At Insider’s Guide to Spas, we’ve long believed that a candle can do more than scent a room—it can shape an atmosphere. Throughout spa history, fragrance has been the quiet architect of mood, ritual, and renewal. This curated collection spotlights a select group of candle houses we return to time and again—brands whose blends are sophisticated, transportive, and deeply considered. Together, they reflect the evolving language of modern spa culture and bring its calming intelligence home.
Aluminate Life: Astrology Meets Aromatherapy
For the guest who loves ritual with personal meaning, Aluminate Life blends crystal energy, essential oils, and zodiac archetypes into a single luminous practice. Founded by physician-turned-candlemaker Liz Lehman, the line has its roots in a healing pivot: what began as a kitchen experiment during recovery from a torn hamstring evolved into a six-figure aromatherapy brand after a diagnosis of severe hand arthritis ended her medical career. Rather than step back, she stepped forward—channeling her clinical insight into scent, structure, and intentional design.
Spotlight: Capricorn
Clear Quartz, Smoky Quartz, and Black Tourmaline meet an aromatic fusion of citrus, lavender, warm spices, and rich woods—crafted to restore clarity and resilience. A thoughtful, spa-aligned gift with a 50-hour burn time and luxe wood matches.
Iconic Scents
Iconic Scents: Fragrance as Interior Design
Created by interior designer Mary Ann Murphy, Iconic Scents channels the elegance, intimacy, and atmosphere of beautifully designed spaces. Each candle is hand-poured in Beverly Hills using globally sourced materials and presented like objets d’art.
Murphy describes her work as capturing “the small intimate moments… the feeling of closeness, of togetherness.” The line spans refined classics, modern blends, and an evocative Adventure Collection inspired by destinations such as Africa’s Serengeti.
Insider’s Pick: Iconic Ocean Candle An ode to the ocean and its salty air with notes of citrus, bergamot, and driftwood, “kissed with violet, jasmine, and cedarwood.”
Spas that carry the line include Cliff House Maine, Mandarin Oriental Boston, and Faena Miami.
Calming Park
Calming Park: Minimalist Quietude, Made in Grasse
Born from a synesthetic vision of sound and scent, Calming Park has spent nearly 25 years refining the art of stillness. Founded by Swiss music designer Olivier Rohrbach—whose guiding principle is to “sprinkle the world with delicate scents that please rather than flooding it with multiple fragrances”—the line embodies a calm, modern restraint.
Originally conceived as a music compilation, Calming Park evolved into a candle collection created in collaboration with parfumeur Marie Duchêne in Grasse. Hand-poured in France with a 12-percent perfume concentration and a serene, minimalist aesthetic, the candles bridge aroma with emotion.
Insider’s Pick: Head in the Clouds A joyful blend of lemongrass and clove topped with “a wisp of vanilla and lavender.”
Found at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives and exclusively at The Ranch Hudson Valley and Malibu, among others.
Iconesse: Art-Driven Candles with a Cult Following
A striking fusion of fine art and fragrance, Iconesse transforms iconic paintings into scent experiences. Each candle is biodegradable, hand-poured from a 100-percent natural wax blend, and housed in glass vessels printed with artwork-inspired patterns.
The fragrances—created by master perfumers in Grasse—are sophisticated and layered.
Insider’s PIck: The Great Wave A candle honoring Hokusai’s The Great Wave, a poetic study in movement, texture, and light.
You’ll find Iconesse at properties such as Mandarin Oriental New York and St. Regis Deer Valley.
Leverden
Leverden: Rituals of Return and Restoration
Leverden is steeped in the belief that healing begins with ritual. Founded by longtime friends Helen Lee and Soyoung Cho during the stillness of the pandemic, the brand weaves global wellness traditions into sensorial, grounding objects for daily practice.
Candles are hand-poured in California using a clean coconut–apricot wax and lead-free cotton wicks. The philosophy is rooted in the idea that nature, memory, scent, and emotion are interconnected—a worldview reflected in the brand’s Nordic-derived name, meaning “world.”
New Release: Sacred Scents Ritual Tin Candles
Perfect for travel or small restorative moments, these 45-gram tins (Bamboo Forest, Shaman, Valley of Roses, Kama) include a meditation QR code, a curated Spotify playlist, and an organic pouch—turning any room into a personal sanctuary.