Burning Candles Is My Favourite Hobby—These 17 Luxury Buys Are Worth Every Penny

Key notes: Cedar, bamboo, sandalwood, guaiac wood, hay

Byredo is responsible for creating the chicest of chic candles, and while all of its home fragrances are exquisite, Tree House comes out on top. In fact, it's potentially my favourite candle of all time. Like freshly cut wood but with the warmth of a crackling open fire, it's one of the most comforting candles in my collection.

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Key notes: Pressed basil, liquorice milk, balsam fir, guaiac wood, wild honey, red juniper, vanilla, musk

This would ordinarily retail for £35, but Beauty Pie members can snap it up for just £20. Beauty editor Eleanor Vousden tells me that this candle smells like a luxury Parisian hotel. "It's a really complex and classy scent that smells three times its price tag and is unlike anything else I've smelt," she says. "Fresh out of the box, it leans a little masculine with a smoky trail, but whilst lit it's balanced with subtly sweet honey and vanilla that has a creamy, intoxicating milkiness. Burn this on cosy nights when you require a moment of luxury."

Key notes: Siberian pine, resin, cedar, patchouli

If you're looking for the best Christmas candle, look no further. Diptyque's Sapin candle smells exactly like walking through a snow-dusted forest of pine trees, but it's not overly festive if you want something to burn beyond December 31.

Key notes: Bergamot, kaffir lime, spices, camellia, Egyptian jasmine, Turkish rose, Indonesian sandalwood, iris, white musk

Cire Trudon candles embody everything that a luxury candle should. They look beautiful on the shelf, are unlike anything else out there and smell every bit as expensive as they are. This particular scent is floral, earthy and deeply rich all at once.

Key notes: Tomato leaf

Loewe's candles are a thing of beauty (just look at the ribbed ceramic vessel) and the tomato leaves scent smells exactly like wandering into a sun-dappled greenhouse. It's refreshing and herbal.

Key notes: Jasmine, saffron, bitter almond, cedarwood, musk, ambergis accord

I rarely find a fragrance that I'm just as happy to burn in my home as I am to spritz over myself as a perfume, but Baccarat Rouge 540 is one of them. It's elegant, warm and a little bit sweet, plus totally addictive.

Key notes: Lavender, eucalyptus

Candles in the bedroom haven't always been my thing, but this one is really deserving of its place on my bedside table. It's deeply relaxing, calming and sleep-inducing.

Key notes: Elemi resin, fir balsam, vetiver, amber, cedarwood, oakmoss, cypriol, cashmere woods, patchouli

The idea of burning a festive scent all year round fills me with dread, but the freshness and earthiness of this fir balsam candle keep me burning it from January through to December. It's the sort of scent that clears the senses and leaves you feeling freshly invigorated.

Key notes: Australian sandalwood, cedar wood, vanilla, amber, coco, musk

Le Labo candles are equally as chic as the brand's cult perfumes. Santal 26 is woody and smoky, but coco, vanilla and musk give it a creaminess that makes you want to wrap yourself up in the scent and stay exactly where you are. 

Key notes: Sea salt, pine trees

Eden-Roc is the sort of fragrance that makes you want to book a one-way ticket to the South of France. Named after and inspired by the iconic hotel on the French Riviera, Eden-Roc is light, summery and impossibly fresh thanks to Mediterranean notes of pine and sea salt. Just close your eyes, and let it whisk you off to warmer times.

Key notes: Lavender, lovage

Jo Malone London's Townhouse collection cranks the brand's already cult and beautiful candles up a notch. In stunning ceramic jars, I've made it my mission to collect the full lineup. This one, however, is my favourite. If you don't like lavender, it's not for you, but its freshness is far more reminiscent of the British countryside in spring than it is of the powdery lavender scents you might find in bathroom air fresheners.

Key notes: Bergamot, neroli, English camomile, angelica seed, cedar wood, sandalwood, oakmoss, amber, frankincense

I'll admit I wasn't expecting a huge amount from this candle when I first tried it. However, I was seriously mistaken. At first, it is fresh and citrusy thanks to bergamot and neroli, but it has a deep woodiness to it that makes it smell luxe and expensive. It's the sort of candle you'll want to light first thing on a Sunday morning when you have nothing to do but enjoy some time at home.

Key notes: Fig, cassis, amber

Fresh, delicate and a little bit sweet, this is a candle I would burn in every room if I could. It envelops you in a sense of calm and comfort that you'll struggle to find elsewhere.

Key notes: Sage, rosemary, peppermint, Palma rose, chamomile, rose, sage, lime

If you like a spa-like scent, look no further. This candle is crisp, herby and impossibly fresh. If you want to create a sanctuary at home, this is the one for you.

Key notes: Black pepper, cinnamon, cypress, oud, leather, tobacco

Imagine walking into an old member's club, and the smell of leather chairs, smoke and rich aftershave fills the air. That's basically what North smells like. It is, without a doubt, one of the most luxurious scents you will ever stumble across.

Key notes: Wood, Lapsang tea

Another crackling, woody, fire-like scent, this candle won't fill just the entire room with its cosy but fresh scent, but your entire home. This supersized version makes for the perfect table centrepiece and will burn for an impressive 90 hours.

Key notes: Grapefruit, cardamom, geranium, rose, oakmoss, vetiver

Floral, earthy and undeniably vibrant, this blend of citrus, flowery notes and mossy earthiness makes Otto a springtime classic. The moment the clocks go forward, I dust this candle off and burn it all season long. Plus, this extra-large version looks so incredibly luxe.