I bought both the New York candle and Aspen diffuser myself and tested them in my 300-square-foot apartment. This Hotel Lobby candle review exists because I’m a candle snob but had a lackluster experience with the brand.
I’ve been lusting over Hotel Lobby online for months. I love a theme. I love the whole “each scent is a city” concept since I’m a major traveler and love the idea of collecting scents of some of my favorite cities I visit… London, New York, Napa…
Their branding feels elegant and expensive, and I fully expected to become one of those people who keeps a Hotel Lobby signature candle on the coffee table at all times.
But… overall? Disappointing.
The scents themselves are phenomenal and complex. The problem is I can barely smell them once they’re actually in my home. The throw is so weak that my husband and I genuinely had a moment where we were like, “Wait, are we sick? Can we just not smell things?” Nope. We can smell everything else just fine.
And I live in a 300-square-foot apartment in San Francisco. This isn’t a mansion problem. So, I wrote this not to slander the brand, but to give a non-sponsored honest review so you can make an educated decision while shopping these cult-favorite candles.
What I Bought And Tested From Hotel Lobby
I review home and lifestyle products from my San Francisco apartment and only write about items I’ve personally tested.
I tested two items for this review:
- New York Soy Wax Candle (9.75 oz)
- Aspen Reed Diffuser (5.0 fl oz / 150 ml)
I tested them the way I actually live: candle lit while I’m working and a diffuser in the bathroom to cover up unwanted smells. Then I moved the diffuser around the apartment to see if placement helped, ending in our hallway alcove.
New York Candle Details
- 100% soy wax with a braided cotton wick
- Burn time up to 65 hours
- Scent notes of amber, sweet sage, cedar leaf, bergamot, saffron
Aspen Reed Diffuser Details
- 5.0 fl oz (150ml), 9 reeds
- Lasts about 2–3 months
- Notes of vintage cedarwood, smoke, snow-capped pine, tooled leather, golden embers (it smells like Christmas)
They also push a scent quiz on the site if you don’t know where to start, which is cute and honestly very on-brand.
My Honest Take On The New York Candle
The New York candle smells gorgeous… if you put your nose right up to it.
I had it lit for about 4 hours and could barely smell anything unless I leaned over it like a weirdo. The scent profile is warm and complex, and I totally get why people are obsessed with the notes on paper.
But when a candle costs this much, I’m not looking for “subtle.” I’m looking for a candle that actually makes my space smell good while it’s burning. Like, I want to walk into our living room and smell it instantly.
For context: I always have a candle going, and I’m not new to fragrance. I’m a certified wine expert, which basically means my nose is trained to pick up notes. If a scent has layers, I’m usually the annoying person who can identify them to a tee.
So when I’m struggling to smell a candle in a tiny apartment, it’s not a “me” problem.
Also worth saying out loud: Bath and Body Works $20 three-wicks have a way stronger throw than this. That I found shocking.
Burn And Throw Notes
- The candle technically does its job. It burns. And it’s clean-burning soy wax so you can feel good about breathing it in.
- But the throw feels like it belongs in a much cheaper candle.
If you love a very soft scent and you’re sensitive to fragrance, you might actually love this. I just expected more.
My Honest Take On The Aspen Reed Diffuser
This one made me even more confused. The Aspen scent is smoky, woody, rustic, and it genuinely smells luxe when you get close to it.
I started the diffuser in my bathroom and couldn’t smell anything. To be fair, bathrooms already have a lot going on between shampoo, hairspray, skincare, etc. So I moved it to the entryway.
In the entryway, I can sometimes smell it as I walk by, but the throw is still very weak. It’s giving “pretty object” more than “my whole home smells like a five-star hotel lobby.”
They recommend using all nine reeds and flipping them daily to enhance the scent, which I did. It helped a little, but not enough to justify the price for me.
My goal was to have the area around the diffuser smell like Christmas. A few Decembers ago we went on a trip to Quebec City and walked into that hotel lobby to be basically assaulted with the best pine smell. It felt like we walked into the pine forest next to Santa’s Workshop. I thought this diffuser would accomplish the same goal, but hasn’t.
Why This Was Such A Letdown
Hotel Lobby’s whole vibe is “five-star experience in your home.” Their scents smell like they should fill a space like mine, but in my real life, they don’t.
And I’m not working with a giant open-concept house here. I’m working with 300 sq feet. If anything should smell like candle and diffuser, it’s my apartment.
I’m willing to consider I got a bad batch, or older product, or something happened in shipping or production that caused lackluster throws, but I can’t say that for sure. I can only tell you what happened in my home.
Are Hotel Lobby Candles Worth It?
For me, not right now.
They’re expensive for what you get, especially when the throw is barely there. I’d rather buy a candle that actually performs than pay for branding and vibes.
I do think they’d be a beautiful gift for someone who loves chic packaging and subtle fragrance, but I wouldn’t buy these again as my everyday candle.
Hotel Lobby Candle Sales And When I’d Try Again
If I’m going to try again, it’ll probably be during a sale.
Hotel Lobby has run a Black Friday promotion with discounts listed on their site, and that’s the moment I’d consider restocking or testing another scent from a different collection.
So yes, Hotel Lobby candle sales do exist, even if they’re not constant.
Best Hotel Lobby Candle If You Still Want One
I’m not going to pretend I’ve tested every scent. I haven’t.
But if you’re dead set on trying the brand, I’d start with a best seller like New York or their signature candle since those are the ones people seem to gravitate toward on the site.
If you’re shopping for holiday vibes, they also do seasonal versions like “Holiday in New York.”
How I’d Shop The Brand If I Were You
If you want to view options and build a cart, I’d do this:
- Take the scent quiz first if you’re unsure.
- Pick one candle, not a huge set, and test the throw in your own home.
- Pay attention to how it smells during the actual burn, not just cold.
- If you’re hoping for big scent, consider skipping unless there’s a sale.
Final Verdict Of Hotel Lobby
I wanted to be obsessed. I love the concept and I love the scent profiles.
But for the price, I need performance, and in my apartment the throw was barely there. If I try again, it’ll be during a sale, and I’ll update this post if something changes.
If you’ve tried Hotel Lobby and had a totally different experience, tell me what scent you bought, because I’m genuinely curious.
