9 Hotel Candles to Bring Home from Vacation (or Buy Online, Because Cheaper)

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If it were possible to go full Eloise and reside permanently in a luxury hotel, I would. It's more than the thrill of late-night room service and the never-ending fluffy pillows — a good hotel room has a personality of its own. Of course, most of us eventually have to check out, but one thing that can soften the blow is a good hotel candle.

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Some on this list smell exactly like the hotels they come from, offering instant transport back to Old Hollywood or fashion-forward Paris, while others take inspiration from their surroundings, capturing the essence of New York cool or Hawaiian relaxation. Even better: All of them are cheaper than a penthouse suite.

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1. Chateau Marmont Alessandra Candle, $50

Staying at the Chateau, as regulars call it, is like stepping into a time machine that hits all eras of Los Angeles history: the rooms are appointed in cheerful 1930s style, and around every corner is a story about debauched rock stars of the '70s and it-girls of the '90s getting up to no good. The signature scent, gardenia with a hint of spice, perfumes the whole place with that same ineffable glamour.

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2. Edition Hotel Candle, $80

Nightlife impresario turned hotel magnate Ian Schrager's chain of Edition hotels are fully shoppable — you can buy everything from bath products to the faux-fur throws and copper pineapples that decorate rooms in New York, West Hollywood, and Barcelona. This candle — black tea with hints of citrus — will give your apartment the look and the scent of Studio 54 circa now.

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3. Hôtel Costes Candle, $80

At Hôtel Costes in Paris's swanky 1st arrondissement, each room is furnished with flea market-sourced antiques and outfitted in lush, jewel-toned velvet; an attempt to reinterpret Baroque styles for a modern audience. The primary notes in their Brown candle are waxed wood and rum, while the amber glass container gives off a warm, perfectly 17th century glow.

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4. W Hotels Oud Bergamot Candle, $49

There's a W in almost every major city for a reason: they've got the business of good hotel rooms down to a science. So many properties means a wealth of custom fragrances, a number of which are available in candle form. The oud bergamot stands out for its pairing of two complex scents, and the green wax pops in that sleek silver vessel.

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5. Coqui Coqui Tabaco Candle, $75

It can be kind of difficult to wrap your mind around the Coqui Coqui experience if you haven't been, but basically: this hotel group boasts eight properties (seven in Mexico's Yucatan peninsula; one in Bora Bora) and they're all defined by signature scents. In fact, each residence boasts its own on-site perfumery, which uses locally sourced ingredients to make intoxicating aromas that are distinctly influenced by their surroundings.

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6. Ritz-Carlton Archipelago Jasmine Candle, $36.75

One fun winter activity is huddling under a blanket on the couch and scrolling through Instagram, specifically to look for pictures of acquaintances in Hawaii. If this sounds more torturous than soothing, this jasmine candle is a good investment. The soft jasmine scent is rendered in a special slow-burn wax, so you can really take your time envisioning yourself on a sunny island beach even in the worst snowstorms.

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7. Petit Ermitage Candle, $65

The first thing to know about this candle is that you can't buy it online — getting one requires picking up the phone and calling the West Hollywood hideaway's front desk (so elusive, we couldn't even find a photo!). The second thing to know is that it's worth it — on a recent visit to Petit Ermitage, I lasted half an hour into my weekend stay before begging (nicely!) a concierge to tell me more about the heavenly smell of the place. Turns out it was mostly Atlas cedar and Baltic amber, and I left with a few (OK, more than a few) of the black-tinned candles tucked into my suitcase.

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8. Le Labo Cade 26 Candle, $85

NYC's Gramercy Park Hotel candle was developed exclusively for the property by cult-favorite fragrance company Le Labo, meaning it's guaranteed to make any room smell at least thirty percent cooler.

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9. Joya x Shinola Hotel Candle, $48

Image Credit: Shinola Hotel

Joya is a New York-based candle brand that marries the classic richness of Diptyque or Trudon to a thoroughly modern ethos. Based out of a 19th century Brooklyn garage, Joya candles are ethically and sustainably designed, sourced, and manufactured. The Shinola is a just-opened hotel occupying a former hardware and sporting goods store in downtown Detroit. The Joya x Shinola candle is bold — floral cherry blossom combined with notes of leather and smoke — and extremely covetable.

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