There is a quiet rebellion flickering on coffee tables and kitchen counters across the design world: uniquely scented candles that dare to smell like everything from a night at the opera to a freshly opened can of tennis balls.
This new class of candle eschews predictable tropes of fig and vanilla and instead leans into olfactory curiosities, the oddly specific, and the unexpectedly delightful. Notes that once might have been dismissed as novelty or niche—Papal smoke, a humble sheet of paper, or even the pasta water from your Sunday night dinner—have been transformed into beautifully packaged, luxurious candles that occupy pride of place in homes that prize atmosphere over affectation.
Like the best interiors, these scents also tell stories: of summers at camp, overgrown greenhouses, or crisp linen drying in the summer sunlight. In the age of curated everything, perhaps true luxury is the scent of surprise.
1. Arias and Atmosphere
Scent notes: Sandalwood, cedar and vanilla
Burn time: 60 hours
Size: 3 1/2” diameter x 4” tall
Fun fact: Comes in handblown glass vessel, no two are alike.
Opéra is pure armchair travel: velvet curtain calls, dusted gilt chandeliers, and the low hum of anticipation before the overture. From the shelves of John Derian, this scent feels part fragrance, part set design. One strike of the match, and you’re front row at Palais Garnier.
2. Let Them Eat Wax
Scent notes: Almond, amber and toasted cinnamon
Burn time: 40 hours
Size: 3 1/2” diameter x 3 1/2” tall
Fun fact: The original was created by Jenny Åkerström, a Swedish home economics instructor who taught the daughters of Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland.
It’s what’s for dessert, but make it this season’s must-have candle. Inspired by iconic Sant Ambroeus princess cake we all know and love, Flamingo Estate’s new Prinsesstårta scented candle is all freshly baked almond sponge with a hint of royal mischief—the perfect summer treat without the calories.
3. No Passport Required
Scent notes: Lily of the valley, geranium, tonka beans
Burn time: 55 hours
Size: 3 1/2” diameter x 4” tall
Fun fact: The Trudon emblem is inspired by a bas relief found at the old Royal Wax Manufacture which used to belong to the Trudon family.
Trudon’s ‘Lost in a Moment’ capsule feels like a candlelit love letter to summer—sun-drenched, playful, and unapologetically windswept. In a bright fuchsia vessel, Summer Haze conjures ripe berries and shaded streams, perfect for spending a languid afternoon beneath a striped umbrella.
4. Burning Al Dente
Scent notes: Saline water, semolina wheat, chef’s secret
Burn time: 60 hours
Size: 3” diameter x 4” tall
Fun fact: Renowned Rockefeller Center Italian eatery Jupiter originally approached the brand about this hit concept.
Yes, it smells like starch. But D.S. & DURGA’s Pasta Water candle is strangely addictive—warm, salty, and slightly buttery, like a nonna’s hug. It’s niche, it’s novel, and it somehow… just works.
5. Holy Smoke
Scent notes: Black pepper, Palo Santo and oak moss
Burn time: 60 hours
Size: 3 5/8” diameter x 5” tall
Fun fact: Each candle features two wicks and comes with coordinating matches.
With the election of a new pope and the world momentarily pausing to exhale, Sacred Smoke feels divinely timed. Black pepper, palo santo, and oakmoss swirl together in a scent that’s equal parts spiritual and meditative—like incense wafting through a Roman basilica at golden hour. It’s less about lighting a candle, more about lighting intention.
6. Saddle Up
Scent notes: Pot, suede and patchouli
Burn time: 50 hours
Size: 3 1/2” tall x 3 3/4” tall
Fun fact: This line has been reformulated to reduce tunneling.
Boy Smells’ Cowboy Kush returns with less haze and more high noon—an olfactory remix that feels on cue with Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter era. Hazelnut and suede create a scent that’s equal parts honky-tonk and downtown cool.
7. Match Point
Scent notes: Freshly uncanned tennis balls, sunscreen and courtside cucumber sandwiches
Burn time: 85 hours
Size: generously tall
Fun fact: Developed in conjunction with Carlos Huber of Arquiste Perfumer.
There’s something undeniably joyful about the first pop of a new can of tennis balls—crisp, perhaps slightly toxic, with just a hint of summer ambition. Capturing that exact scent in candle form feels oddly genius, and yes, it actually smells good. Bright, green, and ever so slightly rubbery, it evokes sun-warmed courts, crisp whites, and the satisfying thwack of a perfect backhand.
8. Scents and Sensibility
Scent notes: Basil, mint and tomato leaves
Burn time: 50 hours
Size: 3” diameter x 3 1/2” tall
Fun fact: This candle actually removes odors from kitchens and utility spaces.
Diptyque’s La Droguerie basil candle is my secret weapon for post-dinner air control—it doesn’t mask odors, it rewrites the culinary narrative. With a crisp blend of basil, mint, and tomato leaf, it conjures the scent of a sun-drenched garden just beyond a linen-draped French door. Chic, clean, and quietly transportive—it’s like aromatherapy for the post dinner set.
9. Hot Off the Press
Scent notes: Clove, leather and parchment
Burn time: 50 hours
Size: 3.3” x 3.3” x 3 1/2” tall
Fun fact: Each amber glass vessel is engraved with the signature house “A” Assouline emblem logo.
Assouline’s brand new luxury candle channels the quiet sophistication of a perfectly bound book, infused with the warm, nostalgic scent of paper. Housed in a sleek, minimalist vessel, it’s a tribute to the tactile romance of printed pages and the beautifully curated libraries that grace the pages of ELLE Decor. Subtle yet evocative of your favorite read, it transforms any space into a literary sanctuary.
10. Not Your Grandmother’s Pearls
Scent notes: Ginger, grapefruit and rose
Burn time: 30 hours
Size: 3 1/2” diameter x 3” tall
Fun fact: Want a longer burn? This candle comes in five sizes.
Hand-blown glass flecked with inky black swirls lends the vessel of this particular candle an artisanal gravitas, while the scent—an intoxicating signature blend—is as layered and enigmatic as the black pearls that inspired its name. Smoky and mysterious, it turns any room into a private escape. And, leave it on a coffee table, unlit, and it looks like a sculptural glass object worthy of display.
