Whether you prefer floral, citrus or woodsy, there's a scent out there with your name on it.
By Pahull Bains
Date November 5, 2020
With every waking hour spent within the confines of our homes—aside from weekly trips to the grocery store or brief walks for some much-needed fresh air—it’s more vital now than ever to make our environs as inviting as possible. One surefire way to create a cozy atmosphere is by lighting scented candles—not only do they fill a room with a pleasant fragrance, but they also invoke feelings of warmth, pleasure and relaxation. Read on for eight Canadian brands whose scented candles might just help transform your living space into a soothing oasis. (Even better, you’ll be supporting local businesses at a time when they need it most.)
Lohn
This female-founded company is inspired by the Amber Road, an ancient trade route that criss-crossed the borders of Lithuania and Poland, the founders’ native homelands. Through their candles, they aim to capture “the scent of the Baltic Sea, the Bialowieza Forest, the Tatra Mountains and the fields of Lithuanian Rue.” Each Lohn candle is handmade in Toronto, crafted with botanically-based fragrances, and packaged in a 100% recyclable glass and carton. Their latest collection of candles takes its cues from the Spice Road—expect notes like saffron, cardamom and pink pepper.
Brand & Iron
This Vancouver-based candle company was founded by Jordan Derhouson while he recovered from a liver transplant due to a rare genetic disorder. Unconventional scent combinations are the brand’s specialty—think coriander and tonka bean, jasmine and vetiver, and sandalwood and lavender. All Brand & Iron candles are ethically produced in small batches using sustainable ingredients and packaging, and are available for purchase online with free shipping for orders above $50. (Toronto customers can also place an order with Merchant of York, a boutique store that carries the brand’s candles and offers same-day delivery.)
Hollow Tree
Inspired by the forests and majestic beauty of the Pacific Northwest, this BC-based brand offers woodsy scents broken down into three different “series”: Backpacker, taking its cues from the Shannon Falls provincial park; Library of Trees, celebrating the Western Red Cedar, the official provincial tree of British Columbia; and 1871, evoking the scents of the 1800s when pioneers and prospectors from San Francisco trekked through BC on their way to the Klondike. Expect warm notes of fir, tobacco, moss, juniper and pine with these outdoors-inspired scented candles, which come in a matte ceramic jar.
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Woodlot
Founded in Vancouver, this plant-based line of candles is crafted from simple ingredients and infused with aromatherapy essential oils. The brand’s philosophy, as listed on its website, is “rooted in the idea that using ancient methods of hands-on craftsmanship and ethically-sourced, natural ingredients has a ripple effect on the wellness rituals of future generations.” Woodlot fragrances include Rose & Palo Santo, Wildwoods (combining balsam, fir and clove oils) and Recharge (peppermint and rosemary).
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Murphy & Jo
Named for the founders’ rescue dogs Murphy & Joey, this Toronto candle brand uses only local ingredients and materials for its products. Fragrance options include riceflower and vetiver, fig and honey, and tobacco and vanilla. Bonus: a portion of all proceeds is donated to Save Our Scruff, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing dogs and finding them safe and suitable permanent homes through adoption, advocacy and education.
100 Years of Love
For this Toronto-based brand, its collection of candles “is a culmination of an obsession with contemporary art and fashion, travel, design, and fine fragrances.” Its offerings include Arc en Ciel, with notes of blood orange and goji; Bedtime Story, combining lavender and eucalyptus; and Mary Jane, which pairs notes of cannabis with earthy suede. The brand is currently offering free shipping on orders over $100 and is also available for purchase via Toronto store Rose City Goods.
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Shy Wolf
Hand-poured in the founder’s farmhouse kitchen in Grey Highlands, Ont., these candles are “inspired by tarot, stardust and rock & roll.” Scents range from The Lovers (rose, lemon, vanilla) to High Priestess (lavender, sage, patchouli) to The Chariot (amber, violet, peppercorn), and each candle comes in a reusable amber jar that gives it a warm, cozy glow. The site is currently offering free shipping on orders over $84.
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Dimanche Matin
This Quebec brand specializes “in the art of lazy mornings,” offering items to help construct the perfect cozy Sunday morning, such as fruit spreads made from handpicked fresh fruit and candles inspired by morning traditions. Their offerings include Mimosa, with notes of orange and ginger; Fresh Cotton, evoking the scent of freshly laundered sheets; and Green Tea, with refreshing herbal notes.
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Milk Jar Candle Co.
Based in Calgary, this company offers two lines of candles: one with plant-based essential oils, and the other with phthalate-free fragrance oils. Some of their current offerings include a Himalaya Essential Oil Candle with notes of grapefruit, patchouli and ylang-ylang; a Hygge candle with vanilla, tobacco and cedar; and Sweater Weather, with a maple butter scent. $1 from every product is donated to GRIT Calgary Society, a non-profit supporting children with disabilities.
Natura Soy
The offerings from this 100% natural candle company from Okotoks, Alberta fall under different collections such as Fall Scents, Aromatherapy and Coco Collection (made from coconut wax instead of their usual soy). They also offer a range of “Man Candles,” in scents like Spiced Rum and Woodsmoke & Gin.
Salt Spring Island Candle Co.
The “one-of-a-kind scents” of this plant-based candle company are inspired by Canada’s West Coast. Examples include Rosewood (vetiver + Western red cedar), Yoga (amyris + sandalwood + frangipani) and Hearth (firewood + bay rum), all of which are housed in sleek silver tins.
Mala
Inspired by “the everyday,” this Vancouver company’s minimalist candles come in chic pastel tins. Their range of scented candles features inventive combinations like Chai (clove + cinnamon + vanilla), Cereal (citrus + berry + lemon) and Sundays (lavender + apricot + sandalwood). The company has also partnered with Tree Era and Plant the Peace to plant a tree with every candle purchased.
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Canvas Candle Co.
Founded in Port Moody, BC, this company houses its candles in multiple containers such as glass with a natural cork lid, gold tins, mason jars and porcelain. Scents include #VACAY (coconut, pineapple, sweet basil), Best Coast (evergreen, cedarwood, vetiver) and Twilight (fig, almond, blackberry, amber).
The Scented Market
The scented candles from this brand are filed under various collections—Winter (with names like Sugar Cookie and Sleigh Ride), Carnival (Candy Apple, Caramel Popcorn), Cocktail (Mojito, Margarita, Bellini) and Spring (Lilac Breeze, Morning Dew) and more.
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Indigo Scents
The in-house candle brand from Indigo, Canada’s largest bookseller, carries a wide range of scented candles. Perfect for the holidays are fragrances like Crackling Firewood and Ember, Mulled Cider and Cinnamon, and Vanilla Maple Syrup.
