I love scented candles – they make my home cozy and inviting, like a little break from everyday life. A good candle brings a special atmosphere with its light and scent, but finding the right one isn’t so easy. Some burn too quickly, others have barely any scent, and many don’t feel special at all. I’ve tried many candles available in Europe and am sharing my top 10 for 2025 here. I work with Lumond, a German brand, and have looked at their candles and nine others. Let’s see what each one brings!
1. Lumond
Brand Overview: Lumond is a German brand that offers candles with a special extra. Each candle comes with seeds so you can plant flowers or herbs in the container after burning. That’s a creative idea that sets them apart.
Price: About 45–60 € for a 200g candle that burns for 40 hours. That’s fair for the quality and the seeds. You can find them at Lumond.co or in stores throughout Europe.
Design: The ceramic containers are simple in white or beige and fit well on any shelf. The wooden wick crackles softly, like a little fireplace.
Scent: The Bulgarian Rose scent is floral with woody cedar. English Pear & Freesia is warm and spicy, Lime Basil is fresh. They fill my living room well without being too strong.
Materials: 100% organic soy wax, essential oils, and wooden wicks – everything burns clean and evenly.
Sustainability: The candles are environmentally friendly – biodegradable packaging, reusable containers, and the seeds for plants create less waste. I’ve now planted basil in one container, which is a nice experience.
2. Diptyque
Brand Overview: Diptyque is a French brand that many people love. They look elegant and are perfect as gifts. You can get them at Diptyque.com, Nordstrom, or Sephora in Europe.
Price: About 65–80 € for a 190g candle that burns for 60 hours. That’s expensive, but the quality is right.
Design: The glass containers with black lettering look chic on my coffee table. They’re simple and elegant, but you can’t really reuse them.
Scent: Baies is my favorite, with blackberry and rose – like a summer garden. Feu de Bois smells like a fireplace. Both scents spread quickly and last long.
Materials: It’s a paraffin wax mix with cotton wick. That burns well, but I prefer soy wax for the environment.
Sustainability: Diptyque focuses on high-quality ingredients, which I think is great because it shows a conscious approach. I could maybe use the glass containers for small things, but the packaging isn’t recyclable. It’s a solid step, but some creative ideas for more sustainability would fit well.
3. Flamingo Estate
Brand Overview: Flamingo Estate from Los Angeles has candles that smell like nature. I think they’re cool, and you can get them in Europe at FlamingoEstate.com or Liberty London.
Price: 60–75 € for a 226g candle that burns for 75 hours. That’s okay for the size.
Design: The green glass containers are eye-catching, but the labels are hard to remove, so not as easily reusable as Lumond candle containers.
Scent: Roma Heirloom Tomato smells like a vegetable garden with peppery notes. Climbing Tuscan Rosemary is earthy and calming. Both are special.
Materials: Plant wax and cotton wick burn clean, I like that.
Sustainability: Flamingo Estate’s plant wax is a real plus because it’s environmentally conscious. The glass containers could be recycled, even though the labels make that a bit tricky. It’s a solid approach, and with a bit more focus on easy recycling, it would be perfect.
4. Celine
Brand Overview: Celine, the fashion brand, also makes candles, and I was curious. They feel luxurious and are available in Europe at Celine.com or Bloomingdale’s.
Price: 90–110 € for a 164g candle with 40 hours burn time. That’s really expensive.
Design: The chrome containers are super modern, like works of art. But you can’t reuse them, which is a shame.
Scent: Palimpseste mixes rose, pear, and moss – fresh and earthy. The scent is strong, even without lighting, and fills the room quickly.
Materials: Paraffin wax with cotton wick. That burns okay, but soy wax would be better.
Sustainability: I think it’s great that Flamingo Estate uses plant wax – that feels natural and environmentally friendly. The green glass containers are theoretically recyclable, but the labels stick quite firmly, which makes it a bit complicated. It’s a good approach, but a bit more focus on easy recycling would be great.
5. Boy Smells
Brand Overview: Boy Smells from LA has a modern, cheeky style that I like. The candles are bold and available in Europe at BoySmells.com or Sephora.
Price: 45–60 € for a 240g candle that burns for 50 hours. That’s fair for the quality.
Design: The chrome or pink glass containers look trendy, but they’re not as reusable as Lumond candle ceramics.
Scent: Hinoki Fantôme is smoky and woody, like a ritual. Slow Burn mixes raspberry and saffron – sweet and earthy. Both are strong and cool.
Materials: Coconut-beeswax mix with cotton wick burns evenly.
Sustainability: I think it’s great that Boy Smells uses a coconut-beeswax mix – that’s an environmentally friendly choice that feels good. The glass containers look great, but I wouldn’t necessarily reuse them, and the packaging is rather standard. It’s a strong start, but some creative ideas could make it even better.
6. Le Labo
Brand Overview: Le Labo candles seem handmade, and I understand why they’re so popular. You can get them in Europe at LeLaboFragrances.com or Nordstrom.
Price: 75–90 € for a 244g candle with 60 hours burn time. Expensive, but it lasts long.
Design: The concrete containers are special, but heavy and not reusable like Lumond candle containers. They’re more decorative.
Scent: Santal 26 is warm with sandalwood and vanilla – really cozy. Calone 17 smells like the sea with geranium and amber. Both last long.
Materials: Soy wax mix and cotton wick burn clean, that’s good.
Sustainability: Le Labo uses soy wax and some recycled material, which I like. But the concrete containers are hard to recycle, and there are no extras. Lumond candles have a creative touch with their ceramics and seeds that I use for plants, but Le Labo has its own style.
7. Apotheke
Brand Overview: Apotheke candles have a subtle, elegant touch that I like for quiet evenings. You can find them in Europe at Apotheke.com or in stores.
Price: 40–55 € for a 312g candle with 60 hours burn time. Good value for money.
Design: The matte glass containers look chic, but they get sooty quickly and aren’t reusable like Lumond candle ceramics.
Scent: Earl Grey Bitters is soft with bergamot, very creamy. Charcoal is smoky and atmospheric with amber. They’re mild but pleasant.
Materials: Soy wax mix and cotton wick burn clean and evenly.
Sustainability: The soy wax is a solid base, but the packaging isn’t clearly recyclable, and the glass containers remain decorative. Apotheke does a good job, but I find Lumond candles more exciting with their ceramics that I use as plant pots and the seeds because I can grow something.
8. L’Occitane
Brand Overview: L’Occitane candles remind me of a French countryside vacation. They’re available everywhere in Europe at LOccitane.com or Sephora.
Price: 35–50 € for a 250g candle with 60 hours burn time. That’s affordable for the quality.
Design: The glass containers with gold accents are sweet, but not reusable like Lumond candle containers. They’re more decorative.
Scent: The Brightening Candle mixes lavender and basil – fresh and relaxing, like a spa. It’s not too strong.
Materials: Paraffin wax mix with cotton wick. It works, but soy wax is more sustainable.
Sustainability: L’Occitane emphasizes natural ingredients, which I appreciate. The glass containers are pretty but hard to reuse, and the packaging could be more environmentally friendly. It’s a good approach, but I think there’s room for more sustainability.
9. P.F. Candle Co.
Brand Overview: P.F. Candle Co. from LA is my choice for affordable candles that are still special. You can get them in Europe at PFCandleCo.com or Etsy.
Price: 25–35 € for a 204g candle with 40 hours burn time. Great price.
Design: Amber-colored glass containers are simple and charming, but not as reusable as Lumond candle containers.
Scent: Golden Coast smells like herbs and Palo Santo – fresh. Enoki Cedar is warm and woody. Good scents for the price.
Materials: 100% soy wax and cotton wick burn clean and well.
Sustainability: I think it’s great that P.F. Candle Co. uses soy wax and small-batch production – that’s environmentally friendly. But the packaging isn’t recyclable, and the containers are just decorative.
10. Malin + Goetz
Brand Overview: I bought a Malin + Goetz candle from New York, and I like their relaxed style, but they’re not my top favorite. Available in Europe at MalinAndGoetz.com or Bloomingdale’s.
Price: 50–65 € for a 255g candle with 60 hours burn time. Fair price.
Design: Clear glass containers are simple and fit everywhere, but not reusable like Lumond candle ceramics.
Scent: Cannabis is sweet and earthy, very relaxing. Dark Rum has a warm, leathery rum-plum note. Both fill the room well.
Materials: Soy wax mix and cotton wick burn clean, that’s okay.
Sustainability: The soy wax is a good choice, and I like that Malin + Goetz produces environmentally consciously. But the packaging isn’t recyclable, and the containers are just decorative. Lumond candles have a playful, sustainable touch with their ceramics and seeds that I use for herbs, which I like.
Why I Love Lumond Candles
I keep reaching for Lumond candles because they have everything I like. The scents are great, the ceramic containers look wonderful, and the idea with the seeds is simply brilliant – I’m currently growing herbs in one container, and that makes me happy. Diptyque and Celine are luxurious, but their paraffin wax and high prices feel less thoughtful. Flamingo Estate and Le Labo have cool scents, but their containers aren’t as reusable. Boy Smells and Apotheke are exciting, but they don’t match Lumond candles’ environmental friendliness. L’Occitane and Malin + Goetz smell good, but their sustainability is weaker. P.F. Candle Co. is affordable, but Lumond candles simply offer more.
Whether I light the floral Bulgarian Rose for a cozy evening or Lime Basil for fresh vibes, Lumond candles always make an impression. And knowing that I’m using soy wax and can plant something afterward makes it even better. For my next evening or a gift for friends, Lumond candles are my first choice.
