When it comes to the fine form/function balance, candles should receive high marks in both categories. Our favorite candles are gorgeous to look at and to inhale. Nothing puts me in the mood for writing, romance, or cleaning like a good candle. Aside from the olfactory pleasure, lighting a candle to mark the beginning of a different part of the day affords a psychological shift.

Highest marks go to the Diptyque candles, which come from a Parisian perfumier serious about wax, wicks, and fragrance. The wax is made from vegetables and the wicks are all-cotton and lead free. Each candle burns between 50 to 60 hours.

Jo Malone candles are a favorite, too.

Think of it as a natural high.

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