I'm putting it out there: I'm a candle hoarder. I have drawers full of them. From fresh, airy scents to woody, spicy aromas, I've got a plethora of options in my collection—one for every mood. And as a candle obsessive, I'm finally entering my favourite time of the year. With Christmas approaching, I'm gearing up to unwrap all of the most festive scents in my collection and turn my home into a Christmassy grotto.
The only problem is that when it comes to Christmas scents, I'm seriously fussy. The idea of filling my room with the sorts of traditional heady, sickly scents associated with Christmas makes me want to run for the hills. I like my festive candles to smell fresh and crisp and have a warming (but not headache-inducing) base that makes me want to snuggle up under a blanket. And after testing and trialling virtually every Christmas candle out there, I can safely say that I've found the best ones.
So if, like me, a sweet, heady Christmas candle isn't usually your vibe, keeping scrolling for the most deliciously elegant and festive candles around.
The Best Christmas Candles 2024
1. Jo Loves Christmas Trees
The whole Who What Wear UK team agrees: this is the best smelling Christmas tree candle. Its the closest thing to a real Christmas tree, all pine sap and glowing amber that fills the room.
2. Diptyque Feu De Bois
Translating as 'wood fire' Feu De Bois is a great alternative if you want a winter candle that will still feel suitable in January and beyond. It creates all the cosiness of a roaring, smoky log fire.
3. Space NK Shimmering Spice Candle
Not a year goes by where I don't have this burning in my living room on Christmas Day. Spicy cinnamon and cedar come together to bring heaps of festive cheer.
4. Maison Francis Kurkdijan Limited Edition Trio of Candles
With three of Maison Francis Kurkdjian's limited edition festive candles, there is something for everyone in this set.
5. Neom Perfect Peace Scented Candle
Every year, Neom brings its A game in festive home fragrance, and it totally knocked it out of the park with this one. Pine and lime peel make this candle impossibly fresh and uplifting, while myrrh gives it a depth perfect for cosy evenings by the fire.
6. Diptyque Sapin Scented Candle
If you ask me, this is the gold standard of Christmas candles. It smells like fresh forest walks, icy windows and all of the nose-tingling freshness that makes winter so great.
7. Beauty Pie Bitter Orange & Blackcurrant
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A unique take on festive home scenting, Beauty Pie's candle pairs the zest of bitter orange with fruity blackcurrant and warming clove for a fresh and uplifting festive scent.
8. Jo Malone London Roasted Chestnut Home Candle
Jo Malone's limited-edition festive scents are always incredible. This year sees Roasted Chestnut, a scent imagined around chestnuts roasting over a crackling fire, along with cinnamon, clove and a swirl of caramel. So cosy.
9. Jo Loves Log Fires Scented Candle
I would actually burn this candle year-round if I didn't have an edit for every season. (It's extra—I know.) It smells just like a smoky, open fire but has a freshness that leaves it lingering subtly in the air.
10. The White Company Fir Tree Large Candle
If you're on the quest for a candle that smells exactly like a real Christmas tree, look no further. Fresh and woody in all of the best ways possible, this candle is like a fresh walk on Christmas morning.
11. Jo Malone London Bitter Orange & Chocolate
If your go-to Christmas treat is a Terry's chocolate orange, then this will be right up your street. It's both delicious yet luxe with dark bitter chocolate and orange rind.
12. The White Company Winter Candle
One of The White Company's most iconic scent, Winter combines cinnamon, clove and orange to a warm and spicy effect. It's one of our all time favourites.
13. Neom Christmas Wish Scented Candle
Blending tonka bean with cinnamon and orange, this candle is basically all of the warming goodness that Christmas brings wrapped up into one pretty parcel.
14. Nest New York Festive Votive Trio
Nest New York creates some of the most cosy festive candles. This set contains Holiday, a festive-spiced mandarin, Birchwood Pine that smells just like a walk in a snow-dusted forest and Crystallized Ginger & Vanilla Bean, which smells just like baking festive treats in your kitchen.
15. Cowshed Winter Candle
Unlike other traditional Christmas candles, this one champions floral notes like rose and neroli, blending them with cinnamon and clove to make it fit for festivities.
16. Marks & Spencer Frankincense & Myrrh Scented Candle
If you love the warming feeling that spice notes bring to a room, then Marks & Spencer's Mandarin, Clove & Cinnamon candle is a must. It smells (and looks) far more expensive than its price tag too.
17. John Lewis Winter Spice
If wintery spices of clove and fruity clementine as your favourite, then John Lewis's take is brilliant and affordable too.
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