9 California-Based Candle Companies You'll Love

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We don’t know about you, but we love filling our homes with the luscious scent of seasonal candles around this time of year. Not only do candles add a sense of necessary warmth to the cold winter months, but also lift our spirits and fill the house with much needed holiday cheer. Whether you’re looking to add aromatherapy to your self-care routine or searching for the best last-minute holiday gift for a special someone, a beautiful California candle is a worthy option.

There are the classic candles that’ll remind you of home when you’re away, votives that’ll have your neighbors thinking you’re baking up a gingerbread storm, and flameless candles that’ll provide the beauty and scent but none of the risk. Regardless of which one suits you, these California company candles will have you lighting them all season long.

Scented Candles

Mome Candles

Although the brand itself is inspired by travel, Mome Candles was founded by local Armenian Americans. The best part? The company hand-pours its candles in Los Angeles. The beautiful, scented candles are each named after a location and are vegan, cruelty-free, and phthalate-free.

For a wintertime vibe, the Artsakh candle combines notes of pomegranate and pear to create a fruity, clean scent. Missing the warm summer breeze? The best-selling Malibu candle—a fusion of lemon, amber, and pineapple—should be your pick.

P.F. Candle Co.

SoCal-based P.F. Candle Co. first started as a one-woman business in 2008 but quickly grew to become the successful and sustainable California candle company it is today. You can definitely shop at P.F. Candle Co. with peace of mind—the candles are cruelty-free and made with 100-percent domestically grown soy wax. The company also sells a variety of products such as reed diffusers, incense, and room sprays; but the candles are fan favorites for a reason.

The popular Golden Coast candle is inspired by the rumble of waves, sea salt, wild sage, and redwood trees. The aromatic scent is just as warm and inviting as it sounds. For a more wintery fragrance, the Piñon has notes of vanilla and cedar; it’ll have you feeling like you’re wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket next to a blazing bonfire.

Boy Smells

In 2016, partners Matthew Herman and David Kien of Pico-Union launched Boy Smells as an experiment and never looked back. Aiming to make loving one’s identity a part of everyone’s daily ritual, the founders invented traditionally masculine scents infused with more feminine notes to create an experience beyond the gendered norms in the world of fragrances.

We recommend the Cinderose candle, which combines rose, tuberose, oakmoss, and smoke for a unique take on a familiar scent. The Gardener scented candle also makes for an interesting choice—the combination of tomato, white tea, and honeysuckle will leave you intrigued.

Beeswax Candles

Summerfield Beeswax Candles

Compared to other ingredients, beeswax candles are virtually non-toxic, far more dripless and smokeless, and can burn for long periods of time. For some of the best beeswax candles, look no further than Summerfield Beeswax Candles, which has been making beautiful beeswax candle creations in the Sierra Nevada foothills since 1982. 

The family-run company crafts candles from 100-percent beeswax sourced from beekeepers throughout the Golden State. All of the candles—including holiday season-themed ones—are also handmade by artist Mitch, his wife, and their three kids. You know Christmas- or Hanukkah-themed candles are at the top of your holiday gift guide, so order them while you can. 

Soy Candles

California Candle Company

California Candle Company promises to always prioritize quality. Made from American-farmed and renewable soy, all of the candles are biodegradable and water-soluble. Why soy? Soy burns with zero petro-carbon soot, allowing for a cleaner burn without toxins or pollutants.

Choose from an array of familiar homey scents such as banana nut bread, candied apple, chocolate chip cookie (yum), and Christmas tree—all at very affordable price points.

LAIT Candles

Jennifer Rhee, an Orange County native, is the entrepreneur behind the soy candle company LAIT Candles. Aiming to create a luxurious experience without compromising the earth, this minimalist, chic, cruelty-free, and eco-conscious California candle company will please even the pickiest candle-lovers.

Although it's challenging to pick a favorite, we absolutely love the N°09 Fleur De Sel. Inspired by the beauty of Los Angeles, this breezy candle has hints of amber and fresh sea salt. For customized candles, you can also design and create your own scent.

Holiday Candles

L and M Candle Company

Every candle at L and M Candle Company is hand-poured with love in Visalia. The company has a range of candles inspired by the holidays that’ll fill your house with cheer. The Joyful Christmas candle combines fresh balsam, orange spice, and cloves to make a merry aroma. Another favorite of ours is the Cozy Sweater candle, which has notes of juniper berries, sweet mint, and eucalyptus. Can’t decide which candle to choose? Sign up for the company’s monthly subscription box—you’ll never have a candle shortage again. 

Voluspa

This luxurious candle company from California was founded nearly 20 years ago in Traci and Troy Arnsten’s home. Inspired by the mess in the kitchen that eventually gave birth to beauty, the founders named the company Voluspa—a word from an ancient Norse poem about the creation of the world from chaos. Today, Voluspa sells candles made with rare ingredients sourced from all over the world. The candles are poured into beautiful containers that are worth reusing (you’ll reduce your carbon footprint, too).

The White Cypress candle will have you feeling very merry with notes of juniper berry, mint leaves, white cypress, and evergreen wood. If you’re seeking a warmer scent to fill your house with, Crushed Candy Cane is another holiday candle we can’t get enough of. It has notes of, you guessed it, peppermint and freshly baked cookies.

Flameless Candles

Joshua Tree Candle Company

Joshua Tree Candle Company was created with the passion of capturing the true essence of the desert. All four founders are Joshua Tree residents who share a common love for candle-making and California. The business is still based in Joshua Tree and the candles are hand-poured in small batches to ensure the best quality every time. Although Joshua Tree Candle Company offers amazing scented candles, we singled out this brand for a different reason—flameless LED candles.

If you thought flameless candles couldn't be aromatic, think again. All of the flameless candles this California company sells have replaceable scent rings around the LED bulb that provide ambient fragrance. We love the Joshua Blossom candle, which features earthy notes as well as hints of coconut and white flowers. Get your flameless candle now and light it wherever you want, however long you want.