What Candles Does Oprah Use?

Oprah Winfrey is one of the most iconic and influential women in media. As host of the popular The Oprah Winfrey Show for over two decades, she had an unmatched ability to drive consumer purchasing and create instant bestsellers. Her annual list of Oprah’s Favorite Things became highly coveted, with products flying off shelves after receiving Oprah’s stamp of approval.

Among Oprah’s favorite indulgences are scented candles and home fragrances. She has often shared how much she enjoys lighting candles around her home and offices. In Oprah’s own words: “I light candles everywhere, and I don’t think there’s been a day since I was 19 years old that I have not lit a candle, not a single day.” (Source)

Given her fondness for candles, it’s no surprise that Oprah’s annual Favorite Things lists feature her top candle picks. Let’s explore some of Oprah’s favorite candle brands, scent preferences, how she uses candles in her home, and more.

Oprah’s Favorite Scented Candles

Oprah has featured many scented candles in her annual Oprah’s Favorite Things lists over the years. According to homesandgardens.com, some of Oprah’s favorite candle brands include Harlem Candle Co., NEST New York, and Lafco New York. She seems to love candles with warm, cozy scents like vanilla, amber, and sandalwood.

One of Oprah’s all-time favorite candles is the Harlem Candle Co. Purple Love scented candle, which she has featured multiple times. This soy wax candle has notes of vanilla, jasmine, and bergamot for a sweet, floral scent. In 2022, Oprah included the NEST New York Holiday scented candle, with fragrance notes of pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, cloves, and cinnamon. She also loves Lafco New York’s Abbey scented candle inspired by a monastery garden.

In addition to individual scented candles, Oprah often features candle gift sets and sampler packs, so people can discover new signature fragrances. She looks for candles with inviting, mood-boosting scents that can make a house feel like a home. Reviewing Oprah’s picks provides an excellent guide to high-quality candle brands and compelling scents worth trying yourself.

How Oprah Uses Candles

Oprah has shared that candles play an important role in her home and lifestyle. She uses candles to create ambiance, relax, and make her home smell inviting. According to Oprah, “I light candles everywhere, including the bathroom. My favorite candle is Diptyque’s Figuier candle. There’s nothing better than the warm glow of candlelight to make you feel at home.”

Oprah especially loves using candles in the bedroom, saying “Candles in the bedroom are a must for setting the mood. I keep them on the nightstands and dresser top. A candlelit bedroom feels peaceful and romantic.” (Homes & Gardens)

For entertaining, Oprah sets out candles throughout the house to welcome guests. She told Oprah Daily, “Candles are key for entertaining. I always have candles burning in the entryway, dining room, living room, and patio when company comes over. It makes the whole house feel cozy and lively.”

Oprah also enjoys lighting candles during quiet times alone. “After a long day, I draw a bath, light some candles around the tub, and soak. It’s so relaxing and helps me decompress.” Candles are clearly an important element in Oprah’s self-care routines.

Oprah’s Extensive Candle Collection

Oprah Winfrey is known for having an extensive collection of scented candles. Over the years, she has shared her love of candles with her fans by featuring her favorites on her “Favorite Things” list. According to Oprah, she has filled her homes with candles and likes to have them burning in every room.

Some of the rare and signature candles in Oprah’s collection include:https://www.homesandgardens.com/celebrity-style/oprah-winfrey-favorite-candle a custom-made candle from LAFCO called “Oprah 25,” created to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Oprah Winfrey Show. It has a blend of tuberose, peach, and sandalwood. Another prized candle is the Byredo Bibliotheque, which has a fragrance inspired by the wood and paper from old books and libraries. Oprah loves this candle for its rich, nostalgic scent.

Discontinued candles Oprah has loved over the years include ones from luxury brands like Jo Malone, Diptyque, and Nest Fragrances. Though no longer available, she had amassed large collections of candles like Jo Malone’s Pomegranate Noir and Lime Basil & Mandarin. Oprah also reportedly stocked up on Nest Fragrances’ Pumpkin Chai before it was discontinued.

Today, Oprah continues to discover and add new favorite candles to her collection each year. She enjoys selecting special, limited-edition candles that often sell out after being included on her annual gift guide. Her expansive candle collection reflects her passion for these scented accessories.

Candle Safety Tips from Oprah

Oprah wants us all to enjoy candles safely in our homes. On her website, she offers advice on proper candle usage so we can avoid potential hazards (source). Oprah recommends using sturdy candle holders made of nonflammable materials like glass, metal or ceramic. The holder should be at least 2 inches higher than the candle to prevent the flame from reaching nearby objects. She also advises trimming wick to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to avoid smoking and soot.

For placement, Oprah says to keep burning candles away from drafts to prevent rapid, uneven burning. Never leave a lit candle unattended or sleep in a room with a burning candle. Make sure to extinguish candles before leaving a room. Oprah notes it’s safer to burn candles for no more than 4 hours at a time. She recommends using a snuffer or spoon to put out candles rather than blowing them out to avoid sending sparks and hot wax in unwanted directions. Carefully poured candles like jar candles or votives are preferable to heavily scented utility candles.

Oprah wants candle safety to be a top priority so we can enjoy beautiful, scented ambiance responsibly. Follow her tips like using a sturdy holder and trimming wicks to make the most of candles without worry.

Oprah-Inspired Candle Display Ideas

Displaying your favorite scented candles in creative arrangements can help enhance your ambiance and decorate your home with inspiration from Oprah’s style. Shelving, storage solutions, and display techniques borrowed from Oprah’s decor provide aesthetically pleasing ways to showcase your candle collection.

Oprah often opts for open shelving and clear glass containers to display her candles, allowing their shapes and colors to take center stage. Try organizing your candles by hue in glass canisters, apothecary jars, or vases on floating shelves or a console table for easy access (30 Unique Gifts for Every Candle Lover in Your Life). Cluster pillar candles, taper candles, and tealights together artfully on a mantel or bookshelf.

Repurpose vintage boxes, baskets, and trays to hold candles of varying heights. Oprah sometimes likes to display candles on a cake stand or tiered server for extra height and dimension. Or, arrange candles on a coffee table or sofa table to create an inviting glow during movie nights.

For a unified look, stick to neutral containers like wood, glass, or metal and decorate around the candles with greenery, flowers, or coffee table books. Follow Oprah’s lead and keep your candle displays minimal yet meaningful by focusing on just a few complementary scents, shapes, and colors.

DIY Candle Projects from Oprah

Oprah has shared many creative DIY candle projects in her O Magazine over the years. She loves showing readers new ways to upcycle jars and containers into beautiful homemade candles.

Some of Oprah’s favorite DIY candle projects include turning old tea cups into soy candles and filling mason jars with scented wax to create rustic chic decor (source). She recommends using soy wax rather than paraffin for a cleaner burn.

In a holiday gift guide, Oprah featured decorative painted jars filled with homemade cinnamon and pine scented candles (source). The jars were painted in red and white stripes and topped with burlap for a farmhouse chic look.

Oprah also loves repurposing old baby food jars and juice bottles into travel-sized candles. She says they make great DIY gifts for friends, teachers, and loved ones. Just clean out the jars, fill with soy wax and essential oils, and decorate the lids (source).

No matter what type of container you use, Oprah recommends taking proper safety precautions when making DIY candles at home. Make sure to use a double boiler, pour candles on a lined surface, and avoid high fragrance percentages (source). With Oprah’s tips, you’ll be crafting beautiful and safe homemade candles in no time!

Philanthropic Candles Supported by Oprah

Oprah has shown great care and generosity by supporting philanthropic candle brands over the years. She often chooses ethically sourced and charitable candles where proceeds help support important social causes.

One example is Benevolence LA, which creates hand-poured soy candles in Los Angeles. A portion of profits from each candle goes towards helping the homeless in LA. Oprah featured their Matte Black scented candles in her list of Favorite Things in 2018. She appreciated that the brand gave back to the community.

Another charitable candle brand endorsed by Oprah is Boy Smells. Their Kush Candle pays homage to writer Maya Angelou with lush rose notes. Proceeds support the Maya Angelou Johnson Memorial Fund for equal access to quality education.

By spotlighting purpose-driven candle brands like these, Oprah uses her platform to make a positive difference. Her support helps raise awareness and gives back to worthy causes.

Similarities to Oprah’s Candle Preferences

Oprah is known for having exquisite taste when it comes to home decor and scented candles. Though the specific brands she prefers can be on the pricier side, there are many accessible options that align with her love for clean, subtle fragrances like floral, citrus, and light musk.

Brands like Yankee Candle, Bath & Body Works, and Voluspa make great alternatives that offer similar soft, feminine scents Oprah enjoys. Specific candles comparable to Oprah’s picks include Yankee Candle’s Midsummer Dream, with its gentle white floral bouquet, and Bath & Body Works’ Orange Sapphire, with sparkling citrus and white musk undertones.

For those who prefer soy-based wax candles, excellent options are Voluspa’s Japonica in its ornate tin vessel and Target’s Threshold White Tea & Sage jar candle, both of which have light, soothing herbal scents.

There are countless affordable but quality candles to explore that give a similar clean, cozy vibe to the elevated candles Oprah loves. With some trial and error, candle aficionados can find the perfect subtle scents to make their homes feel as calming and welcoming as Oprah’s without breaking the bank.

Conclusion

In summary, Oprah clearly has refined yet eclectic taste when it comes to scented candles. She prefers clean, floral scents like rose, gardenia, and lilac from brands like Nest Fragrances and Harlem Candle Company. At the same time, Oprah enjoys rich, warm scents like vanilla, sandalwood, and amber when looking for a cozy home aroma. Her favorite candles often feature creative unique blends, thoughtful packaging, and artisanal, hand-poured production. She focuses on candles that evoke fond memories, create an inviting mood, and craft a meaningful experience.

As one of the most influential cultural icons and tastemakers, Oprah’s recommendations carry enormous weight with consumers. When she features a product like a scented candle in her Favorite Things gift guide or Oprah’s Book Club, it’s sure to fly off shelves. Her loyal fans trust Oprah’s discernment and want to experience her favorite discoveries. Though everyone has individual scent preferences, trying candles personally endorsed by Oprah is a compelling starting point for those seeking new home fragrances.

To explore more of Oprah’s favorite products across home, fashion, and beauty categories, visit Oprah Daily and the Oprah’s Favorite Things webpage. Subscribing to her magazines like O Quarterly will ensure you never miss another coveted recommendation from America’s most beloved TV personality and foremost authority on all things lifestyle.