They say smell is the sense most closely tied to memory—and ICYMI, nostalgia is *the* trend of 2024. So, it makes sense that we’re seeing a revival of spring candles with scents from our youth, transporting us back to the era of carefree living. Think: Clinique’s ‘Happy’, Elizabeth Arden’s ‘Sunflowers’ and Ralph Lauren’s ‘Ralph.’ We can almost smell Neiman Marcus’ beauty department of 1995.
Still, while this year’s fragrance forecast may remind us of the past, we’re also seeing candles, diffusers and potpourri that have been updated with unexpected notes and full-bodied bouquets that represent the current moment. And as a home editor, I spend a lot of time sniffing candles—some of which are marketed as ‘floral’ (when they should be labeled as your great-grandmother’s perfume from 1942). So, in an effort to spare you from dated floral fragrances or cloying sweet scents—plus, splurging on candles that you can barely smell—I put together a list of every candle I’m loving for spring 2024. From Jenni Kayne’s Topanga Candle to Voluspa French Cade Lavender, here are 15 worth buying.
