I Tested 16 Candles, and The Winners Instantly Made My Home Smell Like Spring

Spring showers call for cozying up with the Rain Check candle burning in the background. Featuring notes of lotus flower, petitgrain, and woods, it smells crisp, clean, and dewy — like a forest after a storm. It packs an impressive throw for a small candle, too! It filled my living room without overwhelming the space or tunneling. It’s a great candle to burn while “burping” the house!

If you love the smell of clean laundry, Otherland’s Clean Blossom Candle gives it a springtime twist by adding a hint of white florals. Gardenia and mimosa flowers imbue a sense of the outdoors, while giving the candle a light powderiness that fills the room in the most delicate way. In short, it smells way more expensive than its $20 price tag, and the milky-toned glass vessel looks beautiful on my coffee table!

Neom’s It’s All Rosy is truly the mother of all rose candles. First, it’s huge — with three wicks and a matte pink glass vessel (that I can’t wait to repurpose later). It’s also the most natural-smelling rose candle I’ve tried. Featuring geranium and orange notes, it has a soothing, apothecary-like scent that keeps it from smelling overpowering.

Is pear the new “it” spring scent? This new P.F. Candle Co. release makes me think it might be. It’s juicy and sweet, but grounded in birchwood and dried tea notes for an earthy, au naturel effect. P.F Candle Co.’s candles always have a slow, even burn, and this one’s no exception. It has a decent throw that I notice immediately when I enter the room where it’s lit. It is a limited edition, however, so I’d snag it before it’s gone for good.

If you liked Flamingo Estate’s viral Heirloom Tomato candle, then you’re going to love the new Green Goddess candle. It’s even zestier and fresher than its predecessor, with mint, rosemary, and basil notes, along with a hint of ginger that smells energizing and alive (exactly what spring should smell like). It makes my entire apartment smell like a literal herb garden, and I couldn’t love it more. The deep emerald glass vessel is weighty and luxe, too; it’ll make a great organizer once I’ve burned through it all.

Element Brooklyn never fails to impress with their budget-friendly takes on high-end favorites. Case in point: the In Full Bloom candle. It’s inspired by Diptyque’s iconic Baies, and features notes of blackcurrant, rose, lily of the valley, and musk for an elevated, berry-floral scent. While it has a subtler scent throw (perfect for those with sensitive noses), it smells strikingly similar to its pricier counterpart despite being half the price. Plus, the vessel is refillable!

Spring break, anyone? The Sunburnt candle captures the experience perfectly with notes of crisp ozone, citrus, skin-like musk, and amber. It’s salty and bright, like sun-warmed skin after taking a sunset dip. The amber-toned glass vessel creates a cozy atmosphere when lit, and its scent exceeds my expectations — it makes my city apartment smell like a seaside cottage. I’ll be burning this one through the summertime for sure!

The Easter Morning Mimosa candle won me over with its fruity and refreshing scent (that really does smell just like the classic brunch bev). It’s citrusy and tart, and isn’t overly sweet like some B&BW candles can be. And it delivers in terms of scent throw, too; I can smell it within minutes of lighting. What’s more, the vessel has a cute stained-glass-inspired design that brings some festive, springy cheer to your decor.

Paddywax Candles always deliver in terms of aesthetics — just look at the Dopo Cactus Flower candle. It features a hand-painted ceramic vessel that brings an artisanal, boho flourish to any surface you put it on. And it smells as good as it looks — with bergamot, pear, and apple notes atop energizing matcha and crisp bamboo. Honorable mention goes out to the Tulip Verbena and Lemongrass candle, which smells so uplifting (and has the cutest tulip-shaped vessel).