36 Candle Gifts That'll Make Any Space Smell Incredible (2024)

If you haven’t seen the 2016 SNL sketch about candle gifts, we’ll summarize it for you: It’s basically a three-minute video making fun of people who offer scented candles on special occasions. Are candles the most personal gift that ever existed? No. Are candles a little luxury that people usually don’t want to buy for themselves? Yes! In our opinion, that’s what makes candles a great gift. Of course, they don’t have to be the whole gift (they can be a supplement to the bigger, more meaningful one), but they can definitely be part of it.

As avid candle collectors, the shopping editors rounded up the best scented finds on the market. Get them individually, as sets, or mix a few of the candles from the below list. You’ll notice a few familiar favorites, including the famous Vanilla Cupcake from Yankee Candle, Roses from Diptyque, and English Pear & Freesia from Jo Malone London. You also may discover a few smaller brands that you didn’t know about before today. Regardless, all of these candles are as beautiful to look at as they are to inhale, so treat yourself, your friends, coworkers, or family members to a delicious treat.

Take a peek at more than 30 incredible options that range from floral and soft to invigorating and musky. You really can't go wrong with any of them.

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These are another great gift because there are so many (read: six) in the set, and they all have different scents. So, you're basically letting the recipient figure out what fragrance they're most drawn to instead of assuming and getting them one you'll hope they like.

We couldn't map out a guide to the best scented candles and include only one option from Diptyque. "This is my personal favorite from the brand. Not only is the vessel beautiful, but it is such a classic scent," Cherner explains. "It is such a soft rose scent mixed with other light floral notes."

Anyone who's stepped through Anthropologie's doors is familiar with this scent. Though it's not marketed to use during a specific season, we think it would be best enjoyed during summer because the top notes are sugared oranges, lemons, limes, and what the brand describes as "lightly exotic mountain greens."

"Anthropologie sells many different candle brands and recently just released their own in-house candle brand. I was intrigued by the line, so I asked to test one and picked the cedar leaf and oak scent," Senior Commerce Editor Marina Liao says. "The scent is fresh and crisp without being overpowering. What I love the most, that you can't get with other candles on the market, is the uniquely shaped vessel that the wax sits in. While I have all intentions of lighting this candle, I may just let it sit out for a bit first on my bookshelf as a decorative accent piece."

If you're shopping for someone particularly health-conscious, you can't go wrong with a soy base and wooden wicks, which last longer, are toxin-free, eco-friendly, and burn cleaner. Plus, a wood wick comes with that crackling sound you don't get with cotton ones.

"As an avid candle collector, I am kicking off this list with my tried-and-true favorite, the Fresh Coffee candle from Sweet Water Decor," Associate Shopping Editor Jessica Cherner says. "I love the way coffee smells, so when I found this candle, I ordered it without even thinking. It doesn't smell like coffee-scented anything, though; it smells exactly like coffee. I usually light this in the colder months because it's definitely very rich."

Jo Malone London is another big name in the candle game, so if you've heard of it but don't know what to get to introduce yourself to the brand, go with this one. It's such a soft and sweet scent that will fill the room with a mild fragrance that reminds us of morning dew in the springtime. Yes, that's a very specific reference, but isn't transporting you to somewhere better what candles are supposed to do?

We love when a candle set features various scents. That's the best way to make the most of multiple options, after all. This set comprises pine and clove, vintage oak, cedar oakmoss, and magnolia and sandalwood. They do veer on the more traditionally masculine side of the fragrance spectrum, but they work in any space.

"This candle was my first foray into Sweet Water Decor, and I have no regrets," Cherner says. "I buy it every fall because it is like the best introduction to what is most people's favorite season." It smells like a delicious mix of hot cider, cinnamon, cloves, apple, and nutmeg.

"I got this as a gift a few months ago and used it until the very last drop of wax melted. I never would have bought this for myself because it's generally not a scent I thought I'd love, but alas, here I am buying another." The notes are sandalwood, cedar, vetiver, nutmeg, cinnamon, and amber, but you'll mostly smell the cedar and cinnamon, which we'd consider a winning combination of woody and sweet.

Glossier landed on the beauty scene in a big way back in 2014 with only four products: the smoothing face mist, priming moisturizer, Balm Dot Calm lip gloss, and Perfect Skin tint foundation. A decade later, it's basically a lifestyle brand, selling everything from perfume to, you guessed it, candles. Don't be fooled by the pale glass jar, though. It doesn't smell like what you may expect it to: the top notes are pear, mandarin, and cypress.

During the wintertime, this is an advent calendar, but the rest of the year, it's just a set of beautifully scented candles you can enjoy whenever you so please. There's no need to light one per day for 12 days. Enjoy them every day, once a week, or whenever else your nose could use a little treat.

It may seem like we are on a winter kick right now, and you're not wrong...we love a candle that makes you feel cozier. This one is an equal blend of fir (which blooms in winter) and grapefruit (a winter fruit).

Public Goods is a great marketplace for everything you may want for your personal space. Not only does PB sell tons of incredible, low-key, pared-back products, but everything is available at almost unbelievably low prices. After all, you're currently eyeing a set of three 3.5-ounce candles for just $15!

"Voluspa kindly sent me this candle over the holidays last year and I knew I'd love it based on the bulbous glass jar alone. The fact that the scent is just as beautiful is the cherry on top (pun intended)," Cherner remarks. You may assume it's super fruity just based on the name, but the top note is actually leather, with sub-notes of smoked cherry and rose petals.

We are big fans of sets for gifts, so if you're shopping for a friend or family member and don't quite know what to get, you can't go wrong with a set of candles. These ones come in various sizes, meaning the recipient can put one on their bathroom counter, one one on their nightstand, and one anywhere else they can use a fresh, delicious boost.

"I bought this candle for myself when I lived in a smelly dorm room in college. This vanilla-infused scent filled the room with truly the most heavenly aroma I've ever smelled. I have bought it many times since." Cherner admits. "I bought this one because it was pretty big (18 ounces) and I knew it would last a while, and it has! I literally burn it for like four hours on end, and I had it for more than a month."

For anyone comforted by a nearby body of water, this is the candle set for you. Each one is reminiscent of a famous beach locale, including specific places, like Hawaii, and more general vibes, like beach cottages.

If you don't know Salt & Stone, allow us to explain: It's a lifestyle brand that celebrates all things relaxing at home. There are body lotions, mists, and, the ultimate tool for serenity, candles. This one is our favorite because it's such an unexpected scent: saffron and cedar. "You will definitely smell the saffron, so if you're not a fan of the very rich spice, this may not be the candle for you," Cherner adds.

The only downside to buying a set of candles is that they tend to be too small to enjoy for very long, and the bigger the set, the smaller the vessels. Such is not the case with this Boy Smells collection. Each one is three ounces, which is neither huge nor tiny. Each candle is the perfect size, if you ask us.