I blame my job for my obsession with expensive candles. Before I worked in the beauty industry, candles were something that I 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 such as Cire Trudon, Bella Freud and Tom Dixon, and I now have a taste (or should that be nose?) for the good stuff.
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.
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Ahead, keep scrolling for my 15 favourite cheap candles that not only smell amazing but also look good in your home.
I discovered this hidden gem when a friend told me that M&S was selling candles with “Aēsop vibes.” She wasn’t wrong. This candle contains an expensive-smelling mix of geranium, cedarwood, 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 its 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 backups.
This small-batch candle company handcrafts all of its candles from its 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 also smell incredible. Plus, the Californian brand uses 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 particular scent smells like heaven. It’s rose-like but is laced with notes of vanilla, almond, green apple and tonka bean to leave you in a delicate but heady daze.
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 little over a tenner.
Rituals is one of my go-to bodycare brands, mainly due to its incredible-smelling shower gels and body scrubs. So it makes sense that its 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 lighted.
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This Hackney-born lifestyle brand creates some of my favourite cheap candles with innovative scents that belie 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 has delivered with this cool hand-drawn one. Plus, it smells good.
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 summer candle with creamy coconut, buttery vanilla, zingy bergamot and juicy orange to fill the room with balmy warmth.
I’ll make no bones about it: These Aldi candles are a direct dupe for Jo Malone’s. This one is 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 while Aldi doesn’t deliver the same complex, warming aroma, 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 and green and looks cute on the side, too.
I’m kind of cheating here by including a mini candle, but allow me: Urban Apothecary London is an underrated yet amazing candle brand. And its 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.
Yes, you can get a L’Occitane candle that is somewhat affordable. Luxury beauty brands, like L’Occitane, could get away with charging double for a 190g candle, but this little slice of heaven is just £20. Each blended and created for specific moods, every candle in L’Occitane’s line-up is as beautiful as the next. Our favourite though has got to be this one—herby and fresh thanks to basil and eucalyptus, it’s sure to put a smile on your face this spring.
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