15 best scented candles 2022: our favourites for a fresh smelling home

Once you've tried one of the best-scented candles, there's no going back — you'll be buying it again and again.

They instantly transform your space, creating a glorious, sensory experience that can soothe frazzled nerves.

Whether you're about to have a relaxing soak in the bath, or you're ready to curl up with a book on a frosty winter's eve, a beautiful scented candle can often be the icing on top of the self-care cake.

It can sometimes feel like scented candles are extortionately expensive, especially if you find yourself looking at three wicks rather than one, but that doesn't always have to be the case. Although there are some divine designer and luxury brands, the high street has also stepped up its game, and there are shops that produce excellent quality candles for under £20.

Unsurprisingly, we're scented candle fiends, so we've rounded up our favourites as we head into the festive season.

Best scented candles at a glance:

• Best overall:
• Best on a budget:
• Best luxury:
• Best long-lasting:
• Best for relaxing:
• Best for anxiety:

Jo Loves A Home Candle Pomelo

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• Jo Loves A Home Candle Pomelo, £55 from Cult Beauty -

Started by Jo Malone, Jo Loves built its reputation on its signature scent, Pomelo. Strong, fruity and fragrant, the brand has used it in body washes, fragrances and candles, like this one.

Something we admire about Jo Loves is the punchiness of its scents across its products and this candle is no different.

With an impressive burn time of 37.5 hours, this candle can transform the scent of a room in no time and even after it's extinguished, the scent lingers.

It's a little pricier at £55, but for the amount of use this candle will give you, we would highly recommend.

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Molton Brown Merry Berries & Mimosa

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• Molton Brown Merry Berries & Mimosa Scented Candle, £42 from John Lewis -

Brand new this autumn, this limited edition candle from Molton Brown will get you in the mood to snuggle up by the fire with a warm drink in hand.

The wintry citrus flavours of the red berries and mandarin pair beautifully with the musky, woody notes of sandalwood and cedarwood to create a fresh but hearty winter fragrance.

It comes in stunning red and gold packaging and sits in a glass jar which is both chic and safe.

Perfect to warm up your own home or as a special gift for a loved one, this candle is well worth the £42 price tag.

Earl of East Smoke and Musk Scented

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• Earl of East Smoke and Musk Scented Candle, £20 from Selfridges -  

Earl of East is a brand you may not have heard of, but you'll be glad now that you have.

When we say this candle is long-lasting, we mean it. Hand poured in London, it burns for up to 40 hours, releasing a musky, woody and outdoorsy fragrance throughout your home.

It's also a brand that has been tagged with the 'Project Earth' label by Selfridges which means it's sustainable and it takes care of and prioritises its workers.

So not only are you getting a quality candle, you're doing your bit for the planet too.

M&S New York Light Up Scented Candle

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• M&S New York Light Up Scented Candle, £10 from M&S -

A real showstopper for an incredibly reasonable price, the New York Light Up scented candle from M&S is a must-have this winter.

Part of the Herbal family of fragrances, it has a relaxing and soothing effect, perfect for those dark evenings at home, curled up on the sofa reading a book or watching tv.

The real standout feature of this candle is the skyline design on the packaging. By lighting the candle, you illuminate the sparkling artwork which emits a soft glow onto the space surrounding it.

Looking at this candle, you wouldn't know it only costs £10, but that's the case and we couldn't be more impressed.

Neom Organics London Cosy Nights Scented Candle

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• Neom Organics London Cosy Nights Scented Candle, for £35 from John Lewis -

Over the last few years, Neom Organics has really asserted itself as one of the leading brands when it comes to aromatherapy and candles.

Based in Harrogate, all of its scents are distinctively Neom and the London Cosy Nights scented candle is no different.

New for winter this year, it focuses on nutty, woody scents from sandalwood, frankincense and nutmeg to create a warm, homely atmosphere.

It's 440 grams and costs only £35 - we're sold.

BYREDO Biblotheque Candle

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• BYREDO Biblotheque Candle, £31 from Cult Beauty -

This would be no scented candle edit without Swedish homeware brand Byredo.

With a number of famous scents like Gypsy Water and Mojave Ghost among its credits, we wanted to introduce you to a slightly lesser-known fragrance.

Bibliotheque combines the fruitiness of peaches and plums with the sweetness of vanilla and floral tones of peony and violet. Sound a little too light and floaty for you? Don't worry, it's all offset by a grittier scent of leather at its base to ground it.

Every scented candle lover needs the sleek, no-fuss packaging of Byredo as part of their collection, and although not cheap at £31, it's certainly worth the cash.

Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir Candle

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• Jo Malone London Pomegranate Noir Home Candle 200g, from £63 on Amazon -

Splurging on an expensive candle is one way to guarantee that the aroma permeates the room and lingers even after the candle's been blown out.

Jo Malone's divine blends are favourites as gifts because of the beautiful packaging with bow included, and can completely change the mood of a room. Pomegranate Noir is a lovely scent that comprises pomegranate, raspberry, frankincense and patchouli for a rich, lasting aroma.

Bring this one out when you have people over you're looking to impress.

Holistic Impact Lemongrass & Eucalyptus Candle

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• Lemongrass & Eucalyptus Candle, £25 from Holistic Impact -

According to Kemmy, the founder of Holistic Impact, the scent of lemongrass and eucalyptus releases serotonin and calms you down, perfect for those who struggle with anxiety.

At £25, the Holistic Impact candle has a strong scent, made with coconut wax which has a lower melting point, giving you more hours than soy wax does.

We've tried and tested this gem, and can safely say it is our favourite winding down, bath-time companion.

Tom Ford Rose Prick Candle

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• Tom Ford Rose Prick Candle, £98 from Space NK -

Okay, we know this one is very expensive in capital letters, but hear us out, because we've tried this and can vouch for how good it is.

As the name suggests, the scent is inspired by a rose garden, drawing on Turkish and Bulgarian roses to create the heart of the fragrance and tonka beans and patchouli for a warm base. For a zingier note, see if you can smell spicy pepper and turmeric.

Tom Ford has not held back when it comes to the strength of this candle to the point that you can still smell it even when it's not burning.

It comes in a super chic pink case that elevates any living space and because of it's strong scent, you don't need to burn it for ages to reap the aromatic rewards which means it lasts.

Best odour removing candle: Diptyque Odour Removing Scented Candle

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• Diptyque Odour Removing Scented Candle, £54 from Liberty -

Like Byredo, Diptyque is another scented candle must have and trying to decide between its many delicious scents was tough.

However, we had to go for the odour removing candle because of how useful and unique it is.

This candle uses technology that targets unwanted odorous molecules and replaces them with the fresh, delightful notes of basil mint and tomato leaf.

Based on a colourful kitchen garden, this candle smells clear and light and is one we are definitely adding to our collection.

Best value for money: Zara Black Vanilla Scented Candle

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• Zara Black Vanilla Scented Candle, £15.99 from Zara -

Zara hit the beauty headlines a few years ago for its unbelievably good candles and fragrances that were selling for seriously low prices. So, in case you missed it, we wanted to bring them to your attention.

The Black Vanilla scented candle incorporates Madagascan vanilla, praline, bergamot and jasmine for a warm, comforting aroma.

Despite costing just under £16, it has a super impressive burn time of 45 hours, so you'll fully get your money's worth.

Legology Holiday-at-Home Scented Candle

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• Legology Holiday-at-Home Scented Candle, £36 from Lookfantastic -

The clue's in the name with this scented candle from Legology - it really is a holiday at home.

Although it's typical to err towards woodier, deeper fragrances in autumn and winter, we love the idea of transporting ourselves to sunnier climes when we smell this candle.

Reminiscent of sun-creamed skin, the citrus notes combined with florals and a hint of woodiness is what makes this fragrance special.

We tried this and noticed it did burn quite quickly, but it did release a strong, beautiful aroma.

Made from soy and beeswax from the UK it offers something a little different to the other offerings in the edit and we love it.

VOYA Luxury Scented Candle Cedarwood and Bergamot

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• VOYA Luxury Scented Candle Cedarwood and Bergamot, £32 from Lookfantastic -

Whenever we light this candle we really feel like we're stepping into our very own spa. At the moment, we've been struggling to wake up in the morning, so we've been lighting this candle just before we do our morning skincare so we can feel like we're starting off the day with some indulgent self-care.

Although the candle is small it packs a punch and fills the room with scent quicker than you may think.

The blend of eucalyptus, exotic citrus and forest wood scents makes for the perfect mix of earth and citrus scents for something that's light and fresh but with a masculine undertone.

Noble Isle The Greenhouse Scented Candle

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• Noble Isle The Greenhouse Scented Candle, £42 from Liberty -

We think this stunning green candle would make a great gift for the man in your life.

The sage green and gold exterior will add an element of chic he might not know he needs, with a comforting blend of botanicals that's the perfect antidote to a stressful day at work.

The ingredients of this candle have been sourced from the very same English gardens it is emulating with the scent and is deeply relaxing.

Miller Harris Santal Scented Candle

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• Miller Harris Santal Scented Candle, £50 from Lookfantastic -

Now, this candle is very luxurious and one of the best we tried in this roundup.

Although the candle is £50, which is pretty steep, it is sizeable and has an impressive 50-minute burn time.

The candle has a sandalwood base with a kick of amber, moss and vanilla that makes it the perfect accompaniment to a chilly evening laid up on the sofa with a book in hand.