A Definitive Ranking of the 20 Best Scented Candles (From Diptyque to a Stellar $9 Find)

Sometimes, all you need to brighten your mood after a long, hard day is the warmth of a deliciously scented candle. Plus, nothing gets us more into the spirit of spring cleaning quite like a peony-scented fragrance flickering in the window. But what makes for a great candle? For us, it comes down to three things: The best candles have a nice, long burn time, a strong enough throw that you’ll be able to smell them throughout the room (without being overpowered) and containers that can double as decor on your coffee table. That said, while everyone has their own scent preferences, there are a few brands we felt stood out from the pack as winners after doing our extensive candle research. See below for a definitive ranking of the 25 best-scented candles (and scroll down for some info on what to keep in mind while you’re shopping).