The Best Scented Candles to Burn Now

Nights out may be back on the cards, but it only takes a couple of mornings after to remind you of the joys of the Big Night In. And while a decent film and grown-up booze may be the obvious components, ambience also ranks high when it comes to mastering the sophisticated movie marathon.

The good news is, there are things – easy things! – you can do to make your home a bit more appealing, starting with a decent scented candle.

Seriously, don’t underestimate the mood-transforming powers of a great candle. Lighting the wick on one of the season’s best burners will bring instant ambience as well as a cosy scent that’ll make your living room infinitely more inviting.

When it comes to fragrance, you have options. Forget the saccharine florals of old, because the best scented candles for men now come in a host of grounding woods, spring-appropriate citrus and mind-clearing aquatic blends. Head to Byredo for something that looks as good as it smells, or try Acqua di Parma for true coffee-table centrepieces. Looking for the perfect gift? Cire Trudon sets the bar high. Here, see the best men’s scented candles to burn now.

Bibliotheque Candle

BYREDO
P2,195 AT MR PORTER

Byredo’s candles are endlessly popular, and there’s a scent in the line-up to satisfy just about anyone. A good place to start is Bibliotheque, which mimics the warm, papery aroma of leather-bound books with a soft, sweet twist of violet. Trust it to make a soulless rental smell like home.

Smoke & Musk Scented Candle

Photo by SELFRIDGES.

EARL OF EAST
£20 AT SELFRIDGES

They may be smaller than most, but Earl of East's portable candles can fill a high-ceilinged room with ease. Smoke & Musk is a cosy blend of woods and patchouli, kept Summer-appropriate with a balsamic twist of pine.

Santal 26 Candle

LE LABO
P4,154 AT NET-A-PORTER

The scent that made Le Labo a name worth dropping, Santal 26 now boasts heavyweight cult status. Turns out, it makes a stellar home scent too: the soft, sweet sandalwood and leather blend feels warming, yet never cloying.

Redwood Scented Candle

HARRY'S
$25 AT HARRY'S

Harry’s new men's candles come in the brand's four signature scents. Redwood is a fail-safe option with sea salt and sandalwood, while Shiso is an awakening blend of green herbs and citrus.

Jungle Candle

COSTA BRASIL
$165 AT COSTA BRASIL

Francisco Costa's shift from big fashion to niche beauty may be an unexpected one, but the resultant Costa Brasil collection is impressive on so many levels.

This weighty (and reusable) metal votive contains a sustainable blend of soy and coconut waxes, which burns to release a meditative blend of green vetiver, cypress root and breu: a precious resinous incense, native to the Amazon.

Large Colonia Scented Candle

ACQUA DI PARMA
P7,235 AT NORDSTROM

Acqua di Parma’s cubic candles are so good-looking, lighting the wick might sting a little. However, this one cleverly only melts from the inside, so that hand-polished embossed exterior will remain intact. It comes in four colors, but the only real option is the brand’s inimitable signature yellow.

SKOG Scented Candle

SKANDINAVISK
£35 AT SKANDINAVISK

Once you know that 'skog' is Swedish for 'forest', the appeal of this one grows exponentially. Pine and fir trees blend with bright florals, creating a calming yet bracing scent.

Neroli Portofino Candle

TOM FORD
£68 AT HARVEY NICHOLS

The aromatic citrus notes of Tom Ford's Neroli Portofino are many a man's signature scent, and now they can also bring olfactory appeal to your living room.

Fig Tree Candle

URBAN APOTHECARY
£28 AT LOOKFANTASTIC

The note to unite all fragrance heads, fig leaf smells famously good –be it in a summer scent or a candle. This one combines the sharp green note with mind-clearing eucalyptus and deep, smooth cedarwood.

Roanoke Ivy

PENHALIGON'S
£60 AT PENHALIGON'S

Penhaligon’s line of scented candles is as rich and sophisticated as its colognes. Ronanoke Ivy is the one to light through the warmer months, blending snapped stems and crushed leaves with the twang of ripe berries.

Fairytale of New York Scented Candle

BELLA FREUD
$85 AT BELLA FREUD

Bella Freud’s style-signaling candles can be found in the chicest of spaces, and this limited-edition launch is sure to sell out swiftly. An ode to everyone’s favorite festive singalong, it smells not like Shane MacGowan (we assume) but of creamy mimosa and cozy musk. Sweet and soft without falling back on sickly cinnamon, it’s the perfect Christmas pick.

Ernesto Scented Candle

CIRE TRUDON
P5,498 AT UNIVERS

Cire Trudon is the oldest candlemaker still in operation today, crafting its gilded glass votives in Normandy since the early 1900s. Ernesto is a scent that feels truly timeless: sun-beaten notes of rum and bergamot enliven the base of tobacco and leather, creating an homage to the heat of Havana.

Italian Kush

BOY SMELLS
P2,250 AT LIT LIFESTYLE PH

The name might scream ‘teenage bedroom’ but this tongue-in-cheek blend is actually surprisingly sophisticated. Rather than a gimmicky riff on the herbaceous cannabis plant, Italian Kush burns with an energising trail of crisp citrus, basil and oregano. Trust it to make the stuffiest of living rooms feel instantly fresher.

Figuier Scented Candle

DIPTYQUE
P3,650 AT RUSTAN'S

Another classic choice, Diptyque’s fragrant candles will scent the most high-ceilinged rooms with ease. Figuier is a crowd-pleasing blend of sharp, green fig with a gentle hint of woods.

Bergamot Candle

MALIN+GOETZ
P2,850 AT ADORA

For those who prefer crisp, clean scents, Malin+Goetz’ Bergamot candle is ideal. It’s a hyper-realistic blend of bergamot and grapefruit that’ll transport you straight to the Italian coast.

Tranquillity Candle

COMFORT ZONE
£26 AT LOOKFANTASTIC

Properly sustainable bath and body brand Comfort Zone makes some of the best candles for slowing down a brain that's slipped into overdrive. Sweet orange is combined with earthy, grounding cedarwood: a welcome alternative to the host of saccharine lavender scents out there.

From: Esquire UK