Fill your house with the aroma of springtime using one of our top-pick scented candles for the season ahead. Whether you want something fresh and uplifting or more sumptuous and exotic, we have it covered. And you can rest assured that all the candles we tested have excellent burn time and quality too.
1. Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom and Honey Home Candle, 200g: £42, John Lewis
This is on the sweet side for Jo Malone but we’re talking luxuriously sweet rather than the sickly kind you get with so many scented candles. It captures the essence of early spring mornings magnificently with its nectarine, peach and cassis, combined with spring flowers and acacia honey.
2. Roja Lilas de Biarritz Candle, 220g: £85, Roja Parfums
Lilac, claims Roja, is the harbinger of spring, which is precisely why they’ve chosen lilac essential oil - not easy to come by in its natural form - to create the heart of this opulent, slow-burning candle that arrests the senses without overwhelming.
3. Beefayre Bluebell & Wood Anemone Scented Candle, 200g: £16.50, Not On The High Street
There’s nothing more evocative of springtime in Britain than the intoxicating smell of bluebell woods in full bloom, which this hand-poured candle captures splendidly. There’s a mini version available too (90g), or a box of three tea lights.
4. True Grace English Garden Classic Candle, 190g: £28, John Lewis
Close your eyes and imagine the smell of freshly cut green lawns, with flowers starting to peep up through the soil. It will be all the more easy to do if you invest in one of these beauties, which boasts grassy, floral, woody scents, finished off with a subtly exotic, oriental kick.
5. Zephorium Citrine Crystal Affirmation Candle, 150g: £36, Zephorium
If you like your candles tangy, then you’ll love this pure coconut oil infused candle, which has tantalising whiffs of grapefruit, lemongrass and lime oil. All of which combine to remind you that summer may be closer than you think.
6. The Chapel Oparus Scented Candle, 320g: £65, The Chapel
This uplifting candle from British brand The Chapel brings the outside in with its complex mix of florals and citrus blossom, complemented by warming, earthier tones. We also love the ceramic pot which, by the way, is sealed on arrival to keep it completely fresh and dust-free.
7. Noble Isle Rhubarb Rhubarb The Yorkshire Triangle Candle & Snuffer, 200g: £39, Bath & Unwind
Rhubarb’s prime season runs from April through to June, making it the perfect fruit for a fragrant spring candle. This one combines rhubarb with juniper berry and rosemary, aiming to evoke a spring morning in the Yorkshire Dales. We think they’ve nailed it.
8. Malin + Goetz Vetiver Candle, 260g: £40, Space NK Apothecary
This fresh and exuberant candle somehow manages to be invigorating yet tranquil all at the same time. It’s cleaner and fresher than some of the more powerfully floral candles in our round-up, with notes of fruit and citrus, plus clove leaf, cedarwood and – as the name suggests – vetiver.
9. Madebyzen Signature Aromatic Candle Fresh Mint and Grapefruit Candle, 250g: £19.99, Aroma Diffusers UK
If you’re less keen on florals and prefer something zestier, then this Italian candle should be on your wish list. We love the bracing combination of mint, grapefruit and a subtle kick of ginger, which we found fresh, yet warming, as well as being more highly fragranced than some.
10. Yankee Clean Cotton Candle, 623g: £16.48, Amazon
Those first few days of sunshine, when you can finally hang the washing outside again, are always welcome and this candle captures that fresh smell of linen, combining it with springtime flowers and lemon. It’s an elevating fragrance that’s made of natural plant extracts.
11. Sara Miller Jasmine, Lemongrass & Ginger Candle, 240g: £25, John Lewis
This oriental-themed candle has it all – lemongrass, ginger, citrus, spice, jasmine and rose petals. All of which combine to make you want to book a holiday somewhere exotic as soon as possible. The gold design works well on the glass too, giving it a glamorous finish.
12. Orla Kiely Sicilian Lemon Scented Candle, 200g: £25, John Lewis
Lemon season in Sicily is a sight to behold but it’s the smell people always remember, making this candle – which cleverly merges it with mint and lavender and just a trace of frankincense – a real winner for anyone who likes a citrus kick in their candles.
13. Willow & Honey French Pear and Freesia Candle, 220g: £32, Willow & Honey
This light and airy candle is both exhilarating and enchanting, thanks to the mix of pear, apple and cherry blossom, along with freesia and water lily - all of which have a warming, musky base. We like the silver lid too; it’s handy for keeping the dust off when not in use.
14. Ted Baker Athens Scented Candle, 250g: £24.31, Amazon
Springtime is when the olive tree blossoms in warmer climates like Athens – the same sort of time as the fig tree flowers. So it’s no wonder this fig and olive blossom candle feels so apt for springtime. It’s an aroma that we found to be deliciously rich and sensual.
15. Skandinavisk Skog Scented Candle with Lid Calm of the Boreal Forest, 190g: £29, John Lewis
This Nordic range takes aspects of Scandinavian nature and emulates them in its scented candles. Our favourite is this forest one, which conjures up the feel of a bracing spring walk, thanks to the hints of pine and fir, lily of the valley and aged leather.
16. Scentered Home De-Stress Candle, 220g: £30, Scentered
This fresh fragrance brings nature into the home with a lively burst of chamomile, neroli and mandarin. Part of a trio of aromatherapy candles, this one is aimed at de-stressing and it does the trick almost as soon as you light it.
The Verdict: Scented candles for spring
Jo Malone’s Nectarine Blossom and Honey epitomises springtime and everything about it feels luxurious. For a budget option, we think Beefayre’s Bluebell & Wood Anemone Scented Candle is excellent value – it’s a quality candle with the instantly recognisable aroma of bluebell woods.
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