4.4
90% of reviewers would recommend to a friend
Boy Smells
4.4 • 730 Reviews
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4.4
90% of reviewers would recommend to a friend
Boy Smells earns strong reviews as a distinctive, room‑filling candle and fragrance house with memorable scents like Hinoki Fantôme, Cowboy Kush, LES, Slow Burn, and Cedar Stack, plus chic, gift‑ready packaging that elevates any space. Reviews also flag inconsistencies—tunneling and uneven burns, occasional weak or overly strong throw, smoky extinguish, label/QA hiccups, and headaches or sensitivity for some—so scent selection and burn care matter.
AI summary based on Thingtesting reviews
Eh? I don’t get what the hype is about this brand. First, my box arrived severely damaged (a big hole in the side) so the boxes the candles were in were also a bit beat up, which would not look great if I were giving them as a gift. The vanilla smells good, but the “red hot” smells anything but how I expected it to. It’s a very feminine floral scent and not something I would want at home. Personally, I’d skip Boy Smells and just go on over to home goods and buy a random candle.

Verified purchase
6mo ago
[Red Hot Eau de Parfum] I tested Red Hot Eau de Parfum and found it leans noticeably feminine on my skin. The scent feels familiar—there’s a classic, almost throwback quality I can’t quite pinpoint—which some people will appreciate. It doesn’t smell synthetic or harsh; the quality seems solid. That said, it’s not a profile I’d personally wear. If you enjoy softer, traditionally feminine fragrances with a recognizable aura, this could work for you. For me, it’s more of a pass based on taste rather than performance. [Citrush Body Mist] Citrush opens bright and clean, but it reads quite feminine overall. The vibe is familiar and actually reminds me of a Paris Hilton men’s fragrance from years back—similar DNA, just lighter as a mist. Nothing about it smells “cheap” or overly synthetic; the blend feels well made. Even so, it isn’t in my personal wheelhouse. If you like airy, citrus-forward scents with a distinctly feminine tone, you may enjoy it. I’d skip it for myself, strictly because of preference, not quality.

5mo ago
I've purchased Boy Smells candles in the past and never had a problem with delivery. but for these three, i did not get any tracking notifications and when I asked about it, seems like the 3rd party shipper must have lost them in shipping. I was provided a new shipment quickly after but a little annoyed that I had to say something in the first place. Otherwise, these candles and branding are always top notch and appealing. Definitely makes a great gift and makes the home smell so nice while looking elegant.


5mo ago
I purchased three candles from Boy Smells and have been enjoying them for quite a while! I got two in Hard Wood and one in Citricrush. Boy Smells does a great job describing their scents on their website, so I’ll leave that part in their hands. The candles last quite a while and the scents are really nice. I appreciate the information they included about good burns too and have found it helpful in keeping the candles nice. I wish they were a bit stronger in scent but also live in a very open floor plan apace. The candles also arrived quickly and were packaged well. I’m very excited to try more from Boy Smells!




I ordered 3 candles: Minty, Dynasty Salt, and Herbaceous. They all smell INCREDIBLE. Even before opening them, I could clearly smell them through the boxes. When I'm not burning them, I can smell them as I walk past. The glass jars are beautiful and minimal, and add a fun pop of color to my space. The candles burn evenly and I feel that I've still got a good amount left for how often I've burned them, so I'm pleased with the value. Overall I'm thrilled with these candles!

Verified purchase
3mo ago
One of my favorite candles! This candle has great throw and smells like grapefruit. I got this candle when they had just brought back this scent temporarily and I hope they bring it back again because I'd love to get another!

5mo ago
I probably should have bought the exploratory set to sample everything, but instead I grabbed a few travel sprays and went all-in on one full size—because why not? Peachy Oudy (1.7 fl oz): I’m a big fan of anything peach, but oddly enough I’ve never worn a peach scent before—just home fragrances. I took a leap and bought the full size without sampling because the peach + oud combo had me curious, and I was really hoping it wouldn’t go too sweet on me. First impression: peachy and sweet right out of the gate, then it lightened up nicely. I was hoping for a bit more oud, but scents do tend to turn sweeter on my skin. That said, it’s long-lasting and makes me happy. I bought this one specifically to brighten up the winter months, and it totally does that. A very cheerful scent. Cowboy Kush (travel spray): Love this scent for fall. It’s rich, warm, and definitely leans masculine in the best way. Cozy but bold. I already know I need this in candle form too. Hinoki Fantôme (travel spray): Winner. This one really stands out—smoky, unique, and beautifully balanced. I’m a sucker for cardamom in scents, and this totally delivers. My next purchase will absolutely be the 1.7 fl oz and the candle. Violet Ends (travel spray): I had to try this purely because of the name—I’m biased since Violet is my Mom’s name and I tend to buy anything with “Violet” on it. But wow, this one surprised me. It’s fresh, uplifting, and feels perfect for spring. I’ll definitely be repurchasing this one. Overall, I’m really impressed with Boy Smells’ fragrances—unique, well made, and fun to explore. This definitely won’t be my last order.

Verified purchase
5mo ago
I really like the branding and packaging for the candles. I also love the candle vessel itself. It looks really luxurious and expensive and very simple. I really like the lavender smelling candle. I also got the Hinoki fantome candle, but it smells a lot different than I remember, smelling in stores.

Verified purchase
6mo ago
I bought Boy Smell’s broken rosary, hinoki fantome holiday one, and the violet ends candles. I got them in the build your own trio thing, which applies a 20% off, which was nice as they are pricier candles. This was my first time trying them, and I’ve heard the candles have gone under reformulation, so I’m unsure how they are compared to the old formulation, but the hinoki fantome had a strong, smoky wood scent, while the broken rosary and violet ends candles are much lighter smell wise, and also contain a smoky element. I do like the pairing of more feminine, floral scents with a smokiness that the rosary and violet ends candles have, not sure if I will be rebuying these candles due to the price point, I’m not into candles enough to justify buying luxury candles.

Verified purchase
2mo ago
I was genuinely excited to love this scent. I spent hours researching different sprays and perfumes before choosing the two I purchased. I stopped wearing perfume five years ago and switched exclusively to essential oils because I became more mindful of my health and how synthetic fragrances affect my body. That shift happened after I noticed that perfumes I had worn for years suddenly triggered intense motion sickness—especially in the car or in enclosed spaces like Ubers with friends wearing multiple fragrances. Even a short ride would leave me nauseous with a headache. With essential oils, I’m very selective. I gravitate toward citrus, lavender, and ginger, and I avoid vanilla, cinnamon, and anything that feels heavy, lingering, or suffocating. Citrus scents help ease nausea and temple tension for me, so they’ve become my go‑to. All that said, I still love the smell of many of the Boy Smells products, candles, and sprays. I was thrilled to catch their sale on Drop Thursday and thought I had thoroughly vetted the two scents I chose. Unfortunately, I missed that Sugar Baby contains vanilla. While I loved the second spray I ordered, I lost it a week after it arrived, so I really tried to make this one work. I even blended it with orange essential oil to soften the vanilla and bring forward notes my body responds well to. But the vanilla is simply too dominant. As an anchor note, it takes over the blend no matter what you pair it with. For some people, adding lighter complementary scents may slow the emergence of the vanilla, but for me it still eventually becomes the main presence. I realized I’m especially sensitive to vanilla, despite reviews suggesting it could be balanced with brighter notes. If you’re someone who enjoys or tolerates vanilla-forward fragrances, this might work beautifully for you. But if you’re like me and find vanilla cloying, heavy, or overwhelming on the body, I would avoid Sugar Baby.
Verified purchase
2mo ago
I’ve bought this candle twice because I loved the way it smells, which is something I’ve never done before. I can describe it best as a trendy, vintage shop with incense burning, whipped raspberry, and some cool, woody undertones. I think the scent uniquely works at any time of the year.
3mo ago
Love the smell. Subtle smell of cannabis mixed with other lovely scents
3mo ago
Love the smell. Miss the old black and pink packaging.
10mo ago
The Boy Smells candles and fragrance did not disappoint in their unique scent offerings and aesthetic packaging! That said, I didn’t find the that scents “lingered” long enough to be enjoyed in either product. The candle’s smell was faint and the fragrance mist had a life of a few hours. For the price point I would want a bit more lasting power, imo, but I think they’d make great gifts, as well as work well for smaller spaces. I also appreciate that you get a coupon toward a full sized fragrance if you purchase a sampler set first.

Verified purchase
Boy Smells Kush is absolutely amazing — the perfect balance of herbal, earthy, and slightly smoky notes with a subtle hint of suede and musk. It’s moody, sophisticated, and unlike any other candle I’ve tried. The scent is complex and long-lasting, creating a cozy yet edgy vibe that makes my space feel unique and inviting. A total must-have for anyone who loves unconventional, gender-neutral fragrances that really make a statement. Soo good!

6mo ago
Mmmmm! I’ve always wanted to smell these candles and this does not disappoint! I really love the strength of the scent & the branding is spot on as well. Can’t wait to try them all! So far so good! Really yummy!

10mo ago
I like Boy Smells overall, though the name of the brand itself grosses me out. I have the Italian Kush candle and I like it, the smell is strong but not overpowering and lasts a long time. It's a little bit green for my taste, so I will try a different scent next time.

Coco Cream is a dream! I’ve had my eye on Boy Smells for years, but it wasn’t until I smelled a bottle of Coco Cream in a boutique that I knew I would be obsessed with the brand. The formulas are so long lasting and unique — while still being familiar and approachable. Coco Cream is warm, inviting and summery, and makes me feel like grabbing ice cream with my best friends. Boy Smells also has great shipping — my product got to me in less than a week! 10/10, would buy again.

Verified purchase
For several years now I've been aware of Boy Smells' line, but I've never tried their perfumes for myself. I'm so glad I did! I got a bundle of 3 travel sizes: Vanilla Era, Hinoki Fantome, and Cowboy Kush. They're all captivating and complex scents. Hinoki Fantome and Cowboy Kush lean a little masculine, but I'll still wear them to the end. Vanilla Era reads unisex to me. They're long lasting on me, too. I also appreciated that the bundle arrived without plastic packaging. There was ZERO plastic in any part of the box. The only plastic in the product appears to be the spray applicator. Even the lid and top part of the spray are metal.

Verified purchase
6mo ago
I appreciate that my order was packed in all paper, but my items did not feel very secure in the packaging. With such beautiful branding and package design, I think they could put a little more effort into the presentation. The item packaging was a little damage and my candle looked like it's been through some stuff. That said, I love the smell and everything I purchased from Boy Smells has a really unique and deep smell.

