Queer-Owned Candle Brands That Smell Like a Vibe
A good candle does three things. It smells incredible. It looks good sitting on your shelf. And it makes your whole apartment feel like a place where things are going well for you.
These brands do all three. Some are queer-owned. Some are strongly allied. All of them are worth the splurge.
Otherland
Otherland is the candle brand the internet went feral for, and for good reason. Co-founded by Abigail Cook Stone, the brand makes candles with names and scent stories that are genuinely evocative. “Group Chat.” “Terracotta.” “Clementine.” Their jars are beautiful, their scents are complex, and they burn cleanly. A single candle or a gift set is a genuinely impressive present that feels thoughtful and luxurious at the same time. Shop the Otherland candle collection
Boy Smells
Boy Smells was founded by two gay men who wanted to make candles that smelled like real life, not a department store floor. Their scents are warm, unusual, and often just a little bit provocative in the best way. “Kush.” “Tantric.” “Cameo.” They also make personal care products now. The queer community has claimed this brand and the brand has claimed the queer community right back. No notes. Shop the Boy Smells candle collection
Corpus
Corpus makes gender-neutral fragrance and candles with a very clean, minimal aesthetic. The scents are sophisticated without being pretentious. Their scented candles in The Cassis and White Woods scent families are the ones to start with, and the mini trio is a lovely way to sample the range. If your person has a very edited, design-forward apartment, Corpus fits right in. Shop the Corpus fragrance candles
P.F. Candle Co.
Los Angeles-based P.F. Candle Co. makes soy-based candles in scents that feel like a California afternoon. Teakwood and Tobacco. Sandalwood Rose. Golden Coast. They are an ally brand that consistently shows up for the LGBTQ+ community in their giving and their hiring. Plus the amber glass jars look great on any shelf and the price point is genuinely accessible. Shop the P.F. Candle Co. soy candle collection
Homesick
Homesick makes candles designed to smell like places and memories. Their Pride candle specifically benefits LGBTQ+ organizations. But the real gems are their state and city candles for the friend who is homesick for a specific place and also happens to be gay. Both things can be true. Pair a Pride candle with a city candle of where they grew up for a genuinely personal combination. Shop the Homesick candle collection
Forvr Mood
Jackie Aina, a Black beauty creator and advocate, founded Forvr Mood as a luxury candle brand centered on self-care and rest. The brand is deeply community-oriented and the candles are genuinely luxurious, with rich scents and beautiful packaging. A great option if you want to support a Black woman-owned brand in your candle rotation. Their jumbo candles are a particular favorite for people who want the full experience. Shop the Forvr Mood luxury candles
How to Pick the Right Candle
When in doubt, go for a brand that is transparent about their ingredients. Soy or coconut wax burns cleaner than paraffin. Lead-free cotton wicks make a real difference. And a candle with a lid looks better on a shelf for longer. These are the small details that separate a great candle from one that smells incredible for five minutes and then becomes a waxy coaster.
Light the candle. Put on a good playlist. Make the space yours. You deserve to live somewhere that smells like a main character’s apartment.