The Great Candle Roundup of 2022
The last of the fluke 70 degree days are behind us—it's candle season, baby.
Like everyone else who likes to quell their mental health challenges by throwing money and trinkets at the issue, I purchased a small book a few years back called The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking. The book and the Danish concept of hygge (a culture of curated coziness) have become ubiquitous by now, but I found myself recently wanting to pull it off the (cluttered) self help shelf (shelf help) of my bookcase and get reacquainted with its premise. As we careen into the dark, cold months of a Northeastern winter, I’m yet again craving new ways to reinforce my surroundings—feeding an inherent impulse to make everything feel cozier at all hours of the day and night.
Apparently, the concept of hygge starts with a candle. Literally, page 2 of the hygge book is all about setting a tone/curating a vibe with candlelight and goes on to talk about how the average Dane burns through 13 pounds of personal candle wax every year. Referred to as “instant hygge,” candles are revered in this culture of coziness and seen as the very first step in pursuing the Danish approach to a happy life. With that in mind, I’ve been making a point to light mine more often than I usually think to do these last few weeks. I’m always shocked when something small works to change up the energy of my day in a big way, but honestly lighting a candle can do some heavy lifting sometimes when it comes to boosting a mood.
Candles are somewhat difficult to recommend because everyone’s taste is unique to them and the price points on candles vary WILDLY. One person’s luxurious candle spend is another person’s schlock. OR! A ~casual mid-range candle purchase for someone might seem totally frivolous to someone else. But I’m not here to cast judgments on where you may fall on the candle values spectrum; I’m just here to gently nudge you toward a glow-y, soothing season.
Below are some of the formidable companions I have on hand in my house for candle season. I’ve described the scents as best as I can and I’ve grouped them into sub-categories, like hotel candles (luxe!), gift candles (universally palatable enough to make for a great gift!) mall candles (candles you can buy at the mall; don’t be a snob!), and so on.
THE HOTEL CANDLES
Chateau Marmont candle, signature scent ($65)—I’ve stood gin-soaked in the shadow of the Chateau Marmont more times than I could ever count. Patronized Bar Marmont when that was still around. Have eaten many a meal at their courtyard restaurant (and retreated to the smoking tent afterward). But I’ve only ever been a real hotel guest at the Chateau just once. I was 27 years old and on the road for work for an entire season, living out of a suitcase and acutely aware that this moment of my life would one day become a bit of personal lore. I’ll write about my deep, abiding obsession with the Chateau some other time, but for now I’ll say this: one of the most indelible parts of the iconic Hollywood hotel’s experience is the intoxicating scent that haunts its hallways. A seance’s worth of candles burns across every antique surface and emits their signature fragrance: sexy and floral and a little vanilla-y. I light it at home on rare occasions when I want to summon the ghosts of the Hollywood bungalows, or just pay homage to the ghosts of my youth.
Edition Hotel candle, signature scent ($80)—You already know this about me, but I once drunkenly terrorized the concierge at the Edition to help identify the hotel’s signature scent. When she told me it wasn’t available at retail, I retreated to the bar bathroom, emptied my Ativan prescription into my purse, and bootlegged the scented soap out of the hand pump by the sink into my empty pill bottle. Lucky for the hotel staff, I don’t take Ativan or drink much anymore. Lucky for the rest of us, the scent is now available at retail in the form of these candles. If luxury were a smell, it’d be this candle: black tea with wisps of citrus and smoke.
THE GIFT CANDLES
Le Labo candle in Figue ($82)—What if I made a candle recommendation newsletter just to recommend Le Labo’s ubiquitous Santal 26 candle to you? Wouldn’t you be so mad? But I come bearing a unique value proposition: enough of the Santal 26 candle. We already know + like that one. *My* favorite is their sweet, clean fig-scented candle—aptly called Figue 15. It’s my go-to “I’m going to light this candle when I’m done cleaning my room, a la CleanTok” candle, and I like giving it as a gift because you can personalize the label. (If gifting Le Labo has become passé now, don’t tell me. I still love it and will continue regardless!)
North + 29 Candle in Hunter ($34)—I’ve written before about my loyalty to a favorite local shop of mine, Forge in Red Bank. The owner has the most impeccable taste and a real knack for picking out things I’ll love whenever I’m in the store. She put me onto this brand, specifically this scent, after I told her I was looking for an elevated living room candle/vibe last spring. I was wary at first, thinking it might be too woodsy for my taste, but it was perfect. A little earthy, a little musky, never overwhelming.
THE MERCH CANDLES
Katz’s Deli candle ($28)—Ok, this candle speaks to me on a molecular level. It combines several things I love: Katz’s Deli (I fancy myself as Harry + Sally’s daughter!), egg creams (a dwindling artform specific to New York City’s Jewish diaspora!), and Joya Studio (Brooklyn-based + one of the best candlemakers in the game!). This scent is sweet, cozy, vibey, and subtle. I lit it for years at my old office in Midtown, then decided I liked it too much to let it remind me of work and started lighting it exclusively at home. Gift this to your Jewish friends this holiday season! They’ll thank you and curse you because once it’s gone, they will be compelled to stockpile.
T2 candle in Meet Me in Manhattan (PRICELESS)—My sister bought me this tea-scented candle from a global tea shop chain for my birthday a few years ago and I spent the next six months trying to stockpile them. It is cruel of me to include this candle in the roundup, frankly, because it’s impossible to find. I guess I’m keeping it here to pay tribute but also to say that if you’re going to be in the UK or Australia sometime soon and come across one in a T2 store, BUY ALL OF THEM. That’s what I did when I spotted them in Glasgow a couple years back. (TSA thinks candles look like bombs, just FYI! But the frisking is worth it if you can get your paws on these babies!) A perfect hockey puck of sweet black tea! An ideal winter candle! Return to us, T2!
THE NEW CLASSICS
Brooklyn Candle Co. in Love Potion ($28)—Many hits, few misses! I feel like this brand is a democratic alternative to some of the more expensive candles on the market that feel impossible to maintain any kind of signature home scent/curate a formidable candle roster without spending a cringe-worthy amount on something so ephemeral. Their stylish minimalist candles are reasonably priced and come in fragrances like Leather Jacket (deep + smoky) or Sunday Morning (bright + citrusy). For me, their seasonal offerings really hit just as daylight savings time is ending (Toasted Pumpkin and Apple Cider) and I like to keep Love Potion in my office candle rotation year-round. It’s not *really* a dupe for my beloved Chateau Marmont candle, but its romantic jasmine-forward scent has a similar vibe!
Otherland in Cardamom Milk ($36)—I bought myself this candle in deep lockdown when I was writing the first draft of my novel and trying to cultivate a morning routine. I’d come downstairs at 6:30 a.m. every day, say “time to make the donuts” aloud, light this candle, and spend the next 90 minutes writing toward my daily word count. It sounds silly, but having a candle I only lit while I was working on the book helped in some way. The warm, sweet cardamom scent signaled to my brain that it was time to write and tune out/put off all other distractions. I think I’d first heard of Otherland because they supplied collaboration candles to The Wing in its heyday? (Dark! RIP.) But with 2020 came daily terrors and therefore reasons to purchase small comforts, so I decided to give them a try. It comes in thick, substantial packaging, making for an unboxing experience that feels like a little something special—worthy of a ritual like the one I was trying so hard to build.
THE MALL CANDLES
Bath and Body Works Eucalyptus Spearmint ($24)—I didn’t learn about cognitive dissonance until I was like, 28 years old. But now I know two I can hold two seemingly opposing things in my head and let them both be true: 1. I get annoyed/think it’s snobby and classist when people turn their nose up at affordable candles, or call the scents “cloying,” and 2. Some of these candles will 100% give me a migraine when lit and are indeed cloying. (And FWIW: there are plenty ~status-y candles that I also consider instant headaches—looking at you, certain varietals of Diptyque. Stink is in the nose of the beholder!) Anyway. I find this Eucalyptus Spearmint Bath and Body Works candle to be gentle, crisp, and spa-like. Part of their Aromatherapy collection, it has a clean, herbal quality to it and *will not* overwhelm a room when lit. I keep a bunch of them stocked in my house for when I’m craving something simple, bright, and neutral!
Yankee Candle Summer Storm ($32)—Maybe the key to making my ideal mall candle is including eucalyptus? I never knew what notes comprised this ol’ reliable until I just now looked it up and it combines the zingy scent of eucalyptus with the grounded, earthy scent of patchouli. Another all-purpose, possibly year round staple to keep on hand for whenever I want something clean and neutral (just like its mall counterpart featured above). It’s equal parts fresh + cosy—an idyllic candle experience without a high barrier to entry!
ON MY RADAR
DS + Durga ($65)—With names like “Big Sur After Rain” and “Concrete After Lightning,” these things are calling to me. I don’t have a great explanation as to why I don’t own one yet except for that several of the scents appeal to me + I keep saying I’ll go to the SoHo store and sniff around before I commit + just never get around to doing it. Committing without smelling first feels like a real roll of the dice !! More on this mindset below.
Hotel Lobby ($56)—My most cherished candles are hotel signature scent candles, so the prospect of this brand is very compelling to me. There are a couple different ones that pique my interest, but with a nearly $60 price point and no minis for sale, I’ve been hesitant to pull the trigger. They don’t have an IRL presence or retail partners so I have no way of testing before buying. A brick and mortar pop-up they did for the holiday season (“Candle Concierge”—cute) had limited appointments, but I’m hoping they’ll be back to contend with the apparent demand!
Boy Smells ($66)—I know this brand is beloved, but they are *so* hit or miss for me. Every time I see these candles in-store, I sniff to see if I’ve changed my mind. But one if not several of them smell uniquely like……the bathroom at my public elementary school? Anyway. I’m open to reappraisals and recently purchased this set of three minis that smelled nice to me. (I guess this is a little less “on my radar” and more “already in my home.”) A little floral, a little woodsy. The combination seemed like a good mix of something I’d like + my Santal-forward husband might like. We’ll see how we fare with these! I’m re-reading this attempt at being diplomatic and already laughing at my non-committal language (“nice,” “good,” “minis”).
Not to be like, “drop your picks in the comments” in my best YouTuber octave, but—I’m genuinely curious about your go-to candles! Does your home have a signature scent? Which candles do you light for different occasions? Do you like to gift candles or is it too much of a dice roll? Are you mad at me for including mall candles in the roundup? Are you mad at me for including $80+ candles in the roundup? Are you going to the T2 brick and mortar in Glasgow sometime soon? Are you checking a bag when you go? Inquiring minds need to know !! ⤵️
Going with your mall-scent theme, I'll do you one better. I love the OUTLET candles at White Barn....particularly the piney ones. If it were up to me it would be nothing but cedar oils in a diffuser, and pine scented candles YEAR ROUND. But, I have cohabitants to consider.
I recently came across a description of Beauty Pie candles, and I ordered two of them, which I really like! Have you tried those? I got Bahia De Miel and Pomegranate & Baies Rose. I wanted to try Clean House, but it was sold out. You can get a 60-day free membership which makes them much more affordable to try.