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.
Vogue’s Guide to the Best Designer-Approved Candles:
If there’s anyone who truly 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.
“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.”
“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.”
Loewe
Bronze beeswax candleholder
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
Eastern Accent International, Inc.
“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 enjoying a peaceful hour with a book, it feels perfect for quiet moments at home.”
“Generally, I’m drawn to yellow beeswax dinner candles for their beautiful color and the way they smell delicious without having a particular, overpowering fragrance. As a spoiling treat, though, it would have to be a Cire Trudon candle. They’re all wonderful and last forever, but my particular favorite is Ernesto. It’s a handsome scent—smoky, almost anti-floral—that doesn’t feel like you’re burning a candle at all. Instead, the room smells of books and fires, and you feel as though you’re wearing cashmere pajamas or a dinner jacket. It’s very much an evening scent, or one for a Sunday in autumn or winter.”
“Santa Maria Novella’s Relax candle reminds me of Italy, where I was brought up, so it instantly makes me feel at home. It’s a classic scent that’s difficult to tire of—slightly old-fashioned, but in the most beautiful way. I also love that it isn’t housed in glass, allowing the lovely yellow wax to be seen. I usually place it on a marble off-cut sample we have in the studio and light it most days.”
“My favorite has to be Verden’s Festivum scented candle. We’ve been burning it in our shop and so many people comment on how beautiful it smells as soon as they walk in. With its warming, spiced fragrance, it creates a festive atmosphere without ever feeling too rich. I find many scented candles can be sickly and I worry about what I’m inhaling, so I love that, being made by Verden, this one is free from paraffin, soy palm, beeswax, and synthetic additives.”
“I always buy unscented dinner candles from Charles Farris. I especially love using colored candles in the kitchen—elsewhere in the house I stick to white—and they have the best selection, with a really standout range of shades. I light them every evening at dinner and whenever we have guests. It’s become so second nature that my children have adopted the ritual too, which I love; they’ve become an integral part of our everyday routine.”
“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 never to the point of distraction. I’m also drawn to the simple, classic dark glass vessel; the gold embossing adds just enough luxury without feeling showy. A candle shouldn’t be the center of attention.”
“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 embarrassingly paranoid about 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 music to my ears (and nose).”
“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. The scent is beautifully soft—a gentle blend of leather, iris, and jasmine that never overwhelms the room. I also love the vessel: Cire Trudon’s candles are poured into hand-blown green glass jars, finished with a gold crest, which is super classic. 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, which reminds me of the countryside I grew up in. 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—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 down to 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, fireside. It’s especially lovely from daytime through to 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 its subtle sweetness—a scent everyone notices but can’t quite place, which makes it feel so unique. I tend to light it on weekends when I’m at home drawing or hosting friends for lunch or dinner. It animates the house with a fragrance that smells like baking and luxurious bathing combined, in the best possible way.”
