20+ Best Luxury Candles, According to Interior Designers

Nothing makes a house feel like home like flickering candlelight. A quality luxury candle is the ultimate home accessory that creates beautiful ambient light, looks great on display, and when scented, leaves a subtle scent that can transform a room into a cozy sanctuary in minutes.

If anyone truly understands the power of this everyday necessity, it’s interior designers. So, we asked them. Their answers ranged from the beeswax taper that Kelly Wearstler swore by as dinner party MVP to the classic Cire Trudon that numerous pros call their favorite. Ahead, 21 interior designers share their personal favorites, what they love about places, and how they use candlelight and scent to create the mood of a space.

“My favorite candle is Cire Trudon’s Ernesto candle. It has a wonderful smoky, masculine scent that’s perfect for winter. I also love the handmade glassware, which comes in my favorite dirty green hue, which is a welcome bonus. I always light it in our foyer on the weekends; the scent smells wonderful throughout the house.”

“When I entertain, I mainly light Loewe’s Bronze Beeswax. Cast entirely in natural beeswax, the candle holders have a tactile and slightly imperfect quality that only real materials can provide. I like to cluster them in the center of the table, mixing old, partially burned candles with fresh ones to create subtle variations in height – It gives the scene a beautifully cinematic feel. The scent itself is a warm, honey-like beeswax: soft, natural, and mildly earthy, it never dominates the space. It feels grounded, quietly luxurious, and an object you want to live with—even without the lights.”

Luo Yiwei

Bronze Bee Candle Holder

“Scents always bring back memories for me, and Feu de Bois by Diptyque brings back a lot of them—it’s my favorite candle and always will be. It takes me back to my childhood and Swiss winters, as well as my years living in New York. While it’s generally considered a strong winter scent, I find that I reach for it whenever I need comfort.”

“The candle I light in our newly renovated master suite feels very luxurious and layered – not too sweet, but not oud-dominant, which makes it the perfect balance. It’s the Laurier 62 Classic Candle by Le Labo. I love lighting it at night as I’m getting ready for bed; it has become a sensory cue that it’s time to wind down, catch a show, and drink my tea. I like to keep it as a ritual in a space – it makes the experience feel great even more special.”

“I discovered the Hi Fire candle at the Shibui Spa at the Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca and fell in love with its calming scent. It instantly transported me to Japan. I love lighting it while meditating or taking a bath, so my home feels like my favorite spa—I pick one up every chance I get.”

Oriental Accents International Ltd.

“I was attracted to Trudon’s Versailles Garden in Spring candle for many reasons. Trudon Its history is extraordinary, dating back to the royal court of Versailles, and it’s very special to bring this sense of tradition into your home. The fragrance itself is very beautiful, evoking the feeling of a country garden on the verge of spring. It’s floral, fresh and beautifully transportive, perfect for spending quiet time at home with a book.”

“Generally, I’m attracted to yellow beeswax dinner candles because of their beautiful color and the fact that they smell delicious, but don’t have a specific, overpowering scent. As a pampering treat, though, it would have to be the Cire Trudon Candles. They’re all great and last forever, but my particular favorite is Ernesto. It’s a beautiful scent – smoky, almost anti-floral – it doesn’t feel like you’re burning candles at all, instead the room smells like a campfire and you feel like you’re wearing cashmere pajamas or an evening gown. ”

“Santa Maria Novella’s Relax Candle reminds me of the Italy I grew up in, so it immediately makes me feel at home. It’s a classic scent that’s hard to get tired of – a bit dated, but in the most beautiful way. I also love that it’s not encased in glass, allowing for a lovely yellow wax to be seen. I usually have it on a marble corner sample in my studio and light it most of the time.”

“My favorite is Verden’s Festivum scented candle. We burn it in our store all the time and so many people comment on how beautiful it smells as soon as they walk in. It has a warm spice scent that creates a festive atmosphere without feeling too overpowering. I find a lot of scented candles can be nauseating and I worry about what I’m inhaling, so I love that Verden makes this scented candle without paraffin, soy palm, beeswax, and synthetic additives.”

“I always buy unscented dinner candles from Charles Farris. I especially love using colored candles in the kitchen, and I stick with white candles in the rest of the home, they have the best selection in really great shades. I light them every night at dinner and whenever we have guests over. It has become second nature to me, and my kids have adopted this ritual too, and I love it; they have become an integral part of our daily lives.”

“I love all of Perfumer H’s candles, but my favorite is Rose with Insect. Their scents are always a little unusual, but so beautiful—you’ll notice the room smells lovely, but never distracting. I’m also drawn to the simple, classic dark glass container; the gold embossed adds just enough luxury without feeling over the top. The candle shouldn’t be the center of attention.”

“My friend and stylist Moppy Pilcher I was introduced to Australian fragrance brand Lumira, and their Tuscan Fig candle comes in a chic black jar and now sits on my desk. It smells incredibly delicious – sweet but not cloying, with a richer aroma that gives it a hint of muskiness and masculinity. Smell. I’m obsessed. I light it first thing in the morning and there’s an instant calm in the office, and within minutes the soft scent fills the room. I also love that I’m embarrassed and paranoid about inferior paraffin candles and the toxic fumes they emit, so Lumira. The fact that the candles are made with coconut soy wax is wonderful for my ears (and nose). ”

“Lately, I’ve been loving the madeleine candle by Cire Trudon. It’s made with a natural wax blend and essential oils, which is great if you’re sensitive to synthetic fragrances. The scent is very soft – a gentle blend of leather, iris, and jasmine that doesn’t overwhelm the room. I also love this container: Cire Trudon The candles are poured into hand-blown green glass jars and finished with a gold medallion, so classic. I place them in bathrooms, nightstands, and kitchens—anywhere I want a space that makes me feel clean and calm.”

“The Moss Candle by Perfumer H is a beautiful blend of oakmoss, vanilla, woods and grass that reminds me of the countryside where I grew up. It’s a wonderfully intoxicating scent, especially when I’m in London. I always try to light a candle when I get home and see the kids running around – the scent and soft flicker of the flame provide a delightful moment of calm at the end of the day.”

“In addition to Diptyque’s 34 Boulevard Saint Germain candle—refillable, beautiful, and wonderfully enveloping—a recent discovery is the dbCeramic x Verden Festivum candle. Its white, reusable porcelain sits quietly in our studio, and the Festivum scent is inspired by Denmark’s July celebrations, creating the perfect winter mood with notes of cedar, pine, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper.”

“Ffern’s Winter 26 scented candle is the best scent ever. It feels like a Christmas seaside vacation and it smells incredible. Recently, someone walked into my house and asked why it smelled so Christmasy, and it’s all because of this candle. I highly recommend it.”

“My favorite candle is Homework’s Metal. I love the combination of wood and citrus notes and it gives an energetic and uplifting feeling. The founder of the brand, who is also a good friend of mine, describes it as “a city at sunset,” which I love. I light it most nights and enjoy it with a glass of wine.”

“Woods byredo is definitely one of my favorite home scents. It’s understated, earthy, and quietly addictive. With notes of leather, cedar, jasmine, and raspberry, it makes me feel like I’m in a chic cabin in the woods, fireside. It’s especially lovely this time of year, from day to dusk.”

“I have a few favorites. I love the depth of Diptyque’s Baies candle – it has a light, fruity scent. I tend to choose candles that complement the aesthetic of the room, so I was also drawn to the matte black container. Another favorite of mine is the No.1 I created years ago Scent. It’s a welcoming, warm, inviting scent that instantly makes you feel at home. It’s in white ceramic and feels clean and timeless, and I love the shape – it’s unique and works easily in any space, whether at home or at work, and it instantly sets the tone.”

“I’m fascinated by astrology, so Fornasetti’s lidded Astronomic Bianco scented candle is my go-to. It’s currently sold out, but the newer Soli candle is a similar style. This container and its celestial design bring me so much joy, it feels like a piece of art, and it smells delicious too.”

“I always buy Byredo’s Choco Mascarpone from perfume shops around San Francisco. I love its subtle sweetness, a scent that everyone notices but can’t quite put their finger on, which makes it feel so unique. I tend to light it up at home on the weekends when I’m drawing or hosting friends for lunch or dinner. It livens up the whole house in the best way possible with a scent that smells like baking and a luxurious bath combined.”