Christmas candles are our favorite thing to buy as gifts and for ourselves. Nothing quite gets one in a festive mood like a brand-new candle that smells of sugar and spice and all things nice – or of resinous pine, if you prefer clean and woody scents. The other thing we like about Christmas candles is the gorgeous packaging and limited edition sets from our favorite brands – there are a couple stunning limited edition candles in this guide that we definitely want to buy before they sell out forever.
From traditional spicy accords to more modern takes on Christmas, these will delight you and everyone who comes to visit. Want more scentspiration? Visit our best candles buyer's guide.
Then, find more Christmas gift ideas on our dedicated page.
The ultimate Christmas candle, full of spice and all things nice.
The scent
The classic spicy scent of Christmas as you remember it. Cinnamon, clove, citrus.Yum
The packaging
Simple but effective – a clear glass jar.
What we like
It's hard to go wrong with this one. Guaranteed to get you into a festive mood.
Yankee candles rule the roost where it comes to simple, effective room fragrance, and this festive offering is no exception.
The scent
Sweet and uncomplicated, and so addictive: sweet apple soused in equally sweet Amaretto. The perfect companion to eating Christmas pud in front of the telly.
The packaging
An elevated jar with a little golden stand. Very festive.
What we like
This fragrance really packs a festive punch – and you get such a big candle for just over £20.
What we don't like
This stuff is seriously sweet – buy in the knowledge that it will be quite intense on the sugar.
Can Cire Trudon make a bad scented candle? We seriously think not. This festive offering smells so good, we almost wish they bottled it up and sold it as perfume.
The scent
An evocative, woody fragrance with classic notes of clove, cinnamon, and citrus. Think sitting by a smoky fireplace at Christmas time. The cedarwood note is amazing here.
The packaging
Gorgeous, frosted glass with distressed gold leaf decoration and the signature gold Cire Trudon badge.
What we like
This is the perfect Christmas present for just about anyone, but especially serious home fragrance enthusiasts. Quality stuff.
What we don't like
Obviously, the price is prohibitive (we won't even mention how much the three-kilo version is). But, hey, it's Christmas.
We can't get enough of the Skog candle around Christmas time – it's the best representation of the scent of Christmas trees around.
The scent
The trouble with some pine candles is they can smell a little like toilet freshener. Straight up pine isn't necessarily gonna give you that Christmas tree vibe. This candle, on the other hand, really does, by combining pine with the fresh and sweet aroma of lily-of-the-valley, giving it a resinous and lingering quality we adore.
The packaging
Minimalist and Scandi – it's Scandinavisk, after all. The wooden lid is a nice touch,
What we like
The fragrance – it smells ten times more expensive than the candle is.
What we don't like
It's gone in 60 seconds – so get the larger size.
This candle really proves you don't have to spend megabucks on scented candles – your home will still smell as nice.
The scent
The classic Christmas concoction – with the genius addition of pomegranate for a more complex scent.
The packaging
Gilded and glowing – just what you need for Christmas.
What we like
This is a powerhouse of a Christmas fragrance that will fill even the largest of rooms, even in the smaller sizes.
What we don't like
If you're sensitive to strong smells, this may not be for you; like we said – a powerhouse.
This organic ’s beautiful votive, depicting a street scene on a starry night in on-trend copper, is certain to be the subject of admiring looks at your next holiday get-together, but it’s just as wonderful kept all to yourself.
The scent
The warming spicy scent, with bright bursts of mandarin and sweet tonka, is reminiscent of Christmas cake, and thanks to NEOM’s expert aromatherapy-inspired blends, it’s sure to leave you feeling serene whether you’re entertaining or home alone.
The packaging
Very pretty, blue glass with gold engraving. Looks stunning when lit.
What we like
Will not give you a headache despite being quite sweet.
If your idea of the perfect Christmas morning is sipping a coffee in a luscious New York City hotel, then this is The One.
The scent
Unlike any other Christmas candle on our list, this one features coffee quite prominently, which gives the scent a grown-up, sophisticated quality. Don't worry: there's nothing bitter about it, as there's plenty of vanilla and the usual Christmassy notes, but the coffee makes it unique.
The packaging
The candle is housed in a frosted white container with a slight rainbow sheen to it.
What we like
That it doesn't smell quite like anything else out there.
What we don't like
The packaging is nice and understated, but maybe could've been a but more opulent.
Diptyque have come up with the perfect trio of winter scents – perfect for creating different effects in different rooms.
The scent
Everything you could wish for in one scent – Moonlit Fir has notes of pine, eucalyptus, and mint; Floral Majesty blends rose with cinnamon (yum), and Amber Feather features amber blended with cinnamon and ginger.
The packaging
So colourful and unusual, including the box – the perfect stocking filler
What we like
The ability to choose between the different scents – so you don't have to just have one Christmas fragrance throughout the house.
What we don't like
It is a set of minis, and they really are quite small, so be prepared for that.
