Buying scented candles online means you choose by name and photo, not by nose. That is fine if you plan where the candle will sit. A candle can look right on the table and still smell wrong beside another one. Here is how to style a coffee table so the look and the scent work together.

Scented candles online look best in threes

Houzz Australia suggests grouping objects in odd numbers, because threes and fives look more balanced than pairs. A tray keeps the group tidy and gives your eye somewhere to land.

Mix the heights. A tall jar, a low jar and a small holder is plenty. Leave room for a cup and a book too, so the candles do not take over the whole table.

Here is the part decor guides skip. Make only one of the three your scented candle. A wide 3-wick jar is a good anchor, because it is built to scent a whole living room.

How many scented candles can one room handle?

Two is plenty, and only if they sit far apart. Scents drift and mix in the air. Put a second candle at the other end of the room, such as the dining table, so each one gets its own patch of air.

Scented tea light candles fill the gaps

Small candles make a group of three look finished. Tea lights in glass holders add a soft glow at the edge of the tray. Many are scented, so check the listing and keep them in the same scent family as your main jar. That way nothing clashes. You can see the sizes in the tealight candles and the tealight holders.

• One wide jar as the anchor
• Two tea lights in glass holders
• One small vase or a stack of books
• Open space for your cup

Best smelling candles for an Australian spring: go fruity

October is spring here, so bright and juicy scents feel clean in warmer air. If you like sweet but not heavy, the Fruity range is a good place to start. Not sure what you like? The fragrance quiz narrows it down in a few minutes.

Quick answers

Can I mix scented and unscented candles on one tray?

Yes, and it is the easiest way to style a tray. Let one candle carry the scent, then add plain candles in a matching colour. The room smells of one fragrance, and the tray still looks full.

Where can I buy scented candles online in Australia?

Glow Collection sells PartyLite candles online, with a page for each fragrance type and candle shape. The fragrance quiz helps if you are not sure where to start.

If a tray sounds like your next weekend job, pick one jar to anchor it. Add two tea lights, a small vase and a free corner for your cup. Then step back and see if the scent and the look agree.

Related reading

• Where To Put Scented Candles So You Actually Smell Them: the placement rules that make a candle fill the room
• The Nicest Candles For An Australian Spring Room Refresh: more ideas for a lighter, brighter spring room
• Fruity Candles That Smell Fresh, Not Like A Lolly Shop: how to pick a fruity scent that is not too sweet