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Thanks to pop culture moments like Succession’s penultimate season and the great Sofia Richie Grainge renaissance, quiet luxury was indisputably the defining trend of 2023. What started as a formula for timeless dressing quickly spread its reaches into everything from hair color to home decor. So naturally, it was only a matter of time before that subtle rich girl energy started driving trends (and sales) in the fragrance market.

The same way a timeless, collectible perfume bottle can instantly upgrade your vanity (and overall energy), a candle that smells expensive without feeling gaudy or try-hard is the key to giving your home that indescribably expensive feel—that thing that no one can quite put their finger on. The packaging is one thing, but the fragrance itself is entirely more complex. “One of the biggest differentiators between a high-quality scent and a more affordable or mass-market scent is the degree of fragrance complexity,” explains Hotel Lobby Candle founder Lindsay Silberman. “Complex, layered scents incorporate a variety of different notes that play together and create a multi-dimensional fragrance experience—which means you’ll notice different aspects of the scent every time you take a whiff.”

Meanwhile, perfumer Ben Krigler adds that the quiet luxury feel is all about contributing to the overall atmosphere, versus just blanketing the room in fragrance. “For me, scented candles aren’t to cover scents but to add a note,” he says. “I actually like to have scented candles in my place with the windows open. It’s a way for me a way to have a scent in the air and to add to the atmosphere.” Ahead, discover 9 quiet luxury candles that do just that.

Hotel Lobby Candle Lodge Candle

It’s giving cozy, but also rich—like snuggling under a cashmere blanket. HLC is known for the lovely “cold throw” that comes off of its candles, which means you can still enjoy the scent when its unlit. The ultimate quiet luxury candle is one that makes a subtle statement through scent, even if the candle is unlit,” says Silberman. “To me, a beautiful cold throw—which is the scent of a candle when it isn’t burning—is the epitome of quiet luxury. It’s based on the idea of effortlessness; of making a statement without even trying.” To smell the brand’s Lodge Candle is to know exactly what Silberman is talking about.

Krigler Sierra Vista 2142 Opus Bronze Scented Candle

For Francophiles, Krigler definitely takes the quiet luxury crown. “Our Opus collection is made in Biot by hand, by our artisan,” says Krigler. “Each unit is hand-made and none are exactly the same to each other. It doesn’t look overly expensive but it is costly because we value the human force used to make them.”

Trudon Ernesto

Trudon is one of those brands that only your chicest, most in-the-know friends have heard of—and they’ll recognize it right away. From the gold crest to the purest of fragrance, the brand’s Ernesto candle screams understated glamour. (It’s even the color of money.)

Jo Malone Fresh Fig and Casis Townhouse Candle

While the fragrance certainly speaks for itself, Jo Malone’s Townhouse collection is a dream for votive collectors. Featuring gorgeously-sculpted bisque ceramic and a rounded lid, you’ll be hard-pressed to find dreamier packaging—especially if creamy minimalism is your vibe.

Maison Margiela Replica By the Fireplace Candle

While the solid gold-toned packaging is a little more luxury than quiet, Maison Margiela is another one of those brands you only know if your cooler BFF has introduced you. The brand’s Replica By the Fireplace scent will fill your home with the smell of the crackling fire you’d only find in an old-money New England mansion. The epitome of quiet luxury, it calls attention without demanding to be noticed.

Voluspa Sparkling Cuvee 3-Wick Hearth Candle

If champagne is your fancy beverage du jour, you’ll find the sweet, bubbly, uplifting notes perfectly recreated in Voluspa’s Sparkling Cuvee collection. The 3-Wick Hearth Candle is encased in a textured glass votive with the subtlest of iridescence that catches the light beautifully.

Nest White Tea and Rosemary Alfresco Candle

Nest mastered the art of elevated, earthy scents long ago, and the White Tea & Rosemary Alfresco scent earns another gold star. A universal fragrance, you can easily burn this one well into spring. Nothing says luxury like five wicks burning simultaneously.

Diptyque Baies Scened Candle

If Diptyque’s best-selling Baies Scented Candle isn’t already sitting on your vanity as we speak, then chances are you’ve seen it burning idly in a fancy restaurant bathroom. And while the candle is certainly a popular choice, the all-black packaging is far less common. It adds a little something unexpected, and it’s indisputably luxe.

Le Labo Santal 26 Large Candle

While the beige, concrete votive may be fairly unassuming, the subtle exterior is balanced with a bold, leathery fragrance. Le Labo’s Santal 26 is synonmous with understated wealth, and smells like one of those fancy rooms you’re never supposed to actually sit in. That, and the sheer size of this candle alone will subtly draw the eye of your guests.