Sorry citrus! This new scented candle trend is how to make your home smell like summer

When thinking of summer home fragrance, you’re likely picturing (or smelling rather) citrus or tropical floral scents. But the best way to really make your home smell like summer is going for something that smells authentically of classic summer produce and a summer garden, like a tomato-scented candle, one of these years' breakout scent candle trends.

This once niche and hard-to-find home fragrance is suddenly everywhere – which means there are plenty of the best scented candles to choose from across different price points, brands and aesthetics. Because let’s be honest, we all want our candles (and the best reed diffusers for that matter) to be aesthetically pleasing and make our home look more stylish.

I’ve been a longtime fan of tomato leaf and tomato vine fragrance, I even own a tomato leaf perfume. As I’m writing this, I actually have the Green Tomato Vine candle from Jo Malone burning on my coffee table, and it’s heavenly. I have the Townhouse version of the candle, but I also really like it in the limited Veggies Edition green glazed ceramic vessel available now for this summer only, which I’ve also included in my round-up below.

'Green Tomato Leaf has been part of Jo Malone London’s home repertoire since 2014, a good decade before this burgeoning scent movement, "tomato girl summer" or even Tiktok trends themselves,' says Emma South, fragrance and lifestyle expert at Jo Malone London. 'So when Celine Roux, global head of product development, was working on the latest limited edition Veggie range - all about the joys of growing your own - it made perfect sense to include it. For a limited time, we see the candle encased in the glossiest green glaze, a coveted keepsake vessel for years to come.'

Top tomato scented candle picks

Why are tomato scented candles so popular?

As already mentioned, only a couple of years ago, tomato candles would have been difficult to come by. But that’s no longer the case as it’s one of the biggest home fragrance trends right now. So what’s changed?

‘The popularity of tomato leaf reflects a wider shift towards more natural, botanical fragrances,’ says Mathew Thomas, creative director at Osmology. ‘Consumers are increasingly looking for scents that feel authentic and evocative rather than traditionally sweet or floral. Tomato leaf captures the unmistakable aroma of a greenhouse or garden after watering; fresh, green, and slightly earthy.’

Why should you get a tomato scented candle?

With the arrival of summer, tomato leaf and tomato vine are the best home fragrances to capture the spirit of the season.

'This is a scent that exudes the pure vitality of summer, whilst offering a different angle from sparkling citrus fruits or solar florals. It is the pinnacle of prioritising seasonality whether that is on the plate, on the skin or in the home,' Emma at Jo Malone London says. 

Mathew at Osmology agrees, ‘We love its ability to evoke long summer days, flourishing kitchen gardens and the simple pleasure of being outdoors. It pairs beautifully with open windows, fresh flowers, and lighter interiors, making it a wonderful choice for creating a relaxed summer atmosphere.'

So invite the smell of summer into your home with one of these beautifully green, refreshing, herbal yet slightly sweet tomato scented candles!