8 best scented candles to treat her this Mother’s Day (or buy for yourself)

A cult New York candle brand that recently landed on these shores, Nest’s Bamboo candle is its original and arguably the best. Luxurious smelling and punchy enough to appease the most demanding New Yorker, it emits a crisp, spa-like scent, blending rich and evocative white floral notes with fresh citrus and lush green accords.

Perfect for sharpening the mind and helping mitigate stress when working from home. Or, if you’re craving an aromatherapy massage but don’t have the time, get yourself a foam roller, find a space in the living room and light this for a DIY experience that lets you gently roll the tension out of your shoulders. It’s also a fantastic candle to place in the bathroom to create a spa-like feel that will no doubt impress dinner guests.

One for any literary and history buffs, Henry’s Townhouse is formerly the house of Jane Austen’s brother, Henry Austen, which has now been transformed into a charming seven-bedroom guest house in central London. We can’t be sure if Jane herself stayed there, but letters suggest she probably did (and that’s good enough for this former English lit A-level student).

The team behind the house’s transformation released an accompanying candle collection, inspired by the glitterati of Regency London. Each one comes complete with hand-finished ceramic holders decorated with a gold leaf silhouette inspired by the cameos and miniatures that the middle classes at the time (who couldn’t afford magnificent oil paintings) used to hang in their houses.

The Carriage Snug candle is like being bundled into a horse-drawn coach after a knees-up at Mr Bingley’s, with cosy notes of vetiver, leather and musks, blended with addictive floral accords of rose and iris. As people who don’t need an excuse to reread Pride and Prejudice, this is the perfect candle to curl up with while engrossed in the Bennet sisters’ husband-hunting antics.

This is truly one of the most dazzling candles we’ve come across, fashioned like a Matryoshka doll (the head and torso form the lid), a nod to the brand’s Russian heritage. Vilshenko is primarily a fashion label whose clothes are inspired by the designer’s mother, who created bright and colourful items as an alternative to the surrounding austere communist atmosphere.

This object is certainly guaranteed to jazz up the most humble of dwellings, communist or otherwise and the scent inside is equally delightful, with sunny orange blossom and apricot – underscored with mellow notes of tuberose and soft sandalwood. Matryoshka dolls were traditionally symbolic of motherhood and fertility, and these candle versions could arguably be considered a tribute to female creativity. There is a different doll and scent for each season of the year – collect them all if you’re feeling decadent.

This is for those who like a slightly unusual and intriguing home scent. Penhaligon’s revamped its candle range a year ago to create fragrances that are just as dazzling and unique as its main perfume line. These candles work hard for their money, giving off a decent throw even when unlit. A tiny, travel-size version was enough to adequately scent our entire one-bed flat.

As well as packing a fragrant punch, the scents themselves are intriguing and complex – worlds away from your typical floral fare. What’s brilliant about rose as a scent is its versatility – it can be light and fresh or rich and somewhat deep. Kumgan rose takes the flower’s shapeshifting nature to the next level, opening with a cool breeze of Sichuan pepper before switching to a warmer backdrop of saffron and woods, while the rich rose heart is the common thread that runs throughout. An interesting guest that doesn’t outstay its welcome; it’s perfect for any room in the house.

Before cannabis became a major beauty trend, Malin + Goetz was among the first to pioneer it in scent form. “All the years I lived in Amsterdam, and I remember riding my bike past the coffee shops and you’d get the effluvium of hash coming out of there,” recalls the brand’s co-founder Andrew Goetz. “Whenever I smell it, it immediately takes me back to Amsterdam, so we decided to do a fragrance. We argued how far we could take it – could we call it ‘cannabis’ or should we call it something else? In the end, we followed our gut instinct and I think we were right.”

The fragrance is available as both a body scent and a candle, the latter unsurprisingly has a more sophisticated appeal than the kind that lingers in the corridors of student halls. Smokey notes are conveyed via patchouli, while cedarwood and magnolia echo the effect of smoke enveloping a room as the sharpness of black pepper and bergamot cut through the fug. Whether you’re a seasoned cannabis connoisseur or not, to quote a line from the film American Beauty, this candle offers a completely mellow high – with no paranoia.

Many of us became keen gardeners during the Covid lockdowns, and this candle celebrates the joys of getting lost among the foliage during the height of summer, as you pot, prune and weed while various bugs and insects give you the once-over. As the name suggests, this candle was inspired by founder Natasha Garbawi’s rooftop terrace in London. It boasts a herbal essential oil blend that includes basil, thyme and lavender, set against the brightness of bergamot and floral ylang-ylang. While having an outdoor space of one’s own in London is a rare commodity, this candle is a marvellous way to channel your inner Charlie Dimmock without having to move out of zone two. Plus, you only need to burn it for an hour or two for it to fill a room.

If you believe in guardian angels and higher powers, then Synchronicity Scents candles are sure your tickle your wick. Created by Annick Knutsen following a period of personal upheaval, as she sought comfort and solace in regular meditation. This inspired her to create a candle range to help others in similar circumstances. Each one is decorated with a woodland creature, which Knutsen believes are messengers sent to guide us. “Hope” is emblazoned on the pot with a dragonfly, which represents being on a journey and pushing through when times get tough.

The scent itself sings with white floral notes of jasmine and orange flower, a warm base of tonka bean (a creamy vanilla-like note) and earthy oakmoss. The brand ticks many green beauty boxes, using vegan soy wax, sustainable ingredients and biodegradable mushroom packaging, so the planet and its woodland creatures can be preserved for years to come.

When it comes to sleeping well, we have tried everything from yoga to acupuncture, eating kiwis, reading “sleep manuals”, to watching repeats of Golden Girls at 3am. Essential oils aren’t a magical cure for insomnia, but they can help your brain relax, making it easier for it to shut down and go into sleep mode. This candle contains essential oils renowned for inducing slumber: lavender, chamomile and vetiver, making for a soothing herbal concoction that may not set the world alight but does the job of helping you nod off. And better still, This Works candles often pop up in TK Maxx, so you might be able to get your hands on them for half the price.