Burning Candles Is My Favourite Hobby—These 22 Luxury Buys Are Worth Every Penny

Key notes: cedar, bamboo, sandalwood, guaiac wood and hay

Byredo is responsible for creating the chicest of chic candles, and while all of its home fragrance is exquisite, Tree House comes out on top. In fact, it's potentially my favourite candle of all time. Like freshly cut wood but with the warmth of a crackling open fire, it's one of the most comforting candles in my collection.

Price shown is members' price.

Key notes: Pressed basil, liquorice milk, balsam fir, guaiac wood, wild honey, red juniper, vanilla, musk.

This would ordinarily retail for £60, but members can snap it up for just £20. Beauty editor Eleanor Vousden tells me that this candle smells like a luxury Parisian hotel. "It's a really complex and classy scent that smells three times its price tag and is unlike anything else I've smelt," she says. "Fresh out of the box, it leans a little masculine with a smokey trail, but whilst lit it's balanced with subtly sweet honey and vanilla that has a creamy, intoxicating milkiness. Burn this on cosy nights when you require a moment of luxury."

Key notes: wood, Lapsang tea

Another crackling, woody, fire-like scent, this candle won't fill just the entire room with its cosy but fresh scent but your entire home. This supersized version makes for the perfect table centrepiece and will burn for an impressive 90 hours.

Key notes: bergamot, kaffir lime, spices, camellia, Egyptian jasmine, Turkish rose, Indonesian sandalwood, iris, white musk

Cire Trudon candles embody everything that a luxury candle should. They look beautiful on the shelf, are unlike anything else out there and smell every bit as expensive as they are. This particular scent is floral, earthy and deeply rich all at once.

Key notes: vetiver, sandalwood, chamomile
Candles in the bedroom haven't always been my thing, but this one is really deserving of its place on my bedside table. It's deeply relaxing and calming, a little bit creamy and totally sleep-inducing.

Key notes: amber, vanilla, Moroccan rose, Indonesian patchouli, Somalian incense, bergamot, cinnamon, coriander seed
It is rare that I find a fragrance that I'm just as happy to burn in my home as I am to spritz over myself as a perfume, but Tiger by Her Side is one of them. It's deep, warm and exotic but has a creamy sweetness thanks to vanilla.

Key notes: Elemi resin, fir balsam, vetiver, amber, cedarwood, oakmoss, cypriol, cashmere woods, patchouli

The idea of burning a festive scent all year round fills me with dread, but the freshness and earthiness of this fir balsam candle keeps me burning from January through to December. It's the sort of scent that clears the senses and leaves you feeling freshly invigorated.

Key notes: jasmine, rose, orange flower, ylang-ylang

A La Montaña candle is at the top of my birthday and Christmas list every single year. They are potentially the most deliciously fresh candles in existence, and the scents linger in the air for days after burning. Galán de Noche is potentially my favourite. It's a floral jasmine candle at its heart, but it has a mountain freshness to it that provides the ultimate escapism. 

Key notes: Australian sandalwood, cedar wood, vanilla, amber, coco, musk

Le Labo candles are equally as chic as the brand's cult perfumes. Santal 26 is woody and smoky but coco, vanilla and musk give it a creaminess that makes you want to wrap yourself up in the scent and stay exactly where you are. 

Key notes: sea salt, pine trees

Eden-Roc is the sort of fragrance that makes you want to book a one-way ticket to the South of France. Named after and inspired by the iconic hotel on the French Riviera, Eden-Roc is light, summery and impossibly fresh thanks to Mediterranean notes of pine and sea salt. Just close your eyes, and let it whisk you off to sunnier climes. 

Key notes: lavender, lovage

Jo Malone London's Townhouse collection cranks the brand's already cult and beautiful candles up a notch. In stunning ceramic jars, I've made it my mission to collect the full lineup. This one, however, is my favourite. If you don't like lavender, it's not for you, but its freshness is far more reminiscent of the British countryside in spring than it is of the powdery lavender scents you might find in bathroom air fresheners.

Key notes: English lavender, precious jasmine, sweet basil

Another candle reserved exclusively for my bedside table, Neom's Perfect Night's Sleep candle has the ability to de-stress me ready for bed after the most stressful of days.

Key notes: bergamot, neroli, English camomile, angelica seed, cedar wood, sandalwood, oakmoss, amber, frankincense

I'll admit I wasn't expecting a huge amount from this candle when I first tried it. However, I was seriously mistaken. At first, it is fresh and citrusy thanks to bergamot and neroli, but it has a deep woodiness to it that makes it smell luxe and expensive. It's the sort of candle you'll want to light first thing on a Sunday morning when you have nothing to do but enjoy some time at home.

Key notes: fig, cassis, amber

Fresh, delicate and a little bit sweet, this is a candle I would burn in every room if I could. It envelops you in a sense of calm and comfort that you'll struggle to find elsewhere.

Key notes: vetiver, amber, moss, bergamot, frankincense

This candle does exactly what it says on the label. With earthy freshness from vetiver and moss, it has a warming sweetness thanks to bergamot and frankincense that instils a sense of peace.

Key notes: sage, rosemary, peppermint, Palma rose, chamomile, rose, sage, lime

If you like a spa-like scent, look no further. This candle is crisp, herby and impossibly fresh. If you want to create a sanctuary at home, this is the one for you.

Key notes: black pepper, cinnamon, cypress, oud, leather, tobacco

Imagine walking into an old member's club, and the smell of leather chairs, smoke and rich aftershave fills the air. That's basically what North smells like. It is without a doubt one of the most luxurious scents you will ever stumble across.

Key notes: mint, eucalyptus, basil, Thai ginger

Specifically created to instil a sense of calm and clarity, this fresh scent has a longevity to it that so many other fresh-smelling candles lack. A little bit sweet but a whole lot fresh, it's a subtle scent that still demands attention.

Key notes: Siberian pine, resin, cedar, patchouli

If you're looking for the best Christmas candle, look no further. Diptyque's Sapin candle smells exactly like walking through a snow-dusted forest of pine trees, but it's not overly festive if you want something to burn beyond December 31.

Key notes: grapefruit, cardamom, geranium, rose, oakmoss, vetiver

Floral, earthy and undeniably vibrant, this blend of citrus, flowery notes and mossy earthiness makes Otto a springtime classic. The moment the clocks go forward, I dust this candle off and burn it all season long.

Key notes: Coastal rain, eucalyptus, wood

You know the refreshing zing in the air after a rain downpour? This is it in candle form. It's both refreshing and cosy—perfect for burning on a rainy afternoon.

Key notes: Tomato leaf

Loewe's candles are a thing of beauty (just look at the ribbed ceramic vessel) and the tomato leaves scent smells exactly like wandering into a sun-dappled greenhouse. It's refreshing and herbal.