As the colder months creep in, there’s no better feeling than turning off the big light, crawling under a heated throw, and lighting your favourite scented candle.
As avid home fragrance enthusiasts, we adore tracking down a new signature scent. However, bringing home the perfect scented candle requires pickiness and a little bit of research, too – but not to worry, we’ve taken care of the latter. As discussed by Lysandra Fraser and Elle Lovelock on this week’s The Edit podcast, thoughtful scentscaping can completely transform the atmosphere of your space, and layering your favourite scents (with scented candles, for instance) is one of the easiest ways to do so.
The best home fragrance sales, April 2026:
- Save up to 30% on selected candles from Ecoya and Circa at Bed Bath ‘N’ Table
- Save up to 40% on selected scented candles from Glasshouse Fragrances, Ecoya, and IKOU at Adore Beauty
- Save up to 50% on Sheridan scented candles from Sheridan Outlet
Whether you’re a Diptyque addict, an Ecoya-fiend, or you prefer something Mor, it seems like we all have a favourite brand that we can’t get enough of, and the team at Home Beautiful is no different. In fact, with all of the gorgeous fragrances making their way into the office (and our homes), we tend to think of ourselves as experts on the subject.
Because we’re not experts, however, we asked Ecoya CEO, Claire Barnes, for her top fragrance and candle care tips to help you join the scentscaping movement with a little more intentionality.
Home Beautiful recommends
While our wishlist of dreamy home fragrances is currently a mile or so long, there are a few scented candles that will always remain in the very top spots. Taking out the #1 spot is Flamingo Estate’s Heirloom Tomato Candle, a fresh and unexpected scent that we simply can’t get enough of.
Alternatively, for a floral option, we recommend Aesop’s Aganice Aromatique Candle, and for something a little more unique, D.S. & Durga’s Big Sur After Rain Candle.
The best scented candles of 2026
Whether you prefer a floral scent, something smoky, or a slightly experimental home fragrance, you’re bound to find the perfect scented candle in our carefully curated shopping list.
Best home fragrance staples, at a glance
01
Flamingo Estate Heirloom Tomato Candle
$64, Flamingo Estate
Best fresh scented candle
Everyone’s talking about Flamingo Estate’s signature Heirloom Tomato Candle, and for good reason. With its fresh, herby scent, anchored by Oregon-grown tarragon and black pepper, this unique home fragrance (intended to invoke the mood of late summer dinner parties in Sicily) is like nothing you’ve smelled before.
I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of Flamingo Estate’s Heirloom Tomato Candle. While I’ve tried, it’s almost impossible to keep as a special occasion fragrance; if it’s in my house, it will always be lit (and gathering compliments from any guests lucky enough to experience it).
Paris Blanchfield, Shopping Editor
Smells like: Tomato, fresh leaves, tarragon, and black pepper
Size: 226g
02
Aesop Aganice Aromatique Candle
$145, Adore Beauty
Best floral scented candle
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of stumbling across one of Aesop’s moody brick-and-mortar stores, you’ll know just how sophisticated their fragrance range is. For a unique take on a floral-scented candle, we highly recommend their Aganice Aromatique Candle, which blends mimosa, cardamom, and tobacco for a spicy but fresh aroma.
Smells like: Mimosa, spicy cardamom, and tobacco
Size: 300g
03
D.S. & Durga Big Sur After Rain Candle
$115, Space NK
Best unique scented candle
If you want to escape from the confines of standard scent categories, turn to the creative masterminds at D.S & Durga. Big Sur After Rain is a crowd favourite scent, based on ‘Rainwater in eucalyptus groves off Highway 1. Young green shoots, long spears, russet underbrush.’ It’s a statement scent that, when added to one’s home, screams ‘I’m in the know.’
I adore the scent of Big Sur After Rain; D.S. & Durga really have captured the exact, somewhat nostalgic, smell of a bush lined road after a sudden downpour. I’ve even purchased the auto fragrance variant, just so I can have the scent around more often.
Paris Blanchfield, Shopping Editor
Smells like: Coastal rain, eucalyptus, magnolia, wet wood
Size: 200g
04
Santa Maria Pot Pourri Candle
$159, Myer
Best woody scented candle
As we head into colder months, there are few things more luxurious than adding a warm, comforting scent to your space. Keep cosy with this beautiful Pot Pourri Candle, boasting a complex, yet comforting, scent that layers warm cedarwood with lavender, bergamot, thyme, and citrus.
Smells like: Bergamont, citrus, lavender, thyme, patchouli and cedarwood
Sizes: 250g
05
Trudon Ernesto Scented Candle
$169, Myer
Best smokey scented candle
Inspired by ‘a hotel of Havana, under the fixed sun of the Revolution,’ the moody scent of Trudon’s Ernesto Scented Candle is perfect for those after a more masculine home fragrance. With notes of leather, tobacco, and wood, the scent lends itself best to a cosy office or reading nook.
Smells like: Bergamot, grapefruit, rhum, tobacco, amber, and leather
Size: 70g, 270g (pictured), 800g, 2.8kg
06
Ecoya French Pear
$49.95, Myer
Best scented candle under $50
If you’re after an affordable home fragrance option (with an 80-hour burn time, no less), look no further than Ecoya’s extensive range of delectable scented candles. With top notes of crisp pear, lemon, and orange, the French Pear Candle is light enough for everyday use, but the addition of florals, cinnamon, and clove gives it a complexity we adore.
“My absolute all-time favourite everyday candle is Ecoya French Pear. On special occasions, I like to burn Trudon Cyrnos. They both evoke a breezy Mediterranean vibe, fresh, with a hint of spice!”
Elle Lovelock, Editor-In-Chief
Smells like: Queensland pear, vanilla, citrus, and clove
Sizes: 80g, 280g, 400g (pictured)
Available at:
07
L’Occitane Cocon Serenite Candle
$65, L’Occitane
Best for: a calming scented candle
Transport yourself to the serene lavender fields of Provence with the calming Cocon Serenite Candle from L’Occitane. Boasting layers of lavender, citrus, bergamot, and geranium, this dreamy scent is perfect for those looking to unwind and transform their space into a tranquil sanctuary.
Smells like: Lavender, bergamot, mandarin, sweet orange, and geranium
Size: 180g
08
Circa Jasmine & Magnolia
$44.95, Circa
Best delicate floral scented candle
If you’re after a more traditional floral scent, the Jasmine & Magnolia candle from Circa is beautiful and doubles as a fail-safe gifting option; it’s a hard one not to love! Boasting top notes of clover and bergamot, which are then balanced by other delicate florals and musk, it’s a classic scent that feels right in any space.
“I love Circa’s Jasmine and Magnolia candle – not only for it’s delicate scent but also for the new ceramic jar that it comes in, allowing it to double as a piece of home decor.”
Teneal Zuvela, Senior Content Producer
Smells like: Clover, bergamot, jasmine, ylang ylang, lily, frangipani, and sweet musk
Sizes: 300g
09
Glasshouse Fragrances A Tahaa Affair
$54.95, Glasshouse Fragrances
Best sweet scented candle
If you’ve ever stepped foot in a Peter Alexander store, you probably already know (and love) this delicious scent from Glasshouse Fragrances. As one might expect, the scented candle features base notes of vanilla and caramel, but subtle hints of pineapple, coconut, and frankincense are what really make the scent sing.
“Glasshouse Fragrances’ A Tahaa Affair smells like vanilla and caramel — you just want to eat it.”
Rebecca Hooton, Features Writer
Sizes: 60g, 380g (pictured), 760g
Smells like: Caramel, vanilla, pineapple, coconut, frankincense
Available at:
10
Mountain Ash Candle
$59, The Iconic
Best nature-inspired scented candle
Invite nature inside with the dreamy Mountain Ash Candle; hand-poured in Sydney by Hunter Candles. Bergamot, peppered grass, and oregano lead the charge, but it’s the subtle addition of leather, pathouli and cedar that sets this scent apart. If you’re looking for a scent that makes you feel a little more grounded, this is the home fragrance for you.
“I love the complex green woody scent of Mountain Ash by Hunter Candles. It’s an unusual scent that I find weirdly addictive, I can’t walk past it without taking a sniff.”
Rachel White, Features Writer
Smells like: Bergamot, peppered grass, oregano, ivy, basil, amber, and pathouli
Sizes: 300g
11
Acqua Di Parma Buongiorno Scented Candle
$135, SpaceNK
Best scented candle for gifting
Freshly cut grass, sun-dried linen, Italian lemon, and fresh mint leaves; it’s these dreamy, evocative scents that underpin the Buongiorno Scented Candle from Acqua Di Parma. Designed to bring elements of the Italian countryside to any space in which it’s lit, this fresh, luxurious home fragrance has well and truly earned its spot on our list of favourite scented candles.
Smells like: Italian lemon, rosemary, lavender, mint leaves, musk, cedarwood and moss
Sizes: 200g
12
DEFREI Fig Scented Candle
$151, Wolf & Badger
Best scented candle for design enthusiasts
This show-stopping piece by DEFREI, a UK brand specialising in hand-poured candles, doubles as decor and home fragrance. Leading with invigorating notes of basil and bergamot, which lead into green fig, cyclamen, thyme, rosemary, and spearmint, the DEFREI Fig Candle is gentle and uplifting; a scent you’ll want to burn every day.
Smells like: Basil, bergamot, green fig, cyclamen, thyme, rosemary, and spearmint
Sizes: 185g
13
Diptyque Roses Scented Candle
$170, SpaceNK
Best rose scented candle
If you adore a rosy scent, Diptyque does it better than anyone. Whether you’re shopping for a Mother’s Day gift or treating yourself to a lovely new floral home fragrance, you can’t go wrong with the Roses Scented Candle. Even our Shopping Editor, who isn’t a huge fan of rose scents, agrees that this one hits the mark.
Smells like: Roses
Size: 300g
14
Al.ive Apricot & Sweet Fig Scented Candle
$59, Al.ive
Best cosy scent
On cold nights, when you want to cuddle up by candlelight, this sweet Apricot and Fig Scented Candle from Al.ive body will have you feeling cosier than ever. With warming notes of vanilla and clove, expertly contrasted against vibrant orange and melon top notes, it’s a home fragrance that will have every guest asking where you got it from.
Smells like: Apricot Jam, orange, melon, geranium, fig, sage, malt, vanilla, and clove
Size: 330g
15
Sheridan Garden Candle
$25, Sheridan Outlet
Best earthy scented candle
Despite being the most affordable option on our list of scented candles, the Sheridan Garden Candle is one of our favourites. Suited best to days when you want to reconnect with nature (without even going outside), its invigorating blend of citrus and sage brings the outdoors inside.
Smells like: Citrus, sage, and green tea
Size: 250g
16
Everlasting Candle Co Neva Candle
Best long-lasting candle
While the Everlasting Candle Co doesn’t make ‘candles’ per se, what they do offer is perfect for ambience chasers who want a non-scented option that doesn’t require any refills. Their Neva Candle Sets (complete with steel candlesticks that never melt down) give off the ambience of a candle without all the smoke, soot, melting, or waste.
Smells like: Absolutely nothing!
Expert advice: how to get the most out of your scented candles
We adore hunting down the perfect scent to amplify ambience and impress guests, but successful scented candle shopping isn’t quite as simple as it might seem. To help you avoid buyer’s remorse and keeping a firmly capped candle on your mantle, we enlisted the help of Ecoya CEO, Claire Barnes, a trusted expert on how to create a great-smelling home.
Should you choose the same fragrance for every room, or mix it up?
From energising citrus scents in the kitchen to soothing jasmine in the bedroom, ultimately, your home is your space to enjoy, and Claire recommends fragrancing each space in your home with what makes you happy.
“Fragrance is deeply personal, so mix it up. There are no strict ‘rules’ on this – just go with what you love!”
Claire Barnes, Ecoya CEO
If you’re finding it hard to choose between fragrances for your candles, you may like the idea of burning more than one fragrance in your home at once. “If you want to consider the mood and ambience you want to create in each space, there are endless possibilities,” says Claire.
“Any space where you’re wanting to create a special moment is perfect for a fragranced candle; an entranceway is always lovely to welcome your guests into your home, living and dining are obvious choices as we spend so much time in those spaces, and bedrooms are ideal for introducing soothing fragrances that help you relax and unwind.”
How far apart should I burn multiple candles in the home?
Burning candles en masse (A.K.A. scent-scaping) can make a real impact, but when burning more than one, be sure to arrange them carefully, and always follow the instructions on the label of your candle. Keep your candle on a stable, heat-resistant surface at all times and give each one some breathing space.”For safety, we recommend burning candles at least 10cm apart. Always keep candles away from drafts, children, pets, and flammable objects,” says Claire.
How long should you burn a scented candle?
You might be surprised to learn that the longer you burn a candle, the more you extend its life. Claire recommends burning candles for up to three hours at a time (depending on their size). Then, if you desire, let it cool and re-light to prevent overheating.
How to clean up spilled candle wax
Life happens and sometimes your wax ends up where it shouldn’t. “If wax spills, let it cool and harden before carefully scraping it off with a plastic scraper or credit card (avoid using a knife or similar so you don’t scratch surfaces),” says Claire. “Use a hairdryer on low heat to soften any remaining wax and absorb it with paper towels.”
“To make the most of your candle’s lifespan, trim the wick before each burn and allow the wax pool to reach the edge of the jar, this prevents tunnelling and ensures an even burn.”
Claire Barnes, CEO, Ecoya
Shop Claire’s picks:
And Claire’s own favourite? “I always love our iconic fragrances like Sweet Pea & Jasmine and French Pear, but my go-to at the moment is our recently released Sandalwood & Amber, which was originally exclusively a body care fragrance, but we’ve just recently extended it into our full home fragrance offering. It’s such a beautiful, sophisticated, gender-neutral scent. I can’t recommend it highly enough!”
Ecoya Sandalwood & Amber Candle
$49.95 at Myer
Ecoya Sweet Pea & Jasmine Candle
$49.95 at Myer
FAQ: What you need to know before buying scented candles
To make your scented candle last longer, trim the wick to about 5mm before each burn and allow the wax to melt evenly across the surface.
Aside from classic floral and woody scents, the most popular home fragrances in Australia are fresh and calming fragrances like eucalyptus, sandalwood, vanilla, coconut, and sea salt. These scents suit the Australian climate and are widely loved for their relaxing and home-enhancing qualities.
Soy candles are generally considered better than paraffin candles because they burn cleaner, last longer, and produce less soot. They are also a popular choice in Australia for being more eco-friendly and often made with natural ingredients.
Choose the best scented candle by considering room size, scent strength, and fragrance type, as well as wax quality and burn time. For larger spaces, opt for stronger scents or multi-wick candles, while lighter fragrances work best in smaller rooms.
The longest-lasting scented candles are typically made from soy or coconut wax and have a lower burn rate than paraffin candles. Candles with larger sizes and multiple wicks also tend to provide longer total burn times.
Candles with the strongest fragrance usually have a high-quality fragrance load and are designed for strong “hot throw,” meaning the scent is noticeable when lit. Look for brands known for performance and candles labelled as highly fragranced or designed for large spaces.
Luxury candles are worth the price if you value premium ingredients, complex fragrances, and aesthetic packaging, as they often deliver a more refined scent experience. However, many mid-range Australian brands, like Ecoya and Glasshouse Fragrances, also offer excellent quality at a lower price point.
The safest scented candles are made from natural waxes like soy or beeswax, with lead-free cotton or wooden wicks and phthalate-free fragrances. Always burn candles on a stable surface and never leave them unattended.
Scented candles can improve mood and relaxation by releasing calming or uplifting fragrances that influence your senses and environment. Scents like lavender and sandalwood are especially popular for stress relief and creating a calming atmosphere.
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