　　 Poured Candle Bar Pumpkin Moment

$40 at Pouredcandlebar.com Nothing gets us excited about the fall season like enjoying the aroma of a pumpkin-scented candle. Besides pumpkin, this candle also has nutmeg, cinnamon, and tonka bean (all very classic fall scents).

Thanks to the combination of notes, this candle releases a sweet yet spicy aroma that reminds us of some of our favorite baked goods. Whether you’re a fan of fall candles or simply want to try something new, we highly recommend this option.

Scent Notes: Tonka bean, pumpkin with rum, nutmeg | Size: 10 ounces | Wax Type: Soy

　　 Bungalow Candle Studio Fall Candle Collection Maple Chai with Burbon

$20 at Bungalowcandlestudio.com This candle is every fall lover’s dream. As you’re making your favorite fall dessert, light this candle, and allow a cozy feel to linger throughout your home. This is one candle we'd purchase again and again. You can choose from 13 different scents in the collection.

Scent Notes: Maple chai with bourbon | Size: 8 ounces | Wax Type: Soy

　　 Candleberry Hot Maple Toddy Jar Candle

$28 at Amazon $27 $26 at Candleberry.com Made with cinnamon, honey, and black tea, hot toddies are a delicious way to stay warm during the cooler months. Now imagine that same beverage but in the form of a candle.

Meet one of Candleberry’s fall candles that provides your home with a sweet but comforting smell. Whenever we used this candle, the strong scent definitely filled the room.

Scent Notes: Maple, honey, rum | Size: 26 ounces | Wax Type: Soy

　　 Thymes Fraiser Fir Candle Tin

$24 at Thymes.com This candle’s fir tree scent will evoke fun memories of picking out a Christmas tree. Decorated with pine needles, this candle from the Thymes company gives us nostalgia for the holidays and releases an earthy, herbal scent that lasts quite a long time. Whether you’re trying to decorate for Christmas or create a cool winter ambiance, this candle will accomplish all of that and much more.     

Scent Notes: Siberian fir, cedarwood, sandalwood | Size: 6.5 ounces | Wax Type: Paraffin

　　 Our Testing Process 

We surveyed our staff members about the best scented candles they’ve used. We evaluated them based on scent, quality, and value. We also asked them additional questions such as what they use candles for, where they typically place candles in their home, how long they burn candles, and what are their favorite types of fragrances. 

We received 65 responses spanning 46 brands and 60 products. Most individuals also stated that they liked candles with subtle scents, scent throws that fill the room, and scented candles with reusable jars and unique packaging. 

　　 Tips For Choosing The Right Candle 

Scent Notes Most candles will either have fragrance oils, essential oils, or a combination of both in them. Essential oils are ones that can be extracted from a plant. Some examples are lavender, mint, bergamot, peppermint, lemon, and rosemary. Fragrance oils are man-made, such as sandalwood and cedarwood in the Hotel Lobby Signature Candle.

Each of these oils is used to create the candle's top, middle, and bottom fragrance notes. The top notes last for about 15 minutes on average. Once the top layer is gone, you start to smell the middle scent notes, usually consisting of floral, woodsy, or sweet scents. Generally, you can smell these for about two hours. The bottom notes are the ones that you can smell for the longest time after the candle has been burned, which can be anywhere from six to 24 hours.       

Size Scented candles come in a wide range of sizes. Before you purchase a candle, you need to consider the reason why you want one. For decoration purposes, larger candles can immediately draw attention to the area they’re placed in. “If you're looking to make a visual statement as well as an olfactory one, try a 12-ounce or larger size, and make sure that the vessel is super-pretty as well!” says Kuo. 

We’re thinking here of the Anthropologie Capri Blue Volcano Mercury Jar Candle which comes in a 19-ounce jar. While smaller candles aren’t as appealing as larger ones, they can still transform the room into a more relaxing space.

Wax Type While it’s fun to pick a candle with your favorite scent(s), consider the wax type. When burned, candles with paraffin wax may release soot and other harmful chemicals. But as Kuo mentions, candles with mineral wax or soy—like the PF Candle Co. Teakwood & Tobacco—have a clean burn and are better for the air quality within your home.

Burn Time A candle’s burn time depends on several factors, such as wax type, size, wick, and how often you burn the candle. Note that beeswax, soy, and coconut wax will last longer. 

When it comes to size, larger candles like the Brooklyn Candle Studio Brooklyn Classic 2-Wick Candle will have a longer burn time than shorter ones. As a general rule, it’s best to trim the wick one-fourth of the way down each time that you burn it. It’s also recommended to not burn the candle for more than four hours at a time.

　　 Questions and Answers 

What candles don’t smoke when you burn them? According to Kuo, soy wax candles don’t produce a lot of smoke. She also mentions that it’s a good idea to use candles with natural oils or plant extracts.

What candle scents are best for the home? Whether you enjoy the sweet smell of lavender or the rich scent of vanilla, Kuo says that the best candle scents for your home are the ones you like the most. Besides scent, you should consider how often you intend to burn the candle. 

If you burn them daily, then you should pick candles with less powerful scents. “Clean scents like eucalyptus, palo santo, and vetiver are great choices that lend just a little something special to the scent of a room without becoming the center of attention,” says Kuo.

What candle scent is the most relaxing? Kuo adds, “The most relaxing scent for each person is sure to vary, but you can't go wrong if you look for scents that evoke happy memories, and remind you of the beauty of the natural world.” Furthermore, if you tend to favor fruity scents like pear or citrus, those are the ones you will find most comforting. 

　　 Why Trust Southern Living

This article was written by Moriah Mason, a commerce writer for Southern Living who has over two years of experience writing lifestyle content. To help you purchase the best scented candle, we surveyed our staff about their favorite scented candles and asked them to evaluate them based on scent, quality, and value. Moriah also reached out to Kathy Kuo, interior designer and owner of Kathy Kuo Home, for expert insight on choosing the best candles for your home.