I'm a candle snob – but Aldi's £9.99 home fragrance collection has won me over

Some spend on handbags, others on massages. Me? I spend on candles. I call myself a candle snob, and I like to think my home reflects it. Diptyque, Jo Malone, and Loewe are displayed in pride of place. But look closely and you'll spot my secret. Hiding among them is Aldi's home fragrance range: The Hotel Collection.

Aldi's fragrances have built a cult following, and it's easy to see why once you've tried one. I've spent years testing everything from designer wax to budget dupes for our best candles roundup, and Aldi keeps landing itself among the luxury names it's clearly taking inspiration from.

The latest addition, a lemon and neroli-inspired trio, is the perfect scent for summer homes: light, refreshing and surprisingly powerful. It's earned compliments from even my fussiest friends, most of whom I don't have the heart to tell are smelling Aldi.

Aldi Lemon and Neroli Hotel Collection Fragrance Range

The Aldi Lemon and Neroli Hotel Collection keeps things simple: a room spray, a diffuser, and a triple-wick candle. All three look considerably more premium than their price tag suggests, even the diffuser is generously sized rather than the mean little bottles you sometimes get at this price point.

There are a few tells that give the game away on cost: the candle lid, for instance, is tinnier than the weighted brass snuffer plate you'd get with Jo Malone candles *find link*. But these are minor compromises, and they'll save you hundreds of pounds in the long run. Where it actually matters, in the fragrance itself, Aldi really shines.

The diffuser lives in my downstairs bathroom. My high ceilings and open-plan layout usually make it hard for home fragrances to have any real impact, but as soon as you open my front door, the scent is there, floating through the air.

It’s an unusual outcome for a fragrance like this. Natural citrus oils tend to be very light, which means that they don’t last long. Conversely, artificial lemons and oranges never smell authentic. This strikes citrus gold: it's gentle rather than overpowering and still special enough to garner compliments from guests.

Lemon and neroli is also a classic fragrance for the summer or for any rooms that need a little lift for smelling fresh rather than heavy. I use mine in bathrooms and living spaces most often and I’ve been known to use the room spray to invigorate my mornings.

Each format of the lemon and neroli room fragrance collection earns its place, too. The candle is best for mood lighting: it sits happily outside if you're hosting and want to build some ambience in the garden, or works just as well in a sitting room or beside the bath. The diffuser is my pick for high-traffic areas like the hallway, where there's enough air movement to carry the fragrance properly, and it's also lovely tucked into smaller spaces that need a bit of extra thought. The spray, meanwhile, is the perfect top-up just before guests arrive or whenever you want an instant refresh. Always patch test on fabric first, but if it doesn't mark, I like spraying mine onto cushions and curtains for a waft of fragrance every time you draw the curtains or sit down on the sofa.

Alternatives to Aldi's Hotel Collection, if you're feeling inspired

Jo Malone — the reference point for a reason. Sharper, more sophisticated citrus and floral blends, at a price that reflects it.

St Eval — a Cornish candle maker known for genuinely long burn times and scents that lean coastal and natural rather than punchy.

Neom Organics London — sits nicely between the two on price, with a strong focus on scent-for-mood (their "Feel Refreshed" range pairs well with a lemon and neroli habit).

I used to think loving Aldi's home fragrances meant hiding the bottles behind the Trudon on the mantelpiece. I don't anymore. The Hotel Collection, and this lemon and neroli scent especially, does exactly what you want a summer fragrance to do: it fills the room without shouting about it, and it costs a fraction of what I'd usually spend to get there. My luxury candles aren't going anywhere, but Aldi's earned its spot next to them, and I'm done pretending otherwise.