There are very few things that can change the feel of a home as quickly as lighting a candle. I'm sensitive to scents and therefore particular about them. I don't like anything that smells overly sweet (no gourmand scents for me!), artificial, or overpowering. I tend to gravitate toward fragrances that smell layered but not complicated or overly contrived.
You know when you walk into someone's home, and you are not bombarded with a scent? Instead, you walk in and spend a while, and then realize there was a beautiful scent all along that leads you to ask what the scent is. I love when a candle adds something but isn't the star of the show.
Beyond the fragrance itself, I love the ambiance a candle creates. The flicker and glow of candlelight are among life's simple joys. I often light unscented pillar candles in glass hurricanes just to bask in the light dancing off the glass.
These are the three candles I reach for most during the summer months. They each have completely different personalities, but all three share a freshness and coziness that I gravitate toward.
Since scents can be very personal and also hard to gauge online, I'll give you an idea of the types of scents I naturally gravitate toward, and if you seem to like what I like, I'm willing to bet that these candles may be something you'll love! I tend to love bergamot, vetiver, sandalwood, amber, cedarwood, cypress, basil, citrus, rosemary, peppercorn, lavender, sage, fig leaf, tomato leaf, white tea, eucalyptus, and soft musk. In general, I prefer fragrances that feel fresh, green, woody, and sophisticated over anything overly sweet, powdery, or floral.
This is the candle I light when I want to feel like Martha Stewart tending to my beautiful garden. I'd say it's in line with many of the 'tomato' candles out there. As much as I love all three candles on this list, this one smells the most summery to me, with a distinct herby freshness. If they made this as a personal fragrance, I would wear it. One of my favorite scents is Salt and Stone Basil and Neroli, and if you like it, you'll love this.
SCENT NOTES: Green Tomato Vine, Fresh Basil, Garden Mint, Geranium, Rosewater
If I had to describe this candle in one word, it would be calming. I love lavender, but I often find it overpowering in many candles and fragrances. The cedar leaf keeps this one feeling grounded and warm instead of floral-heavy.
This is the one I love love love during a summer thunderstorm. I think of Nest as I do Veuve Clicquot- it's a recognized higher-priced label, which is why I think this one makes a good gift. HLC and Flamingo Estate are a little more niche (which is more fun, in my opinion), but sometimes something more recognizable makes a better gift; you just have to know your recipient.
SCENT NOTES: Rosemary, lavender, sage, cedar leaves
Quince has this candle that seems like a good 'sniff for less' situation!
This is a unique scent, and I don't think I've found anything quite like it. It smells like you brushed up against a rosemary bush and then went to a spa's steam room. It has warmth from the rosemary, but that's pierced by the sharp scent of eucalyptus (which I think their site description says camphor).
It's definitely an earthy candle, but invigorating at the same time. This is one you can burn in the evening, and it won't put you to sleep. I actually think it works very well in the mornings with coffee. This is best as a summery scent, but I burn it year-round, too.
SCENT NOTES: Rosemary, cypress, evergreen, camphor
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