Times have changed, and the preconception that candles are just for women is no longer true. Many men are now discovering and enjoying the warm glow and enriching scent burning candles can provide to their home and work spaces.
For men, burning a candle at home is often an extension of their personal taste in wearable fragrances, and with stinky gym clothes and other not so lovely man smells to cover, candles are the grown up choice for gentlemen to up-level their bachelor pad.
There are many different fragrances available that are well suited to guys, from those that feature scent notes traditionally found within aftershaves to smells that are unashamedly unisex. Tobacco, citrus, sandalwood and oakmoss are ingredients that feature within many of our bestselling scented candles for men. Many of these candles are housed within elegant, neutral packaging, making them visually look great inside masculine decor.
In this gift guide we have explored the best scented candles for the men in your life, each featuring rich, warm, and manly fragrances that’ll make them the perfect Christmas gift or birthday present for him this year.
Our Top Masculine Fragrance Notes
Tobacco – has a pleasant and woody aroma. Consider the fragrance of a new pipe mix or the tobacco-impregnated sheets that line the interior of cigarette boxes. Warm, cosy, nostalgic, and delightfully intoxicating – it makes the perfect fragrance to add to any man’s home.
Leather – the rich, earthy, and somewhat sweet perfume is wonderfully evocative and comforting, and it pairs well with toasty spiced odours and warm, elegant floral notes.
Wood – our selection of wood fragrances will offer timeless sophistication to any space, taking inspiration from the depths of the forest to the polished elegance of oak panelled rooms.
Citrus – fragrance notes are recognised to be energising, enlivening, and invigorating. Bergamot, lemon, orange, tangerine, and grapefruit are all light and refreshing and help improve the atmosphere and vitality of a space.
Oakmoss – is an earthy, woody, seductive scent notes with hints of musk and amber. Oakmoss is a popular component among fragrances because it helps to ground more volatile aromas.
Cedarwood – This woodsy scent is both masculine and calming, making it a great option for men who want to create a relaxing atmosphere in their home.
Spicy – Candles with spicy fragrances, such as pepper or cinnamon, can add a bold and masculine touch to any room.
Forest – A forest-scented candle can bring the great outdoors into your home, with notes of pine, fir, and cedar.
Ocean – For a fresh and masculine scent, try an ocean-inspired candle with notes of sea salt and marine.
Mahogany – This rich and warm scent is perfect for men who want to add a touch of luxury to their home.
Bourbon – If you’re a fan of this classic drink, try a candle with a bourbon fragrance for a masculine and boozy scent.
Coffee – For a masculine scent that’s also invigorating, try a candle with a coffee fragrance.
Aaron Toumazou at GQ listed his favourite scented candles to enhance any masculine living space during the lockdown, including the Man candle by Eym, Smoke and Musk by Earl of East and Kush scented candle by Boy Smells. Many of the candles he chose feature warm and woody notes such as Tobacco, Cedar and Leather.
At Elle Decor, Lucia Tonelli recommends using spicy, smokey, sultry scents to create a masculine vibe in your favourite spaces. They highlight the bestselling Teakwood & Tobacco Candle by P.F. Candle Co. as a top choice for men, alongside LES by Boy Smells – a great candle for men who like something a little fruity.
Esquire’s Roberta Schroeder compiled the twelve of the best scented candles to burn this winter, with classic choices from Byredo, Le Labo and Diptyque. Cire Trudon’s Ernesto (one of our faves) got high praise with Roberta saying “Ernesto is a scent that feels truly timeless: sun-beaten notes of rum and bergamot enliven the base of tobacco and leather, creating an homage to the heat of Havana.”
The team at Grazia know “we shouldn’t assume it’s just women who appreciate a nice-smelling room.” and listed their top 16 best scented candles for men this autumn. They say “there’s nothing ‘girly’ about wanting a room to smell good, or to aid focus, but there are some fragrance notes that may be more appealing to men. To make a sweeping generalisation, guys might be less drawn to heavily floral or sweet candles and may prefer woody, smoky profiles and fresher marine or citrus scents.”
In their list D.S. & Durga’s Big Sur After Rain is favourited with them stating “it captures the comforting essence of the Californian coast after a rainstorm. The scent is the combination of lush vegetation, mountainous terrain and pacific spray. Notes that emerge are magnolia, eucalyptus and soaked wood for a refreshing, full-bodied aroma.”
So, why do men like scented candles? I mean really the question should by why on earth wouldn’t they! Firstly having a fire in the home is a very primal thing. For millennia, from the time of cavemen to the invention of the lightbulb, humans relied on the light, heat and cooking power of fire. Tales of hunting prowess were shared between men sat around campfires, the dancing flame becoming a focal point of the evening. Fire represents home and safety, and just because we no longer live outside doesn’t mean that sense of wonder and protection has left us. When men light a scented candle at home it creates a similar ambience of relaxed camaraderie our ancestors felt in the presence of the homely hearth.
Unfortunately, over the years the feminisation of candles has put men off igniting this nightly ritual and connecting to their hunter-gather selves. Thankfully, this has changed in recent years and masculine scented candles with woody, citrus, spicy and smoked fragrances that appeal to the male nose have been created, gaining popularity across the gender spectrum.
The best manly candle scents are often similar to the fragrance of men’s cologne. Warm and woody fragrances are a great place for uninitiated men to begin discovering the best-scented candles for their man cave, but we highly recommend being brave and exploring fresh or floral fragrances too. Boy Smells create amazing candles that defy gender stereotypes and their entire collection is worth exploring for great men’s candles.
The best smelling candles for guys can also help alleviate bad odours (sneakers we’re looking at you) and of course, elevate any man’s bedroom into a romantic space in which to woo. Who can deny the power of candlelight to get you in the mood for loving?
Here at Osmology, over a third of our customers are men. Some come to us to buy gifts, but the overwhelming majority are buying candles for themselves. We love helping guys discover the perfect candle scents for them, so if you have any questions regarding the best men’s candles drop us a line.
We are dedicated to continually hunting out the best scented candles for men from top brands around the world. We will be adding even more masculine scented candles to our candle collection, so make sure you check out our full range of men’s candles today.
