5 Best Candles for the Bathroom In 2023 (Buying Guide & Review)

If you’re in a hurry and just want to know which candle would be the best for the bathroom, then I would recommend,Shorties Candle Co.’s tea light candles, as your best choice. 

Candles can help cover up foul bathroom odors. But they can also be used to create a relaxing environment for you to rest and rejuvenate.

In this article, I’ve listed some candles that I think work best in bathrooms. Further into the article, I’ll help you think about the different ways that candles can be used in the bathroom so that you can choose the ones that work best for you. 

In this article I will review the following candles:

My Top 5 Picks for Bathroom Candles

This list includes a wide range of candles that vary by price, size, and fragrance. I hope you find something that you like. 

As an aside, the dimensions of each container will give you an idea of how long they’ll need to be lit in order to form a full wax pool. The width in inches equals the same number in hours.

1. Best Value: Set of 7 Scented Candles for Home

Dimensions: 2.5 inches in diameter x 1.66 inches tall (each canister)

Weight: 4 oz. each

Wax type: Soy

Wick type: Uncertain

Burn time: Up to 25 hours each (up to 175 hours total)

I think this is a good deal for 100% soy candles made with essential oils. There are seven candles total, poured into tin containers. I think the containers add value because if you happen to drop them on the bathroom floor, they won’t shatter. 

Being that there’s an 8% fragrance load added to the wax, these candles give off a nice strong scent, but won’t be overwhelming. For a room as small as a bathroom, I wouldn’t want to light a candle with a higher fragrance load.

But I also think these candles might be strong enough to leave uncovered in the bathroom. Their cold throw might be sufficient for you. I’m using words like might and maybe because scent strength is subjective. What I consider to be sufficient, you might find to have a weak throw.

But I think they’re strong enough to eliminate odors or have a relaxing time bathing. The only way to know for sure is to test out the candles.

There are seven scents included:

• Bluebell
• Citrus
• Fig
• Jasmine
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Rose

This is a nice combination of fruity and floral scents that many people can enjoy. Each four ounce tin can burn 20 – 25 hours. 

Since they’re made using essential oils, you can use them for aromatherapy, if you prefer. 

Pros

• Great housewarming gift
• Adds color to the bathroom
• Eco-friendly soy wax
• Fragranced with essential oils
• Variety of scents

Cons

• You may not like the container colors
• You may not like all of the fragrances

== Check Price on Amazon ==

2. Best Budget Option: Glade Sheer Vanilla Embrace

Dimensions: Approx. 3 inches in diameter x 3.25 inches tall

Weight: 3.4 oz 

Wax type: Paraffin

Wick type: Lead-free

Burn time: Up to 30 hours

Glade candles are a tried and true budget option. They’re readily available, have multiple scent options, and can last as long and smell as strong as some of the more expensive options.

Made with paraffin wax, you can be certain to get a strong hot throw from this candle. The scent continues to linger once the flame is blown out. 

White woods and floral scents accompany this warm vanilla fragrance. Although essential oils have been added to this candle wax, there are fragrance oils included as well, so it’s not an option for aromatherapy.

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Common fragrance most people will like
• Strong scent throw

Cons

• Some feel this scent is too faint
• Some dislike that it’s made with paraffin wax

== Check Price on Amazon ==

3. Most Odor Resistant: LMAO Shitrus Candle

No products found.

Dimensions: 3.1 inches in diameter x 3.5 inches tall

Weight: 11 oz

Wax type: Soy blend

Wick type: Lead-free cotton braided

Burn time: 35 to 40 hours

Fragrance notes include bergamot, orange, and grapefruit. It’s a refreshing combination of phthalate free fragrance oils that can cover up the foulest odors. 

This is a nice-sized candle at 11 ounces. You may have to burn it for at least three hours before getting a full pool of wax. But it also has a strong cold throw, so you don’t have to burn it at all if you don’t want to. You can remove the lid and allow its fragrance oils to permeate the room.

Pros

• Nice gag gift
• Covers foul odors
• Universally-liked fragrance
• Lasting slow burn
• Strong fragrance throw

Cons

• Men might like it more than women

No products found.

4. Best Bougie Bathroom Candle: Diptyque Roses

Dimensions: 1.18 inches in diameter x 1.97 inches tall

Weight: 2.4 oz

Wax type: Paraffin

Wick type: Lead-free cotton

Burn time: Up to 30 hours

Any Diptyque candle is going to be an expensive treat. Pricey but irresistible, this floral-scented candle smells just like a rose garden. No artificial scent notes here.

This candle is perfect for the bathroom according to size and fragrance. It can fill the room with a bouquet of roses without even lighting it. And the scent won’t fade over time like some brands. 

Pros

• Small in size but mighty in fragrance
• Perfect for small spaces
• Strong cold and hot throw

Cons

• It’s expensive

== Check Price on Amazon ==

5. Best Overall: Shorties Candle Co. Vanilla Bean Tea Light Candles

Dimensions: 1.5 inches in diameter x close to 1 inch tall

Weight: 0.5 ounces

Wax type: Paraffin

Wick type: Lead-free natural fiber

Burn time: Up to 5 hours

This is a set of six tea light candles that total 3 ounces. They’re fragranced with a combination of natural and essential oils. You’ll smell the scent of these candles almost immediately.

It’s a natural vanilla bean fragrance that most people will enjoy. So this is a nice candle to have in your powder room for guests. Since they’re under two inches in diameter, it will take an hour or less for their wax to pool.

Since they’re tealights, it’s best not to burn them in their plastic containers. To burn them safely, buy a set of tealight holders, or place them on top of a ceramic dish before lighting.

Pros

• Can burn in short time intervals
• Neutral fragrance
• Rich vanilla scent
• Self-trimming wick

Cons

• Must be used with a tealight holder

== Check Price on Amazon ==

How to Choose the Best Candle for Your Bathroom

Choosing the best candle for your bathroom is not as straightforward as it might seem. There are many different sizes, scents, and fragrance strengths to choose from.

And then there’s decor. Would you like the candle color or labeling to complement your theme or kinda sink into the background? Or are you not even that concerned? Let’s explore.

Fragrance Tips

Choose a fairly neutral scent if you plan to have company over. Something like vanilla, lavender, or a citrus scent are fragrances that most people like. It can be embarrassing enough for a guest to have to relieve themselves in your bathroom. You don’t want them to also feel uncomfortable with the candle fragrance you’ve chosen.

If you live alone or rarely have guests over, just pick your favorite fragrance!

Scent Strength Tips

You don’t want your bathroom to be filled with an overpowering fragrance. Sitting in a small room with a highly fragrant candle can be sickening. Seriously, it can make you nauseous.

So it’s best to light a smaller candle that’s not too strong. It can be hard to tell, but if it’s a new candle fragrance that you have never burned before, its cold throw can give you a hint.

If you remove the lid and the cold throw is very strong, you might want to light that candle in a larger, more open space. 

Similarly, if it’s a wide candle with multiple wicks and a very strong cold throw, you may want to avoid burning that candle in your bathroom. The exception being, you have a large bathroom.

An exception is if you don’t plan to actually light the candle. If this is true, then a candle with a strong cold throw can keep the bathroom smelling fresh without concern for fire safety.

Container Size Tips

The National Candle Association suggests that you can expect to burn a candle one hour for every inch of its width. If you have a four-inch candle, it would be best to burn it for at least four hours in order to reach a full wax pool. You always want to make sure melted candle wax reaches to the edge of a container to avoid tunneling.

So the best thing to do is light smaller candles in the bathroom – whether it’s tea lights votives, or other candles with a small diameter. You won’t have to worry as much about tunneling due to short burn periods if your candle is small in the first place. It only takes a tea light thirty minutes to an hour for a full layer of wax to form. If you light it as soon as you enter the bathroom, it’ll likely pool before you leave.

An exception is when you transform your bathroom into a spa. On such days, you might spend a couple hours in the bathroom. Small to medium-sized candles would work well on those days.

Decor Tips

Some people decorate with neutral colors in order to bring in accessories that add a pop of color here or there. Other people set up a more obvious color scheme throughout. You know your styling preferences, so just keep that in mind when selecting a bathroom candle.

Would you prefer frosted glass for a coastal, serene look and feel? Do you like colored wax and graphic labels?

Or, would you prefer to place tea lights inside a candle warmer that blends in with your toothbrush holder and bath towels?

What’s Your Goal?

Do you want a strong odor-eliminating candle? Or, do you want to light multiple candles in order to create ambiance? Knowing the goal you would like to achieve helps you focus on the exact type of candle to buy.

Softer, aromatherapy scents can help you relax. Stronger floral or herbal scents can help eliminate odors.

Tips for Young Children or Pets

If you have human or fur babies, you may desire to light candles but prefer not to do so in order to keep them safe. That’s understandable. In your case, you may want to consider LED-candles.

Flameless candles are the safest way to create the serene atmosphere that only candles can create, while keeping the little ones safe. Many of them even flicker like real candles. This is a nice flameless decorative set that comes with polished rocks and a stand.

Just for Show?

There’s nothing wrong with placing candles in your bathroom that you never intend to light. In such cases, sculpted candles can add interest to your bathroom decor. Here are a few examples:

• Set of two female torso candles
• Game of Thrones Dragon Egg Candles
• Greek Goddess Statue Set

Scented sculpted candles are a bonus because they’ll add fragrance to your bathroom around the clock.

What’s the Safest Way to Use a Bathroom Candle?

Lit candles should never be left unattended. That’s why using them in the bathroom can get tricky. 

The extent to which you can safely use candles in the bathroom, largely depends on how long you plan to be in the bathroom. I get that you can’t always time it, but what I mean is that there’s a difference between going in to relieve yourself versus taking a long bath. 

Try to Time it Well

So if you are using the toilet, I think the safest way to use a bathroom candle is to light something like a tea light or votive candle right after you close the door behind you. 

This way, it will mask unpleasant odors, and you can extinguish the flame on your way out.

For Longer Burn Times

If you plan to take a long soak, only place candles on the edge of the tub if it’s wide enough and flame retardant. Items can too easily slip off of the tub and potentially catch fire. You don’t want a lit candle falling down onto the bath mat or floor.

Also, if you’re sleepy and pour chamomile or similar salts into your bath water, it’s probably best not to light any candles. You don’t want to fall asleep while they’re lit. You might accidentally tip the candle over.

No Hanging Objects

Since bathrooms are tighter spaces, I think it’s important to remind you to make sure not to place a lit candle underneath any flammable objects. Make sure the space above the candle is clear from hanging towels, curtains, or anything else that can potentially catch fire.

Maintain Them

One of the best ways to safely burn a candle is to keep your wicks trimmed to about ¼ inch. This prevents a high flame. It also prevents the flame from jumping around.

Another maintenance tip is to not allow wick trimmings or any debris to accumulate on the candle wax. Debris can cause the flame to grow wildly.

Final Thoughts

In most cases, people don’t spend hours on end in the bathroom. Because of this, it’s best not to burn a wide candle because short burn intervals for large candles will lead to tunneling. 

Keeping burn time in mind, I would choose Shorties Candle Co.’s tea light candles as the clear winner. They only need to stay lit for a little over an hour, if that long. You can freshen the bathroom and then extinguish the flame without being concerned with leaving the candle unattended.

My second choice would be the set of seven scented candles in a tin. I think tin containers are more ideal for bathrooms than glass ones because they won’t shatter or crack if they fall. 

But ultimately, it’s up to you! Consider your scent preferences, living habits, and space to choose the best candles for your bathroom.