Nothing sets the mood and transforms the ambiance of a room quicker than lighting a great scented candle. Whether you‘re hosting a gathering, unwinding after a long day, or just wanting to make your space smell amazing, candles provide an easy and relatively inexpensive way to do it.
The only problem is – there are SO many candle options out there to choose from. Different brands, scents, sizes, price points… it can get overwhelming! That‘s why I‘ve put together this expert guide to the top 10 best candles you can find at Walmart. After testing dozens of candles, these are my absolute must-haves that I think you‘re going to love.
Walmart is one of my go-to spots for candles because they carry an impressive variety of brands and scents at super affordable prices. You really can‘t go wrong! But if you need help narrowing it down, keep reading for my top picks for every room, style and budget.
1. WoodWick Medium Hourglass Candles
First up, let‘s talk about WoodWick candles. If you haven‘t tried these before, you‘re in for a unique sensory experience. WoodWick uses a special wick made of organic wood that makes a soft crackling noise as it burns, reminiscent of a cozy fireplace. It‘s so soothing and instantly makes you feel more relaxed.
WoodWick‘s Medium Hourglass Candle collection features an array of amazing scents, from fruity to floral to woodsy. Some of the most popular include:
- Fireside: smells like a warm hearth with notes of amber, vetiver and musk
- Lavender & Cedar: a calming blend of wild lavender and warm cedar wood
- Coastal Sunset: bright citrus, lavender and rosemary that calls to mind a beach getaway
- Pumpkin Spice: the quintessential scent of fall with cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin
These candles use a high-quality paraffin and soy wax blend, and have an impressive burn time of 60-80 hours. The hourglass-shaped glass jar is very chic and can be repurposed after the candle is finished. Expect to pay around $15-19 for one of these beauties at Walmart.
2. Mainstays Explore America 14 oz 3-Wick Candle 2-Packs
I love the concept behind Walmart‘s exclusive Mainstays Explore America candle collection. Each candle is inspired by the unique scents and vibes of an iconic American region or city. The coolest part is they come in packs of 2 complementary scents so you can mix and match.
For example, the New York and Appalachian Mountains pack includes:
- New York: a juicy, sparkling blend of apple, pear and vanilla
- Appalachian Mountains: fresh green florals, water lily and apple blossom
Other city pairings in the collection include:
- Austin and the Rocky Mountains
- Nashville and the Smoky Mountains
- Miami and Sedona
- Los Angeles and the Sierra Nevadas
- Chicago and the Grand Canyon
These soy blend candles have 3 lead-free wicks and a potent fragrance throw to quickly fill a room with scent. The wicks are also self-extinguishing so you don‘t have to worry if you accidentally let it burn too long. At just $11.76 for 2, these are an amazing value.
3. Anchored Northwest Scented Soy Wax Melts
Prefer wax melts to traditional wick candles? This next pick is for you! Anchored Northwest is a small business based in Washington state that hand-pours all their products in small batches using eco-friendly soy wax and pure essential oils.
While you might not expect to see artisan goods on Walmart.com, they actually have a huge Marketplace of high-quality products from smaller companies and individual sellers. The Anchored Northwest wax melts in the Staycation scent are a vacation for your nose with notes of citrus, melon, floral and fresh air.
Each pack gives you about 40 hours of fragrance and the soy wax is clean-burning, so you can feel good about mellowing out with these melts. At just $5.99 per pack, they‘re an affordable indulgence. Anchored Northwest also sells candles if you prefer a wick.
4. Mainstays Single-Wick Candle in Frosted Jar
For a classic candle look at a fraction of the price of bigger name brands, Mainstays Single-Wick Frosted Jar Candles are the way to go. These 19 oz candles come in an impressive array of scents for every season and there‘s truly something for everyone.
Some of the most-loved include:
- Warm Apple Pie: Nothing says fall like the aroma of fresh-baked apples and cinnamon
- Lilac Breeze: Imagine strolling through a garden of fragrant purple lilacs in bloom
- Salted Sea Spray: A crisp, clean and refreshing scent with a hint of sea salt
- Vanilla: You can never go wrong with a timeless, comforting vanilla fragrance
These candles use a premium paraffin wax blend that burns evenly and delivers a strong scent throw. The wax is poured in Mainstay‘s Ohio factory. With proper care, you can get 100+ hours of burn time from one of these babies!
Most of the scents cost $7.97, with a few premium ones at $9.87 – a total steal compared to the $25+ you‘d pay for a comparable candle from Bath & Body Works or Yankee Candle. The frosted glass jars are simple and chic, with a shiny gold metal lid as a classy finishing touch.
5. Yankee Candle Large 2-Wick Tumbler Scented Candle
Speaking of Yankee Candle, did you know you can actually find their candles at Walmart too? It‘s true! The Yankee Candle Large Tumbler is a great option when you want to splurge on a higher-end candle from a trusted brand.
These 22 oz candles feature 2 wicks for a cleaner and more even burn. The sleek tumbler jar looks great in any space and the straightforward design really lets the scent take center stage. And with 110-150 hours of burn time, you‘ll get to enjoy that scent for a long time.
Yankee Candle offers their Large Tumbler in all their most popular fragrances, like:
- Pink Sands: A magical escape to the tropics with notes of bright citrus, sweet florals and spicy vanilla
- Sage & Citrus: The perfect blend of earthy and zingy scents to awaken your senses
- Midsummer Night: A seductively intriguing mix of musk, patchouli, sage and mahogany
- Coconut Beach: The aroma of sweet coconut and salty ocean air will whisk you away to your own private island
Expect to see prices ranging from $15-18 on these candles at Walmart, which is almost half the regular retail cost. Now that‘s a deal that‘s hard to pass up for such a high-quality candle!
6. Better Homes & Gardens 2-Wick Bell Jar Candle
Better Homes & Gardens is another brand worth checking out for some original and unexpected scents. Their 2-Wick Bell Jar Candle collection is especially stunning, with a shapely glass bell jar, beautiful embossed design and a hearty 30oz of wax made to last for 150+ hours.
Some stand-out picks include:
- Lavender & Lattes: A modern twist on lavender with warm vanilla bean and coffee notes
- Palo Santo & Violet: Holy wood and fresh florals create a mystical, alluring aroma
- Salted Coconut & Mahogany: Wood, fruit and musk notes strike a beachy but sophisticated balance
- Pineapple & Vanilla: Mouthwatering pineapple, tonka and vanilla smell just like a tropical dessert
These candles use a unique coconut wax blend that burns cleaner and longer than soy wax. They‘re also made with natural essential oils for a more potent fragrance. The lid is made from carbonized wood – very rustic chic!
Better Homes & Gardens candles will set you back around $14.87 at Walmart, but they‘re worth a little extra for their impressive size, burn time and aesthetic. These make a beautiful home accent piece while simultaneously fragrancing the entire room.
7. Great Value Aromatherapy Candles
Never underestimate the power of a good budget buy. Walmart‘s own Great Value line has some seriously excellent aromatherapy candle options that will only cost you about the price of a latte.
In the classic 3-wick jar style (a dupe for Bath & Body Works candles), expect to find invigorating scent combinations like:
- Mandarin & Teakwood
- Lavender & Chamomile
- Eucalyptus & Sage
For under $5 each, these pack a powerful fragrance punch. The natural soy wax blend is infused with high-quality essential oils that are released into the air as the candle burns. Breathe deeply and feel the stresses of the day melt away.
If you‘re on the fence about trying these, check out some of the glowing reviews on Walmart.com. One customer raved: "Great Value candles are slept on. I 100% will continue to be a loyal buyer. This candle is long-lasting, smells RICH, even burn and has equal scent in each room with just one candle…bang for your buck. I got my family hooked." Can‘t argue with that!
8. Craft & Kin Leather Candle
Prefer your candles with a masculine twist? Let me introduce you to the Craft & Kin Leather Candle. This 100% premium soy wax candle is infused with the essence of real leather for a luxuriously heady scent. Inhale deeply and you‘ll also catch fragrant top notes of creamy floral.
Hand-poured in the USA, this candle is made with essential oils and an organic cotton wick, so you can feel good about breathing in its aroma. The dark amber glass jar is just the right touch of rustic sophistication and looks great in an office, man cave or anywhere you want to add a masculine vibe.
At 8oz, this candle provides about 45 hours of burn time. One Walmart customer declared it the perfect Father‘s Day gift, noting "A great scent for men and a really cool looking candle." For only $16.99, Craft & Kin candles offer amazing quality and stylish packaging you‘d expect from a much pricier product.
9. Voluspa Embossed Glass Candle
Looking for something a little fancy and splurge-worthy? Voluspa, a boutique candlemaker based in California, makes the most gorgeous embossed glass jar candles inspired by Japanese design.
These 18oz candles are seriously stunning, with intricate patterns carved into colorful glass. The effect is even more breathtaking when lit – the flicker of the flame through the glass creates mesmerizing shadows and movement. Perfect as a centerpiece at your next dinner party!
Voluspa candles are known for their beautiful packaging AND their unique, intoxicating scents sourced from the finest ingredients around the world. Some enticing options include:
- Goji Tarocco Orange: A juicy blend of goji berries sweetened with ripe mango and orange
- Panjore Lychee: Tropical lychee fruit mingles with cassis and Asian pear for a fresh, fruity aroma
- Baltic Amber: Golden amber, mixed with sandalwood, vanilla orchid and coconut create a warm, sweet and resinous scent
Made with an eco-friendly coconut wax that burns cleaner than soy, Voluspa candles retail for around $36 at Walmart – not cheap, but worth the indulgence for a statement piece. The jars are so pretty you‘ll definitely want to repurpose them long after the scent is gone.
10. Luna Clove Vanilla Soy Wax Candle
Last but certainly not least, allow me to introduce you to a little secret I‘ve discovered – Luna Candle Company. Despite the smaller 11oz size, this mighty candle delivers up to 110 hours of beautiful, long-lasting fragrance thanks to its clean-burning, 100% natural soy wax formula.
The Warm Vanilla scent is really something special, with its rich, creamy vanilla kissed by hints of caramel and jasmine. It‘s sweet without being cloying and feels so warm and inviting. This is what I imagine heaven smells like! The scent is powerful enough to quickly fill a room but never becomes overpowering.
Another great thing about soy candles like this one – the wax burns much more evenly and cleanly compared to traditional paraffin. That means less black soot and ugly residue on the jar. Soy also has a lower melting point so you get a larger wax pool and better scent dispersion.
At an $18 price point, Luna is a little more of an investment, but one you can feel good about. These candles are artisan-crafted in small batches so a lot of care goes into each one. The elegant clear glass jar allows the candle to double as decor too.
In Conclusion
So there you have it – my top 10 picks for the best candles you can buy at Walmart this year. From woodsy and leathery to citrusy and floral, there‘s a scented candle out there for everyone and every room of the house. And at Walmart prices, you can afford to stock up!
I hope this guide has been helpful in narrowing down the options and steering you towards some amazing affordable candles. These are the ones I personally buy again and again. But half the fun is experimenting and discovering new brands and scents you love. So go forth and happy candle shopping! Your nose will thank you.
