1. A hand-poured sage candle with dried flowers and herbs mixed in to add a little somethin' special. This beauty promises up to 55 hours of burning time and will be the perfect touch to your zen zone.
2. A soy candle whose slogan, "bringing light to a dark world," does exactly that. It's non-toxic, offers 37 hours of burn time, and comes in so many unique scent combinations. Plus, its sleek and simple design means it'll fit into any home decor style, and it's nice packaging makes it a great gift!
3. An essential oil pillar candle if you have a bunch of candleholders that are just collecting dust. It comes in several lovely aromas such as orange lemongrass and vanilla peppermint!
4. A homesick candle if you long for the nostalgic scents of a place you once lived. States aren't the only options, though — they have a whole collection of cities and even college towns!
5. A Pet House candle, a must-have for anyone who owns a dog who loves nothing more than long walks in the rain (resulting in a wet dog scent that tends to linger in your home for far too long).
My sister has THREE large dogs and absolutely swears by these!
Promising review: "Purchased the citrus scent. It does a phenomenal job providing a clean and fresh scent. Stands up to high priced candles. Removes any noticeable odor and replaces it with a pleasant scent. We light it for a couple hours when needed and then the smell stays for a while. Highly recommend." —lblynn
Check out Elizabeth's full review of Pet House candles here.
Get it from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in 52 scents).
6. A soy-based candle to bring the perfect amount of cozy vibes into your home — anyone whose anyone knows it's not chilly season until you've lit a candle. Those are the rules 🕯️.
Lulu Candles is a small business!
Promising review: "Nontoxic, essential oils, highly scented, AND made in the USA makes this the best candle I’ve ever purchased! Just ordered four more." —Jeff Allen
Scent notes: jasmine, oud, and sandalwood
Get it from Amazon for $19.95+ (available in 52 scents).
7. A "Comfort Zone" candle, perfect for anyone who loves nothing more than last-minute canceled plans (guilty), lounging on the couch watching Netflix, and the soothing scent of vanilla and cedarwood.
Anecdote Candles are made with cotton wicks and a coconut-soy wax blend to create a clean burn.
Scent notes: orange blossom, coffee, jasmine, vanilla, patchouli, and cedarwood.
Get it from Anecdote Candles for $14+ (available in three sizes).
8. A set of tiny strawberry candles that'll have you singing "I want more berriessssss and that summer feelinnnnng" a la Harry Styles each time you light one — and who could blame you?! They're freakin' adorable.
Check out a TikTok of the strawberry candles in action.
Promising review: "Omg so cute and they smell incredible. I got these for my bridal shower and my girls really liked them. Want to purchase more just for fun as they are so darn cute." —Anoj
Scent notes: strawberry
Get a set of four from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in red and pink).
9. A scented candle unlike any other one in your lineup — this baby includes orange peel, peppercorn, apple, mandarin, vanilla, and Tonka bean. It's gotta be a 10/10.
This small business is LGBTQ-owned and run in Chicago. I've personally tried out their Real Housewives of New York "Berkshires" candle and can attest that their candles are fantastic.
Promising review: "It’s giving pecan pie and apple cider 🥰 I’m obsessed!! The quality as always is incredible, and the projection is just right." —Julia Peters
Scent notes:
Top: Citrus, Cinnamon, Chrysanthemum
Middle: Apple, Berry, Green Leaves
Base: Pecan, Cedar
Get it from The Sisters Stoned on Etsy for $18+ (available in two sizes).
10. A Star Wars–inspired Homesick candle, in case you've always wondered what The Death Star smells like. It'll also be a perfect addition to your plans to marathon all of the films from start to finish (again).
Promising review (for The Death Star scent): "This candle is so unique. After smelling it at a Barnes and Noble, my husband and I considered whether or not the price was worth is as it’s quite high but decided to go for it and WOW!! It is a crazy unique smell of being on the Death Star (or any Star Wars spaceship really) with its smells of forged steel, leather, and smoked amber!! 5/5 stars, genuinely awesome, otherworldly candle!!" —Alexa
Get it from Amazon for $34.99 (available in five Star Wars-inspired scents).
11. A "warm and cozy" candle, because the name of the scent alone sounds like it’ll wrap you up in a plush throw blanket and direct you to the couch to have the best snuggle sesh of your life.
This candle features notes of orange, cinnamon, clove, vetiver, and pine. It has a lovely minimalist design that'll look great with all of your home decor! It's made by Sweet Water Decor, a small business based in Pennsylvania.
Promising review: "I love this candle...love it, love it, love it! I just wish it was bigger! I really prefer larger three wick candles, so this one being so small is a bit of a bummer but the scent definitely makes up for it. With the slightest hint of fireplace smoke combined with winter, pine, and a bit of citrus, you can't beat it. The snow is falling outside my window but I'm inside under a blanket, warm and cozy, with my Warm & Cozy candle making me smile. :)" —K.M. Helm
Scent notes: orange, cinnamon, clove, and pine
Get it from Sweet Water Decor on Amazon Handmade for $19.99 (available in four scents and two designs).
12. A Capri Blue Volcano Mercury candle your nose has already had the pleasure of meeting if you've ever set foot inside an Anthropologie store — it comes in an array of sizes so you can snag one that's *just right* for your space.
These candles are simply beloved by all Anthropologie fans — don't sleep on 'em!
Promising review: "Over the years, I’ve bought dozens of these candles for myself as well as for gifts. The scent is wonderful and long lasting. I appreciate the lid to keep dust out when not in use." —Hodges Runner
Scent notes: tropical fruits, sugared oranges, lemons, and limes are redolent with lightly exotic mountain greens.
Get it from Anthropologie for $20+ (available in sizes XS–XL).
13. A candle from Votivo in a simple jar that won't take away from your home's already beautiful decor — they come in *so* many delectable scents you won't know which one to start with!
Votivo is a small business that sells incredibly good smelling candles. I've personally tried out their Red Currant candle from their holiday collection and, damn, is it fantastic. I gifted one to my mom and she also loved it so much she asked me for another once she burned through it (she's very particular about her scents, so this was a big win for me).
Promising review: "All of these candles smell great. I’ve been buying them for years! The Red Currant is my all time favorite. The smell is amazing and pretty strong. You don’t have to burn it for long and it will last! They are a tad expensive but the scents are exceptional!" —MMcCurdy
Get it from Amazon for $31.62+ (available in 19 scents).
14. A chic glass candle in a stunning jar that'll look gorgeous no matter where you decide to place it in your home — and it has a wooden wick to make any room of your house feel like there's a snuggly crackling fireplace in it.
La Jolíe Muse Store is a small business that sells beautiful home products.
Promising review: "This is such a gorgeous candle, especially for the price. The glass is beautiful and the color is exactly what I wanted. I love how thick the wick is. It has a pretty strong scent when the top is off even when it's not lit. Really like the look of it, I have received so many compliments on it." —Erin
Get it on Amazon for $36+ (available in nine scents).
15. A West Coast-scented candle from P.F. Candle Co. to light up on days you'd rather be cruising along the coast (they're handmade in California!) instead of clicking through work emails.
The amber glass jar really is a nice touch! P.F. Candle Co. is a small business that crafts candles in California. I've had the pleasure of trying out many of them and, honestly, they all smell incredible. Regardless of which scent you choose you won't be disappointed.
Promising review (for the Golden Coast scent): "I've been buying this specific candle from P.F. Candle Co for years now. It's my favorite, and somehow the scent works year round. Love that it's not paraffin wax, and the blend of essential oils is gorgeous. Somehow light but lasting, sweet with just a touch of camphoric. I'm obsessed and would legitimately wear this as a perfume if it came as that." —K
Scent notes: Eucalyptus, sea salt, redwood, and palo santo.
Get it from Amazon for $27+ (available in 11 scents).
16. A Voluspa candle in a gorgeous jar you can count on to make your home smell divine while also adding a pretty piece of decor to the room. If it were acceptable to soak your entire body in a candle scent....this is the one I'd want to cover myself in from head to toe.
I would sell my soul for a French Cade Lavender Voluspa candle — no joke. It's absolutely one of my all time favorite candles. I typically buy one for my sister once a year because they're easily her number one fave. There's something that feels so elegant about the design of the glass jars and scents of these candles that keeps me coming back to them time after time. They're known for being a bit pricey but, honestly, they're worth it. Additionally, Volupsa is considered a small business!
Promising review: "This candle smells INCREDIBLE and lasts FOREVER! I’ve purchased this exact candle several times over the years and plan on continuing to do so so in the future. The lavender scent isn’t too strong but does make my room smell heavenly almost immediately after lighting it. I would like to eventually try other scents but I can’t tear myself away from this one!" —Cassie
Scent notes: French Cade Wood, Verbena and Bulgarian Lavender
Get it from Amazon for $25.20 (available in seven scents).
17. A tobacco and patchouli Paddywax candle in an amber apothecary jar that'll make you feel like you're living inside a little shop owned by witches who are beautiful but plagued to be unlucky in love. You know, Practical Magic vibes.
BuzzFeed writer Mallory Mower adores this candle, "The tobacco and patchouli version of this candle is the staple scent in my home! I bought it for the jar, and because I don't like very sweet, flowery scents. Dang! Did this thing deliver! It has a great burn time, the smell is exactly what I wanted, and I've even gotten compliments on the jar when it was in the background of Instagram posts. This is 100% worth gifting, but I'd end up just keeping it for myself."
Promising review: "Goldilocks would love this candle because everything is just right. Some candle scents are too strong or fake smelling and some are too weak – this candle is perfect. The subtle, yet alluring scent provides nice background fragrance for any room and burns very clean. I'm sensitive to candles with fake chemical smells or wax that burns dirty and these candles are my go-to because they never cause a problem. The glass jar gives a nice glow and the candle has a long life. A little more money than most on here but worth it for 'just right.'" —Sterling
Scent notes: tobacco and patchouli
Get it from Amazon for $24.96+ (available in four scents).
18. A Pet's Favorite odor-eliminating candle to help rid your home of Fido's funky smell that, despite your best bathing efforts, always seems to linger throughout your home. It's made of a soy paraffin blend and cotton wick that's pet-safe!
Pet's Favorite is a small business creating odor-eliminating candles hand-poured in the US. The candles are made to last up to 70 hours and are paraben-, dye-, phthalate-, and cruelty-free.
BuzzFeed editor Abby Kass loves this candle, "I recently adopted a dog, and I love her so much, but there have been some unwanted smells that came with her. When I was grabbing a few other essentials, I decided to throw this in my cart as well, and I am so glad I did. I've been burning this candle a lot lately, and I really like the smell. But I also just generally enjoy the smell of clean laundry. I have definitely smelled a difference in the odor of my apartment. And even though I have been burning it for a few hours a day, there is still a lot left, and I know I will be using it for a while now. I highly recommend but especially if you have pets in your life."
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in six scents and two-packs).
19. A Torched IPA Candle inspired by craft beers and ciders — they're even hand cut and made out of recycled bottles! It'll fill your home with an incredible scent while also acting as a cool conversation piece. Cheers to that.
Torched Products is a small business based in Tampa, Florida.
My colleague Tasia Bass is a big fan of these, "I first stumbled upon this candle in a gift shop at a cider mill and bought the lavender one on a whim. I don't even drink IPAs, I just thought the candle looked cool. I am so glad I did! I ended up going back to the cider mill the next year and buying all the scents, but my favorites are definitely the lavender IPA and the blood orange IPA.
I do prefer to use them in the fall, but you can use them all year. Also I just bought the Pinewood Pilsner and it smells like Christmas! The smell is not overpowering at all and lingers well after you blow out the candle. Plus they come in 3 sizes, and the largest size can burn up to 200 hours. I think they can make a great gift for the IPA or candle lover in your life."
Get it from Torched Products for $19.99+ or Amazon for $22.99+ (available in three sizes and a variety of scents).
20. A massive Midsummer's Night Yankee Candle that burns for 110 hours, guaranteed to be there for you on comfy-cozy nights (and then some!) It features a blend of musk, patchouli, sage, and mahogany cologne ✨.
Promising review: "This candle reminds me of a man's cologne. I really like it. I am not one for floral smells. I tend to like scents like pine, linen, musk, and such. I found this to be a very pleasant scent and really enjoy it. I will definitely buy again once this one is finished." —SandyVD
Scent notes:
Top: Citrus, Herbaceous, Woody, Bergamot, Lime
Mid: Lavender, Pine Floral Sage
Base: Cedarwood, Vetiver, Juniper Berry, Clary Sage, Moss
Get it from Amazon for $16.88 (available in 12 scents).
21. A "Negroni Nights" candle that'll transform your favorite cocktail into your cannot-live-without candle of choice — you won't be able to stop talking about just how incredibly good this beauty smells.
Poured Candle Bar is a small business based in Hudson, NY that sells all kinds of fragrance experiences. I gifted this candle to my husband, as Negronis are his go-to drinks these days, and he was blown away by how good it smells. He's constantly scolding me for having too many candles (he's not wrong) but he happily accepted this one with open arms — it's that good.
Scent notes: blood orange, bitters, dry gin, rosemary, and sage
Get it from Poured Candle Bar for $40 (also available as a massive seven wick centerpiece bowl).
22. A candle you'll want to immediately purchase and light up before cracking open that hot 'n' heavy romance novel you've been proudly reading — because there's absolutely no shame in being a smut savant. It'll *~add a little bit of spice~* to your life 🌶️.
Evil Queen is my all time favorite small business, let alone my go-to shop for candles. They're woman-owned and sell all kinds of candles with fun labels that'll make you want to try 'em even if the scent isn't your typical go-to. This "Smut Lover" candle is honestly one of the best things my nose has ever had the pleasure of sniffing. The label is hilarious and makes it *very* gift-y, but the scent, WOW!
Scent notes:
Top: Lemon, Lime, Eucalyptus
Middle: Lavender, Marine, Ozone, Cyclamen, Anise
Base: Cedar, Orris, Frankincense, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Musk
Do yourself a favor and stock up on this baby.
Promising review: "This candle is so good, from the label to the smell. Light this candle while reading to give you a nice, cozy vibe while you read your favorite smut. For any A Court of Thorns and Roses fans, this candle gives me Rhysand vibes. It's manly and strong, and I could just sit here and smell it all day." —Caitlin Duncan
Get it from Evil Queen for $22.
23. A tomato and basil scented candle with the laughable name "pizza from a guy named joe" that'll make you want to stop what you're doing and add it to your cart before you've even had the chance to give it a sniff. Beware: it may also make you crave your favorite slice 🍕.
Scent notes: basil and tomato
Get it from Amazon for $45 and check out the other fun scents they offer while you're at it!
24. A mystical unicorn candle you'll want to buy time and time again once you see how freakin' cool it is when it "sheds" its skin and becomes a mere skeletal figure. Not to mention it *also* smells fantastically of vanilla and cinnamon.
54Celsius is a small business!
Promising review: "At first I thought they were overpriced, when they arrived we were all very pleased, they are nicely made and the skeletons are so cool, especially the Unicorn. We are burning ours but they would make a very cool gift too." —Blue
Scent notes: mandarin, vanilla and cinnamon
Get it from 54Celsius for $44 (available in three colors).
25. Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Soy Candle will make your entire apartment smell as good as a fresh pile of laundry, no matter what your hamper looks like.
26. Wax & Wick's scented soy candle looks like it would be right at home in a Brooklyn loft, or better yet, *your* home!
27. Lulu Candles' tobacco, spice, and vanilla candle takes inspiration from all the spicy-smelling pipe-smoking grandparents we grew up with.
28. Gerrard Larriett's candles deodorize and relieve stress so you can take a breather after chasing your mud-covered dog around the house.
29. A coconut-scented candle that is actually and factually inside of a coconut shell. Once the candle is completely burned, you can hang onto its polished shell for decor, to use on a coconut bra, or to repurpose into another candle (might I suggest a lime-scented blend so you can ~put the lime in the coconut~?).
30. And a rechargeable lighter, so you can light all of the candles you're about to purchase without concern you'll run out of lighter fluid. You're welcome!
I'm obsessed with candles, so it was a no-brainer for my husband to gift me this surprisingly super fun gadget. It's really simple to use and charge, and it really works! I'll never have to buy another lighter again.
Promising review: "This is seriously the coolest device. It makes lighting candles a breeze. Yes, there is a weird crackling noise, but that's a super minor annoyance. It's a super intuitive device. Plus the lighter with the USB (included), charge for a bit, then pop it open and light ALL THE THINGS; well, candles. I don't know how well it lights cigarettes or whatever. However, for my personal intended use, it's awesome!" —Jee W
Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in eight colors).
31. A hand-poured "Ghost People All Year Round" soy candle that comes in your choice of delish scents like Apples & Cinnamon, Blueberry Pie, and Lux Linen, so you can fully customize the vibes of your home.
Wax On Fire is a small South Carolina-based business that specializes in non-toxic soy candles and other goods.
Promising review: "Better than advertised!! I got the banana bread scent and love it!!" –Michael
Get it from Wax On Fire on Etsy for $12.60+ (originally $18+; available in three sizes and 25 scent options, including unscented).
32. A soy candle from Chesapeake Bay's Mind and Body collection, each made with essential oils to create relaxing scents reminiscent of the summery smells of Maryland's shoreline.
Promising review: "I love this candle. I’ve never purchased a candle without smelling it first but the description given about the candle pulled me in. I’m glad, too, because I recently received my second one. I also want to add that its smell is strong (in a good way). I may burn it for 15 minutes and the scrumptious smell lingers all day long. Well worth the money and will be trying some of their other smells." —Mommatee
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 15 scents and two sizes).
33. A Mise en Scènt soy candle inspired by your comfort film genre: romantic comedies. Fragrance notes include: freesia, peach, vanilla, and professing your love to your best friend at the airport gate just before they board their flight to another country.
Mise en Scènt is a Brooklyn-based small biz that makes soy candles inspired by film. They've got hand-poured blends for all of your fave movie night flicks – from fantasy to macabre to old Hollywood, and more.
As a self-proclaimed rom com connoisseur, I had to see what this candle was all about. Mise en Scènt very kindly gifted it to me and I wasted no time burning it, enjoying it, watching Nora Ephron movies with it – you know, for research purposes. Not only was the scent sooo dreamy (a balanced mix of fruity, floral, and musky), but it also burned evenly and lasted a good long while! I'll likely be hitting "add to cart" on their "Macabre" candle very soon, since we're entering the spooky months.
Get it from Mise en Scènt for $36.
34. A pretty set of aromatherapy candles to give as a gift to the candle fiend in your life (we all have one) or as a "treat yourself" self write-off.
Promising review: "The bowls holding the candles are a lovely addition to any decor and each has a really nice scent. I have kept the floral one for myself & plan on giving the others, which have very pleasing aromas, as remembrances for birthdays or 'just because you're you' gifts." –Molly Johnson
Get a set of four from Amazon for $16.90+ (clip the coupon on the product page to save 5%).
35. An apple-scented Yankee Candle so you can spend *every* season pretending you're about to go apple picking even if it's snowing outside.
36. Decorative cactus tea candles so you *look* like you know how to keep a plant alive. Until you burn them, I suppose, Then you're back to square one.
37. A candle that asks the really important question that's on everyone's mind. Malicious women is a woman-owned small business from Washington State that specializes in delicious candles that smell amazing and make you laugh out loud.
38. A cereal scented wood wick candle because breakfast cereal is a delicious scent and I won't be taking questions!!
Mala The Brand is a woman-owned small shop on Etsy which creates hand poured unique scented candles inspired by our daily surroundings. Each product is made with natural coconut soy wax and a blend of phthalate-free fragrance oils and essential oils. And here are some other home pieces from small businesses that you might want to add to your online cart!
Promising review: "Every single candle smells so incredible and fragrant. It’s warm and comforting without being overwhelming, and the wood wick crackling is so calming and therapeutic. I’m looking forward and am excited to purchase some fall scented Mala candles next :’)." —Shaiza
Get it from Mala The Brand on Etsy for $18.17.
39. A coconut wood wick candle that's literally made inside a coconut! Now, take a guess what it smells like...
40. A lidded metal option so you can trap all the smoke in after you've blown the wick out. We love a sweet-smelling candle, but we could do without the wafting smoke afterward.
41. A cherry blossom candle for the people who dream of spring year-round just to sniff those pretty pink petals. Now they can be in your home forever.
42. A unique "Focus" wood wick candle full of herbal, floral, and citrusy essential oils to help you burn the midnight oil, if you will, but in a productive way.
Burn.in Candle Co. is a Black woman-owned business that was created in 2020, after founder Donna-Marie experienced professional and pandemic burnout and turned to aromatherapy as an escape. Thus, the anti-burnout candles-to-burn were born!
Promising reviews: "LOVE my All-Nighter candle! Originally bought one for a gift but I ended up keeping it for myself and repurchasing almost a year later. I love the crack of the wood wick and it manages to fill my whole space 🥰" –Customer
"Love the way this candle helps me focus. I could fill my desk with these and be in total zen!" —Dana P.
Get it from Burn.in Candle Co. for $38 (also available in a sample tin).