If you’re ready to choose your favourites, these four Hampton and Astley scented candles are our top picks for creating a beautifully cosy living room:
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Sandalwood & Cedar – for warm, comfy evenings on the sofa
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Woodland Blossom & Wild Fig – for soft, sophisticated cosiness
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Lime, Basil & Mandarin – for fresh, cosy open-plan spaces
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Bergamot, Rose & Lavender – for calm, comforting evenings in
All four are made from a 100% natural wax blend with pure cotton wicks, so you get long-lasting, room-filling fragrance without paraffin.
If you’d like the details on which one is perfect for your living room, read on.
Why these are the best scented candles for a cosy living room
When you’re creating a snug living room, you’ll probably burn candles for hours at a time. That’s where what’s inside the candle really matters.
Most high street candles use paraffin wax, a by-product of petroleum. It’s cheap, but it can produce more soot and indoor pollutants when burned.
Hampton and Astley candles use a 100% natural wax blend (beeswax, soy, coconut and rapeseed wax) with pure cotton wicks, which means:
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A cleaner burn, with minimal smoke and soot
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A strong, room-filling scent without harshness
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Up to 50 hours of burn time, so one candle lasts across many cosy nights
That combination of natural wax + strong but gentle fragrance is exactly what you want in a space where you relax, read and curl up on the sofa.
Explore Hampton and Astley natural candles
What actually makes a living room feel cosy?
Candles work best when they’re part of a bigger cosy picture.
1. Lighting and ambience
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Swap bright ceiling lights for lamps and wall lights.
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Add one or two candles for a soft, flickering glow.
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Aim for warm, low-level light that makes you want to sit and stay.
2. Scent and mood
Fragrance changes how a room feels in seconds:
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Woody notes (sandalwood, cedar, patchouli) feel warm and grounding.
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Florals and herbs (rose, lavender, basil) feel calming and comforting.
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Citrus (bergamot, mandarin, lime) keeps the room feeling fresh, not stuffy.
For a full room-by-room guide to choosing the right scent, including hallways, bedrooms and bathrooms, you can explore our guide to 'Scent styling: fragrance ideas for every room'
3. Comfort and styling
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Layer throws, cushions and tactile fabrics.
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Clear visual clutter from surfaces.
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Use a candle as the finishing touch on a styled coffee table, sideboard or mantlepiece.
The best scented candles for a cosy living room
All four Hampton and Astley candles are hand-poured in England, made from 100% natural wax with cotton wicks and presented in elegant white boxes – perfect for gifting or treating yourself.
Here’s how each one works in a living room setting.
Sandalwood & Cedar – warm and woody for comfy evenings on the sofa
Shop Sandalwood & Cedar →
If your idea of cosy is a box set, blanket and a glass of something nice, this is your candle.
Scent profile:
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Creamy sandalwood
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Earthy cedar and patchouli
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Accents of ylang ylang, violet and bergamot
It’s rich, enveloping and a little bit sensual – the fragrance equivalent of a favourite jumper. The natural wax blend gives it a smooth, even burn, and the scent has enough presence to fill a larger living room without being overpowering.
Best for:
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Evenings on the sofa
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Reading corners and snugs
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Lounges with darker, moodier décor
Where to place it:
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In the centre of your coffee table, styled with books and a tray
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On a sideboard or console, to frame the room with scent
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Near (but not too near) a fireplace to enhance that fireside feel
Woodland Blossom & Wild Fig – soft, sophisticated cosiness
Shop Woodland Blossom & Wild Fig →This one is all about effortless, elegant cosiness – think calm, light-filled living rooms and fresh flowers.
Scent profile:
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Ripe figs
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Delicate orange blossom
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Fruity cassis
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Gentle woody notes
It’s fresh, green and slightly sweet, giving you warmth and comfort without heavy spice. It works year-round, but is especially lovely on crisp autumn and early spring days when you still want your living room to feel snug.
Best for:
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Neutral, minimalist or slightly “grown-up” living rooms
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Open-plan spaces that need a soft, sophisticated scent
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Daytime cosy rather than just evenings
Where to place it:
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On a side table next to your favourite chair
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Paired with a vase of seasonal branches or flowers
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In an open-plan living space, where its freshness can travel
Lime, Basil & Mandarin – cosy yet fresh open-plan spaces
If your living room opens into your kitchen or dining area, you might not want a heavy, sweet fragrance. Lime, Basil & Mandarin keeps things cosy but bright.Scent profile:
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Sparkling lime and mandarin
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Sweet, peppery basil
It’s a classic for a reason: the citrus keeps the space feeling clean and airy, while the basil adds a soft warmth. It’s brilliant if you cook a lot, entertain often, or just hate the feeling of “stale indoor air”.
Best for:
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Open-plan living, kitchen-diner spaces
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Homes where people are always coming and going
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Daytime and evening use
Where to place it:
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On a kitchen island or dining table in an open-plan space
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On a console near the front door, to greet you as you come home
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On a shelf or media unit, where the scent can drift through the whole room
Bergamot, Rose & Lavender – calming, comforting evenings in
Shop Bergamot, Rose & Lavender →
Sometimes cosy isn’t about anything dramatic – it’s about peace and quiet. Bergamot, Rose & Lavender is perfect for evenings when you want your living room to feel calm and cocooning.Scent profile:
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Uplifting citrus bergamot
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Soft, romantic rose
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Soothing lavender
It smells like a spa at home, making it ideal if your living room doubles as your place to decompress after work. Light it for Sunday afternoons, early nights or while you’re reading on the sofa.
Best for:
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Wind-down time after a busy day
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Softer colour schemes and serene interiors
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Living rooms that double as a relaxation space
Where to place it:
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On a coffee table during evening wind-down
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On a mantlepiece, paired with framed photos and a small plant
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Near the doorway between living room and hallway, to signal that you’re “off duty” now
Styling tips: where to place candles in your living room
A beautiful candle can transform a room – but placement matters.
Create a focal point
Style your candle on a tray with:
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A stack of coffee-table books
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A small vase or bud jar
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A pretty match striker or snuffer
This makes the candle feel intentional and decorative, even when it’s not lit.
Use pairs or trios
In a larger living room, try:
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Sandalwood & Cedar on the coffee table
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Lime, Basil & Mandarin on a sideboard or near the kitchen area
You get warmth where you relax and freshness where you move around.
Think about sightlines
Place candles where you see the glow as you walk into the room – on a mantle, console or sideboard opposite the doorway. That first glimpse of candlelight instantly signals “cosy evening”.
(Always follow safety guidance: keep candles away from curtains and soft furnishings, don’t place them in draughts, and keep them out of reach of children and pets.)
How to care for your natural wax candles so they last longer
To get the best from your Hampton and Astley candles:
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Let the first burn reach the edges
Allow the wax to melt right out to the sides of the jar the first time you light it. This helps prevent tunnelling and keeps the surface level for future burns. -
Trim the wick
Before each burn, trim the wick to around 5mm. This encourages a cleaner flame, less smoke and a more even burn. -
Burn in 2–4 hour sessions
Long enough to create a full melt pool, not so long that the candle overheats. -
Keep the wax pool clean
Remove any wick trimmings or debris so they don’t interfere with the flame.
Store your candles somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight to protect the fragrance and appearance of the natural wax.
FAQs: scented candles in the living room
Do natural wax candles smell as strong as paraffin candles?
Yes – especially when they’re made with high-quality fragrance and essential oils. Hampton and Astley’s natural wax blend is designed to give a room-filling scent without the harsh edge some paraffin candles can have.
How many candles do I need for a medium-sized living room?
Usually one is enough if you choose a good quality natural wax candle. For open-plan spaces, you might choose two complementary scents (for example, Sandalwood & Cedar in the seating area and Lime, Basil & Mandarin nearer the kitchen).
Are natural wax candles better for people with sensitivities?
Everyone is different, but many people prefer natural wax and cotton wicks to paraffin and metal-core wicks. If you’re sensitive, start with shorter burn times and see how you feel.
Ready to make your living room cosy?
Whether cosy means cabin-like warmth, spa-style calm or fresh, airy comfort, there’s a Hampton and Astley scented candle to match your living room.
Browse the full collection and choose your new signature scent: Natural candle collection →
