If You Want Your Home to Smell Like an Expensive Hotel, This £39 Candle Is the Answer
Our take

The enduring appeal of recreating luxury experiences within the home is hardly a new phenomenon, but the current focus on mimicking the scent of expensive hotels speaks volumes about our collective desire for curated calm and a sense of escape. This article’s recommendation of a £39 candle as the key to achieving that atmosphere taps into a broader cultural shift toward mindful living and the prioritization of sensory experiences. It’s a savvy observation that resonates particularly strongly following years of disrupted routines and heightened anxiety. We've seen similar trends in the fashion world, with a resurgence of interest in timeless pieces and quiet elegance, as exemplified by the return of Mary-Kate Olsen's favorite 2008 It Bag Gasp: Mary-Kate Olsen's Favorite 2008 It Bag Is Coming Back Next Year. The desire for sophistication and understated luxury isn’t about ostentation; it’s about crafting a personal sanctuary.
The beauty editor’s assertion that “you *do* get what you pay for” in candles is a crucial point, though it's one that demands nuance. While expensive, niche fragrances often boast complex formulations and longer burn times, the accessibility of more affordable options that capture a similar *feeling* is undeniably appealing. The power of suggestion, the carefully curated marketing, and the association with a desired lifestyle are often just as impactful as the raw materials themselves. This aligns with our own perspective on fragrance – it's not solely about the notes on the pyramid, but the story it tells and the emotion it evokes. Consider, for instance, the enduring allure of a particular scent that instantly transports you to a cherished memory or a feeling of utter glamour, as one reader discovered Ten Years Later, This Is the Sultry Fragrance I Wear When I Want to Feel Utterly Glamorous. The key, it seems, is finding the scent that resonates most deeply, regardless of price point.
The rise of the “hotel scent” trend also reflects a broader interest in cultivating a sense of place and intentionality within our living spaces. We’re moving beyond simply filling a room with fragrance to actively using scent to define a mood or create an atmosphere. This is particularly true for those seeking to replicate the feeling of a luxurious hotel stay – a space designed to evoke relaxation, rejuvenation, and a temporary escape from the everyday. The focus shifts from simply masking odors to crafting an olfactory narrative. Furthermore, the article's emphasis on a single, repeatable scent demonstrates a desire for consistency and predictability, qualities that are increasingly valued in a world of constant change. It’s about establishing a ritual, a comforting anchor in a sea of uncertainty, and carefully selecting elements to contribute to a cohesive aesthetic, much like the considered approach to personal style highlighted in our conversation with Cazzie David I Spoke to Cazzie David About Jeans—and Finding "The One".
Ultimately, the popularity of this £39 candle isn’t just about the fragrance itself; it’s about the aspiration it represents – the desire for a refined, calming, and effortlessly chic home environment. It’s a testament to the power of scent to shape our perceptions and influence our emotional state. As consumers continue to prioritize well-being and curate their surroundings with greater intention, we can anticipate a continued focus on sensory experiences and the exploration of affordable luxuries that elevate the everyday. The question moving forward isn’t just *what* scents will become popular, but how brands will leverage the power of fragrance to create deeper emotional connections with their audiences and cultivate a sense of belonging within a world increasingly defined by individuality and self-expression.
I'm a beauty editor who has a particular infatuation with candles. With over a decade of experience burning the most expensive luxury candles all the way through to more affordable vessels for my job, I can confidently say that, generally speaking, you do get what you pay for with candles. You see, I've found that spending a little bit more on candles almost guarantees you an amazing throw that fills your home with scent, with a beautiful, even burn—and more often than not, a beautiful vessel that you'll want to keep and re-use again.
However, with many luxury candles costing upwards of £60, I'm often reluctant to recommend—and burn—them. So, I've been on the hunt for candles that tick all of the boxes: incredible scents, impressive throw, luxury vessels that I want to display in my home, and something that won't make my bank account wince too much. And one brand that has always ticked that box is Beauty Pie.

I've long been a fan of its candles (I implore you to try Clean House (£20), which smells like freshly laundered bed linen), and when I saw it had collaborated with interiors expert Reena Simon, I already had high expectations. But after trying it myself, I can say that they have exceeded them. Scroll on for what you need to know about the collaboration.
Beauty Pie x Reena Simon

Beauty Pie has collaborated with Reena Simon, interiors expert, author and founder of The Intentional Home, on three luxury scented candles, each housed in a luxurious ceramic vessel. At £39 for Beauty Pie members, these 350g, three-wick candles strike a balance of feeling luxurious without burning too big a hole in your wallet. But honestly? These smell far more expensive than their price tag. Within minutes of lighting, my living room is brimming with the scent, rivalling candles I've tried that are three times the price. And once I've finished the candle, I plan on keeping the stylish vessel on display and reusing it to store trinkets.
Reena Simon has designed each one to mark a specific moment of the day, from dawn through to dusk, to serve in creating the mood you need, whether you want to feel uplifted in the morning or cocooned with cosiness come evening, and each one is as stunning as the next. Scroll on to find your next favourite.
Rêves d'Èze


Price shown is member price.
Key notes: Mint, eucalyptus, lemon, tea leaves, basil, ginger
Rêves d'Èze is the scent of an unhurried morning. You have the whole day ahead of you, and sunlight is streaming through the open windows as a breeze carries in the scent of your herb garden. It has a green scent with mint, eucalyptus and basil that invigorates your senses, leaving your space feeling gently energised as you ease into the day. It's a great candle to burn whilst working from home or sipping your morning cup of tea.
Time Well Spent


Price shown is member price.
Key notes: Cardamom, clove leaf, elemodor cyclescent, plum, cognac oil cyclescent, violet, nutmeg oil, musks, moss, sandalwood, warm wood
I could smell this beautiful scent before I even opened the box, and once lit, it's even more stunning—it's become my go-to autumn candle. Warm, woody and subtly sweet and spicy in the smoothest way, it instantly makes your space feel cosy and welcoming as the afternoon light begins to shift to golden hour.
Midnight Cashmere

Price shown is member price.
Key notes: Smoke, clove bud, cashmere, hazelnut cream, guaiacwood, vanilla, amber, patchouli oil, musks, sandalwood, birch tar oil
Last, but certainly not least, we have Midnight Cashmere. I haven't got my hands on this one, but after smelling the other two, I'm already sold on the notes in this one and will 100% be purchasing this. Inspired by cosy evenings, this one captures the feeling of a roaring fire gently crackling as you sip a hazelnut hot chocolate under a cashmere blanket. It's the perfect winter candle to welcome in cosy season.
Why Trust Us
At Who What Wear UK, we know that beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all. Our editors have tested thousands of products, including some skincare, makeup, hair and nails, over the years and work closely with trusted experts—dermatologists, make-up artists and leading industry insiders—to ensure every guide is well-researched, inclusive and relevant to you.
We focus on formulas that deliver, whether they’re affordable favourites or luxury investments. Our product selection is based on tangible results, ingredient know-how and what we’d truly recommend to a friend.
Read on the original site
Open the publisher's page for the full experience