A 2026 Candle Trend Wish List

There are four candle trends that I’d love to see more of in 2026: more discovery sets, imaginative scents, vessels actually worth reusing, and coconut wax blends (hopefully) showing up in mainstream brands. These are not predictions. I am not a candle industry “insider”. I make a lot of candles, but I don’t sell them. This is just a wish list from someone who buys an absurd number of candles.

More Discovery Sets (because we’re all blind buying, right?) 

Thanks to social media, there are so many candle brands that I want to try but can’t find in person. That means that I do a lot of blind buys and with candles, that is often an expensive gamble.

The first trend that I want to see more of is discovery sets. If you haven’t tried one, it’s just a curated set of a brand’s candles in smaller sizes, usually across a range of scents. They’re a lower commitment, more affordable way to get to know a brand. Once you figure out which scents you love, committing to the full-sized version is much easier.

Candles are notoriously hard to shop for online, but discovery sets remove the guesswork. They also encourage a little experimentation. You get to try a range of scents that you might not necessarily have picked for yourself. Some of my favorite candles started out as unexpected standouts in a set.

More Coconut Wax Blends

I say this as a candle consumer just as much as a candle maker: more coconut wax, please! Nothing would make me happier than wider adoption of coconut wax blends by major candle brands. It is rare that I find coconut wax on a candle label, but I am so happy whenever I do.

I understand why more brands haven’t adopted it yet. Coconut wax blends are more expensive than soy, and because it has a lower melt point, there are some logistical challenges (especially when it comes to shipping during warmer months). I live in Texas and I’ve received many a melted candle so I get it…

But here’s the thing: it can be done. Coconut wax can be blended with other wax types for more stability. Plenty of brands are already proving that coconut wax is worth the extra effort (like Lanterne, who really impressed me with a couple of their coconut wax blend candles last year). From a consumer perspective, the payoff is noticeable: a strong, but smooth scent throw and a more even burn (especially compared to soy wax!). Once you’ve burned a well made coconut wax candle, it’s hard not to notice the difference.

Soy wax seems to be the most popular but honestly, I’m not a fan. I hope that coconut wax blends start to become more common this year.

More Innovative Scents 

I want more creative scent profiles. I’m done with basic scents. The endless vanillas, ambers, and vaguely pretty floral blends aren’t doing it for me anymore. In 2026, I want candles that feel more specific and unexpected.

This will be the year that I try brands like The New Savant. Somehow I’ve never tried their candles, but a few of them have recently caught my attention:

• Heatwave: fresh dill, cucumber, summer peaches, patchouli
• Dreamgirl: dark cherries, sparkling cola, rose petals, fresh tobacco, brushed leather
• Mixed Feelings: pink roses, white jasmine, water lotus, juicy lychee, steamed rice

These are the kind of scent descriptions that make you pause and re-read the label. I also have to give kudos to the brand for having a discovery set! They offer a tealight sampler set of the six scents in their core collection. I think that’s probably where I’ll start even though Dreamgirl is not in the set (and I need to know what sparkling cola smells like).

I’m also doubling down on my love for Flamingo Estate, a brand that consistently nails the green, garden inspired fragrances. Two candles currently on my radar are their Jalapeño and Green Goddess candles:

• Jalapeño: “Sharp, green, and spicy — it opens with a crackle of Coriander Seeds, Lemon Zest, and Oregano. Thyme and Eucalyptus kick things awake, as balsamic Galbanum grounds it deep into brisk, green earth.”
• Green Goddess: “It mingles freshly-picked Basil, sharp Mint, bright pea Tendrils, and warm Golden Ginger — conjuring those fleeting moments at golden hour when everything is lush and the garden feels alive.”

Even if jalapeños or basil aren’t your thing, it’s hard to read descriptions like these without feeling the care behind them. There’s some creativity and thoughtfulness in the fragrance combinations. Sure, some scents are a risk in candle form, but those offbeat scents are what stand out to me in an oversaturated industry. Five years ago, if you had told me that I’d own a tomato candle, I would have laughed at you. Now, it’s one of my favorite scents.

More Re-usable Vessels 

I rarely buy a candle unless the jar itself is something I’ll want to keep. This is especially true for expensive candles. If I’m paying a lot of money, I want the jar to have a second life as a decor piece or a storage item.

And yet, so many luxury candle brands charge a premium only to pour wax into the most basic jars. Smooth glass. Neutral colors. Boring labels. There is nothing wrong with minimalism, but at a certain price point, that just feels lazy. In 2026, I want to see more candle brands treat the vessel as part of the product, not just the packaging.

One of my longtime favorites is the Jonathan Adler Muse candle line. The face design on the porcelain jars is beautiful (and kind of creepy, but mostly beautiful). It feels like they intentionally designed a jar that would live on long after the candle is finished and that’s what I’m hoping to see more of this year. Another brand that gets this right is La Jolie Muse. Their jars were definitely designed with reuse in mind rather than as an afterthought.

Closing Thoughts

This wishlist of mine is really about making the candle category more enjoyable. There’s a lot of debate about whether the candle industry is oversaturated, but I don’t feel strongly either way. If it is, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The competition seems to have inspired some brands to think outside of the box. I scroll through so many pages of candles that start to blend together, but these are the things that make me slow down and pay attention: easier ways to discover new scents, more creativity and specificity in fragrance notes, sustainable vessels designed to last beyond the final burn, and better quality wax blends. If even one of these becomes more common, I’ll be very happy to keep lighting candles (and hopefully discovering new favorites) this year.