Beautifully Scented Candles to Brighten Your Days Inside

With many of our days spent indoors, the feeling of stagnancy can have more of a negative impact as it can feel so potent and inescapable. As we move through the hardship of the pandemic on a collective level, scented candles are a tool that can help us honour the past but also helps set us up for success in the future.

By way of a dear friend, I once heard that for some, the smell of onions caramelizing is what makes a place feel like a home. A place where meals are made patiently, using passed down family recipes and tenderness. I understood this sentiment right away. For me, it is the smell of cinnamon buns or banana bread in the oven that makes a space feel cosy. I also think of bouquets of fresh eucalyptus scattered around my bedroom. In the wintertime, Christmas trees and Congolese beignets. I attach these aromatic scenes to past experiences or visions of what I’d like to cultivate. This makes sense considering that the part of our brain that processes smell works alongside the part of our brain that holds our emotional memories.

A scented candle is a way of taking the time to intentionally add something special and atmospheric to your daily living. It is a way of controlling the energy of your day, and your mindset, through an act of self-care that is small but can be impactful. That’s why I am excited to share this selection of beautifully scented candles that are certain to help brighten your days inside. 

Scented Candles for Slow Morning Rituals

For me, the pandemic has magnified the importance of starting your day in a healthy way. This can look like taking your time and addressing what it is that you need for a successful day. Slow down this winter with the Bergamot + Black Tea candle from Sydney Hale. Handmade in Virginia in small batches, Sydney Hale candles are a worthy investment as they have an approximate 50 hour burn time and a strong scent throw, meaning that this candle has the power to fill your entire space with its beautiful aroma of dried black tea leaves and a bergamot orange blend. Perfect for creating a space for your relaxing morning rituals such as a sunrise yoga flow or sit-down journaling session to recall your dreams from the night before or your plans for the day. 

The Fig + Green Leaves Candle from Homecoming Candles is another great option for lush, quiet mornings dedicated to filling up your cup with activities oriented around mindfulness. With notes of sweet orange, grapefruit, cedar, and natural greenery, this candle will both energize and relax you.

Founded by Suraiya Nanji, Homecoming Candles started as a hobby that eventually brought Suraiya back to Vancouver, BC where the company is now based. Homecoming Candles is inspired by the integrity of everyday spaces and intends to fit perfectly into any space, serving as a gentle reminder that there really is no place like home. Not to mention all of their candles use all-natural soy wax and premium essential and phthalate-free fragrance oils, and are also 100% vegan, cruelty-free, and free of petroleum and preservatives.

Explore Homecoming Candles

Scented Candles to Get Up and at 'Em

Still searching for a perfect morning candle that aligns with your lifestyle? Check out the Rosemary + Mint candle from Baltic Club for an early pick-me-up. Described as the equivalent of fresh morning dew in the garden, this candle brings together the refreshing scent of peppermint leaves and woody rosemary. As a scent, rosemary has many benefits including the ability to improve brain function and alleviate stress. Peppermint carries its own host of benefits that mirrors its rosemary companion meaning that this candle is the perfect pick for those of us who may need to transition into the day quickly. Let this candle fill your home as your household prepares for the day. Baltic Club’s self-described mission is to create positive emotions and spark wonder with simplicity. They are focused on filling the home with meaningful beauty, recognizing it as a stepping stone to happiness. Hand poured in a Montreal studio, their candles are 100% natural soy wax (phthalate-free and skin-safe scents) made from the oil of US-sourced soybeans, which allows for a clean and slow burn.

Scented Candles for Your Afternoon Activities 

Baltic Club strikes again with an abundant selection of candles to set the tone for your afternoon activities! Let’s start with their Grapefruit candle, especially for those seeking a boost in productivity. This candle reflects the sweetness and tartness of a glass of grapefruit juice. This scent calms and balances the mood, giving you permission to delve into work with presence and intentionality. Burn this candle during your next work session or video call to stay alert and at peace in your space. Up next is Baltic’s bestselling Cypress +Fig candle! This pick will impress you with its blend of cypress needles, Grecian fig and cedar bark. It’s a great way to bring the outdoors into your home with this unique aromatic escape. 

If you’re interested in reaping the benefits of rosemary for an afternoon reset, check out Sydney Hale’s Rosemary + Lemongrass candle. The afternoon can be a difficult and confronting time of the day as we try our best to move through our responsibilities while also honouring the needs of our minds, body and spirit. It is easy to lose our hold on these things, slipping into moments of frustration or avoidance. Lighting a candle is a simple task, an easy way to practice self-care and to acknowledge yourself out of love. It gives us an opportunity to pause, focus on the flame and reset within ourselves so that we can proceed in the day with deeper intentions. Infused with rosemary leaf, lemongrass, orange blossom and aloe, this candle is a beautiful combination of scents that are beneficial for productivity, stress reduction and relaxation. When the day has its difficult moments, slow down with Rosemary + Lemongrass for a moment of reset and rejuvenation.

Scented Candles for Evenings Dedicated to Dreaming

The exciting thing about a scent is that our brains will inherently engage in the process of attaching memories and meaning to the ones that positively impact us. That’s why we’ve attached rituals, or more simply habits and mindful activities, to so many of the candles that we’ve listed. A candle is a symbolic way of entering an atmosphere, of allowing yourself to surrender to the task at hand. The meaning of this is amplified as we shift into setting the tone for your evenings. In the age of YouTube morning routines, I’ve come to realize that, although it is important to remember, there is so much pressure attached to how we begin the day. What about our evenings? What opportunities exist here to reflect and reset? Here is a selection of scented candles that you can attach to those activities that help you wind down, offering grounding and comforting aromas while inspiring a little dreaming. 

A PF Candle Co. favourite for evenings in is their Golden Coast candle. With notes of salty sea air, redwood, eucalyptus and white lavender, this scented candle is inspired by California’s coast. This is perfect for those with an aching wanderlust during this time. Infused with essential oils and sage and palo santo, PF Candle Co. invites you to dream of evenings by the sea. For another getaway in candle form, try their Cedar + Sagebrush candle. The dry and earthy blend of granite, dry sage, and Sierra juniper will transport you through the senses. They visualize this candle as the equivalent of overlooking wildland and inhaling the natural fragrance of ancient stone and minerals. Each candle is infused with meaning; scenes of stillness that inspire dreaming but also ground you in your space. This pair is perfect for nerve-calming evenings, especially in times of uncertainty.

The Cardamom candle from Baltic Club is great for those seeking a more flavoured scent experience. With similarities to clove and cinnamon, this cardamom candle uses notes of warm root and tobacco to set a cosy atmosphere perfect for evenings at the cottage. Travel is greatly limited as we try our best to stay safe, so this candle is also great for evenings of clearing your space and symbolically chasing that desire to be in a new environment. Bask in the flickering candlelight, enjoy the fragrance of this candle and surrender to a restorative evening with your favourite tunes floating in the background. 

Scented Candles for Transitioning into Springtime

Spring, a season that often symbolizes renewal, is fast approaching. Freshen up your space throughout the day with candles that will bring you moments of calm and reflection during this time of transformation. Beginning with the Garden Mint candle from Sydney Hale, this scent embodies the refreshing aroma of harvested mint with its blend of basil and earth. This candle is a lovely way to set the tone and intention for your day, a crisp and dreamy combination of scents for morning-time ease. Continue to honour the symbols of springtime with Sydney Hale’s Elderberry Rose candle. The candle captures the freshness of rosewater and rose intertwined with dried black currant leaves, a perfect accompaniment to relaxing afternoons as the weather slowly warms up and we enjoy the final weeks of wintertime, cozied up with a cup of tea and a good book.

Sweet Honey Candles for Sensitive Noses

For those who are more sensitive to stronger and/or more layered scents, the simple and one-of-a-kind candles from The Wax Studio may be perfect for you. Made by hand with 100% pure local beeswax, these candles are certain to warm up your space with the smell of sweet honey. Each candle is infused with intention and creativity, with designs inspired by medieval pillars, antique glass bottles, and other unique references. To add a touch of eco-friendly elegance to your space in the springtime, take a look at their taper candles. Sold in a pair of two, these beautiful and smooth candles will burn slowly and minimally depending on your space. Based in Ottawa, The Wax Studio takes a modern and more sustainable approach to candle-making with a priority on local ingredients and small batch making. The mesmerizing fragrance of natural honey will make your space feel so comfy, it’ll be a little easier to sink into your sanctuary as we spend our time indoors.

Need More Ideas?

The benefits of a good scented candle are abundant. We hope that you are able to find a scent that suits you in this selection. From morning to evening, imbue your space with an atmosphere that helps you move through the day with ease and care. If you’re still in search of the candle or scent of your dreams, we have plenty more in-store options, so check out our candles + candle fragrance section, or reach out by email with requests or concerns and we’ll do our absolute best to help in whatever way we can. If we happen to be sold out of the candles you're after, we're regularly restocking, so pop your email in the notification box on the product page and you'll be the first to know when they're back in store!

How are you shifting the energy in your indoor space? What are your favourite scents and how do they serve you? We would love to hear your anecdotes and experiences in the comments below.