I’m a Luxury Candle Connoisseur—Trust Me When I Say These 15 Are a Cut Above the Rest
Your guide to the best luxury candles money can buy
Fewer things fill me with more joy than lighting a luxury candle. I like to make sure my flat is clean, that all clutter is put away and that my to-do list is ticked off for the day. Then, and only then, will I light my most precious candle and relax.
With Christmas around the corner, I am looking to add even more small bits of joy in my days wherever I can—and that means lighting up a candle to make my space feel as cosy and comforting as humanly possible. It also goes without saying that a luxury candle makes the most exceptional Christmas gift. Right now, I have some form of candle burning for most of the day, but I like to save my most precious for especially relaxing moments. For example, my Diptyque favourites and Jo Malone go-tos only get lit for special occasions (mainly for when I'm by myself and can truly enjoy them).
Because, let's be frank here, when it comes to luxury candles, I don't like to share. Whenever one of my favourite candles lands on my desk, I refuse to share. In fact, I scurry away with it in my bag before any of fellow Marie Claire UK colleagues notice. It's petty, and I don't care. My luxury candles are the only beauty product I'm selfish about.
What gives a candle luxury status, I hear you ask? Well, it's everything from how they look and burn to how intense and expensive they smell. The thing that makes a candle luxurious, to me, is all about how it makes you feel.
So, whether you're looking to treat yourself or a loved one (no matter how begrudgingly), these are without question the best, most special luxury candles in existence—trust me, I've tried them all.
Best luxury candles: Quick shopping links
- Best for a luxury feel: Dior Ambre Nuit | £131 at Dior
- Best for Christmas: Neom Wish Candle | £58 at LOOKFANTASTIC
- Best for bathrooms: Glossier Sandstone | £45 at Glossier
- Best for dinner parties: DISCOTHEQUE Crisco Disco | £54 at Sephora
- Best for large rooms: NEST New York Grapefruit | £50 at Cult Beauty
- Best for bedrooms: Diptyque Tubereuse Rouge | £89 at Diptyque
- Best for after the guests leave: Frédéric Malle Café Society | £105 at Space NK
1. Dior Ambre Nuit
If you want a candle that oozes expense and wealth, look no further. Beyond just being a Dior candle, it also smells every bit as rich as it sounds like it should. With powerful rose and punchy ambergis, it's one of the most luxurious scents out there.
2. Glossier Sandstone
You might be familiar with Glossier You's iconic candle, but this lesser-known scent is my favourite of the bunch. With sandalwood and fig leaf it projects a creamy, cosy and comforting sort of aroma that swaddles you up in ease and joy. On top of that though, there is also clary sage which gives the overall finish a sense-clearing, herby earthiness that makes you feel like anything is possible. It is absolutely stunning.
3. Discothèque Crisco Disco
Choosing the perfect dinner-party candle isn't easy—you want something pleasant, non-polarising and yet still strong enough to win you some compliments. Trust me, Crisco Disco is it. It is warm and inviting while never venturing into territory that is too strong or too sweet. Instead, it dances around the air and entices everyone in.
4. Nest New York Grapefruit
I'm yet to find a candle with a throw quite like this one. Leave it burning for just 15 minutes and the entire room will smell like the juiciest, freshest grapefruit you can possibly imagine. I have gifted it to three of my friends this year as a birthday present since they've each become obsessed with it after smelling it in my living room last summer.
5. Neom Wish
If you're yearning for a traditional Christmas scent that captures all the merriment and nostalgia of the season, this three-wick, 100% naturally derived wax candle ticks every box. Candied mandarin and cinnamon bring a familiar warmth and subtle spice, while tonka bean adds a comforting decadence.
6. Diptyque Tubereuse Rouge
Let's keep it real, every candle that Diptyque has ever created deserves to be on this list, but if I could only choose one to make the cut it would be this. Tubereuse Rouge isn't one of Diptyque's most iconic scents, but in my opinion it is the brand's best. It's powdered, soft and lightly floral, all while filling a room effortlessly. I'm not sure I have ever burned Tubereuse Rouge and not had compliments on it.
7. Byredo Tree House
This candle takes me back to crisp autumn afternoons as a child, watching the embers of a November bonfire slowly burn out, while the smells of rain-soaked trees mingles with ribbons of firewood smoke. It's woody and a little smoky without being overbearing or eye-watering (like so many woody candles can be). And you'd be mistaken if you thought this one will only work in the colder months—it's a perfect year-round option.
8. Maison Francis Kurkdjian À La Rose
Whether or not you're a rose fragrance lover doesn't really matter when it comes to this masterpiece of a candle—I'm yet to meet a soul who doesn't adore it. It is soft and light with a subtle sweetness that makes any space feel fresh and welcoming. Is it pricey? Yes. But you only have to take it out of the box to get a sense for just how powerful the throw is.
9. Maison Margiela Replica Bubble Bath
While this isn't the punchiest candle on the list, it is the ultimate burn for those who just like their home to smell fresh, clean and comforting, making it a particular stand out for this time of year. The best way I can describe it is like hovering your nose over a freshly-run bath, filled with decadent bubbles. It's light, skin-like and totally comforting.
10. Le Labo Santal 26
You might be familiar with the scent of Santal 26. The famous Le Labo Santal 33 fragrance actually started off as a candle—this candle to be exact. It is probably the most iconic sandalwood candle out there, and for good reason. It's woody, sure, but the addition of vanilla and musks makes it light, warm and inviting in a way that entices.
11. Carrière Frères Tomato
If I was asked to create a candle that smells like the British countryside, I would want it to smell like this. This candle smells exactly like juicy, freshly-picked tomatoes. It's the sort of candle I'd very much like to have burning in my kitchen all year long.
12. Loewe Honeysuckle
I challenge you to find me a candle as chic as this one. Not only does it smell deliciously light, subtle and fresh, as soon as it's all burned you can keep the vessel as a seriously luxe homeware accessory. In fact, I wish I had the whole collection to line my shelves.
13. Verden D'Orangerie
While this candle doesn't have the largest price tag on this list (although it's still by no means cheap), it still stands up. I first came across it while visiting a countryside retreat, where each communal room had a jar burning away. If you're not familiar with the scent of orange blossom, think a creamy, warming citrus that remains light on the nose.
14. Assouline St. Tropez Soleil
If you thought Assouline's travel-themed coffee table books were the ultimate symbol of chicness, you clearly haven't met the brand's matching candles yet. Truly, is there any candle cooler than this?! (The answer is no.) While there are a few different scents on offer, it's St. Tropez Soleil that wins my heart—it is juicy and fruity, like overripe fruits hanging off branches in the middle of summer, but there is also a salty, woody freshness that envelops it all to keep things expensive-smelling and luxe. In my opinion, this candle is the ultimate gift.
15. Frédéric Malle Café Society
Not only are Frédéric Malle’s hand-poured candles l'objects d'art, but they are also powerful fragrance diffusers. Café Society by perfumer Carlos Benaïm captures the duality of a Parisian party just after the guests have left—the sophistication and elegance of the evening are still in the air, thanks to patchouli, but it's tinged with a reflective stillness and sense of peace with notes of lavender and amber. It's simply stunning.
