Top 10 Candles for Men
In numerical order of supremacy, this list, compiled from customer feedback, popularity, innovation, ingredients, results, price and Ape to Gentleman’s testers displays the Top 10 Candles for Men that the fragrance world has to offer.
As fragrance is (rightly) subjective, a scent that appeals to you will not necessarily appeal to everyone. That said, much like the intricate construction of a bespoke suit, the layered quality of a fragrance cannot be disputed. With that in mind this Top 10 is ordered using a combination of the brand’s candle range on the whole, along with the brilliance of a select few scents. Here are our chosen 10.
1. Frederic Malle Chez Monsieur – €65.00
From the grandson of fragrance pioneer Serge Heftler-Louiche[1. Friend of Christian Dior who helped to establish the Dior fragrance house], comes a range of candles developed by arguably the best noses in fragrance. Frederic Malle adapting the leading principles of fine perfumery to wax. The consistency of quality, originality and modernity of scent makes Frederic Malle’s candles more than worthy of our number one position.
“One of my assessments when working on scents for the home was that unlike traditional perfumes for people, home fragrances aren’t and shouldn’t be sexy. The scent of a men’s den is a slight exception to this rule, as one feels, when smelling it, the presence of its proprietor amongst the precious woods, tobacco and books.” – Bruno Jovanovic, Parfumeur Frederic Malle
2. Cire Trudon Ernesto Tobacco and Leather Scented Candle – £60
No selection would be truly complete without the world’s oldest candle maker. Since 1643, Cire Trudon have produced candles for many illustrious rogues including Mr Napoléon Bonaparte and French royalty. Their Ernesto Tobacco Candle is a woody fragrance combining a medley of rum, oak, tobacco, bergamot and amber, enclosed in a hand-blown glass.
3. retaW Allen Fragrance Candle – £34
Japanese Hiroshi Fujiwara’s fragrance brainchild, retaW’s scents and ideals have re-invented the way we connect fragrance with fashion. Arguably the most ‘mainstream’ of their fragrant offering, the candles bring retaW’s unique, modern scents at a very good value. retaW’s Allen Fragrance is a deep, masculine scent with fruity and floral undertones.
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4. Byredo Vanquish Candle – £45
Byredo (a combination of the words ‘by’ and ‘redolence’ ) means ‘memory of a pleasant smell’ and their candles certainly give substance to this ideal. Their edgy approach to fragrance has led to refreshingly unusual constructions that are distinctive, yet warm and alluring. This candle, entitled Vanquish, combines top notes of eau de rose, with ginger and guaiac wood making for a deep, masculine composition.
Vanquish : Top: Eau de Rose, Green Rose Bud / Mid: Ginger, Incense / Base: Cedarwood, Guaiac wood, Ciste Labdanum
5. Blaise Mautin – POA
The idea of bespoke fragrance is that it gives you full control of the outcome, an idea that can either work for you or against. Blaise Mautin’s expertise has seen him produce scents for Hyatt Hotels and Hiroki Nakamura’s cult brand Visvim. This experience in creating scents of the highest order makes Blaise the perfect choice to help you create your composition. The only real limit is your imagination – that and your budget.
6. L’Artisan Parfumeur Thé et Pain d’Epices Candle – $70
Entitled ‘Tea and Gingerbread”, this fragrance from L’Artisan Parfumeur mingles ‘gingerbread fresh from the oven’ aroma with the smoky scent of Lapsang Souchong. Cinnamon, ginger and anise to create a captivating contrast with honey and candied orange; an exemplary example of candle making from one of the most exciting fragrance houses of our generation. As comforting as it is sophisticated, the L’Artisan Parfumeur Thé et Pain d’Epices Candle shows the strength of our selection in number 6th place.
7. Penhaligon’s Elixir Classic Candle – £32
From Royal Warrant perfumery Penhaligon’s comes a candle reflecting history through layered scent. A combination of Turkish Rose, Jasmine, Incense and woods, Elixir echoes Hammam Bouquet, created by founder William Penhaligon in 1872. Hammam Bouquet was conjured up by William after inhaling the steam and sulphurous aromas of his neighbouring Turkish baths. A truly historic candle.
8. Baxter of California x Joya White Wood Two Candle – £50
Produced in partnership with the artisanal Joya, Flammable Series 2 candles show Baxter of California influence and expertise at combining Western ideals with an Eastern influence. Hand Poured in New York, the White Wood 2 candle combines the scents of Bergamot, Mandarin, Mission Fig, Santalum and Vetiver creating an earthy scent with a citrus edge. The legacy of JP Mastey continues in earnest with this modern yet classic range of candles.
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9. Molton Brown Re-Charge Black pepper candle – £55
Molton Brown’s Re-Charge Black pepper scent is one of our favourites and we’re pleased to report that they have developed an equivalent scent for your home. The mix of petitgrain, bergamot, cedar and deep amber gris musk provides a dynamic scent for the modern home.
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10. Odin 01 Sunda Candle – $65
Odin New York have made a foray Encounter 01 Sunda’s opulent blend of warm woods and creamy vanillic spices amidst hand poured slate-colored wax and sleek translucent black glass. Odin Sunda’s Top 10 inclusion is as much for its elegant design as the warm sensuous aroma it exudes. The cliché ‘last but not least’ has never been more pertinent.
