The best scented candles for spring

Despite a brief return to sleet and snow last week, spring has arrived here in Bristol – and that means it’s time for my seasonal round-up of the best scented candles. For me candles aren’t just a winter thing, and I love selecting fragrances that suit my mood and the season. Around now I start swapping the smoky, spicy notes that I tend to favour during the colder months for lighter scents that breath a bit of freshness into the house. I’ve picked out 21 of the best below, encompassing old favourites alongside some new discoveries for 2024.

The ever-increasing array of candles on the market nowadays means narrowing down the choice can be tricky, so I’ve focused on the kind of thing that appeals to me at this time of year. There are delicate florals evoking blossom and wildflower-filled woodland, clean blends inspired by laundry billowing in the breeze, aqueous fragrances that speak of refreshing spring rain showers, and invigorating scents created to uplift and revitalise after the long, dark winter. What’s more, almost all the candles I’ve included are produced using natural wax and hand-made by small, independent businesses. I hope you find something you like!

1. ‘Hortosa’ candle by Verden (£55; also available as a reed diffuser) – a joyful, floral evocation of mimosas and spring sunshine
2. ‘Pause No 3a’ candle by Ëla Life (£28 for a standard jar or £18 for a votive) – a mind-clearing blend of eucalyptus, frankincense, lemon, vetivert and petitgrain that transports you outside for a moment of fresh air
3. ‘Acton’s Lock’ candle by Haeckels (£58) – the scent of an overgrown lock with bursts of moss, amber and vetiver, described as ‘a uniquely London fragrance conjuring up spring mornings and opportunity’
4. ‘Aura’ candle by Sincerely Lumière (£42 for a standard jar or £18 for a travel tin; also available as wax melts) – a revitalising coastal mix of seaweed and green algae, with delicate hints of cyclamen and water lily plus grounding notes of amber, patchouli and musk
5. ‘REGN – After The Rainfall’ candle by Skandinavisk (£20 for a small jar or £37 for a large one; refills available) – a cool, green and rejuvenating scent with aromas of wet grass, misted peony and damp earth
6. ‘Euphoria’ candle by ROEN, available via Osmology (£28) – a limited-edition fragrance inspired by springtime in the Silver Lake neighbourhood of Los Angeles, with cascading blossom and bougainvillea over sweet vanilla and soft white musk
7. ‘Cotton Poplin’ candle by Byredo (£70) – the comforting scent of freshly washed linen woven with notes of chamomile, luminous cedar and musk
8. ‘Cherry Blossom’ candle by Urban Apothecary (£40) – a light combination of cherry blossom, muguet, jasmine, pink melon, apple and white musk, creating the effect of perfumed flower-water
9. ‘Linen’ candle by FieldDay (£8.95 for a small jar or £20.95 for a large one) – a blend of lavender, geranium and rosemary, capturing the scent of fresh linen stacked in a laundry cupboard. Comes complete with a wildflower-seed paper lid to grow after use
10. ‘River / Ain’ candle by Still London (£38) – clean, herbaceous layers of bay laurel, cucub, basil, oregano and hydocheim, evoking the ice-cold water, seaweed, stones and fresh grass of Icelandic river beds and banks
11. ‘Amara’ candle by Cedar Lifestyle (£22 for a small jar or £32 for a large one) – a nourishing, uplifting and evocative blend of neroli, bergamot, basil and palma rosa, balanced by fresh hints of woody cedar
12. ‘Bright Eyes’ candle by FOS (£16) – mood-boosting layers of peppermint, bergamot, juniper berry and balsam, inspired by the Japanese practice of forest bathing
13. ‘Japanese Yuzu’ candle by Harvest Skincare (£32) – a refined citrus fragrance with grapefruit and mandarin, created to cleanse the air, refresh the body and calm the mind
14. ‘D’Orangerie’ candle by Verden (£55; also available as a reed diffuser) – an uplifting, bright infusion of citrus and delicate orange blossom
15. ‘Galbanum & Peppermint’ candle by Plum & Ashby (£32) – a zingy, refreshing medley of mint, lemon, tomato leaf, green galbanum, eucalyptus and moss, reminiscent of a wander through a kitchen garden bursting with spring life  
16. ‘Sisu Bouquet’ candle by Amoln (€65) – an ode to Finland’s national flower, lily of the valley, with saffron, wild hyacinth, moss and green leaves inspired by the woodland glades where it blooms each spring
17. ‘Spring 24’ candle by Great House Farm Stores (£54; refills available) – a luscious, green and floral layering of moss, freshly cut grass and meadow blooms, celebrating life and growth after winter
18. ‘Fresh Linen’ candle by Helm London (£29) – a clean, uplifting scent that fills your home with the smell of crisp white sheets fluttering in the breeze
19. ‘As The Sun Rises’ candle by Aather (£48) – bergamot, lemon and grapefruit entwined with geranium and orange flower, evoking the sweet freshness of early spring mornings and the promise of a new day
20. ‘Flore’ candle by Evermore London (£36 for a medium jar or £60 for a large one) – layers of lilac and orange blossom over a base of clove, heliotrope and ylang ylang, conjuring up a haze of spring flowers amid the morning mist
21. ‘Eminence’ candle by Beloit (£17 for a standard jar or £9.70 for a travel tin) – deep, woody notes offset by refreshing lilac, reminiscent of Iceland’s serene lakes and idyllic green mountains

Top and bottom images by Abi Dare; all other photography via the respective brands above