There is a quiet, serene pleasure in candlelight—its flicker casting long shadows, its scent mingling with memories of long dinners and gatherings with family and friends. But just as beguiling is the joy of sourcing them: the thrill of discovering a tiny shop tucked down a cobblestone street, or the satisfaction of unearthing the perfect color taper in a drawer of hand-dipped pieces. Across the globe, a handful of candle makers and boutiques are preserving the poetry of this age-old ritual, where wax and wick are elevated through craftsmanship, material integrity, and a deeply rooted sense of place. From richly pigmented pillars displayed like confections to sculptural forms steeped in centuries-old techniques, these are not merely candles—they are small studies in form, fragrance, and feeling. It’s often the case that just a single candle can dramatically change the look and feeling of a room. Gathered here is a curated selection of the world’s finest candle shops: atmospheric spaces where time slows and detail reigns.
1. Casa Viviana
In a small Mexican town, Doña Viviana—now in her eighth decade—crafts each of her richly scented, 100% beeswax candles entirely by hand, using ancestral techniques passed down through generations.
Obakki’s collaboration with Casa Viviana brings together heritage craftsmanship and timeless design in a collection of hand-poured beeswax candles. Made by Doña Viviana in her rural Mexican workshop, each candle is crafted using centuries-old techniques passed down through generations. The natural scent of honey and woodsmoke lingers in every piece, a testament to the artisanal process and place of origin. Together, Obakki and Casa Viviana celebrate slow design, cultural preservation, and objects made with deep intention.
Where:
Casa Viviana
Abasolo s/n, Centro
70420 Teotitlán del Valle
Oaxaca, Mexico
What: The best looking floral candles.
Why: Purchasing these candles preserves rich cultural traditions.
2. Caza das Vellos Loreta
A candle producer for churches and special occasions, their small shop also houses handmade candles of all different shapes and sizes for retail purchase as well.
If you find yourself in Portugal this season, be sure to get to know the Caza das Vellas Loreto—one of the rare candle shops still operating in Lisbon. Nestled in the heart of the city, this iconic candle shop has been the go-to decorating source for the homes of the Portuguese for over 231 years. With its elegant displays, artisanal craftsmanship, and centuries-old legacy, Caza das Vellas Loreto is more than just a store—it’s a living piece of Lisbon’s heritage, where tradition and beauty glow in every handmade candle.
Where:
Caza das Vellos Loreto
Rua Loreto 53/5 1200-241
Lisbon, Portugal
What: Chic church candles.
Why: Because what has worked for 200+ years in Portugal works for us.
3. Trudon
The Left Bank shop is a design-favorite, known for their unique variety and colorful palette.
Trudon is a design-lover’s dream, especially the Left Bank Parisian boutique which tends to have the best variety and selection. This shop is equal parts heritage and haute design—step inside and you’re instantly enveloped in the brand’s storied past, where centuries-old savoir-faire meets a curated display of taper candles in just about every hue imaginable. These aren’t just candles—they’re objets d’art, hand-poured with the precision and grace that have defined Trudon since 1643. Whether you’re dressing a dining table or styling a mantel, there’s no better place to stock up.
Where:
Trudon
11 rue Sainte Croix de la Bretonnerie
75004 Paris, France
What: Knowledgeable staff and old world charm.
Why: Because oftentimes the shopping experience is just as important as the purchase.
4. Danica Candles
After a formative candle apprenticeship in Karlebo Denmark, Danica Design moved to the coast of Maine, creating highly sought tapers in a wide array of colors.
Danica Candles has quietly become a go-to for thoughtfully crafted, vibrantly hued tapers that elevate any table or interior. Founded with a focus on quality, sustainability, and simple design, the brand’s candles are hand-dipped in small batches using traditional techniques and clean-burning wax blends. Whether clustered en masse or standing solo in a sculptural holder, each candle brings a touch of warmth and artistry to the everyday. With a palette that ranges from soft neutrals to saturated jewel tones, Danica Candles offers a refined yet playful way to layer color and light into the home.
Where:
Danica Candles
569 West Street
Rockport ME 04856
What: Tons of color variations.
Why: Because whether we realize it or not, we do need six shades of pink candles.
5. Catskills Candle Studio
The studio is home to the brand’s candle production, workshops and a boutique shop retailing their bespoke products.
Nestled in the serene beauty of the Northern Catskills, the Catskills Candle Studio is a haven for scent and craftsmanship, where each candle is thoughtfully hand-poured using natural, eco-friendly ingredients. Inspired by the surrounding forests, mountains, and seasons, the studio creates candles that capture the essence of upstate New York—earthy, clean, and comforting. With a focus on sustainability, artisanal quality, and workshops furthering education around the process of making, every candle brings a sense of warmth, tranquility, and connection to nature into your home.
Where:
Catskills Candle Studio
5977 Main Street
Tannersville, NY 12424
What: Candles that smell like the forest.
Why: Because these candle makers in upstate New York rival the world’s best noses.
6. Officine Universelle Buly
Every surface of this Parisian boutique is Instagrammable from any angle.
In the heart of Paris on Rue Bonaparte, a certain poetic revival unfolds—Officine Universelle Buly, a beauty house that feels more like a meticulously curated cabinet of curiosities than a modern-day cosmetics shop. When I first stepped through its doors, I felt as though I had entered a living tableau, somewhere between the pages of Balzac and a 19th-century apothecary, complete with that classic, worn teal tile underfoot. Their ethos is one of flamboyant sobriety, a celebration of ancestral know-how elevated by the rigueur of modern science. Every item, from a vinegar of a thousand virtues to a hand-carved comb or perfume inspired by the Louvre’s masterpieces, is both artifact and object of desire. One thing is for sure, this is no ordinary candle shop.
Where:
Officine Universelle Buly
6 Rue Bonaparte
75006 Paris, France
What: Some of the most beautifully packaged candles and cosmetics.
Why: Because every trip to Paris deserves a scented memento.
7. Hudson Grace
Long known for their specialty home goods, Hudson Grace’s original San Francisco shop continues to serve the design community’s decor needs, especially tapers and pillars for hurricanes.
Located in the heart of San Francisco on Sacramento Street, Hudson Grace’s flagship store is a masterclass in pared-back elegance—an airy tableau where European refinement meets the easy grace of California living. When I’ve stepped through the threshold (many times) on the hunt for something special, the space unfolded with a sense of quiet confidence: crisp linens, sculptural serve ware, and a disciplined palette that speaks of restraint rather than excess. The scent of their signature candles—earthy, smoky, never saccharine—mingles gently in the air, anchoring the sensory experience. It is a place beloved by decorators and design devotees alike, where one finds not only Hudson Grace’s own essential offerings—those unscented tapers and pillars that always shoot so well—but also perfectly imperfect candleholders and clean-lined tabletop pieces.
Where:
Hudson Grace
3350 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA 94118
What: Their tapers feature a certain thickness that other rivals lack.
Why: Because nothing beats shopping inside the original location.
8. Santa Maria Novella
At the original Santa Maria Novella pharmacy and boutique in Florence, come for the candles, stay for the 13th century frescoes.
Housed in a stunning 13th-century chapel, the original Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella in Florence is less a boutique and more a time capsule of Italian craftsmanship. Founded by Dominican friars in 1221, this apothecary-turned-perfumer has been blending botanical remedies, candles, perfumes, and skincare using age-old monastic recipes for over 800 years. Wandering its frescoed halls and antique pharmacy rooms feels like stepping into a Renaissance painting—complete with marble counters, glass apothecary jars, and the lingering scent of rose water and myrrh. It’s a destination as much for history buffs as it is for fragrance and candle aficionados, where every product carries the weight and wonder of centuries past.
Where:
Santa Maria Novella
Via della Scala, 16
50123 Firenze, Italy
What: Bespoke fragrance and candle varieties housed in one of the world’s oldest apothecaries.
Why: Because if they were good enough for Catherine de’ Medici they’re good enough for us.
9. Lamp LDN
One of the best candle sources in London, Lamp LDN artfully displays candles from two of the country’s top candle makers, True Grace and Ester & Erik.
Tucked on a sunny corner in Peckham, LAMP LDN is a radiant burst of color and scent—part boutique, part sanctuary. Founded in 2020 by Anna McGregor and Lotte Martin, two creative mothers-turned-entrepreneurs, the shop has become a destination for joyful, design-forward living. With its signature rainbow of dinner candles by True Grace and Ester & Erik, a curated selection of scented and sculptural pieces, and a commitment to supporting independent makers across the UK and Europe, LAMP LDN radiates warmth, creativity, and conscious craftsmanship. It’s a little jewel box of light filled with decorator delights—equal parts neighborhood favorite and stylist’s secret source.
Where:
Lamp LDN
20b Maxted Road
London SE15 4LF
United Kingdom
What: Color coded candle displays (and decor too).
Why: Because a good room always needs a colorful taper.
