The Best Holiday Candles You’ll Want to Burn All Winter

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When the weather gets cold and blustery and those precious few hours of daylight are all too limited, the only thing to do is stay indoors. Outside may be dreary, but inside, Brenda Lee’s Christmas album is blaring on vinyl, my Christmas tree is twinkling, and the entire room smells like fresh-baked sugar cookies. That, my friends, is the magic of ambience, created with help from some expertly crafted holiday candles. 

A cozy night in isn’t complete without the perfect candle, so we did the hard work of sniffing dozens of holiday candles and rounded up the best ones. Whether you want your room to smell like a fresh-cut evergreen tree, the box of cigars your dad brings out every Christmas, potato latkes for breakfast, or a hodge-podge of holiday smells, we have you covered.

 

$20 and Under

AROMATIQUE

The Smell of Tree

scent description: pine, cedarleaf, fir balsam, bayleaf, clove, moss

I'll be honest, this is a pretty classic balsam scent, but that's exactly why we love it. It burns evenly with a solid throw, and in this textured glass jar, we're smitten.

AROMATIQUE

The Smell of Christmas

scent description: clove, orange, cinnamon, spice, wood

This is exactly how my house smells while we're decorating for Christmas. Not that it smells like dusty old ornaments from the attic—it smells like baking oranges for garland in the oven, cinnamon sticks, and the fire burning in the background.

Hearth & Hand with Magnolia

Mulled Spice Candle

scent description: cedar, apple, peach, clove, orange

This scent is kind of a one-trick pony but in the absolute best way. Sometimes you don't need a heavy blend of unique smells for a good candle. This smells just like mulled wine with a touch of spice—and it's all I need. My apartment becomes a home when this is burning.

Threshold designed with Studio McGee

Clove and Black Currant Candle

scent description: clove, black currant

Winter is about more than pine trees and cookies. You can also evoke happy winter days spent at home with scents like this candle's mix of black currant and spicy clove.

Threshold

Merry Berry Candle

scent description: frankincense, currant, berry, spice, and pomegranate

This holiday candle smells like frosted berries, while the touch of frankincense adds a Christmas tree element and the spice grounds it. It's surprisingly layered considering it's under $10.

Opalhouse

Christmas Cheer Soy Candle

scent description: clove, vanilla, orange

This candle somehow bottles how a HomeGoods smells around the holidays, complete with a blend of sweet vanilla, fresh citrus, and spicy clove.

 

 

$21-$30

Tried & True

Cozy Cashmere Candle

scent description: bergamot, tobacco, and vanilla

Cozy nights at home are what the holiday season is all about, regardless of what you celebrate. This is a seasonless candle that you can burn all year round, but it'll make the perfect pairing to a night reading in bed.

Bath & Body Works

Champagne Toast Candle

scent description: champagne, sparkling berries, sweet orange

Nothing says New Year's like a glass of champagne—or Bath and Body Works' famed Champagne Toast candle. For those who don't want the classic holiday scents but like to party (relatable), this delivers.

White Barn

Cinnamon Sugared Pecans Candle

scent description: cinnamon sugar, warm roasted pecans, brown sugar

If you want your kitchen to smell like baked goods (who doesn't?), I'm begging you to buy this candle. It's not so sweet that it'll induce a headache, but it's just sweet enough that you'll be placing an InstaCart order for a decadent dessert in no time.

Bath & Body Works

Winter Scented Candle

scent description: white woods, pine needles, sparkling clementine, spiced clove

All of your classic winter scents combine to make this delicious candle, complete with notes of spice, fresh citrus, and campfire.

Bath & Body Works

'Tis The Season Candle

scent description: rich red apple, sweet cinnamon, cedarwood

It's not the holiday season until I've started burning a 'Tis the Season candle. A quintessential blend of sweet cinnamon and apple with firewood, it's how I picture the Griswold house smells around Christmas.

White Barn

Sweater Weather Candle

scent description: fresh sage, juniper berry, aromatic eucalyptus, fresh woods

This smells like pulling on an old cashmere sweater from the back of your mom's closet. This delightfully layered candle is a twist on your traditional winter berry, thanks to notes of eucalyptus and woods.

Voluspa

Candy Cane Candle

scent description: peppermint, freshly baked butter cookies

A candle that smells too much like candy canes isn't exactly up our alley, but this blend with the scent of warm, buttery cookies makes it decadent.

Etsy | Sweet Water Decor

Christmas White Jar Soy Candle

scent description: apple cider, cinnamon
fresh cut Christmas tree, cookies, orange peels, cloves

Somehow, this candle combines every single scent of the holidays into one dreamy candle without smelling overpowering. Each note comes through beautifully, and the throw is magnificent.

Yankee Candle

Christmas Cookie Candle

scent description: vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, butter, sugar

Sometimes, you just want your whole house to smell like freshly baked cookies, and when that mood strikes, there's nothing on Earth that can satisfy like this classic Yankee Candle scent.

 

 

$31-$50

Mala The Brand

Fireside Candle

scent description: black amber, lavender, and musk

Like spending Christmas Eve by the fire in a cottage upstate while you're wearing a cozy sweater playing Scrabble, this blend evokes all those warm winter feels.

Maison Louis Marie

Swiss Alps Le Refuge d’Ernest Candle

scent description: applewood, clove leaf, cedar

For those who want a holiday scent but get headaches from some of the more potent options, you'll find a friend in this candle. It has a few classic holiday touches, like clove and cedar, but without all the sweetness and pine that make it too much.

Otherland

Fallen Fir Vegan Candle

scent description: balsam fir, musk, winter spice

It's your classic pine tree scent, only richer. I imagine this is what a Christmas tree farm nestled in a fancy Connecticut boarding school would smell like, thanks to the addition of musk in your classic balsam scent.

NEST New York

Crystallized Ginger & Vanilla Bean Candle

scent description: crystallized ginger, vanilla bean, oat milk

This is your grown-up holiday cookie smell, like dipping sugar cookies in a cup of coffee.

FORVR MOOD

Burr Candle

scent description: orange blossom, nutmeg, and suede

A unique take on the traditional holiday scent, this spicy blend is just what you need to warm up on a cold day. FORVR Mood candles last forever, so you'll burn this well into winter.

HOMESICK

Latkes & Lights Candle

scent description: baked apple, butter, potato, pomegranate, pound cake, vanilla, sugar, musk

This isn't your traditional holiday sweet smell, thanks to notes of musk and potato that will make you feel like you're cooking potato latkes in the kitchen with your whole family.

BOY SMELLS

Figurare Scented Candle

scent description: fig leaves, coriander seed, black pepper, pepperwood, fir balsam, cedarwood, cardamom, baies rose, lavender, nutmeg, patchouli

Boy Smells layers scents like no other candle company out there. I mean, look at that long list of notes. But they nail it just about every time, regardless of how unexpected the pairings might be. This sweet fragrance teeters the line of gourmand (thanks to the nutmeg), but spicy black pepper and cedarwood bring it back. It won't smell like what you think it does, but trust me: It's good.

HARLEM CANDLE CO.

Ellington Luxury Candle

scent description: bergamot, cinnamon, clary sage, lily of the valley, rose, lavender, patchouli, amber, musk

Harlem Candle Company found a way to make their candles smell expensive as all hell without actually being expensive as all hell. This one is an amazing blend of bergamot, amber, cinnamon, and sage, with notes of fresh lily of the valley, rose, and lavender. It smells so unique and special, perfect for the holidays.

 

 

$50 and Up

Maison Margiela

'REPLICA' By The Fireplace Scented Candle

scent description: clove oil, chestnut accord, vanilla accord

Because this began as a perfume, it has the workings of a fireplace candle plus sweetness in the ending notes from the chestnut and vanilla that make it so unique. It's pricey but will last you until next holiday season, no doubt.

NEST New York

Holiday Scented Candle

scent description: pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, amber

This is often regarded as the best holiday scent out there, and we can't help but agree. If Christmas candles could be cheugy, this would be the antidote. It's a sophisticated blend of sweetness, woods, and citrus that feels rich without the pretentiousness.

DIPTYQUE

Sapin/Pine Tree Candle

scent description:
mountain pine, honeyed mimosa

We couldn't do a holiday candle roundup without a mention of this iconic Diptyque candle. Balanced with sweet floral aromas, it's not your typical pine scent. Plus, the jar is speckled with glow-in-the-dark stars for an extra festive touch.

DIPTYQUE

Feu de Bois/Wood Fire Candle

scent description: birch, juniper, cade

This smells like a fireplace the second you light the log—all the warmth without the burnt smell. Dare we say this is Diptyque's best candle? Often imitated but never duplicated, this scent is worth the high price tag and we recommend you invest in one ASAP.

 

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