My life feels a bit brighter when there’s a sexy candle afoot. I’m not talking about a boring “seaside”-scented jar of paraffin from the recesses of the Marshall’s bargain bin (although I’m not above a choice Le Labo candle dupe); I’m talking about the renaissance of incredibly specific candle aromas and shapes that have been blossoming recently. We have graduated from a time in history in which precious and varied aromas were reserved for, say, King Louis XIV’s Versailles Orangerie to a time in which one can bring home a complex orange- and spearmint-scented candle at the click of a button, wherever they may live.
If you love food, there’s a strong chance you also love candles — and if you love hosting parties, there’s an even greater chance that you love not only the posh, odor-neutralizing candles from Diptyque, but curating a selection of beeswax tapers for the dinner table or striped candles of a spring brunch. (Food-shaped candles have never been looking cooler, and there’s an entire Eater shopping guide dedicated to navigating the world of trompe l’oeil candles that look like fried chicken and cherry cheesecake.) Today, I have narrowed down a selection of both my favorite candles for burning during a dinner party, as well as my favorite scented candles for making my home and kitchen smell like a Swedish princess cake or a Tuscan heirloom tomato that was just plucked from the vine.
Grab your Tsubota lighter, and let’s shop for the best candles for food-lovers and passionate dinner party hosts alike, whether your budget is $14 or $100.
The best candles for food-lovers
If I’m hosting friends for drinks or a movie, I’ll often have a candle burning on my kitchen island for ambiance — ideally, something with a warm, inviting scent, such as cardamom, santal, or a tomato-scented candle during summer months. The first “tomato girl summer” came and went in 2023, but the allure of finding the best vine-ripe scent has endured; today’s scent-passionate folks have their pick of Flamingo Estate’s iteration, which has lush notes of tarragon and pepper; the luxurious Loewe tomato candle in its chic terracotta vessel (although its $130 price tag may make some eyes pop); and plenty of newer, more affordable tomato candle options under $40.
The best Loewe tomato candle dupe
This candle smells like a fancy produce box
I burn this saffron candle after cleaning my kitchen
Yes, Flamingo Estate’s princess cake candle is worth the hype
My go-to cardamom and cinnamon candle
If you loved Altoid Sours, you’ll love this bergamot tangerine candle
Love pasta? Prove it with this pasta-water-scented candle
Fig season is upon us and this affordable pick smells expensive
Diptyque’s ‘secret’ tomato candle
One of my favorites is Diptyque’s odor-removing La Droguerie candle, which isn’t marketed as a tomato candle but is made with a combination of basil, mint, and tomato leaf that smells crisp and herbaceous.
The best candles for dinner parties
When dressing a table for a gathering, it’s important to make sure you’re not burning scented candles that will compete with the divine smell of your chicken paprika. Leave the scented candles in the loo or the living room coffee table and opt for unscented beeswax taper candles — a favorite of Martha Stewart, no less — or tea candles that won’t obstruct your guests’ views of one another. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, sniff out candles with intricate designs, shapes, or pops of color.
Martha Stewart’s dinner party go-to is always beeswax
Aesthetically, you can’t outdo a Mexican floral taper candle
Stripes for colorblocking
Cover your tapers in chamomile flowers
Next up, the fancy hand soap aisle.
