The best Jo Malone candles, ranked by our beauty team
Does your best Jo Malone candle make the best-sellers leaderboard and our beauty team's top picks?
Home fragrance fan? You may already own one of the best Jo Malone candles. Hugely popular with good reason, the British fragrance house is home to some of the best-selling scents around. And while you may not want to deviate from your go-to wick, it can be useful to know what the top-rated candles are – just in case you do decide to branch out.
Home fragrance is big business and when it comes to the best scented candles, we can always rely on Jo Malone to deliver. Why? Well, the brand often takes the best Jo Malone fragrances and puts them into candle form so we can softly scent our surroundings as well as our skin. In fact, Jo Malone’s first ever candle creation, which launched back in 2005, was the iconic Pomegranate Noir – which, unsurprisingly, remains a best-seller today.
As with the best Diptyque candles and signature Byredo jars, Jo Malone candles add a touch of class to any room thanks to their elegant vessels and chic branding. A worthy investment, we have shared the top five best-selling Jo Malone candles below, as well as our beauty editor's personal favorite picks. Trust us, this lot is gifting gold.
The best Jo Malone Candles of all time
Why you can trust Woman & Home
1. Jo Malone London Pomegranate Noir Candle
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The number #1 best-selling Jo Malone candle? You guessed it, the brand’s first-ever candle creation: Pomegranate Noir. Warm and heady yet refreshingly fruity, this candle can instantly elevate your living space with its sophisticated scent. Seriously moreish and a definite crowd pleaser, this is our go-to whenever we’re hosting guests. Top tip? Light it a couple of hours before your guests are due to arrive so that the scent can really fill your room.
"This fragrance is really unique as fruity scents tend to be sweet and gourmand, but Pomegranate Noir is woody, sensual, and dark," says Emma South, Jo Malone London Fragrance & Lifestyle Expert. If you’re a fan of the bottle version, which is undoubtedly one of the best perfumes for women, you’ll adore the candle form. Perfect for dark, cozy nights – this is as comforting as they come. Sold?
2. Jo Malone London Lime Basil and Mandarin Candle
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After a candle version of your best fruity perfume? Turn your nose to this citrus number from Jo Malone, pronto. Fresh and zingy, we can totally see why this is a signature scent for so many. The candle, which comes in various sizes, fills your space with a soft scent that’s not overpowering or too much. Instead, it gently wafts in the background and gives your home a clean, uplifting aroma that will instantly brighten your mood.
“This scent is a modern classic that proves even the most unconventional marriages can stand the test of time,” says South. Although basil, lime, and mandarin may sound like an unlikely combination – in real life, it really works. “Peppery basil and aromatic white thyme bring an unexpected twist to the scent of limes on a Caribbean breeze,” continues South. Sounds dreamy, right? This is definitely the best Jo Malone candle for pure escapism. Light it up, close your eyes and let the unusual concoction transport your senses to sunnier climes.
3. Jo Malone London Peony and Blush Suede Candle
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Instantly recognizable, Peony and Blush Suede is the ultimate soft floral scent that’s so sophisticated. Topped off with fruity red apples, it wears down to a slightly sweet, warm suede scent that’s ever so moreish. On the skin, this scent makes us feel more put together and a little bit more polished. In the home, it gives any space an inviting aroma that makes you feel instantly more house-proud.
“Peony and Blush Suede is the most popular wedding scent for brides,” points out South. “It bottles peony petals in every shade of pink that's accompanied by a bite of juicy red apple,” she continues. While we’d describe it as a feminine, soft petal scent, it’s also powerful and demands to be noticed when you walk into a room. If you’re hosting a soiree or dinner party, we recommend lighting this in your living room for after-party cocktails.
4. Jo Malone London English Pear and Freesia Candle
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The perfect pick for fruity and floral fragrance lovers, English Pear and Freesia smells just like the name suggests. Think freshly cut pear mingled with delicate floral notes and you get the gist. It’s sweet, fresh, and floral – all at the same time. We can imagine lighting this candle in autumn when the warm light pours into our living room creating a calm and serene ambiance. “When you smell English Pear and Freesia, you’re instantly transported to an orchard where juicy fruit mingles with blooming flowers,” says South.
A mood-booster and crowd-pleaser, we adore this scented candle. If you’re searching for beauty gift ideas, you really can’t go wrong with this candle – any beauty lover will be overjoyed to receive this beautiful home fragrance gift. "There’s something unexpected about the combination of key ingredients and it’s got that freshness and elegance we’re known for,” adds South. Of course, self-gifting is encouraged too.
5. Jo Malone London Wood Sage and Sea Salt Candle
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Did you know that Jo Malone’s Wood Sage and Sea Salt scent is one of Meghan Markle’s favorite fragrances? Well, now you do. And if it’s good enough for Markle, it’s good enough for us. Refreshingly light and ever so slightly woody, this scent conjures up a beachy, windswept day by the coast. On the skin it has a sun-baked salty aroma, whereas in the home it fills your space with a fresh, clean scent. Whenever we’re feeling stuck or have had a tough week, we reach for this candle.
“Wood Sage and Sea Salt is our lively, spirited, and totally joyful hero,” says North. It combines the mineral scent of rugged cliffs with the woody earthiness of sage and warming ambrette seed to create a cocooning feel. As well as being one of the best Jo Malone candle picks, the cologne version of this scent is also one of the brand's favorites for fragrance layering, thanks to the crisp, fresh notes that help to lift floral, heady, or rose perfumes.
OUR BEAUTY EDITOR'S TOP THREE JO MALONE CANDLES
6. Jo Malone London Velvet Rose and Oud Candle
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This candle is not for the faint-hearted. It demands to be noticed and will have visitors asking, “what is that scent?” Rich and velvety, envelope your senses with this intoxicating concoction that combines a real Damask rose aroma with smoky wood and oud. If your fragrance collection features some of the best oud perfumes in the biz, then you’re guaranteed to fall head over heels for this candle combo.
I like to light this one in the evenings, alone or when hosting, with a glass of merlot in hand. It’s smooth, warming, and the perfect antidote to a cold, winter’s night. While some scented candles can fade into the background, this powerful blend is one of the best Jo Malone candles for longevity - it'll linger for hours and really fill your space. On first burn, light this candle for two hours (until the wax melts to the sides) – this will encourage an even burn and prevent it from tunneling.
7. Jo Malone London Dark Amber and Ginger Lily Candle
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Admittedly, I wasn’t sure about this scent on first sniff. My first impression was that it was overpowering and intoxicating (not necessarily in a good way). But after an hour or so, the scent really warmed on me. The candle equivalent of a cashmere blanket, it’s warm, luxurious, and comforting. Smoky black cardamon and fresh ginger first make an appearance before a sensual bouquet of blooms steals the show. Once the initial smokiness subsides, the warm amber and incense base lingers.
I can imagine this being the best Jo Malone candle to light in a cozy bar, somewhere cold where whisky is the tipple of choice. For summer, it’s too strong. But for the winter months – it provides a welcome comforting aroma that will make you want to hunker down at home. My serving suggestion for this Jo Malone candle? Light a fire (or put the Netflix fire on television), dim the lights, and flick on a few of your best flameless candles to create a cozy space for a chilled night in. Now, where’s that whisky?
8. Jo Malone London Green Tomato Vine Townhouse Candle
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If you’re not yet the proud owner of a tomato-scented candle, rectify that immediately. The freshest fragrance around, tomato-scented candles give off a luscious green aroma that’s perfect for bright, crisp days. My favorite pick? This Green Tomato Vine Candle from Jo Malone’s Townhouse collection. While it’s more expensive than the classic candles, in my opinion – it’s worth every penny. Not only do you get more candle (300g instead of 200g), but you get a chic ceramic vessel that has major #shelfie appeal.
My top tip? Once you’ve reached the end, keep the jar and refill it with flower stems, stationary, or your best foundation brushes and tools. Looks aside, the fragrance is the real star of the show here. Rather than a sweet tomato-y scent, this candle captures the fresh aroma of the stalk and vine warmed by the afternoon sun. It’s balmy, earthy, and seriously addictive. One sniff and I guarantee you’ll be hooked.
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Emma Stoddart is a freelance beauty journalist and self-confessed skincare aficionado with over five years’ industry experience. Emma has worked for some of the UK’s top women’s titles including Net-A-Porter, Stylist and Grazia. Her experience spans online and print as well as producing editorial shoots with some of the industry’s biggest artists, including Val Garland. Asides from working with them behind the scenes, she’s also had the chance to interview the likes of Patrick Ta, Pat McGrath, and Sam McKnight for all their insider tips and tricks.
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