I blame my job for my addiction to expensive candles. Before I worked in the beauty industry, candles were something that I was bought as a gift for birthdays or Christmas, not something that I’d purchase for myself. However, one of the perks of my job is that I’m sent luxury products to try that I would never usually dream of buying—and candles are one such product. Over the last few years I’ve had the chance to try the fanciest candles from brands like Cire Trudon, Bella Freud and Tom Dixon and I now have a taste (or should that be nose) for the good stuff.
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However, I am more than aware that dropping £80 on one candle is, quite frankly, ludicrous. My dad would tell me that it’s literally like burning money away and, to be totally honest, he’d be right. Lucky then that I’ve been doing my research and there are tons of candles out there that are just as good as my favourite expensive ones.
Ahead, keep scrolling for my 14 favourite cheap candles that not only smell amazing but will look good in your home.
I discovered this hidden gem when a friend told me that M&S were selling candles with ‘Aesop vibes’. She wasn’t wrong. This candle contains an expensive-smelling mix of geranium, cedar wood, eucalyptus and lavender for serious spa vibes. Oh, and it’s huge.
When you find out that Zara collaborated with the legendary Jo Malone to create their own range of candles, you know they’re going to be good. This sweet-yet-musky patchouli one is in my house year-round, and I always have back ups.
This small batch candle company hand crafts all of their candles from their studio in Chiswick using just two natural ingredients: pure essential oils and vegan soy wax. I love everything about them from the packaging to the scent.
P.F. Candle Co’s apothecary-style candles not only look great but they smell incredible too. Plus, the Californian brand use locally-grown soy wax to make them if that’s your kind of thing.
Cheap candles never look as good as when they come from & Other Stories. This one is spicy with cardamom and sweet with tonka, with smoky undertones that give it a high-end feel.
Sometimes cheap candles aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing but these concrete-style jars from Blomus both look the part and contain a sophisticated-smelling candle. Not bad for a tenner.
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Rituals is one of my go-to body care brands, mainly due to their incredible smelling shower gels and body scrubs. So it makes sense that their candles smell just as good. This one is a luxurious blend of Indian rose and sweet almond oil and it really fills the room when lit.
This Hackney-born lifestyle brand creates some of my favourite cheap candles with innovative scents that bely their £20 price tag. This one smells warm, woody and green—almost like a cosy campfire.
It’s not often you find a cheap candle in a jar that you’d actually want to reuse but Paddywax have delivered with this cool hand-drawn one. Plus, it smells good too.
The White Company is a brilliant place to shop for affordable candles with these little ones offering around 33 hours of burn time. This is very much a bedtime candle with relaxing lavender and calming vetivert setting the scene for a good night’s sleep.
I’ll make no bones about it: these Aldi candles are a direct dupe for Jo Malone. This one being a nod to the brand’s iconic Pomegranate Noir scent. I adore Jo Malone candles—they’re up there with my favourite luxury ones—and there’s no doubt that Aldi doesn’t deliver the same complex, warming aroma. But for less than £4 it does a very decent job.
A three-wick candle always feels like a treat to me and this one from Sanctuary Spa definitely delivers on the indulgent vibes. If you’ve ever used any of the body products from this brand then you’ll be familiar with the citrus, floral fragrance—it’s one of my favourite affordable scents.
H&M was never on my radar for candles until I stumbled across them while browsing the website one day. This one smells fresh, green and comes in a reusable ceramic pot.
I’m kind of cheating here by including a mini candle but allow me: Urban Apothecary London are an underrated yet amazing candle brand. And their full size candles come in at around £35—so not as expensive as some of my other high-end favourites. This one smells of ripe blackberries and herby sage and I think everyone will love it. Up next, this trending candle is all over my feed and I love it.
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