Strike a match with our favourite luxe candles
Looking to do a little shelf-improvement? Up the cosiness of your space and invest in a statement piece. With a scents of style to match your own, have a nosey at our new flames and the classic {candles} worthy of waxing lyrical about. Whether a decadent votive is a deciding factor or only certain scents hit the right note, consider this an insider's guide to our very best candles...
Inspired by everyone's favourite 'anti-Christmas' Christmas song, Bella Freud's {Fairytale of New York} offers an unusual take on a traditional winter fragrance. With top notes of zingy blood orange and coriander and heart notes of leathery saffron and smoky tobacco flower, this may not sound all that suited for Yuletide, but base notes of oud, amber and myrrh resins offer a moody, musky and decidedly festive finish. Subtly spiced, this space-scenter — housed in a classic black and gold glass jar — is a chic, sexy nod to the holidays.
Combining a trio of the brand's quirky-cool scents, MALIN + GOETZ's {Vice Votives} set includes a dinky version of the 'Cannabis', 'Dark Rum' and 'Leather' candles, each in minimal, clear jars that double up as a smoother-than-smooth drinks glass when your fragrance has burnt out (whisky on the rocks, anyone?). For those who favour edgy and androgynous scents over heady florals or super sweet tropical scents, each candle in this threesome will perfume your space with an alluringly laidback warmth — like a fashionable city hotel that everyone who's anyone is just desperate to visit.
Embodying the spirit of wanderlust with each release, the {Nomad Noé} candle range has no shortage of personality; whether it’s the clean-cut design (spoiler: the ceramic vessels glow when the candle is lit) or the compelling scents that pique your curiosity, this Manhattan-based brand will not disappoint. Not sure where to start? Allow us to set your curiosity alight... The ultimate gift for a friend with their head in the clouds (or a book) at all times, Nomad Noé’s {Dreamer in London} evokes the quaint, rickety charm – not to mention, the colourful history – of our dizzying capital city.
Capturing the spirit of the festive season in a scent, the Jo Loves {A Home Candle} in 'Christmas Trees' makes you feel as if you're snuggled up on a cold December evening with Frank Sinatra crooning away. Expertly formulated by the 'English scent maverick' behind some of the world’s most adored fragrances, Jo Malone, this gorgeous candle weaves notes of fresh pine with aromatic incense and amber to fill your space with a warm, cosy scent.
If you'd prefer to bring summer to your space instead, there's no better candle than Cire Trudon's {Giambattista Valli Positano}. An unmissable collaboration between Italian fashion designer Giambattista Valli and one of the oldest candle companies in the world, this candle captures a scene of the Amalfi Coast on the cusp of summer: the bouquet of orange blossom, gardenia, white flowers, tuberose, lily, jasmine is fully in bloom, while notes of citrus offer a shot of sensory refreshment.
Like a salve for your soul, the {Vela - Jungle Candle} from Costa Brazil unites notes of sacred white and black Breu resin blended with the essences of wild jungle flora, crushed cypress root and Brazilian vetiver to alleviate stress, lift your spirit and enhance your mood. Inspired by the founder's travels, allow this bewitching blend to transport your mind to the Amazonian rainforest with its therapeutic fragrance.
Bethan is a Senior Copywriter at Cult Beauty. When she’s not trying to perfect the ultimate ‘no make up’ make up look — she swears by Saie — or find new skin care to fall for, she’s likely playing video games, making the most of her housemate’s MUBI account or strolling around Victoria Park with a pastry in hand.