9 affordable candles with the most luxurious scents

We may earn a commission for products purchased through links in this article

Who doesn’t love a gorgeous scented candle? Particularly when we are set to spend a lot of time inside our homes as the weather gets cooler.

SHOP: The best scented candles to give as gifts

They make a lovely gift for a friend or family member, too – and if you don’t want to stretch the budget, there are plenty of brilliant affordable options with beautiful, unique scents. Whether your fragrance of choice is floral, fruity or nostalgic, we’ve rounded up our favourite options under £20…

Best candle if you’re not ready to say goodbye to summer

Nivea Sun scented candle, £14.90, Nivea 

Who knew a Nivea sun cream candle could be so damn intoxicating?! Invigorating wood tones, transparent flower tones and white spice notes create an incomparable experience for the senses. The delicious fragrance creation with the unmistakable scent of the NIVEA SUN sunscreen immediately awakens memories of the lightness of summer, sunshine, love and pure joy.

Best showstopper candle 

Light up LED candle, £10, Marks & Spencer 

Add to the ambience of your room with this light-up candle. Silver sequins in the gel surrounding the candle glow and glisten for an iridescent finish. Simply light the candle as usual which will trigger the LED lights that wrap around the candle, creating a beautiful warm glow. Scented with notes of neroli, lime and basil, the candle infuses your home with a citrusy aroma.

Best candle to lighten the mood

Uplifting candle, £20.50, L’Occitane

This delicious smelling candle is infused with immortelle, basil, cypress, eucalyptus and litsea cubeba for a zesty, fresh aroma that’ll instantly lighten the mood. Light on an evening and you’ll feel as though you’ve been whisked away to the French countryside, enjoying a glass of vino.

An easy gift

Seychelles candle, £20, The White Company

If you’re stuck for ideas, you can’t go wrong with The White Company. The Seychelles scent is loved by all for its warming and cocooning scent.

Best candle with the sweetest scent

Honey & Fig Votive Candle, £12, Hotel Chocolat

We can’t get enough of this gorgeous offering from everyone’s favourite chocolate shop, Hotel Chocolat. This votive houses notes of sweet honey and delicious figs. Sounds good enough to eat, doesn’t it? Comforting yet fresh, it looks much more expensive than its price tag suggests. 

Best unique scented candle

Bookshop candle, £10, Etsy

This would make the ideal gift for a bookworm, right? The ‘vintage bookshop’ scent is described as ‘a musky blend of oud wood and smoky driftwood’, and it’s a hit with online shoppers. It’s made with 100 per cent soy wax, too, which is a sustainable and natural alternative to paraffin wax.

Best natural scented candle

Italian Garden scented candle, from £21, OctoLondon at Etsy

We love the delicious candles from OctoLondon, which are hand-poured using soy wax and scented with essential oils. Italian Garden is made with a therapeutic blend of rosemary, sweet orange and sage.

Best affordable spa candle

Sanctuary Spa candles, £12.50, Boots

Sanctuary Spa is well-loved for its affordable-but-effective products, and we love these vegan candles, which offer an impressive 260g of wax for the £12.50 price tag. 

Best bargain scented candle

Sleep Scented Candle, £8, Marks & Spencer

Shoppers are raving about the calming M&S ‘sleep’ candle – it’s part of the brand’s exclusive Apothecary range and it features a rich blend of essential oils including lavender, eucalyptus, vetiver, jasmine and chamomile – which all have restful and relaxing qualities. Perfect for keeping on your bedside table.

HELLO!’s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page.