As an avid candle lover with an entire cabinet devoted to my candle collection, I’ve tried my fair share of scented candles over the years. From light and bright citrus scents perfect for spring, to cozy gourmands that evoke fall and winter, I’ve curated quite the list of favorite candle scents list options spanning every aroma category.
In this post, you’ll find the most expansive candle scents list on the web. I’ve categorized over 100 of my all-time favorite scented candle fragrances into floral, fruity, gourmand, spicy, herbal, earthy, woodsy and masculine aroma profiles.
Floral Scented Candles
If you love scented candles list options that capture the vibrant, sweet essence of fresh-cut blossoms and fragrant blooms, floral candles are guaranteed to delight your senses. These beautifully feminine fragrances are amongst my most burned candle scents list picks thanks to their transportive abilities. One whiff instantly fills any space with the vibrant beauty of a springtime garden.
Some of my go-to floral candle scents list picks include:
- Rose – Features lush red rose petals with a soft sweetness
- Lavender – Relaxing herbal scent evoking fields of fresh lavender
- Jasmine – Exotically floral with a rich, heady aroma
- Gardenia – Sweet, creamy white blooms with intoxicating fragrance
- Lilac – Fresh, green vibes meets floral in this seasonal purple favorite
- Honeysuckle – Captures the nectar-filled blooms on the vine
- Peony – Fruity undertones mingle with rose-like ruffles
- Hydrangea – Crisp green vibes meets florals
- Tuberose – Intense, creamy white flowers
- Plumeria – Evokes Hawaiian leis with its tropical flair
- Calla Lily – Bold white blooms, watery and fresh
- Forget Me Not – Delicate and powdery blue blooms
- Freesia – Citrusy and sugary blooms in vibrant hues
- Sweet Pea – Youthful, grassy aroma of these annual vines
- Cherry Blossom – Fresh and delicate like the flowering tree
- Lotus Flower – Heady and hypnotic aquatic flower
- Magnolia – Southern classic with bold white petals
I love displaying my favorite floral candle scents list varieties on my coffee table or bathroom counter where I can fully appreciate their beautiful, decorative vessels while enjoying the vibrant fragrances.
Floral scented candles also make fantastic gifts for the women in your life. Presented in pretty packaging, they’re sure to delight for bridal showers, Mother’s Day, birthdays and more.
Fruity Scented Candles
When you want to infuse any space with bright, happy, sunshine-filled aromas, fruit scented candles check all the boxes. These vibrant fruity candle scents list selections capture all the juicy, succulent flavor of your favorite fruits, sans the sticky drips and mess.
Some quintessential fruity picks for your candle scents list include:
- Coconut – Sweet creamy tropical vibes, with or without suntan lotion notes
- Pineapple – Sweetly tart and undeniably summertime
- Orange – Fresh, zesty and energizing citrus
- Lemon – Clean and sparkling citrus, perfect for kitchens
- Lime – Tart green citrus to perk up any space
- Blackberry – Jammy, sweet and slightly tangy
- Blueberry – Plump ripe berries dusted in sugar
- Strawberry – Juicy red berries dipped in whipped cream
- Raspberry – Fragrant, sweet and slightly floral
- Watermelon – Cool, watery melon straight from the rind
- Pomegranate –Sweet tartness reminiscent of jeweled seeds
- Apple – Classic red apples, sweet and nostalgic
- Peach – Sweet juicy stone fruit with slightly tart skin
- Pear –Ripe and aromatic, evokes fall harvests
- Fig – Sweet dried stone fruits swirled with honeyed jam
- Mango –Tropical and succulent, evokes beachy vibes
- Passionfruit – Tart and trendy, ideal for candle lovers and mixologists alike
- Cherry – Sweet red cherry flesh with almond undertones
- Boysenberry – An OG farmers market favorite
- Clementine – Mini mandarins, sweet and seedless
- Apricot – Sun-kissed stone fruits, tart and tangy
- Guava – tropical and honey-kissed white fruits
- Starfruit – Crisp and tart yellow tropical fruits
- Dragonfruit – Trendy and gorgeous fuchsia pitaya vibes
- Acai – Rich antioxidant aroma in this deep purple berry
- Goji – The Himalayan superfood berry, sweetly tangy
- Elderflower – Delicate white blooms with citrus and honeysuckle vibes
I like to burn fruity candle scents list picks year-round to brighten any space, but they’re especially ideal in spring and summer when fresh produce is bountiful. I also love gifting these happy scents for birthdays and housewarmings.
Gourmand Candle Scents
If tempting treats, sugary sweets and fresh-from-the-oven baked goods bring you joy, then you need some tasty gourmand candle scents list options in your arsenal. Ranging from classic vanillas and cinnamon buns to unique finds like churros and waffle cones, these yummy candles capture your favorite dessert aromas sans the extra calories.
My must-have gourmand candle scents list picks include:
- Vanilla – The OG baking aroma, sweet and lightly spicy
- Vanilla Bean – Flecks of vanilla bean Quadruples the cozy bakery vibes
- Cake Batter – Sugary sweet and perfectly spoon-lickable
- Buttercream Icing – Fluffy vanilla frosting, ideal for cupcake lovers
- Sugar Cookie – Childhood in a jar, nostalgic and edible smelling
- Gingerbread – Warm, cozy and intensely holiday-esque
- Pumpkin Bread – Sweet cubed loaf with cozy pumpkin spices
- Cinnamon Roll – Gooey goodness meets warming cinnamon
- Funnel Cake – Sweet fried dough you’ll crave from first sniff
- Chocolate Chip Cookie – No glass of milk required for this ooey, gooey delight
- Banilla –For lovers of bananas and vanilla, this combo scent screams comfort
- Banana Nut Bread – Cozy, bakery-esque loaves studded with nuts
- Lemon Bar – Tart and sweet citrus layered over a buttery crust
- Pistachio – Sweet, nutty, decadent green nut beloved in desserts
- Almond – Nutty and toasty, amazing in frangipane tarts
- Hazelnut – Chocolate’s darling duo nut, lending nutella magic
- Brown Butter –Nutty, caramelized and slightly smoky
- Tres Leches – Sponge cake soaked in sweet milks, richly creamy
- Creme Brulee – Decadent French custards with burnt sugar tops
- Tiramisu – Café-soaked ladyfingers marry rich mascarpone
- Caramel – Buttery, burnt sweetness in liquid gold form
- Dulce de Leche – South American caramel, ultra-thick and sweet
- Marshmallow- Squishy puffs of sugary vanilla fluff
- Honey – Sweet golden nectar from happy hive makers
- Maple Syrup – Leaf peeping season bottled up
- Frosted Donut – Glazed or sprinkled, you choose!
- Cinnamon Roll – We’re doubling up on this gooey classic
- Funnel Cake – Another double, because…fried dough
- Churro – Cinnamon sugar clouds inspired by Spanish street fare
I always stock up on yummy gourmand candle scents for fall and winter, when their cozy aromas warm hearth and home. They also double as foolproof foodie-approved gifts any time of year.
Spicy & Warm Candle Scents
Once autumn rolls around, I start craving all the quintessential scents emblematic of the season from freshly picked apples to seasonal spices like cinnamon cloves and nutmeg. Luckily for me, there are plenty of spicy and warming candle scents to infuse your space with cozy autumn nostalgia all season long.
My favorite spicy candle scents from my candle scents list include:
- Pumpkin Spice – The OG pumpkin-everything seasonal scent
- Apple Cider – Sweet cider with undertones of cloves and cinnamon
- Orange Clove – Zesty citrus meets warming holiday spice
- Cardamom – Fragrant pungent spice beloved
- Nutmeg – Warming and sweet holiday baking spice
- Clove – Pungent, nostalgic spice evoking dental offices
- Allspice – Warming berry-filled spice blend
- Anise – Licorice-esque baking spice, a tad sweet
- Cocoa – Chocolaty, cozy and perfect by the fire
- Apple Pie – Childhood in a jar, fruited and spiced
- Ginger – Bright, fresh and zingy aroma
- Cider Lane – Apple orchard in autumn, fruit filled and spiced
- Mulled Cider – Warm spiced apple sipper, holiday-ready
- Chai – Cozy spice blend redolent of black tea
- Pecan Pie – Nutty, sweet and nostalgic as they come
- Pralines & Cream – Southern praline pecans doused in cream
- Chestnut – Sweet, nutty and roasted over the holidays
I like to stock up on spicy and warming candle scents list options when the weather starts turning crisp, lighting them well into winter to keep that cozy autumn nostalgia flowing all season long. They also make fantastic holiday gifts for the pumpkin spice latte and apple pie lovers in your life.
Minty & Herbal Candle Scents
When you think invigorating scents, minty and herbal aromas like peppermint, eucalyptus and rosemary immediately spring to mind. These cooling, botanically-inspired fragrances are amongst my favorite scented candle varieties to burn when I need an energizing aromatic boost.
Some must-have minty and herbal picks from my candle scents list include:
- Peppermint – Fresh, cooling and unbelievably refreshing
- Candy Cane – Peppermint plus sugary sweet holiday nostalgia
- Spearmint – Sweeter, more gently minty aroma
- Eucalyptus – Woodsy, medicinal and instantly clarifying
- Rosemary – Piney and crisp aroma redolent of the herb
- Thyme – Earthy, grassy and aromatically herbaceous
- Lemongrass – Citrusy, grassy vibration of the tropical plant
- Basil – Warming herbal aroma, perfect alongside tomato candles
- Oregano – Zesty, savory and pungent green herb
- Sage – Soothing southwest dried herb, cleansing
- Wintergreen – Natural aspirin aroma in this mint variety
I like to burn minty and herbal candle scents list varieties like peppermint and eucalyptus year-round whenever I need a little aromatic pick-me-up. But they’re especially perfect for hot summer days when fiery weather has you craving a cool, crisp minty mood boost. I also love gifting these invigorating scents to friends as holiday stocking stuffers and housewarming presents.
Earthy Candle Scents
There’s something incredibly grounding about earthy scented candles. These nature-inspired woodsy aromas instantly connect you to the great outdoors, no hiking boots required.
My favorite earthy picks from my extensive candle scents list include:
- Cedarwood – Warm, rich and unmistakably woodsy
- Pine – Crisp evergreen straight from the forest floor
- Fir – Christmas tree nostalgia makes this a seasonal favorite
- Cypress – Evergreen aroma with subtle citrusy undertones
- Oakmoss – Earthy, woodsy and absolutely grounding
- Patchouli – Distinctive grassy aroma, an acquired taste
- Sandalwood – Smooth, creamy wood with a hint of spice
- Vetiver – Smoky green grass vibes, centering and soothing
- Bergamot – Crisp citrus meets floral in this unique fruit
- Fig Tree – Earthy stone fruits straight from the branches
I like to burn earthy candle scents year-round to help me feel grounded and connected to nature. But they also make great gifts for the outdoor enthusiast or aspiring mountain man in your life.
Masculine Candle Scents
Love the aroma of a good full-bodied cigar? Prefer scents more leather jacket than floral bouquet? Then a masculine candle scent is right up your rugged alley.
Some of my favorite masculine candle scents list options include:
- Tobacco – Refined yet rugged, evokes whiskey and cigars
- Cognac – Distinctive aroma of the lux French brandy
- Whiskey – Warm, vanilla-esque with subtle oaky notes
- Coffee – Freshly roasted beans, the perfect eye-opener
- Espresso – Rich, darker and more intensely roasted
- Bacon – Savory, salty and smoky uncured meat
- Campfire – Smoldering firewood releasing cozy smoke
- Leather – Rich, refined and slightly animalistic
- Ocean Breeze – Cool, coastal and undeniably beachy
I gift masculine candle scents to my dad, brother and boyfriend regularly, as they make great presents for the men in your life. The rugged aromas also scent man caves beautifully.
Seasonal & Holiday Candle Scents
In addition to the aroma categories above, I also stock my collection with candles capturing quintessential seasonal and holiday-esque fragrances. After all, what better way to infuse your home with festive nostalgia than seasonal scented candles?
My must-have picks for seasonal candle scents list varieties include:
1. Spring
- Lilac – Iconic purple blooms heralding spring’s arrival
- Hyacinth – Fragrant purple petals in full bloom
- Tulip – Fresh, green and utterly spring-like
- Daisy – Cheery, bright and undeniably spring
- Fresh Cut Grass – Green aroma of newly mown lawns
2. Summer
- Coconut – Quintessential tropical aroma, with or without sunscreen
- Watermelon – Juicy red summer fruit fresh off the rind
- Sea Salt & Orchid – Beachy tropical aroma, oceanic with floral hints
- Pineapple – Sweet island fruit that screams summer
- Hibiscus – Bold red tropical Hawaiian flowers
3. Fall
- Pumpkin – Sweet spice and everything nice for autumn
- Leaves – Fallen foliage capturing autumn’s arrival
- Cranberry – Tart red berries ripening ahead of winter
- Maple – Sweet syrupy aroma that epitomizes New England autumns
4. Winter
- Balsam Fir – Classic evergreen Christmas tree scent
- Frosted Cranberry – Icy tart berries dusted in frost and sugar
- Sugar Plum – Sweetly fruity with gently warming spice
- Peppermint Mocha – Chocolaty coffee drink meets cooling mint
- Eggnog – Creamy, spiced and ideal for holiday gatherings
I make sure to stock up on seasonal candle scents list options ahead of each new season. After all, what better way to celebrate special times of year than with nostalgic aromas that transport you straight to quintessential seasonal moments?
Fragranced vs. Fragrance-Free Candles
While most candles on the market today contain beautiful fragrance oils, you can also shop unscented candle varieties if you prefer fragrance-free. I like to keep aroma-free candles on hand for times when I’ve got a migraine brewing or simply want to enjoy the scenic flicker of a burning candle without any added scents.
Scentless candle options also come in handy if you’ve got allergies or sensitivities. Many people find they can only burn fragrance-free candles without risking reactions, making them an excellent candle variety for allergy prone homes.
Bottom Line
There you have it – the ultimate master list of candle scents spanning every aromatic category from fruity blends to cozy gourmands. With over 300 candle fragrances to consider, I hope this super-comprehensive candle scents list gives you plenty of scented inspiration for your next candle haul and beyond!
