While I don’t think it can be officially proven by science, as a baby New Yorker, I’m convinced the New York minute involves hitting the second half of the year at warp speed. I can’t believe we’ve already reached sale season! Limited-time sales are kicking off early this year with Nordstrom’s Early Black Friday Deals sales event happening now, in which savvy shoppers can score up to 60% off selected styles from brands through November 21. Its official Black Friday event takes place November 29 through December 6 (aka Cyber Monday).
Below, I’m sharing 12 of the fragrance finds I’ve been keeping an eye on that you should seriously considering adding to your basket before Nordstrom’s biggest sale event of the year reaches its end. Whether you’re hunting for your home’s signature scent or just craving a cute candle to gift a loved one with for the holiday season, these are the on-sale candles, reed diffusers, and gift sets that definitely shouldn’t be skipped.
Scented Candles
Apotheke
White Vetiver Classic Scented Candle
Fragrance Family: earthy woods
Key Notes: Sicilian bergamot, eucalyptus, lilac, silky cashmere, muguet, cypress, white cedar, amber, patchouli, vetiver, musk, sandalwood
Of all the classic fragrance notes associated with winter, vetiver is one of my favorites. This Apotheke candle pairs it with the silky, smooth scents of cashmere, eucalyptus, and lilac before introducing creamy sandalwood, warm amber, and white cedar to the medley. It’s the perfect elegant (and sneakily sultry) scent to burn year-round but works especially well with the cooler months.
Voluspa
Baltic Amber Classic Candle
Fragrance Family: warm spices
Key Notes: amber resin, sandalwood, cedar, vanilla orchid
I truly believe no one can ever have too many amber-based home fragrances at their disposal. Voluspa’s Baltic Amber coconut wax-blend candle is a must for lovers of honeyed amber resin who also love a whisper of earthiness with the addition of velvet woods backed by smoldering vanilla orchid, sandalwood, and cedar for a long-lasting scent that’s beyond inviting.
Lafco
Feu de Bois Signature Candle
Fragrance Family: classic woods
Key Notes: cedar leaf, mountain spruce, pine, sandalwood, leather accord, amber, frankincense, amber, myrrh
If woody, smoky scents are more to your liking, you’ll want to snag LAFCO’s Feu de Bois candle. Housed in a handblown glass vessel that looks stunning on any coffee table or mantel, this candle is crafted with the natural, essential oil–based fragrances that invoke burning wood and mountain spruce. It’s the closest I can get to capturing the coziness of a roaring winter hearth without relying on firewood.
Voluspa
Forbidden Fig Scented Candle
Fragrance Family: citrus floral
Key Notes: fig, musk, white bark, rose, berries, fig leaf
Over the past year, I’ve discovered just how much I love wearing fig scents, so the second I saw Voluspa’s Forbidden Fig Scented Candle, I knew it deserved a spot in my home fragrance collection. The scent opens with sun-drenched soil and white bark, eventually unfolding into a blend of green fig leaves, dark fruits, sweet nectar, and woods.
Illume
Mercury Basalm & Cedar Ornament Candle in Winter White Gold
Fragrance Family: aromatic woods
Key Notes: rich oak moss, cinnamon, eucalyptus
It’s no secret that we aesthetic-obsessed Who What Wear beauty editors love a home fragrance that looks as good as it smells. The Mercury Balsam & Cedar Ornament Candle features a charming combination of rich oak moss, cinnamon, and eucalyptus nestled in a mercury-glass ornament that, once lit, creates a warm glow. I’ll definitely be gifting a loved one with it this year!
Reed Diffusers
Voluspa
Eucalyptus & White Sage Reed Diffuser
Fragrance Family: green florals
Key Notes: eucalyptus, cardamom, white sage, hinoki bark
When it comes to reed diffusers, I’m partial to ones that can make any space feel like a spa. I’ve had it in my apartment for five months and can now say with confidence that this Voluspa diffuser has transformed my small New York City bathroom into my personal wellness getaway with calming notes of hinoki bark and cardamom to let me unwind at the end of a long day.
Lafco
Chamomile Lavender Classic Reed Diffuser
Fragrance Family: fresh florals
Key Notes: bergamot chamomile, lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, patchouli, honey flower
One of the best ways I’ve leveled up my bedtime routine is by placing this reed diffuser on my nightstand for aromatherapy. This layered, essential oil–based reed diffuser by LAFCO combines soft lavender with warm, enveloping bergamot, and calming chamomile against a base of eucalyptus and smoky patchouli to help you relax and recenter.
Apotheke
Sea Salt and Grapefruit Reed Diffuser
Fragrance Family: aquatic citrus
Key Notes: grapefruit, lemon, tropical fruits, green fruits, mint, green florals, watery nuances, peach, red berry, musk
Now, I know I said this edit was dedicated to my favorite fragrances that are perfect to gift for the holiday season, but it wouldn’t be fair to skip over the ones that get me excited for warmer days ahead while they’re on sale. This diffuser is designed to fill any space with a long-lasting scent featuring notes of sea salt, black pepper, and ripe grapefruit balanced by dewdrop accords and tarragon.
Voluspa
French Cade Lavender Reed Diffuser
Fragrance Family: aromatic woods
Key Notes: French cade wood, verbena, Bulgarian lavender
No, it’s not a coincidence—I’ve added yet another lavender fragrance to my shopping list so I have more variation to pull from no matter the time of year. This one features scented oil hand-poured into an embossed glass with fine-gauged rattan reeds to fill your home with a lush lavender scent and bright lemon verbena over four to six months. Just be sure you let the reeds absorb the fragrance oil for at least 24 hours!
Fragrance Gift Sets and More
Brooklyn Candle
Escapist Earthy + Warm Votive Gift Set
Fragrance Family: warm earthy
Key Notes: cypress, cedar, sandalwood, vetiver, pink (Kyoto), cardamom, vanilla, clove, incense, orange blossom (Italia), fig, native currants, sandalwood, amber (Santorini)
Lately, I’ve been experimenting with mixing and matching different scents within the same fragrance profiles. One of my favorite ways to do that is by taking advantage of ready-made sets like this one by Brooklyn Candle, which features three of its most popular scents with earthy and warm notes like cypress, sandalwood, vanilla, orange blossom, and amber.
Voluspa
XXV Anniversary Candle Gift Set
Fragrance Family: earthy citrus, gourmand fruits, aromatic woods
Key Notes: pomelo orange, mango, goji berry, vanilla (Goji Tobacco Orange), lemon, bergamot, heliotrope, sandalwood (Baltic Amber), verbena, green leaf, lavender, geranium, amber (French Cade Lavender)
With a savings event as big as this one, it can be a challenge to select which home fragrances deserve your heard-earned money. So why not invest in a candle set that includes four best-selling scents at a jaw-dropping price? The XXV Anniversary Candle Gift Set includes the brand’s French Cade Lavender, Goji Tobacco Orange, and Baltic Amber candles.
Voluspa
UltraSonic Diffuser
Did you know there are high-tech diffusers that you can place anywhere in your home that needs a fragrance pick-me-up? The UltraSonic Diffuser uses ultrasonic vibrations that atomize water and fragrance oil to release fragrance without heat. This in turn maintains the integrity of the fragrance oil. What I love the most about this one is that it can be on for over three hours and has an automatic safety shutoff.
