In one of the various commercials for Glade candles, a homemaker is ashamed of her supermarket purchase. When a gaggle of her pals come for a visit, she mysteriously feigns that the votives are “from France.” But her subterfuge shortly crumbles when the gals bust her and notice a Glade sticker inadvertently attached to the back of her skirt.

This commercial is disturbing not just because it portrays a lying sociopath, but because it furthers the antiquated misconception that scented candles are strictly for females. Although advertising hasn’t caught up, society has moved beyond such limited, sexist roles. In this age of product equality, men are embracing scented candles.

Today’s man is confident enough in his masculinity to bask in the warm glow and wafting scent of a candle. I will step forward and proudly proclaim my love of candles, and show off my collection as proud trophies of the hunt.

Continue reading and learn more about our favorite man candles

“Discernible men want certain things in their life,” says Eddy Chai, the co-owner of downtown menswear outposts Odin. “It goes beyond just apparel. Candles are an extension of that.” Odin sells a selection of bougies including the spicy Commes des Garcons range and Modern Alchemy.

It is a misconception to think that all candles smell like perfume or sugar cookies. There is a slew of flammable votives out there with hot butch scents that have nothing to do with metrosexuality. And how were candles strapped with this clunky anthropomorphist feminine slant when they are such obvious phallic symbols?

The cozy West Village boutique Aedes de Venustas is an opulent olfactory emporium with a 50% male clientele. Aedes carries the highest caliber of candles, from well-known sure-bets like chic warhorse Dyptique or lesser known yet equally esteemed French company Cire Trudon, which has been producing since the 17th century. The carpet is a deep maroon and the exposed bricks are painted tarnished gold. A stuffed albino peacock roosts near the cash register.

“Men go crazy for candles,” says co-owner Robert Gerstner. “After a stressful day, you go home and light a candle with your favorite scent. There is also the visual aspect of it.” Gerstner suggests dark, woodsy incense-based or tobacco scents for guys.

The cozy West Village boutique Aedes de Venustas is an opulent olfactory emporium with a 50% male clientele. “Men go crazy for candles,” says the store’s co-owner Robert Gerstner. “After a stressful day, you go home and light a candle with your favorite scent. There is also the visual aspect of it.” Gerstner suggests dark spicy woods-based or tobacco scents for guys.

If you’re shopping for a more meat and potatoes type of guy, why not get him a candle that smells like meat and potatoes? Pot Roast is the number one seller from Oklahoma-based Original Man Candles.
“It smells just like pot roast!” enthuses Johnson Bailey of his company’s maiden candle. Other hot sellers include, Sawdust and Fishing Dock. We suggest keeping away from their number two seller, however, which is an unprintable term for flatulence.

Whether you want to give a chic melange or lean more towards a protein-chocked dinner scent, there is a candle out there for your gift. What’s next? Bubble bath? Luna bars? Picture frames?

Keep reading to learn more about our favorite man candles

1. Commes des Garcons
Monocle
Scented Candle One: Hinoki

A collaboration with Monocle magazine, this candle is supposed to conjure memories of wood and moss from sitting in a hinoki tub in Kyoto. Now that’s one memorable bath!
Available at Odin and at J.Crew Men’s Shop

2. Calming Park
bruno Pieters
Amber-Pepper
$89
www.calmingpark.com

This strong jumpstart of a scent is a real eye-opener creative director of Hugo from Hugo Boss

3. Acne & Byredo
Lilla Nygatan No 23
A tag team invigorating home run from Sweden’s coolest, Acne and Byredo, inspired by ACNE’s 17th century headquarters with tones of cold stone and incense
$65
Barney’s

4. Malin+Goetz
mojito
A clean, uplifting mix of mint, run, and lime. Not recommended for those in recovery.
$48
www.malinandgoetz.com

5. Diptyque
Maquis
Feu de Bois
Who wouldn’t want their apartment to smell like a wild bush from the coast of France? Also, Feu de Bois is basically the king of butch candles. It smells like a burning abandoned cabin in a hot classy way.
$60
saksfifthavenue.com

6. Aedes de Venustas
The shop’s signature candle, originally meant for a limited edition of 1000, now on its fifth batch. A delicious mixture of Japanese incense, leather and musk.
9 Christopher St. New York, NY 10014 Phone (212) 206
www.aedes.com

7. Mizensir
Cypres de Toscane
A simple, yet powerful ode to the mighty cypress.
$68
Available at Aedes de Venustas
aedes.com

8. Modern Alchemy
Ex Libris
If your collection of leather bound first editions and ancient parchments have lost their scent over the centuries, light this baby (not too close) to refresh them.
$50
www.modernalchemyco.com

9. Cire Trudon
Empire
Napolean would have found this candle (made in homage to him) dynamite. Gun powder mixes with pine and hay to create a revolutionary scent
$75
aedes.com

Photography Alex O’Neill