Scent families
Candle scents fall into a few broad families. You don't need to learn the names of every note to choose well; knowing the family is enough to guess whether you will like a candle before you light it.
- Fresh and citrus: lemon, orange, grapefruit, bergamot. Bright and clean.
- Green and herbal: basil, rosemary, mint, cut grass, tea. Light and outdoorsy.
- Floral: lavender, rose, jasmine, gardenia. Soft to heady, depending on the flower.
- Woody: cedar, sandalwood, pine, vetiver. Warm and grounded.
- Warm and sweet: vanilla, amber, honey, cinnamon, baked goods. Cozy and full.
- Clean: cotton, linen, sea salt, rain. Meant to smell like fresh air or laundry.
Room by room
Treat these as starting points and adjust them to your own taste. Each room card also lists what to watch for, since every room has its own fire risks.
Living room
- Scents to try
- Warm and woody: cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, amber
- Candle size
- A larger jar or two wicks for an open room
- Watch for
- Keep it on a stable surface away from curtains, throws and bookshelves
Kitchen
- Scents to try
- Fresh and bright: citrus, herbs, green tea
- Candle size
- A small jar is usually enough
- Watch for
- Keep it clear of the stove, paper towels and the edge of the counter
Dining room
- Scents to try
- Unscented, or a very light scent lit well before the meal
- Candle size
- Low candles so people can see each other
- Watch for
- Strong scent competes with food, so many hosts skip it at the table
Bedroom
- Scents to try
- Soft and quiet: lavender, chamomile, light musk
- Candle size
- A small jar or tin
- Watch for
- Blow it out before you lie down to sleep, every time
Bathroom
- Scents to try
- Clean scents: eucalyptus, mint, sea salt, cotton
- Candle size
- Small, because the room is small
- Watch for
- Keep it away from towels and out of the path of a swinging door
Home office
- Scents to try
- Light herbal or citrus, or none at all
- Candle size
- A small candle on its own tray
- Watch for
- Easy to forget while you work; set a reminder to check it
Matching the candle to the room
Scent strength depends on two things people often mix up. Cold throw is how a candle smells before you light it. Hot throw is how it fills the room while it burns, and it depends on the size of the melt pool. A small candle in a large, open room may barely register, while a large three-wick candle can overwhelm a small bathroom. As a rough guide, use small jars and tins in small rooms, and larger jars or multi-wick candles in living spaces.
Give a candle time. The scent builds as the melt pool widens, so it often takes the better part of an hour to reach full strength. Doors, ceiling fans and air vents all carry scent away, which can be good or bad depending on the room.
Using more than one scent
Two different scented candles in one room usually compete. If you like layering, pick scents from neighboring families, such as citrus with herbal or woody with warm, and light them at opposite ends of a large room. In an open-plan home, keep to one scent per open space.
Sensitivity, pets and health
Scent is personal, and strong fragrance gives some people headaches or bothers their breathing. If anyone in your home has asthma, allergies or another breathing condition, ask a doctor whether scented candles are a good idea, and choose unscented candles or no flame at all if in doubt. Pets have sensitive noses too, and some essential oils are harmful to cats and dogs. Birds are especially sensitive to anything in the air. Your vet can tell you what is safe for your animals.
Whatever you choose, the safety basics still apply: clear space, a stable holder and never leaving the flame alone.