Bath & Body Works Just Dropped Its Biggest Candles Yet (Under $30!)

As a self-proclaimed candle connoisseur, there’s a special spot in my heart for the sometimes-kitschy, always-seasonal scents found at Bath & Body Works. I’ll admit that it’s not somewhere I usually go for fragrances that feel as if they were plucked from a high-end boutique, but that’s all about to change. The beloved chain just released a decidedly elevated scent family in its new Reserve Collection, which includes never-before-seen products, including a giant 30-ounce, four-wick ceramic candle.

The collection is already on sale and in Bath & Body Works’ stores everywhere, and it’s worth popping into your local mall to check it out ASAP. I had the chance to review the new scents (five in total!), and I honestly can’t believe these new candles start at a mere $18, given that they’re also housed in gorgeous ceramic containers that are designed to be used long after the wax burns away. If you’ve been dreaming of home scents that feel a little more like decor, this new collection is about to change the way you shop for candles.

The five scents included in this new Reserve collection feel as if they’re suited for a gorgeous boutique hotel; they range from warm and woody to fresh and bright. My personal favorite, Santal and Amber, is steeped in fragrant sandalwood notes alongside amber and cashmere. The other scents — Sea Salt and Musk (bergamot and vetiver), Sweet Orange and Agave (jasmine and citrus), Lavender and Jasmine (rosewood and sage), and Vanilla and Tonka (cedarwood and musk) — all balance luxe fragrance profiles with hints of sweetness, coy citrus, and musky notes. 

The centerpiece of the Reserve Collection is hard to miss: a 30-ounce ceramic candle with four wicks, providing up to 70 hours of burn time. At $29.95, it’s considerably larger than the brand’s standard candles, while its ceramic vessel is meant to double as a decorative centerpiece once the candle is burned through. The collection’s Chief Brand and Product Officer, Veronique Gabai-Pinsky, summed up the concept simply in a brand press release: “Reserve is scent as design.”

Perhaps even more interesting is the brand’s first foray into reed diffusers, which is something I don’t usually spring for — but have fallen in love with. Unlike other versions that rely on a bottle of open liquid, Bath & Body Works’ Liquidless Reed Diffusers place fragrance-infused reeds in a customizable ceramic vessel. They’re designed to scent a room for up to 30 days without the need for flame or liquid, and they only cost $14.95. I’ve tested this in a small walk-in closet and was shocked at how far-reaching the product’s throw was (I caught a whiff all the way from my bathroom!).

With prices ranging between $7.95 (for its wallflower plug-ins!) and $29.95, the Reserve collection is clearly a more sophisticated take on B&BW fragrances — but it doesn’t exactly stray too far from its budget-friendly price point. The eye-catching vessels, subtle scent profiles, and a brand-new flameless format make it easy to see how the Reserve collection will enhance already sleek home decor. And because the collection is designed to evolve throughout the year, including with new holiday offerings, this likely isn’t the last we’ve seen from Bath & Body Works’ more elevated side.