15 Candles That Will Leave Your House Smelling Fresh All Summer Long (2023)

Amy Richmond/Shutterstock

ByStephanie Kaloi|Aug. 26, 2022 6:51 pm EDT

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Summer can't last all year, but that doesn't mean that summer scents have to go anywhere. When it comes to summer, a lot of us appreciate clean, warm scents, and a lot of us would do anything or buy anything to get a whiff of those scents all year.

Candles are an amazing way to make a space feel warmer, softer, cozier, and generally more delightful. This is doubly true if you are hoping to evoke the way summer makes you feel with a scent, and there are many candles out there that can do just that.

From candles with flowers embedded in the wax to candles that can burn for over 70 hours to candles that are just absolutely gorgeous to both see and smell, here are 15 candles that will bring to mind that fresh summer feeling all year long, no matter when you burn it, where you live, or what temperature it is outside.

soul_studio/Shutterstock

Choosing candles can be tricky business; after all, what smells amazing to one person might smell terrible to another. When it was time to choose candles that evoke that oh-so-magical feeling that summer can provide, we had a lot to consider. For starters, the scent of each candle itself was top of mind, as summer definitely has a few scents that are tied to the season. These can include sandalwood, which many of the candles below have, as well as fruit scents, such as citrus, and even floral scents, including lily and iris.

We also wanted to consider price points, as not everyone is starting with the same budget. Some of these candles can be purchased for $10, while others will set you back anywhere from $90 to $125.

Finally, we took user reviews to heart and wanted to make sure the candles listed below are loved by the people who have already purchased them. A candle can be tough to buy online, especially since you can't smell it in person. With all this in mind, here are 15 candles that will keep your home feeling summery and fresh all year long.

Dior

If being whisked away to the southern coast of France is exactly that vibe you're hoping a candle can give, then Dior's EDEN-ROC candle is the one for you. Designed by Dior's in-house perfumer-creator, François Demachy, the candle is inspired by the French Riviera hotel by the same name. The candle is encased in a chic and minimalist white shell, lending a bit of Paris to what is otherwise a luxurious escape— just like the French Riviera.

The candle has 100% positive reviews, all of which are written in French. One translated review states, "Excellent product, a sublime summer scent emerges and persists in the room." At $80, the candle might set you back a bit, but its long-lasting burn will be more than worth the price. After all, that's nothing when compared to the aura of glam that the candle will automatically lend to any room you burn it in.

Purchase the EDEN-ROC candle at Dior for $80.

Sephora

If summer is about nothing else, it's definitely about enjoying a lazy day or two. With the Margiela House Replica Bubble Bath candle, you can bring to mind the perfect lazy day even if you have some work, chores, or parenting and caregiving duties to attend to. The candle blends relaxing scents of patchouli and lily of the valley with iris and white musk to bring to mind crisp sheets, soft blankets, and that perfect dash of sunshine shooting through an open window or door. The candle was made in Provence, deep in the South of France, which just might be why it so perfectly captures the lazy day vibe.

It's recommended that you let the candle burn for about an hour the first day so that the wax on top can melt. Sephora also suggests burning the candle for three to four hours at a time.

Buy theMargiela House Replica Bubble Bath candle at Sephora for $52.

Agraria Home

If you like your candles to look as good as they smell and burn, the Golden Cassis Perfume Candle might be the one for you. Encased in the Agraria brand's signature woven palm leaf style, the outside of the candle is just as beautiful and charming as the inside.

The candle combines quite a few heavenly scents to create that perfect summer scent. These include red currants and fresh oranges on top, jasmine, rose, and lily in the middle, and sandalwood and warm amber at the bottom. You can also burn this candle for far longer than you might think— according to the site, the candle will burn for somewhere between 40 and 50 hours. To make things even more perfect, this candle is vegetable-based and made free of paraffins and other ingredients that can be harmful to humans, the environment, or both.

Buy the Golden Cassis Perfume Candle at Agraria Home for $44.

Mytheresa

It's okay to admit it: sometimes it feels good to splurge on something, especially something that might not seem that important to have, just because it feels good. For some of us, that luxury splurge might come in the form of a new bag or shoes. For others, it's the MAD ET LEN Spirituelle Fumiste candle from Mytheresa.

This is another candle that is completely made in the south of France, which automatically lends it a summery glow and air. The candle combines wood, flower, and spice oils and scents to create an atmosphere that is both rustic and earthy and warm and aromatic at the same time. The use of certain oils in candle creation can be particularly advantageous when trying to call to mind a specific time, place, or season, and this candle will remind you of late summer evenings spent outside with loved ones, chasing fireflies as a kid, or gardening in the early evening once the heat has worn off.

Buy the MAD ET LEN Spirituelle Fumiste candle at Mytheresa for $125.

Bunny Williams Home

When shopping for candles, a lot of us are hoping to find one thing:a candle that will actually burn for a long time. It can be super frustrating when a candle only lasts for a handful of burns, but those who buy the Bunny Williams Conservatory Candle definitely don't have this problem.

This candle is perfect for any time of the year, and the Bunny Williams website specifically states that it is ideally burned when there's a frost on the windows, perhaps allowing the summery scents of freesia and sandalwoods to seep into your home as the last days of spring wind down and summer beckons. The candle is inside the signature all-black matte Bunny Williams candle holder, which the brand says it's chosen so that "the focus remains on the scent and on your room." The candle also lasts for a long time, so why not get some bang for your buck?

Buy the Conservatory Candle at Bunny Williams for $90.

Spoken Flames

A lot of us look forward to summer so we can turn on our vacation email responder or hang an "out of office" sign in the window, and the Sea Sea Me Candle brings to mind that exact feeling we get as soon as we do. In other words, this is the candle you need to give you that extra lift that leaving work and obligations behind and heading toward vacation provides.

This candle also puts together perhaps the most deliciously summery scents— sea salt, melon, and chamomile— which do the work to mentally and emotionally carry you to the oceanside hammock of your dreams. The candle is made up of completely natural ingredients and will burn for over 50 hours, which means it can be summer in your home pretty much any time you want.

Buy the Sea Sea Me Candle at Spoken Flames for $34.

Etsy

Beautiful candles that are long-lasting and that smell amazing don't have to break the bank; there are a lot of budget options out there that are just as aesthetically pleasing and that smell just as amazing as more expensive options. One example is theFresh Mint and Rhubarb Candlefrom HomeCraftedCandleCo on Etsy, which is eco-friendly and made of vegan ingredients (and packaged in a recycled box), making it both Earth-friendly and beautiful.

This candle has a little zing to it that will transport you to the middle of a fresh, hot summer day, and it can be burned any time of the year, bringing that summer zest to your home year-round. What's more, HomeCraftedCandleCo has a nearly perfect vendor rating with over 3,000 reviews.

One woman named Lucy ordered several of these candles as gifts and wrote that the entire experience was ideal. She said, "I ordered four of the large, mint & rhubarb candles as gifts for friends. They arrived very quickly, were packaged very well, and the size of the candles was just what I wanted. Gorgeous, refreshing smell — my friends love them."

Buy the Fresh Mint and Rhubarb Candle on Etsy with prices beginning at $8.65.

Etsy

There is something extra special about a candle that is both visually appealing and that smells amazing, and theSummer Holidays Candle from BelleBaraque on Etsy fits the bill. The candle is handmade and set in colorful ecological resin, has two wicks to burn, and has dried flowers embedded in the wax to create the perfect summery experience while it burns.

The one downside to such a beautiful candle seems to be that it might just be too beautiful!Multiple reviewers have left comments on the listing for the candle praising the candle and adding that they aren't even ready to burn it because just looking at the candle is an experience all on its own. As one person put it, "I received my candle and it is PERFECT! I haven't turned it on yet, I just removed the little protective cardboard and it already perfumes my desk with a delicate apple smell."

Buy the XXL artisanal Summer Holidays candle on Etsy for $46.96.

Byredo

While quite a few candles in this list are made of entirely vegan ingredients (and often wrapped in environmentally-friendly containers to boot), the very best vegan option on this list just might be the Tree House candle from Byredo. If summer calls to mind tree houses and too-tall grass, mosquito bites and jumping into large bodies of water, and running outside with your friends, this is the summery candle for you.

The candle contains a mix of fragrances and scents that combine together to create an incredibly evocative experience. The top is scented with bamboo and pimento; the middle is made of hay, labdanum, and myrrh; and the bottom is cedarwood, guaiac woods, leather, and sandalwood, a summer must-have. It will burn for over 60 hours, which means you can have days, weeks, or possibly even months of some of the best parts of summer ahead of you.

Buy the Tree House candle at Byredo for $90.

Bath & Body Works

Sometimes knowing that a lot of other people love something can give you the push needed to take the plunge and buy it, especially if it's a Bath & Body Works candle that has overwhelmingly positive reviews and that smells like fresh linen. The Sun-Drenched Fresh Linen candle can be bought with either one wick or three, which gives you control over how long the candle burns and how powerfully it fills up a room.

The reviews really sell the candle all by themselves, especially if you are looking for a candle that will evoke the fresh feeling of sliding in between newly washed sheets after a long, hot summer day. As one person wrote, "I was hoping that it would smell like fresh laundry, and this exceeded my expectations. Don't hesitate to buy if that's what you're looking for" (via Bath & Body Works).

Buy the White Barn Sun-Drenched Fresh Linen candle at Bath & Body Works for $15.50.

Rifle Paper Co.

While summer can certainly bring to mind a lot of exciting ideas and sensations— the searing sun, crashing waves, or running away to a beach vacation all come to mind— it can also be a time for taking a giant pause and just easing into each day with no particular need or responsibility weighing on you. If you can't experience that feeling right this minute, the Amalfi Del Mar candle from Rifle Paper Co. can help bring it to your home instead.

The candle is made up of a blend of a few scents that complement and support one another in truly summery ways— lemon adds a little zing, and eucalyptus offers a note of calm. As you burn it, it will be almost impossible not to close your eyes and imagine yourself on the Italian coast with a beverage in hand and nothing to do for days and days.

Buy the Amalfi Del Mar candle at Rifle Paper Co. for $36.

Amazon

A lot of us are more concerned than ever before about what is and isn't inside the items we eat, wear, and use around our homes, and that can definitely apply to the candles that we choose to burn. If you've been looking for a paraben-free candle that won't set you back too far financially, this Fresh Linen candle from Lulu Candles might be the one for you.

The candle has amazing reviews on Amazon, with customers describing it as being the perfect summery scent for everything from dealing with a strange new home smell to enjoying the candle even when it isn't lit. One customer noted that they are a self-described "candle fiend" who has burned $400 candles and that this one is better than them all. As they added, "I just ordered like 20 more because ppl always steal my candles when they come over! Lulu puts every other candle brand to SHAME and this is coming from a self-proclaimed candle freak."

Buy the Fresh Linen candleon Amazon for $10.15.

Etsy

Summer scents cover a wide range of smells, and for some people, that definitely means outdoorsy smells such as ice cream, candy, soda, and even freshly mowed grass. Such is the case with the vegan, triple-scentedFresh Cut Grass candlefrom Etsy seller AURORACandleStore.

The candle can burn for at least 70 hours, and the seller notes that it's perfectly fine for those who have hay fever to burn the candle. The description reads in part, "A comforting, nostalgic fragrance that will evoke fond memories of those magical summer days."

The same seller offers a number of other summery-scented candles and wax melts if mowed grass isn't exactly what you are looking for. For example, a wax melt by the name ofCoastal Walk combines wood, sage, and sea salt to evoke the perfect early evening stroll (without the risk of mosquitos, of course).

Buy the Fresh Cut Grass vegan candle on Etsy with prices beginning at $18.56.

Sephora

If you want a candle that would make anyone who spends time online scream out, "Mood!" then the Left on Read candle is the one to get. The candle is described as having warm and spicy fragrances that include tropical fruit, coconut, and caramel. It's recommended that you only burn the candle for up to four hours at a time, and the candle comes with a lid that can put out the flame.

People who have bought the candle are thrilled with the results. As one person wrote, "I love this scent so much!! When I burn it I literally feel like the scent gets stuck to my WALLS! Obsessed!!" Another echoed this positivity and wrote that the candle even gives them a slightly nostalgic feeling, saying, "Nice light smell not so overpowering very nostalgic almost with its sweet creamy scent."

Buy the FORVR Mood Left On Read candle at Sephora for $38.

Etsy

To say that scents can offer solace and even healing is definitely fair, and many people are passionate about aromatherapy and how it can benefit themselves and others. Etsy seller MadgeCandleStore specializes in aromatherapy candles, and the organic Cedarwood and Rosemary candle offers up a sweet combination of summer scents that will help anyone who is looking for a tool to aid in achieving that sweet relaxation, calm, and meditation that summer can provide.

The candle is made with essential oils, and burning it is a different experience when compared to burning a candle made with only traditional fragrance oils. In addition to cedarwood and rosemary, this candle features citron and vanilla scents. One first-time customer was thrilled with her purchase, writing, "As a first-time customer, I am beyond happy with my purchase!!! It was wrapped very beautifully and neatly. My mom and I can't stop obsessing over how wonderful it smells!"

Buy the Cedarwood and Rosemary candle on Etsy for $25.