Allow us to let you in on a little secret: The best candles on Amazon are some of the best candles, period. Yep, right alongside your everyday essentials and (not-so-essential) impulse purchases, are some seriously good scented candles. Whether you’re looking to boost your mood, enhance your energy, or calm your stress, there’s a scent for you. Even better? In many cases, your perfect candle can be on your coffee table and ready to be lit in no time—for pennies on the dollar.
The Best Candles on Amazon, According to GQ:
- Best Candle Overall: Capri Blue Volcano Scented Candle, $35
- Best Spicy Candle: Malin+Goetz Cannabis Candle, $66
- Best Musk Candle: Phlur Missing Person Scented Candle, $45
- Best Clean Candle: NEST Fragrances Linen 3-Wick Candle, $88
- Best Floral Candle: SALT & STONE Black Rose and Vetiver Scented Candle, $49
- Best Citrus Candle: LA JOLIE MUSE Yuzu & Neroli Blossom Scented Candle, $23
- Best Green Candle: Lake & Skye Verbena & Velvet Moss Candle, $48
- Best Summer Candle: Glasshouse Fragrances The Hamptons Candle, $55
- Best Morning Candle: Friday Collective Wake-Up Call Candle, $17
- Best Candle for Gifting: Homesick Let’s Toast Scented Candle,
$38$30
Best Candle Overall: Capri Blue Volcano Scented Candle
There’s a reason why this crowd-pleasing candle has shirked its cult-fave status and gone mainstream: It’s fragranced with a blend of tropical fruits and florals that will take you on a mini mental beach vacation—even when, in reality, you’re parked at your desk in the middle of a sweaty city—and is beloved for its 85 hours of burn time (another area where it bests the rest of the picks on this list). Those with an eye for design are in luck: The candle comes in four colored jar options to choose a match for whatever room you’re trying to scent.
Best Spicy Candle: Malin+Goetz Cannabis Candle
Malin + Goetz
Cannabis Candle
Yes, this candle is called cannabis but it smells much better than that.
Spending $64 on a cannabis-scented candle may feel silly, considering you can step onto any New York City street and get a whiff of the real stuff for free, but it really is worth the investment. It has the same earthy scent as actual cannabis but transforms it into something truly intoxicating with the addition of peppery amber-patchouli, woody hinoki, and sandalwood. Minus the high, that is.
Best Musk Candle: Phlur Missing Person Scented Candle
Phlur
Phlur Missing Person Scented Candle
Phlur’s Missing Person perfume is one of the most viral fragrances of all time, and it’s even better in candle form. It’s hard to describe the scent, because it somehow smells like everything and nothing all at the same time—it’s more of a feeling than a scent. Overall, it’s meant to evoke the same emotions you feel when you miss someone you love and does so with notes of skin musk and delicate florals. It’s the type of candle you’ll light when you’ve got someone coming over who you’re trying to impress, but you may find that you love it so much you want to save it all for yourself.
Best Clean Candle: NEST Fragrances Linen 3-Wick Candle
Nest
NEST Fragrances Linen 3-Wick Candle
We’ve all got that one candle we light when our space needs a quick pick-me-up (read: the clothes chair has reached its peak, and you don’t have time for a deep clean), and if you don’t, this is the one worth investing in. It smells like crisp, clean laundry—plus a subtle hint of apple blossom and white orchid—and its three wicks guarantee that it’s got enough power to fill a large, sorta stinky space with something much more palatable.
Best Floral Candle: SALT & STONE Black Rose and Vetiver Scented Candle
SALT & STONE Black Rose and Vetiver Scented Candle
Rose, in all its forms, is a floral candle staple, but the black rose notes used to create this scent profile are decidedly different than many powdery versions of the flower that are typically used. It’s got the same intoxicating sweetness but in an extremely subtle way, and deeper tones of musk, spice, and earthiness make it feel darker and more complex. Vetiver, the other main character in this aromatic mix, adds to its rugged masculinity with a touch of leather and smoke.
Best Citrus Candle: LA JOLIE MUSE Yuzu & Neroli Blossom Scented Candle
La Jolie Muse
Yuzu & Neroli Blossom Scented Candle
When looking for a citrusy scent on Amazon, you can’t go wrong with one of Mrs. Meyers’ $9 Lemon Verbena classics, but for a more sophisticated option, try this yuzu and neroli scent from La Jolie Muse. Yuzu, a Southeast Asian fruit that toes the line between a lemon and a grapefruit, combines the best parts of these more common notes. It’s sweet, tart, and slightly floral. It hits your nose with a vibrant burst of uplifting energy—which is only made more sensually stimulating with the addition of grapefruit and orange blossom. Spearmint and basil are also in the mix, along with subtle floral undertones, creating a refreshing and uniquely layered scent that will brighten up any space.
Best Green Candle: Lake & Skye Verbena & Velvet Moss Candle
Lake & Skye
Verbena & Velvet Moss Candle
Green fragrances run the gamut from airy and light to deep and earthy, and this scented candle will give you the best of both worlds. The richness of the velvet moss creates a solid base beneath the zestiness of verbena and eucalyptus. Rounding out the scent profile are cedarwood and sandalwood, which add a hint of subtly sweet warmth.
Best Summer Candle: Glasshouse Fragrances The Hamptons Candle
Glasshouse Fragrances
The Hamptons Candle
Live the life of the Hamptons elite—without having to schlep out to Long Island—with this candle, inspired by iconic beach towns. The scent is as special as the location it’s meant to emulate, with light woody base notes layered underneath fig, light florals, lemon verbena, and an unexpected green cognac. Cocktails behind the hedges have never felt so within reach.
Best Morning Candle: Friday Collective Wake-Up Call Candle
Friday Collective
Wake-Up Call Candle
Wake up and smell the coffee—and I mean that as literally as possible—with this energizing candle. It basically smells like an $8 latte, with notes of coffee and cold brew, along with a few gourmand accents like whipped vanilla, brown sugar, caramel, and foamed milk. It’s sweet but not disturbingly so—the richness of the coffee makes for a nice balance.
Best Candle for Gifting: Homesick Let’s Toast Scented Candle
Homesick
Let’s Toast Scented Candle
Candles make for an A+ gift for a host or hostess, and Homesick’s cheeky line is filled with options that will make a last-minute purchase (thanks, Amazon Prime) feel genuinely thoughtful. This “Let’s Toast” scent is perfect for any occasion, but you can also go for something more personalized based on the recipient’s zodiac sign, favorite city, or whatever event they’re celebrating. With 80 hours of burn time, these candles are truly the gift that keeps on giving.