The 10 Best Unscented Candles of 2023

The phrase "unscented candles" may sound like a bit of an oxymoron—isn't the point of a candle to make your space smell great? But candles were used exclusively for light many hundreds of years before they were ever used for aromatherapy, and not everyone's nose appreciates strong-smelling fragrance.

Even if you like scented candles, their unscented counterparts are still a worthy addition to your space. Not only are they back in style, but they tend to be really, really pretty—not to mention cozy. While most scented candles come poured inside glass jars or ceramic containers, unscented candles come in all kinds of styles, from whimsically-shaped taper candles to colorful tea lights to sculptural pillar candles that look like small statues. Truly, the sky's the limit when it comes to decorating with these fun pieces.

Here are the best unscented candles that double as décor, so even if you never light them, they're still worth adding to your space.

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Lex Pott's Twist Candle does the work of two taper candles and two candleholders—all at the same time. The Instagram-favorite piece consists of two matching taper candles that are connected together by a matching S-shaped base. The base sits flat on the ground, allowing the candles to stand up on their own—no candlesticks necessary. It's not just a practical choice, but it's also an incredibly pretty one, too. Score the eye-catching favorite in a range of fun colors depending on where you shop—but hurry, because they're selling out!

Vase Shaped Candle.

Urban Outfitters

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Urban Outfitters' Vase Shaped Candle is a unique take on an unscented option. Offered in two styles, the candles are shaped like mini vases and will make for a great piece of décor on a desk, nightstand, bookshelf, or beyond.

The candles are made with paraffin wax and feature a cotton wick. Though they're more of a decorative piece, they have a burn time of 2 to 3 hours, depending on which size you go with. They can sit pretty on their own, but they're budget-friendly, so you can buy two and style them as a pair.

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For a candle that'll double as a small art piece, you can't go wrong with Yui Brooklyn's Knot Shaped Candle. The candle is offered in a selection of colors and features a unique twisted design that'll pair well with other decorative accents.

The candle is made with soy wax and has a cotton wick. The unscented style is fairly small in size, so you can place it anywhere without taking up too much space. Though the candle is made mainly to be a decorative piece, you can light it—it's worth noting, however, that it'll melt faster than other options out there, so don't keep it burning for too long.

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Tea lights are usually unscented, but this vibrant set from Beehive Alchemy is too pretty to pass up. The set comes with 24 tea lights, all of which are crafted from natural beeswax and poured into clear polycarbonate cups, and you can opt for goldenrod, blush, or charcoal colors. If you can't decide, you can buy a set of each, scattering them in mixed-and-matched bunches all over your home. They'll look great dressing up a dinner table, lining a bathtub, or even clustered on a tray in your bathroom, so feel to have a little fun.

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Looking for taper candles that have a little personality? Urban Outfitters' Ombre Taper Candle Set is just what you're looking for. The set comes with four two-tone candles, each boasting different shades of lilac, orange, light pink, and pale yellow. Mount these eye-catching candles in some pretty candlesticks and make them the centerpiece of your next dinner party, or line them up on your fireplace mantel.

Unlike similar candles, these tapers won't drip wax down the side. Instead, they offer the clean burn you'd expect from a more traditional taper candle. They have a burn time of about 15 hours, gradually shrinking down the longer they're lit.

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Bonam Kim's Hannah Candle is a pillar candle that doubles as a work of art. (Really—this is one you might not ever want to light.) Kim is a Brooklyn-based sculptor, so it's no surprise that her sculptural candle looks like a miniature version of what you'd find in a museum. The Hannah Candle is available in an array of pretty shades, from lavender and sage to ivory and black, and is made to be displayed prominently, whether that's on your vanity, coffee table, or bookshelf.

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Nordic Light Candles' Bloktagon Candle Set is colorful, eye-catching, and totally fun. The set is made up of five stout candles that have been carved to resemble geometric prisms, and each candle is rendered in a toned-down but spirited color—think light yellow, bubblegum pink, sky blue, mint green, and pale lavender. Though these candles are small, each one burns for about 8 hours, each in its own unique way. Pro tip: Nordic Light Candles recommends placing each on its own pretty plate to cut back on any messiness.

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Lex Pott's Pillar Candles are vibrant, pretty, and totally eye-catching. Display one on its own, and you're sure to have a statement-making accent; collect the entire set, and you're in for a seriously head-turning display. The candles come in an array of sizes, and each one has been carved to reveal crisp, structural tiers that are rendered in different colors.

Shop the smallest candle, and you'll find a teal votive sitting atop a lavender pedestal. Shop the biggest, and you'll find bold cylinders of lavender, aqua, and red stacked on top of each other. Each candle boasts a different palette, but the colors are complementary enough that if you do decide to pair them, they'll play well together.

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Ready to embrace the spiral trend? HAY's Spiral Candle Set may be exactly what you're looking for. The set comes with six taper candles that have a thicker shape and a fun spiral design. While the green and blue palette is calm and soothing, there are a few other options to choose from—if you're looking for something warmer, you can opt for the ice blue, light pink, and coral combination, or you can go deeper with the mint, navy, and light pink set. And if you find yourself totally in love with all of them, you can buy every single set and mix and match the different colors.

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Areaware's Goober Candles are a favorite in the unscented candle space, and it's not hard to see why. These little candles boast a curvy, whimsical shape that looks squishy and soft, while the name itself makes the candles feel even more fun.

There are four light pastel colors to choose from (blue candle, green, purple, and pink), or you can simply collect all four. They're surprisingly easy to decorate with, but their curvy forms are all but guaranteed to add a dose of fun to any space.

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