The Shape of Scents to Come

Candles may be a mature category, but there's still plenty of room for variation on themes. While fragranced candles in containers or pillars remain the heart of the category, the form of those containers now include sophisticated decorative elements such as flocking, frosting and fresh silhouettes. Some candles have even reached beyond glass or tin altogether, incorporating new materials like ceramic or metal with depth and complexity. Meanwhile, pillars sport intriguing inclusions and external engravings, and a few novelty shapes at burnable price points may be poised to make a comeback.

Intricate scrollwork, vines and floral patterns adorn candles (as well as tableware, pillows and fashion accents) in the popular black and white palette accented with splashes of color. The look is one part Gothic and one part Baroque, with a hint of Victorian sensibility reinvented in a modern, unfussy style .

Ceramic containers that evoke everything from a Moroccan market to a French provincial garden make the vessel, not the wax, the colorful star of these candles. Hammered brass and woven grass add texture, while frosted and colored glass increase impact let light shine through.

Pillars and other stand-alone candles distinguish themselves from the generic varieties with inclusions, extrusions and subtle shapes that echo leaves, stones and other natural elements. Graceful geometric curves and colors evoke soothing environments from ocean to forest.