Tyler Brooks
Boy Smells is a candle brand that was founded in 2016 by Matthew Herman and David Kien, who are partners in both business and life. The brand was born out of an experiment in candle-making in the duo's Los Angeles home. With a background in fashion, Herman and Kien set out to create essential products that consumers would want to use daily, free from gender norms and traditional scent expectations. Since its launch, Boy Smells has gained a cult following, with its distinctive black jar and pink label cropping up on Instagram and in the homes of beauty editors and influencers. The brand has also recently reformulated and relaunched its line, improving the fragrance and packaging of its longstanding bestsellers. So, which are the best Boy Smells candles?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Brand | Boy Smells |
| Founders | Matthew Herman and David Kien |
| Year founded | 2016 |
| Best-selling candles | Hinoki Fantôme, Kush |
| Candle weight | 8.5oz, 27oz |
| Scent | Bold, bright, fruity, spicy, woody, earthy, juicy, sweet |
| Top notes | Sandalwood, cedarwood, redwood cedar, frankincense, amber, poppy |
Explore related products
$16.87 $17.99
$20.54 $21.98
What You'll Learn
Boy Smells' rebranding
Boy Smells is an LA-based candle company founded in 2016 by Matthew Herman and David Kien, who are partners in both business and life. The brand was born out of a shared passion for creating essential products that are gender-neutral and free from traditional scent expectations. The candles are inspired by the rich LGBTQ+ history of the founders and feature bold, bright, and modern fragrances.
One of the brand's most iconic candles is the Kush Candle, which gained popularity as a cool, cannabis-inspired scent. The candle has top notes of sandalwood and cedarwood, creating a clean and grounded aroma. However, the OG Kush has since been discontinued, and the brand has reformulated and relaunched its entire range, including longtime best-seller Hinoki Fantôme. This unique scent combines oakmoss, cypress, and olibanum, infusing any space with a ceremonial feel. The new version features refreshed packaging and a stronger fragrance, as do all the candles in the reformulated collection.
The Essentials Line pays homage to the brand's Pride and limited-edition collections, with eight candy-colored vessels and an upgraded wax blend for even burns and enhanced fragrance. The line celebrates the brand's LGBTQ+ heritage and serves as a visual and olfactory tribute to its past collections.
Boy Smells candles stand out for their bold and unique fragrances. One such scent is a modern take on the classic rose, blended with warm amber and fresh magnolia to create a bold bouquet. Another unique offering is the tomato-scented candle, which captures the essence of a classic English country garden with its green and sprightly notes. For those who prefer fruity and sweet fragrances, the blackcurrant and peach blossom candle, with hints of cardamom and cedar, is a delightful option.
The brand has gained a strong following, with its distinctive black jar and pink label becoming a staple on the fireplaces of fashion-forward individuals. Boy Smells has successfully disrupted the candle market by challenging traditional scent expectations and creating fragrances that spark joy and cater to a wide range of tastes.
Battery-Operated Candles: Auto-Off Feature Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Best-selling Boy Smells candles
Boy Smells is a candle brand that was founded in 2016 by Matthew Herman and David Kien, who are partners in both business and life. The brand was born out of an experiment in candle-making in the duo's Los Angeles home. With a background in fashion, Herman and Kien set out to create essential products that consumers would want to use daily but that weren't tied to gender norms or traditional scent expectations.
One of the brand's best-selling candles is the Kush candle, which was previously recommended by NY Mag as the best overall candle. The OG Kush is unfortunately discontinued, but the brand has since reformulated and relaunched, with Hinoki Fantôme making the cut. The candle has a punchy, distinct scent, blending oakmoss, cypress, and olibanum, lending any space a ceremonial feel.
Another candle that stands out is the Boy Smells Magnums, which are available in 27oz, 3-wick sizes. These candles have roughly three times the intensity of an 8.5oz candle. The brand also offers 3oz votive minis with a third of the strength of a standard-sized candle.
Boy Smells also has an Essentials Line, inspired by the brand's rich LGBTQ+ history. The line features eight candy-coloured vessels and uses the same upgraded wax blend as the Classics, ensuring even burns and bigger smells.
Lastly, one of the brand's candles features a blend of blackcurrant and peach blossom, with hints of cardamom and cedar. This candle is fruity and sweet, with a warm undertone.
Candler's Location: A Guide to Finding the Place
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Boy Smells Kush candle
Boy Smells is a candle brand that began as an experiment in candle-making in the Los Angeles kitchen of co-founders and partners Matthew Herman and David Kien. The brand's candles are all developed and designed in Los Angeles with fragrance and natural oils, and a proprietary all-natural coconut wax and beeswax blend. They are hand-poured in a reusable glass vessel and hand-labelled in Los Angeles, California. The brand is inspired by its rich LGBTQ+ history, with its Essentials Line paying homage to past Pride and limited-edition collections.
The Boy Smells Kush candle is one of the brand's most iconic cult-classic scents. It is green, bright, and intoxicating, with wafts of delicate florals blending with pot flowers and brushed suede. Notes of sage and eucalyptus create a much larger herbal bouquet, while amber and musk ground this scent in its signature dankness. The candle is made from a coconut and beeswax blend with a braided cotton wick, housed in a glossy black glass tumbler and comes in an embossed matte pink carton. The standard-sized candle is 8.5 ounces, 3.4 inches tall, and has a burn time of roughly 50 hours.
The Kush candle has been described as earthy and grounded, with notes of tonka bean and patchouli. It has also been likened to enjoying a joint at the rodeo, with its tumbleweed scent of soft suede and spiced saffron, accented by puffs of pot leaf and patchouli. The candle's scent has been enhanced with the addition of steel-toned violets and cannabis flowers, as well as powdery musks that enrich the existing palette of tulip and brushed suede. This variation on the classic Kush scent includes bright Italian citrus and fresh-cracked black pepper, along with basil, oregano, and fresh cannabis. The candle is grounded in earthy notes of patchouli and fresh cypress, resulting in an intensely herbal fragrance.
While the Kush candle has been hailed as one of the best-smelling candles overall, some have noted that it may tunnel during burning. However, with its unique blend of scents and luxurious interpretation, the Boy Smells Kush candle stands out as a cult favourite among candle enthusiasts.
Birthday Candles: Blowing Safe in the Covid Era
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Boy Smells' LGBTQ+ history
Boy Smells is a queer-owned and operated fragrance house based in Los Angeles. The brand has a rich LGBTQ+ history and is known for its popular line of scented candles. The company's co-founder, Matthew Herman, has described how Pride is an important part of the brand's identity, with the PRIDE series featuring six of their best-selling scents, including re-releases of past limited editions such as Damasque, Cedar Stack, Prunus, Cameo, Anjelica, and LES. These candles are presented in limited-edition, hyper-natural hues, reflecting the diversity and uniqueness of the LGBTQ+ community.
The brand's Essentials Line also pays homage to its LGBTQ+ history, with eight candy-colored vessels inspired by past Pride and limited-edition collections. Boy Smells has also been known to celebrate Pride through multi-platform campaigns, collaborating with artist Richie Shazam. This commitment to celebrating Pride extends beyond their products, as Boy Smells has provided critical funding to The Trevor Project, an organisation dedicated to suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ youth.
Boy Smells candles are known for their bold and unique scents, with fragrances that are carefully crafted in collaboration with highly regarded fragrance houses. The brand has released popular candles such as Kush, Hinoki Fantôme, and Slow Burn, with complex scent profiles that have garnered a dedicated following. The candles are designed to be long-lasting, approachable, and well-balanced, reflecting the brand's commitment to innovation and inclusivity.
Boy Smells embraces multiplicity and the full spectrum of identity, encouraging customers to express themselves through scent. The brand stands for "genderfulness," recognising that identity is not static and embracing all facets of the self. This philosophy permeates their product offerings, with candles that defy traditional gender norms and appeal to a diverse range of consumers. Boy Smells invites customers to mix and match their fragrances, emphasising the playful and transformative nature of their scent offerings.
Gluten-Free Candles: Are Himalayan Candles Safe?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Boy Smells' Classics range
Boy Smells was founded in 2016 by Matthew Herman and David Kien, who are partners in both business and life. The brand was born out of an experiment in candle-making in the duo's Los Angeles home. With a background in fashion, they set out to create essential products that transcended traditional gender norms and scent expectations.
The Boy Smells Classics range includes the iconic Kush Candle, which has been described as "cool" and "cannabis-inspired". It blends top notes of sandalwood and cedarwood with hints of amber, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vetiver. The result is a clean, grounded, and fresh scent with a strong throw.
Another classic is the Hinoki Fantôme, a longtime best-seller known for its punchy and distinct fragrance. It combines oakmoss, cypress, and olibanum, creating a heady and ceremonial ambiance in any space. The candle's new version features refreshed packaging and an even stronger fragrance, as reported by some reviewers who claim that the unlit candle still scents the room.
The Classics range also includes the Magnums, which are available in a 27oz, 3-wick format. These candles offer an intense olfactory experience, roughly three times the strength of a standard 8.5oz candle.
Boy Smells candles are known for their bold and bright fragrances, and their Classics range certainly delivers on that front. With a mix of fruity, spicy, and floral notes, these candles offer a modern take on traditional scents, sparking joy and evoking a sense of luxury.
Roman Candles: How Far Do They Really Go?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Boy Smells candles are known for their bold and bright fragrances. Some of their most popular scents include:
- Kush: a cool, cannabis-inspired candle with notes of amber.
- Hinoki Fantôme: a blend of oakmoss, cypress, and olibanum, giving it a woody and earthy feel.
- Tomato: a mix of tomato vine, holy basil, and black pepper, reminiscent of a classic English country garden.
- Blackcurrant and Peach Blossom: a fruity and sweet candle with hints of cardamom and cedar.
Boy Smells candles are known for their unique and experimental fragrances that challenge traditional scent expectations. The brand was founded in 2016 by partners Matthew Herman and David Kien, who set out to create essential products that consumers would want to use daily, regardless of gender.
Boy Smells Magnums are the brand's larger candles, weighing 27oz and featuring three wicks. They are said to have roughly three times the intensity of a standard 8.5oz candle. The Magnums collection includes the brand's classic fragrances as well as Pride and limited-edition collections, featuring candy-colored vessels.
