Transform any living space with these unique candles.
It’s strange that candles are often gendered. Light and floral scents are considered feminine, while dark and musky scents are considered masculine.
However, not every guy wants a candle that smells like leather and cigarettes. Plenty of guys like refreshing floral or fruity candle scents, and many even prefer those to typically masculine scents.
That’s all to say that the best candles for men aren’t just the ones that smell traditionally manly. We’ve included a wide variety of scents here, so you’ll find all kinds of notes from teakwood to clementine.
Quick Take
Here are our recommendations from the list:
Diptyque’s Feu de Bois candle is perfect for men who love campfire scents, reminiscent of summer bonfires and log fireplaces. Enjoy with a warm blanket and your favorite drink for a cozy night.
This soy candle blends orange, leather, tobacco, musk, and more in a balanced, masculine scent.
Santal 26 candle features a comforting blend of sandalwood, leather, and musk. Each candle is meticulously hand-poured in the US and boasts natural wicks for an enhanced burning experience.
Read on for more info and the complete list…
The 11 Best Scented Candles for Men
Here are our picks for the best candles for him.
Diptyque Feu de Bois
Diptyque is the candle brand by which all others are measured, and that’s not just hype talking. On paper, Diptyque seems like it’s just Yankee Candle for millennials. However, the brand has been in the fragrance business for over 60 years, and that expertise shows in its candles.
Diptyque’s Feu de Bois is an excellent candle for guys who enjoy a good campfire. Its smoky, woody scent is eerily evocative of summer bonfires and log fireplaces. Pair this with a big blanket and the hot beverage of your choice for a supremely cozy evening.
It’s available in five sizes, from small to extra large, but the classic size is best for most people.
Brooklyn Candle Studio Kyoto Escapist Candle
Petrichor — the smell produced by rain falling on warm, dry soil — is a difficult scent to get right. It’s distinctive yet frustratingly vague, much like trying to recall a fuzzy memory.
Somehow, Brooklyn Candle Studio managed to capture much of the character of this tricky scent with its Kyoto Escapist Candle.
This candle doesn’t just ambiguously smell like rainfall. Rather, Hinoki cypress blends with notes of cedar and pine to create the scent of a freshly rained-on forest.
It’s a deep, dark aroma that will keep you coming back for more. Even better, the Kyoto is made with sustainable soy wax and is completely free of animal products, lead, and petroleum.
Boy Smells Cowboy Kush
Contrary to its name, Boy Smells takes a gender-balanced approach, incorporating both feminine and masculine candle scents. Of all the brand’s out-of-left-field candles, Cowboy Kush is perhaps the biggest eyebrow-raiser.
This candle features notes of suede, cannabis leaf, tonka, patchouli, raspberry, and more. It’s a multifaceted scent that’s much more than just weed plus leather. And with a 50-hour burn time, the standard Cowboy Kush offers plenty of time to decipher its complexity.
You can pick one up in the standard 8.5oz size or the magnum 27oz size (with a 110-hour burn time!). Both are made with a coconut and beeswax blend and come with braided wicks.
Le Labo Santal 26
NYC-based Le Labo is another brand that candle lovers speak about fondly. Most often, they’re talking about its Santal 26, an extremely popular candle that’s often imitated but never replicated.
The pronounced notes of sandalwood, leather, and musk make the Santal 26 a comfy yet refreshing candle. Each candle is hand-poured in the US and has natural wicks.
As a nice touch, you can personalize the label on the glass vessel, making this a great gift idea.
D.S. & DURGA ’85 Diesel
Ever wanted a candle that smells like the ‘80s? Look no further than the ’85 Diesel by D.S. & Durga, a company that specializes in extremely unique scents.
This candle was inspired by owner David Seth Moltz’s memories of riding to school in a Mercedes-Benz station wagon. True to those memories, the ’85 Diesel features top notes of saffron leather, suede, and vinyl. Heart notes of white violet and hiba balance out the darker base notes of diesel smoke and dirt.
It’s a candle that’s just as good for ’80s kids and vintage lovers alike. The clean yet retro art on the front doesn’t hurt, either.
P.F. Candle Co. Teakwood & Tobacco
Scented candles can get really expensive really quickly. If your budget is looking tighter — but you don’t want to skimp on scent — check out P.F. Candle Co. It offers a range of candles that are all great, but the Teakwood & Tobacco is a good starting point.
The Teakwood & Tobacco is a soy candle with notes of orange, leather, tobacco, musk, and more. The aroma is layered but not overwhelming, and it’s decidedly masculine without being too dark.
P.F. in general, makes some of the best affordable candles out there. The brand doesn’t compromise on quality, either — each candle is hand-poured into an amber jar with P.F.’s signature kraft label.
Commonwealth Provisions Clementine + Clove Standard Candle
If you prefer spiced, fruity scents, then the Clementine + Clove Standard Candle from Commonwealth Provisions should be on your radar.
This is another affordable candle with a scent that belies its price point. The sweet clementine and rich clove notes mix together nicely, and supporting notes of orange and cinnamon add extra depth.
It’s made from 100% American-grown soy wax and has a burn time of 40-50 hours. (You can also get it as a 4oz travel candle.)
Homesick Let’s Toast Candle
Homesick made a name for itself by creating location-inspired candles like its New York City candle. While those candles are still its forte, Homesick has since expanded its range to include other offbeat scents.
For example, its Let’s Toast Candle is designed to give the olfactory impression of a laid-back party. Notes of grapefruit, apple, and grapes mimic a freshly opened bottle of champagne.
This 13.75oz candle is made with a soy wax blend and has premium cotton wicks. The burn time is about 60-80 hours, and the box has space for a handwritten note.
Maison Margiela REPLICA Jazz Club Scented Candle
Maison Margiela’s REPLICA fragrance line is incredibly popular, and for good reason. Just take a whiff of the REPLICA Jazz Club Scented Candle with its cozy, heady blend of scents.
The REPLICA Jazz Club is designed to mimic the atmosphere created by cigars and cocktails. The keynotes of rum absolute, tobacco leaf, pink pepper, and vanilla combine for a sophisticated aroma.
It’s warm and fresh at the same time, and it’s unique even among other smoky candles. Each candle is made in the south of France and has a minimum burn time of 40 hours.
MALIN+GOETZ tomato candle.
MALIN+GOETZ is chiefly a skincare brand best known for its face, body, and hair products. However, it also offers candles that range from standard to uncommon. It’s safe to say that the tomato candle. is firmly in the latter category.
Don’t worry — this candle won’t make your living room smell like ketchup. Rather, the tomato candle evokes a blooming garden with vivid notes of fresh basil, lavender, mint, and petitgrain.
Each candle is hand-poured in Brooklyn and has a burn time of 60 hours.
Craft + Foster Lost Coast
The best men’s candles create specific moods, and Craft + Foster’s Lost Coast does just that. This soy wax candle allows you to fill any room with the scent of the oceanside.
With notes of ozone, plum, cardamom, clove, and amber, the Lost Coast is especially atmospheric. It’s nautical and herbaceous at once, which makes for a satisfyingly deep olfactory experience.
Like all Craft + Foster candles, each Lost Coast is hand-poured from wax made from USA-grown soybeans.
Candles Are For Everyone
Candles have long been seen as a feminine interest. However, many men also enjoy the experience of basking in the soft glow of firelight.
Not only that, testing out new aromas in one’s living space can be fun too.
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