There’s nothing quite like the flicker of candlelight to make a house feel like a home. The ultimate home accessory, a good luxury candle creates beautiful ambient light, looks great on display, and—when scented—leaves a subtle trail of fragrance that can transform a room into a cozy sanctuary in minutes.
If anyone understands the power of this everyday staple, it’s interior designers. So, we asked them. From the beeswax taper that Kelly Wearstler swears by as a dinner party MVP to the Cire Trudon classic multiple pros call their favorite, their answers run the gamut. Ahead, 21 interior designers share their personal favorites, what they love about them, and how they use candlelight and scent to shape the mood of a space.
Tiffany Duggan
“My favorite candle is Ernesto by Cire Trudon. It’s a wonderfully smoky, masculine scent that feels perfect for winter. I also love the handmade glass vessels, which come in my favorite dirty green hue—a welcome bonus. I always have it burning in our entrance hall on weekends; the scent carries beautifully throughout the house.”
Kelly Wearstler
“I mostly light Loewe’s Bronze Beeswax when I’m entertaining. Cast entirely in natural beeswax, the candlestick has a tactile, slightly imperfect quality that only real material can offer. I love clustering them down the center of the table, mixing older, partially burned candles with fresh ones to create subtle variations in height—it gives the setting a beautiful, cinematic feel. The scent itself is a warm, honeyed beeswax: soft, natural and gently earthy, never dominating the room. It feels grounding and quietly luxurious, and is an object you want to live with—even unlit.”
Marta de la Rica
“Scents always bring back memories, and Diptyque’s Feu de Bois carries so many for me—it’s my favorite candle and always will be. It takes me back to my childhood and winters in Switzerland, as well as the years I spent living in New York City. Although it’s typically considered a strong winter scent, I find myself reaching for it whenever I need a sense of comfort.”
Anne McDonald
“The candle I’ve been burning in our newly renovated primary suite feels incredibly luxe and layered—not too sweet, yet not dominated by oud, which makes it the perfect balance. It’s Le Labo’s Laurier 62 classic candle. I love lighting it in the evenings as I’m getting ready for bed; it has become a sensory cue that it’s time to wind down, watch a show, and drink my tea. I like saving it for one ritual, in one space—it makes the experience feel all the more special.”
Jake Arnold
“I discovered the Hi Fire candle at the Shibui Spa in the Greenwich Hotel in Tribeca and fell in love with its calming scent. It instantly transports me to Japan. I like to light it when I meditate or take a bath, so my home feels like my favorite spa—I pick one up whenever I can.”
Emma Sims Hilditch
“I’m drawn to Trudon’s Versailles Garden in Spring candle for so many reasons. Trudon’s history is extraordinary, dating back to the royal court of Versailles, and there’s something very special about bringing that sense of heritage into the home. The fragrance itself is beautifully composed, evoking the feeling of a countryside garden just as spring begins to unfold. It’s floral, fresh and wonderfully transportive. Whether I’m unwinding after a long day, preparing for guests, or simply wanting to bring a touch of spring indoors, this candle never fails to create the right atmosphere.”Enjoying a peaceful hour with a book feels perfect for quiet moments at home.
Chloe Willis
“I’m usually drawn to yellow beeswax dinner candles for their beautiful color and their delicious, subtle scent. But for a special treat, I choose a Cire Trudon candle. They’re all wonderful and last a long time, but my favorite is Ernesto. It’s a handsome, smoky, almost anti-floral scent that doesn’t feel like a typical candle. Instead, the room smells like books and a cozy fire, as if you’re wrapped in cashmere pajamas or wearing a dinner jacket. It’s very much an evening scent, perfect for a Sunday in autumn or winter.”
Rachel Aisling Walker
“Santa Maria Novella’s Relax candle reminds me of Italy, where I grew up, so it instantly makes me feel at home. It’s a classic, slightly old-fashioned scent that’s hard to tire of—and beautiful in its simplicity. I also love that it isn’t in a glass container, so you can see the lovely yellow wax. I usually place it on a marble sample in my studio and light it most days.”
Patrick Williams
“My favorite is Verden’s Festivum scented candle. We burn it in our shop, and many people comment on how beautiful it smells as soon as they walk in. Its warming, spiced fragrance creates a festive atmosphere without being too rich. I find many scented candles can be sickly, and I worry about what I’m breathing in, so I love that this one is free from paraffin, soy palm, beeswax, and synthetic additives.”
Max Rollitt
“I always buy unscented dinner candles from Charles Farris. I especially love using colored candles in the kitchen—elsewhere, I stick to white—and they have the best selection of shades. I light them every evening at dinner and whenever we have guests. It’s become so routine that my children have adopted the ritual too, which I love; candles are now an integral part of our everyday life.”
Rita Konig
“I love all of Perfumer H’s candles, but Rose with Insect is a particular favorite. Their scents are always slightly unusual yet incredibly beautiful—you notice the room smells lovely, but it’s never overpowering. I’m also drawn to the simple, classic dark glass vessel; the gold embossing adds just enough luxury without being showy. A candle shouldn’t be the center of attention.”
Angelica Squire
“My friend, the stylist Moppy Pilcher, introduced me to Australian scent brand Lumira, and their Tuscan Fig candle now lives on my desk in its chic black jar. It smells unbelievably delicious—sweet without being sickly, with richer notes that give it a slightly musky, masculine edge. I’m obsessed. Lighting it first thing in the morning instantly sets a calm mood in the office, and within minutes the gentle scent fills the room. I’m also quite wary of low-quality paraffin candles and the toxic fumes they can emit, so the fact that Lumira’s candles are made from coconut soy wax is a real plus.”
Blair Moore
“Lately, I’ve been loving Cire Trudon’s Madeleine. It’s made with a natural wax blend and essential oils, which is great if you’re sensitive to synthetic fragrances.”I love the aesthetic of these fragrances. The scent is beautifully soft—a gentle blend of leather, iris, and jasmine that never overwhelms a room. I also adore the vessel: Cire Trudon’s candles are poured into hand-blown green glass jars finished with a gold crest, which feels timeless. I keep them in the bathroom, on my bedside table, and in the kitchen—anywhere I want a space to feel clean and calm.
Perfumer H’s Moss candle is a beautiful blend of oak moss, herbs, woods, and grasses that reminds me of the countryside where I grew up. It’s a lovely scent to be immersed in, especially when I’m in London. When I get home and the children are wreaking havoc, I always try to light a candle—the fragrance and the soft flicker of the flame offer a welcome moment of calm at the end of the day.
Alongside Diptyque’s 34 Boulevard Saint Germain—which is refillable, beautiful, and wonderfully enveloping—a recent discovery is the dbCeramic x Verden Festivum candle. Its white, reusable porcelain vessel sits quietly and calmly in our studio, while the Festivum scent, inspired by the Danish celebration of Jul, creates the perfect winter mood with notes of cedarwood, pine, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black pepper.
Ffern’s Winter 26 Perfumer’s Candle is the best scent ever. It feels like a Christmas seaside escape and smells unbelievably good. Recently, someone walked into my house and asked why it smelled so Christmassy—and it was entirely because of this candle. I couldn’t recommend it more.
My favorite candle is Homework’s Metal. I love the combination of wood and citrus notes—it feels zingy and uplifting. The brand’s founder, who is a close friend, describes it as ‘the city at sunset,’ which I love. I light it most evenings and enjoy it alongside a glass of wine.
Woods by Byredo is one of my absolute favorite home scents. It’s understated, earthy, and quietly addictive. With notes of leather, cedarwood, jasmine, and raspberry, it makes me feel as though I’m in a chic cabin in the woods by the fireside. It’s especially lovely from daytime through early evening at this time of year.
I have a couple of favorites. I love the depth of Diptyque’s Baies candle—it’s earthy with a subtle fruity note. I tend to choose candles that complement a room’s aesthetic, so I’m also drawn to its matte black vessel. My other favorite is my No.1 Scent, which I created many years ago. It’s a kind, warm, and inviting fragrance that immediately makes you feel at home. It comes in a white ceramic that feels clean and timeless, and I love the shape—it’s distinctive and works effortlessly in any space. I light it the moment I walk into a room, whether at home or at work; it instantly sets the tone.
I’m obsessed with 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. The vessel and its celestial design bring me so much joy—it feels like a piece of artwork that also happens to smell delicious.
I always buy Byredo’s Choco Mascarpone from the perfume store in my neighborhood in San Francisco. I love it.Its subtle sweetness is a scent everyone notices but can’t quite place, making it feel truly unique. I love lighting it on weekends when I’m at home drawing or hosting friends for lunch or dinner. It fills the house with a fragrance that combines the cozy smell of baking with the indulgence of a luxurious bath—in the best possible way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about top luxury candles recommended by interior designers written in a natural conversational tone
General Beginner Questions
Q What makes a candle luxury or highend
A Its a combination of superior ingredients exceptional and longlasting scent beautiful and often reusable vessels clean burning and meticulous craftsmanship
Q Why would I spend more on a luxury candle instead of a regular one
A Think of it as an investment in ambiance Luxury candles provide a stronger more authentic and consistent scent throw burn cleaner last much longer and serve as a decorative object even when not lit
Q Are luxury candles just about the smell
A Not at all Interior designers treat them as key decor accessories The vessels design color and material are chosen to complement a rooms aesthetic
Q How do I choose the right scent for my home
A Start by considering the rooms purpose Designers often recommend fresh clean scents for bathrooms warm and cozy scents for living rooms and bedrooms and inviting gourmand scents for entryways and kitchens
Q What does cold throw and hot throw mean
A Cold throw is how strong the candle smells when its unlit Hot throw is how well the fragrance fills the room when the candle is burning A great luxury candle excels at both
Practical Use Care
Q Whats the single most important tip for burning a luxury candle properly
A Always let the wax melt all the way to the edges on the first burn This prevents tunneling and ensures an even burn and full scent throw for the life of the candle
Q How long should I burn my candle each time
A For optimal performance burn it for at least 2 hours but no more than 4 hours at a time This maintains the wax pool and prevents the wick from becoming too long
Q How do I take care of the wick
A Before each light