Soft, sultry, sensual, and seductive, there's no better way to set the perfect romantic mood than with a luxurious and romantic candle scent. And with Valentine's Day right around the corner, we thought it was the perfect time to put together this list of our favorite romantic candle scents for 2022. 

These enchanting aromas are sure to make your valentine’s night a special one. If you're looking for ideas to help spark (or rekindle) more romance in your life, this article is for you!

1. Rose

We’ll start with arguably the most sensual and symbolically romantic candle scent of them all: rose. 

This intoxicating aroma comes from a flower that's been around longer than humans. In fact, the oldest fossil record of roses dates all the way back to the paleolithic era, approximately 35 to 32 million years ago. 

Historically, the smell of rose has been associated with love and romance for thousands of years. Legend has it that Queen Cleopatra wore a perfume based on rose and neroli, and even had a room packed with over a foot of rose petals during her affair with Marc Anthony.

This sweet yet spicy, floral aroma with honeyed, fruity notes embodies the essence of romance and is a classic choice to set the perfect Valentine's Day mood. 

In fact, studies have found that inhaling the smell of roses led to an increase in sexual desire among people with depression. Fragrance from roses is also known to also have an array of other therapeutic benefits, including the enhancement of mental clarity, joy, sexual satisfaction, and relaxation. 

What better way to enjoy the month of love than by trying one of our candles with this beloved scent? At the Harlem Candle Company, rose is featured in several of our luxury candle fragrances, such as Josephine and Ellington.

2. JASMINE

Referred to as “the perfume of love” by Hindus and Muslims, this scent was traditionally used for relaxing the body before intimacy. Its gorgeous white flowers symbolize beauty and love. 

The Persian translation of jasmine is “god’s gift”. The intense aroma has been universally popular for its richness since it was first traded on the silk road in ancient China. In Thailand, the flowers are a symbol of a mother’s deep and unconditional love. 

A staple for candle and fragrance lovers worldwide, the scent of jasmine is sweet, floral, rich, and sensual. It also has a number of benefits to the body, mind, and soul. The relaxing aroma of jasmine can help improve libido, decrease stress, and increase energy levels by acting on our central nervous system and enhancing the effect of the neurotransmitter GABA.

This exotic scent has spiced up bedroom activity for centuries and makes an excellent candle scent for a steamy date night. Setting a mood of intense desire, jasmine might be the aroma you’ve been looking for all along. 

You can experience the wonderfully romantic essence of jasmine in our Josephine and Langston luxury candles.

3. Vanilla

When discussing romantic candle scents for Valentine's Day, the opulent aroma of vanilla shouldn't be overlooked. 

Originally cultivated by the Totonacs in ancient Mexico, vanilla served as the tribe’s #1 sweetener. The commodity was quickly passed on to the Aztecs when they conquered the Totonacs in the 1400s. But it wasn’t until the Spanish Conquest that vanilla was formally introduced to Europe and gained international recognition.

Vanilla is widely associated with being a pleasure-inducing aroma. This scent creates an inviting mood and would be a lovely aroma to fill your dining room during a valentine’s date night dinner with your sweetheart.

When done right, the smell of vanilla is sweet, creamy, and comforting, with a hint of exotic spices. This scent is known for being rich and seductive, making it a perfect candidate to add to your sexy and romantic candle collection.

Vanilla gets its vivacious smell from the compound vanillin. The presence of vanillin in pure vanilla extract evokes warmth, happiness, and relaxing sensations throughout the body. A powerful aphrodisiac, vanilla is known to boost libido. 

The seductive, inviting base of vanilla is fully incorporated in our Speakeasy luxury candle. You can also enjoy the sultry richness of vanilla in our Josephine, Langston, and Lenox candles. 

4. Patchouli

A member of the mint family, patchouli was first recognized for its uses in South India by early Tamil people. Later on, Napoleon was said to have brought the middle-eastern commodity throughout Europe by way of silk trading routes. 

The aroma of patchouli is often described as intensely earthy, spicy, and slightly sweet. This herbaceous scent is a member of the woody fragrance family. It's unique to other romantic scents in that it has notes of musk. 

Patchouli is a marvelous aroma for the outdoorsy couple. A whiff of this scent might stir visions of a romantic hike through the majestic Redwood Forest in the northern coastal region of California. Creating an impeccable atmosphere for adventurous romantics, Patchouli is sure to bring earthy wonder to date night. 

The smell of patchouli can also help regulate stress hormones, such as serotonin, which reduces stress and anxiety while simultaneously promoting feelings of happiness. 

At the Harlem Candle Company, we incorporate patchouli in several of our candles, including our Speakeasy and Ellington candles. 

Our list wouldn’t be complete without the versatile aroma that is one of the base notes of many of our luxury candles: sandalwood.

The origins of this exotic scent of sandalwood began in ancient India, where the essential oil of the Santalum album tree was used for religious rituals, incense, and meditation. Nowadays, Sandalwood stands out as a popular base note in the world of perfumery.

Sandalwood smells sweet, warm, soft, smooth, and earthy. The benefits of this balsamic treasure include creating mental clarity, reducing nervousness, and promoting inner peace. Many of these effects are attributed to the chemical santalol, which is found in sandalwood essential oils. 

This scent is essential for deeply spiritual partners. It created a mood of focused connection between you and your loved one. 

The luscious, romantic fragrance of sandalwood is featured in many of our luxury candles, including Josephine, Langston, Lady Day, and Love. 

6. Chocolate

Smooth, creamy, and deep, who doesn't love the rich smell of chocolate? But while you're probably very familiar with this sweet and warm aroma, did you know that chocolate is also an aphrodisiac? 

The smell of chocolate is a deep, sweet, and even slightly floral. It promotes libido due to it’s anandamide and phenlyethylamine compounds. These chemicals release dopamine to the brain and have other soothing effects.

Chocolate originated in ancient Mesoamerica 4,000 year ago, when the Olmec civilization first discovered how to make use of the cacao plant. Chocolate quickly spread from the Mayans, to the Aztecs, to Spain, and, eventually, throughout all of Europe. Today, this sweet commodity is prized all over the world.

Made from the seeds of cacao plants, the scent of chocolate amplifies the other fragrance notes in scented candles. It's particularly lovely when paired with the aforementioned rose, vanilla, patchouli, and sandalwood scents. 

Chocolate is a wonderful scent for newlyweds. Creating an air of cheerful bliss for lovebirds, you might consider incorporating this classic scent in your collection if you're celebrating a new relationship. 

Our Speakeasy luxury candle and reed diffuser incorporates a base note of rich dark chocolate together with vanilla, patchouli, and an enchanting whiff of smoked incense that you will not want to miss out on.

We hope this article gives you inspiration for choosing romantic candle scents to add to your collection. Happy Valentine's Day!