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Expert advice on choosing the perfect scent for summer.
Summer candles are something of a contentious topic: when the weather is warm, it can feel counterintuitive to light up a candle. Yet they are one of the most versatile summer accessories out there, providing subtle fragrance, mood lighting for long evenings and even helping to repel insects and bugs.
There's nothing more luxurious than lighting up a scented candle and filling your home with beautiful scent and a gentle glow no matter what the season – whether for a relaxing bedroom atmosphere, decadent spa-bathroom style retreat, or to fragrance a summer evening spent in the garden.
Their flattering, ambient light and ability to gently fragrance a space also make scented summer candles a popular choice for dinner parties, weddings and events. TV presenter Angela Scanlon told House Beautiful recently: 'When we got married I had rose candles everywhere as I was obsessed with rose scent at the time,' and Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton reportedly used Jo Malone's Orange Blossom candle to fragrance Westminster Abbey on her wedding day.
Although it's easy to assume candles work best as a winter accessory, summer candles are a lovely way to add fragrance and ambience even in warmer weather.
The secret is finding the right summer scent: steer away from anything too warm and heavy. Instead, look for light, fresh fragrances, like citrus and jasmine, or savoury, herbal tones, like basil and eucalyptus.
Chrissie Rucker OBE, founder of The White Company, says: 'Jasmine, rose and lavender are all relaxing scents that work well in spring and summer. Bathrooms and bedrooms benefit from these, whether you use a scented candle or linen spray on your bedding to aid relaxation.
'We find the ozonic scent family is always a popular choice for summer. Our best-selling summer candles, Seychelles, Seasalt and Summer, are all crisp and uplifting with citrus notes of vetiver and invigorating eucalyptus.'
When burning candles, remember to trim the wick to about 1/2 cm to help them burn cleanly, and ensure the first burn is long enough to allow the wax to level out. Keep away from breezes if possible: many outdoor candles have been especially formulated to withstand gusts of wind.
We've picked our favourite summer candles to suit all budgets, so you can fill your home or garden with light, refreshing summer scents.
A fresh, citrus summer candle that looks as good as it smells – perfect for tablescaping or beautifying a mantelpiece when not in use.
If you love warm, comforting scents but want a summer-friendly version, look no further: Seychelles combines the fresh citrus of bergamot and orange with hints of sweet coconut, amber and vanilla for an 'Indian Ocean breeze' in candle form.
Notes of eucalyptus, rosemary and lavender give this soy wax candle, from Dunelm's collaboration with the Natural History Museum, a refreshing summer scent– plus you can use the cockle shell as a bathroom storage dish when you're done with the candle.
Pick this beautiful Anthropologie candle for balmy summer evenings. Its mix of tonka, guava and gardenia evokes lazy tropical sunsets – plus the tin will look great on your dressing table long after the candle has burnt down.
A splurge, but well worth it for the beautiful blend of fresh citrus and light floral from fragrance icon Jo Malone's latest venture. It has an impressive scent throw, so it's worth investing in if you fancy a touch of luxury, or for a gift.
Citronella can ward of mosquitos and other insects, so this is a smart summer candle choice for evenings outside.
Nothing says summer like a cooling cocktail – we'll take ours in candle form please with this gem from iconic New York brand Malin + Goetz.
Add this light citrus-floral summer candle to your weekly shop for an uplifting aroma that's good enough to eat.
Another indulgent buy that's well worth the splurge for its glorious floral scent, which evokes Mediterranean summer evenings, and a 65-hour burn time.
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