I’ll be frank and shout that year 2019 has been a year where I'm focused on working on myself and formulating environments where I'm able to express my creative cravings without lingering repercussions. After a meditation lesson with my beloved shaman, Toni Zavala Uribe, on how to kick that dark cloud that likes to creep in and cause depression or anxiety, I started exploring the healing power of candles. White candles, in particular, represent the highest level of consciousness and supposedly have the ability to absorb energy, heal emotion, repel negative energy, relieve tension, and provide protection when burned; it's a quintessential component in therapeutic and meditative practices. 

Candles in general always offer a sense of comfort, and fancy candles in particular evoke my upper echelon fantasies. Therefore, since I found myself online searching for the best candles with the ability to intensify my newfound love for holistic beauty practices, I thought to reach out to expert beauty editors to gauge what fanciness they were lighting as of late, and why? Could it be due to a preferred aroma? Sacred design, or a humble memory? Ahead, check out what 10 beauty editors had to say about their favorite candles.

“The white candle is pure, it’s safe, and it represents truth, harmony and wholeness of the spirit. As I begin my holistic journey, I’m starting to burn candles every day, which means I need a lot of white candles. Right now I am loving Claus Porto Deco Candle. After I got back from a wellness retreat, it was the first candle I burned and it truly set the tone in my place of comfort: my home. I now compare every candle to it, and I look for the hints of cedarwood, pine, and smoky cade in fragrances. 

I also enjoy Vancouver Candle Co. The North candle in the limited edition because the glass vessel casing is so graceful." —Noel Cymone Walker, beauty writer

“I don’t meditate or do yoga or clean my curtains, but when I light up a Diptyque Baies candle, I feel like the kind of person who does those things regularly. The scent is soft and fresh, with back currant leaves, an almost imperceptible hint of rose, and this green, earthy undertone that makes my house smell like the world’s most exclusive spa."—Jennifer Goldstein, beauty director at Marie Claire and co-host of Fat Mascara podcast

“One habit (among many) that I inherited from my mother is lighting candles every night. It’s incredibly calming, motivates me to slow down and keeps my apartment smelling fresh. I was so happy when Kat Von D finally launched candles last year because I’ve been obsessed with this scent for a while. It’s very subtle, but if you let the candle burn for a while, the scent will eventually fill the room without being too overpowering." —Nikki Brown, beauty editor at StyleCaster

"I’m a candle junkie, but this particular candle will always be tied to my sweetest scent memories. It’s the exclusive candle and scent of the Edition Hotel Miami, where I got married. Anyone who has ever stepped foot in that lobby knows that the scent is intoxicating—it’s a custom blend of bergamot, green tea, and woods by Le Labo. When I light it I am instantly transported back to my magical wedding day, and it never fails to bring a smile to my face. It’s not a candle I’ll light often, because I want to keep the scent nearly sacred.” —Jenna Rosenstein, senior beauty editor at Harper's Bazaar

"My new fave is the Gardenia scent by Les Ruches. It leaves a light airy fragrance in the room, and I love that the candle is made of 100% beeswax, so I don’t have to worry about it releasing toxins in the air. Plus, how cute is the marble jar?”—Alexis Bennett, e-commerce editor at InStyle

"Ask me any other day and I'd wax poetic about my undying devotion to Le Labo's Santal 26 candle. Sandalwood is my signature scent, and filling my apartment with warm, woody candles has become somewhat of a hobby for me. That being said, there's a new favorite in town. Sunday Forever just launched a candle called Blk Velvet, a hot, bitter, intense blend made to smell like freshly brewed black coffee. It's perfect for the mornings as it fills the room with a lovely little reminder that getting out of bed means gifting myself with a steamy cup of delicious caffeine.” —Hallie Gould, senior editor at Byrdie

“I love the Eucalyptus Mint from Bath & Body Works candle for two reasons: the first being that it smells absolutely delicious. It has a clean, refreshing scent that's not too overpowering. The second reason I love this candle is because my best friend Alyssa was the one who originally put me onto it. I don't get to see her as often as I would like, and I know this sounds corny, but it really does make me think of her whenever I light it.” —Kayla Greaves, fashion and beauty features editor at Bustle

"I adore this Australian brand named Lumira. Not only is the packaging of their candles super sleek and chic, but their scents are absolutely divine, too. My particular favorite is Persian Rose, which has hints of rose, sweet orange, bergamot, and amber. The rich balance between the floral and citrusy notes is really comforting. Plus, it (along with all of their other options) lasts for a good amount of time (80 hours, to be exact).”—Shammara Lawrence, fashion and beauty writer 

“My favorite white candles right now are actually a toss-up between two different ones. Snow Day by Brooklinen: This candle has a bright scent that makes me feel like I'm in a cozy cabin in upstate New York when I light it. Montana Forrest: As soon as I light this candle, the entire vibe of my apartment changes (in a good way). It's created with a blend of blue spruce, pine, and essential oils that smell absolutely incredible.” —Tiffany Dodson, associate market editor at Self

"I'm a huge Diptyque fan. My favorite candle from the brand is Roses. Rose is one of those scents that you either love or hate. I'm definitely on the love side, and this version is done just right. It's not overpowering or too floral. It feels mature and brings nice energy into my space. Another newer favorite is Nest Fragrances Rose Noir & Oud. Again, because rose, but this version also had an amazing woody undertone that makes it feels less feminine, which I really like.”—Nykia Spradley, writer and editor