Catherine Zeta-Jones calls this candle 'the most beautiful thing' she's ever smelled – she has one in every room of her home

A beloved classic candle from Jo Malone is the actress's all-time favorite scent that she's used in her home throughout her career

Catherine Zeta-jones glossy hardwood floors
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Fragrance is what transforms a house into a home. From candles to diffusers to room sprays, a signature scent signals to your brain that you are in a safe space and makes guests say, 'wow' when they walk through the door. Catherine Zeta-Jones swears by Jo Malone's Lime Basil & Mandarin candle to scent her home.

When asked about the best candle, Zeta-Jones told The Strategist: 'When I first became sort of known as an actor in Britain, I was invited to a party for Elton John’s AIDS Foundation. In the gift bag, he gave me one of his scented candles that I probably couldn’t afford at the time. It was the most beautiful thing that I had ever smelled in my life. I cherished it. That was my introduction to scented candles. Now, I really push the boat out when it comes to candles. I’m very specific with them. Jo Malone is such a beautiful brand.'

The home fragrance line has become a life-long obsession for the actress. She continues, 'After I left London for the States, I would come back to visit or for work, and I used to stay at Claridge’s, which is just off Bond Street. The Jo Malone flagship store was two doors down from the hotel. I was like a kid in a candy store. When I had any time off, I would go in and smell every candle they had. My all-time favorite is this lime and basil and mandarin one. I have one in almost every room in my house. It’s quite an exotic smell.'

A signature scent doesn't have to come only in the form of a candle. Jo Malone makes the Lime, Basil, and Mandarin fragrance in a variety of forms including a room spray, diffuser, and soap.


Taking inspiration from celebrities is a great way to find new fragrances, or revisit old favorites. Catherine Zeta Jones's idea is especially good.


Sophie Edwards
News Editor

Sophie is a London-based News Editor at Homes & Gardens, where she works on the Celebrity Style team. She is fascinated by the intersection of design and popular culture and is particularly excited when researching trends or interior history. Sophie is an avid pop culture fan. As an H&G editor, she has interviewed the likes of Martha Stewart, Hilary Duff, and the casts of Queer Eye and Selling Sunset. Before joining Future Publishing, Sophie worked as the Head of Content and Communications at Fig Linens and Home, a boutique luxury linens and furniture brand. She has also written features on exciting developments in the design world for Westport Magazine. Sophie has an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology and a BA in Creative Writing and Sociology from Sarah Lawrence College.

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