22 Romantic Candles for Every Type of Person (And Relationship)

Written by

Nicole Lund
Nicole LundCommerce Editor
Nicole writes about shopping and products for Apartment Therapy, but her specialities are candles, bedding, bath, and pretty much anything homebody-friendly. She has been writing for AT for three years.
Sarah M. Vazquez
Sarah M. VazquezCommerce SEO Editor at AT Media
For the past 8 years, I've covered all things shopping. My work's been published by Hearst, PureWow, and Bauer Media Group. I'm a Brooklyn-born Jersey Girl (with a BA in English from Montclair State University) who loves a good playlist, a good bagel, and my family (but not necessarily in that order).
updated Jan 13, 2023
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
Detail of different types of candles, plants on a windowsill
Credit: Daria Minaeva/Shutterstock

Valentine’s Day is (shockingly) only about a month away, which means it’s time to start thinking about romantic gestures to let your significant other know how much you love them. No matter if you have a big date night planned or prefer a cozy night at home (or if you prefer not to celebrate the holiday at all), we can pretty much all agree that a candle is a guaranteed way to add some sexy vibes to any night. Both a classic gift and decor staple, there are many candles on the market today, so parsing through them all to find the most romantic of the bunch will take you some time — that’s why we did it for you. Below, we rounded up the best romantic candles to set the mood, whether you’re in a relationship, single, or somewhere in between.

Do you have an amorous candle that you love that we didn’t mention? Share your favorite picks in the comments below!

1 / 22
SNOWE Home
$35.00

According to Snowe, this candle "walks the line between seductive and soothing," which is really all we need to know. It features notes of sandalwood, ginger, and lavender, three rich and relaxing scents that are guaranteed to make your pillow talk that much more romantic.

2 / 22
Anecdote Candles
$26.00

For the people spending V Day with a new love, this candle's name really says it all. Made from a combination of balsamic blackberries, bergamot incense, burgundy rose, amber, and musk, this scent is smooth, seductive, and perfect for after hours. See also: Old Flame, which smells like "bad mistakes and repeat offenders."

3 / 22
Maude
$30.00

Recommended by a few members of the AT team, this candle has wax that can be poured onto the skin and used as massage oil. (We even featured it in our story on how to make your bedroom more conducive to a healthy sex life.)

4 / 22
Etsy
$11.90
was $14.00

If you hate subtlety and prefer to get straight to the point, this candle is for you. It's one of many you can purchase from Etsy shop Lunar Landings, although it's probably the only one that's SFW. It's also customizable, so you can choose the sexy scent that's perfect for you.

5 / 22
Homesick
$60.80
was $73.00

Looking for the ultimate candle set? Pick up the Perfect Pair from Homesick! This set features two of the brand's latest Valentine's releases, Love Letters and Date Night. Love Letters is a great day scent with notes of tangy lemon and rose petals while Date Night is the perfect after-hours scent with notes of warm fig and red currant. Talk about the ultimate match.

6 / 22
Here For The Burn
$36.00

Inspired by the love of rom-coms, the You Had Me at Hello candle from Here For The Burn is unique in that you can customize the scent with one of two aromas: mango guava or the brand's newest scent, a bergamot-grass-tonka-bean blend. Each candle comes in a reusable nine-ounce glass vessel and has a burn time of 60 hours, making it the perfect pairing to your V-Day movie binge.

7 / 22
Paddywax
$22.00

We really just love this candle jar, which makes a great gift for your significant other or BFF (the dust cover says "Love Ya"). While tobacco and vanilla are the strongest scents represented in this candle, there are also hints of cinnamon, patchouli, and sandalwood.

8 / 22
Brooklyn Candle Studio
$28.00

Just starting to see someone new? Light up this Love Potion candle, which has a gorgeous minimalist design and features notes of jasmine, lavender, and mandarin. The overall effect is like smelling a fresh bouquet of flowers, which can honestly be just as intoxicating as a first kiss.

9 / 22
Nordstrom
$58.00

Overose candles are known for their attention-grabbing, colorful jars, and the Nudesse candle is no exception. Meant to smell like "a rose garden after the rain," it's a decadent scent that exudes romance. (And after all, a candle lasts longer than a bouquet of roses, anyway.)

10 / 22
Companion Candles
$25.00

You know what's even sweeter than a great-smelling candle? A great-smelling candle brand that supports an even sweeter cause. Female-founded Companion Candles makes non-toxic coconut- and soy-based candles that are pet friendly, and the brand donates a portion of its proceeds to various animal welfare organizations. Check out their newly launched Be Mine Collection just in time for Valentine's Day (we love the I Love You, I Love You! Candle). You'll want to get your paws on these cute, cozy candles this winter.

11 / 22
Sephora
$36.00

Otherland is one of our favorite up-and-coming candle brands, and their entire Manor House Weekend collection is notable. If we had to choose one, though, it has to be the Tapestry candle, an intoxicating scent that smells like burnt maple, smoky oud, and vetiver.

12 / 22
Jonathan Adler
$58.00

In a celebratory mood? Light up the Champagne Pop candle from Jonathan Adler, which feels like "New Year's Eve, silk-satin sheets, a million bucks." Yes, please! It features a fun infusion of pink grapefruit, raspberry, violet, and rose petals — perfect for toasting a relationship milestone.

13 / 22
Nordstrom
$44.00

My friend Liz has this candle in the much larger three-wick size, and she lovingly refers to it as the "daddy candle". In her words, "Daddy Candle not only evokes a tall dark stranger, but smells like one, too." I will neither confirm nor deny this claim, but I will say that the combination of cedarwood, sandalwood, and smoky amber is definitely kind of hot.

14 / 22
Trudon
$135.00

French candlemaker Cire Trudon is on the very, very high end, but their candles are undeniably luxurious — and if you're celebrating the person you love, don't they deserve the best? The Ourika candle offers a "sensual escape," with a scent pyramid that includes gardenia, iris, and benzoin resin.

15 / 22
Boy Smells
$48.00

The latest addition to its Hypernature Collection, the Boy Smells Fleurshadow candle features notes of incense, wild geranium, rose absolute, violet headspace, patchouli, labdanum, and benzoin, making up a lusciously sultry scent perfect for setting a romantic scene.

16 / 22
Boyfriend
$38.00

Recommended by our News & Culture Editor Tara Bellucci, this candle is the signature candle of perfume brand Boyfriend. It's a combination of floral and spicy, with notes of jasmine, vanilla, and amber.

17 / 22
Nordstrom
$90.00

The entire Byredo brand gives off a sexy vibe that's especially potent in its Cotton Poplin candle. At first glance, you might think a candle inspired by the scent of crisp linen isn't exactly alluring, but then you realize the combination of chamomile, cedar, and musk evokes Sunday mornings wrapped in sheets (aka totally romantic).

18 / 22
Neiman Marcus
$75.00

New York-based candle brand LAFCO knows a thing or two about creating dreamy, romantic, mood-boosting scents, and this Lavender Amber candle is no exception. These 15.5-ounce, soy wax-based candles are intensely aromatic and come packaged in gorgeous glass vessels. This calming lavender and amber-scented candle smells herbaceous and fresh, and it's sure to help set the mood for any Valentine's Day snuggling plans you have in store.

19 / 22
Amazon
$65.00

A favorite of Chief Content Officer Laura (and featured in our roundup of the best winter candles), this candle from luxury brand D.S. & Durga isn't an obvious choice. While not overtly sexy, is there anything more romantic than cuddling by the fire? Named "Portable Fireplace" for a reason, it smells like cedar, smoke, and birch.

20 / 22
Vancouver Candle Co.
$22.00

I'm a longtime fan of Vancouver Candle Co., and the Hiems candle is my very favorite. Named after the Latin word for "comfort," this candle combines geranium, patchouli, and cypress for a scent that's soothing, alluring, and very romantic.

21 / 22
Harlem Candle Co.
$48.00

The entire stock of Harlem Candle Co.'s candles could be considered sexy (they're all inspired by the Jazz Age in Harlem), but we have to go with Josephine. Inspired by legendary entertainer Josephine Baker, this candle features notes of citrus, bergamot, rose, sandalwood, and vanilla, all contained in a luxurious red jar.

22 / 22
Sicily Hill
$15.00
was $79.00

Described as a warm scent with notes of espresso and caramel, this candle smells just like the little coffee shop where you and your love have spent hours sipping joe from mugs and indulging in quality time. One of Sicily Hill's iconic oversized twenty-six-ounce candles, it's destined to burn for a long time.