The best scented candles
Easy to give and lovely to get: the candles worth buying, from a big classic jar with up to 150 hours in it to a crackling wooden wick and a tin for every mood.
A good candle is one of the easiest presents to get right for a mum, a grandma or a teacher: it gets used and enjoyed, then it's gone, so it never clutters a shelf. What separates a lovely one from a disappointing one is mostly how long it burns and how well the scent fills the room.
Whichever you choose, let the wax melt right across the top on the first burn so it burns evenly afterwards, trim the wick before relighting, and never leave a lit candle unattended.
What matters
- Burn time: a big jar lasts for weeks of evenings; small tins suit a few special nights.
- Wax: soy and other natural waxes if they like things plant-based.
- Scent: fresh citrus and lavender are safe bets; woody, smoky ones suit fans of a real fire.
- A lid keeps the scent fresh between burns.
#1 of 5
Best overall
Yankee Candle Lemon Lavender Large Jar Candle
£29.99 RRP
The classic big Yankee jar: 623g of wax and 110 to 150 hours of burning, so it lasts for weeks of evenings. Lemon and lavender is a bright, clean scent that's easy to live with, which makes it a safe bet as a present. Yankee began in 1969, when 16-year-old Mike Kittredge melted crayons to make his mother a Christmas candle.
What owners say: Owners say it lasts for ages, fills a medium-sized room quickly and has a relaxing, spa-like scent, and lots of them give it for Mother's Day.
A closer look: Trim the wick to a quarter of an inch (about 6mm) before each lighting and keep the wax pool free of bits, as Yankee advises. When it's finished, the thick glass jar makes a good pot for make-up brushes or pens.
- 110–150 hours
- 623g large jar
- Lemon and lavender
- 100% natural-fibre cotton wick
- 16.8cm tall
Best for: A long-lasting classic
- Burn time
- 110–150 hours
- Wax
- Paraffin
- Size
- 623g large jar
- Scent
- Lemon and lavender
#2 of 5
Best for cosy nights
WoodWick Fireside Ellipse Candle with Crackling Wick
£34.99 RRP
The wooden wick crackles softly like a log fire, and Fireside smells the part: bergamot, golden amber and smoked mahogany. The wide ellipse jar lets the wax melt right across, so the scent comes through evenly.
What owners say: Owners love the gentle crackle, like a small fire, and the warm scent, and say it feels good quality and makes a lovely gift.
A closer look: It suits someone who loves a real fire but hasn't got one: the scent is woody and smoky rather than sweet. Keep it out of draughts and give the wax time to melt to the edge of the wide jar.
- Crackling wooden wick
- 40–65 hours
- Bergamot, amber and smoked mahogany
- Wide ellipse glass jar
- Plant wax blend
Best for: Log-fire evenings
- Burn time
- 40–65 hours
- Wax
- Plant wax blend
- Size
- 453g ellipse jar
- Scent
- Bergamot, amber, smoked mahogany
#3 of 5
Best gift set
Dsclavacy Scented Soy Candle Tins (12 × 2.5oz)
£10–£20 Price range
Twelve little soy candles in patterned travel tins, each a different scent, from lavender and rose to fig and apple cinnamon, in a gift box. Share them out as small presents or keep one for every room.
What owners say: Owners love the pretty patterned tins and the scents, think they're well worth the money and use them as gifts and party favours.
A closer look: The tins travel well, so pop one in a bag for a weekend away. Once they've burned down, the tins are handy for earrings and other small bits.
- 12 × 2.5oz tins
- 12 different scents
- Soy wax
- 15–20 hours each
- Gift box
Best for: Sharing out as small gifts
- Burn time
- 15–20 hours each
- Wax
- Soy wax
- Size
- 12 × 2.5oz tins
- Scent
- 12 scents, rose to fig
#4 of 5
Best premium
NEOM Happiness Scented Candle (185g, 1 wick)
£30–£50 Price range
Scented only with natural fragrance, a blend of 10 essential oils led by white neroli, mimosa and lemon, made to lift the mood. It's hand-poured with 100% naturally derived wax.
What owners say: Owners find the scent uplifting, like that it burns without black smoke, love how it looks and say it's a welcome gift.
Heads up: At 185g it's smaller than the big jars here, so it's a treat rather than a long-burner: burn it for two to four hours at a time, as NEOM advises, to get every hour from it.
A closer look: Let the wax melt right to the edge each time and trim the wick before every lighting, to no shorter than 1cm. The fresh citrus suits a desk or a bathroom first thing in the morning.
- 10 essential oils
- Neroli, mimosa and lemon
- 100% naturally derived wax
- Up to 35 hours
- Hand-poured
Best for: A natural, mood-lifting treat
- Burn time
- Up to 35 hours
- Wax
- 100% naturally derived wax
- Size
- 185g, one wick
- Scent
- Neroli, mimosa, lemon
#5 of 5
Best budget
TTRWIN Soy Candle Gift Set (4 × 100g)
Under £10 Price range
Four soy candles in glass jars with screw-top lids: jasmine and ylang ylang, sandalwood and patchouli, fir and cedarwood, and vanilla and amber. The lids keep the scent in between burns, and it's a neat present for a teacher or a Secret Santa.
What owners say: Owners like how the set looks and think it makes a lovely present, and some find the scents fill a lounge with a relaxing aroma.
Heads up: The scents are gentle rather than room-filling, so they're best in a bedroom, a bathroom or on a desk.
A closer look: Keep them away from vents and trim the wicks regularly, as the maker suggests, for a longer, steadier burn. The empty jars make neat storage for hair ties or cotton buds.
- 4 × 100g soy candles
- About 25 hours each
- Screw-top metal lids
- Four different scents
- Lead-free cotton wicks
Best for: Teachers and Secret Santa
- Burn time
- About 25 hours each
- Wax
- Soy wax
- Size
- 4 × 100g jars
- Scent
- Jasmine, sandalwood, cedar, vanilla
How they compare
| Feature | #1Yankee Lemon Lavender | #2WoodWick Fireside | #3Dsclavacy 12 tins | #4NEOM Happiness | #5TTRWIN 4-pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best for cosy nights | Best gift set | Best premium | Best budget | |
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.7 | 8.4 |
| Price | £29.99 RRP | £34.99 RRP | £10–£20 Price range | £30–£50 Price range | Under £10 Price range |
| Burn time | 110–150 hours | 40–65 hours | 15–20 hours each | Up to 35 hours | About 25 hours each |
| Wax | Paraffin | Plant wax blend | Soy wax | 100% naturally derived wax | Soy wax |
| Size | 623g large jar | 453g ellipse jar | 12 × 2.5oz tins | 185g, one wick | 4 × 100g jars |
| Scent | Lemon and lavender | Bergamot, amber, smoked mahogany | 12 scents, rose to fig | Neroli, mimosa, lemon | Jasmine, sandalwood, cedar, vanilla |
| Best for | A long-lasting classic | Log-fire evenings | Sharing out as small gifts | A natural, mood-lifting treat | Teachers and Secret Santa |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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