I think scented candles are one of the best Christmas gift ideas to give, especially for that person who has everything; they make the home smell great, add a cosy atmosphere, and are a luxurious treat that they probably wouldn't buy themselves.
I've probably gone through hundreds of scented candles in my life and have dozens on standby – you could say I hoard them – and now, having burned all of my cosy autumn candles, I'm reaching for festive scents in the lead up to the big day and beyond; think notes of rich spices, fresh pine and seasonal citrus fruits, ideally housed in a jar that's a little bit special or sparkly. Here's my pick of the best for all budgets...
11 best Christmas candles for 2024
Yankee Candle London Christmas Tea Signature Large Jar 567g: Was £29.99, now £20.99 from Debenhams
NEOM Winter Wellbeing Candle Trio 3 x 75g: Was £48, now £38.40 from LookFantastic
Diptyque Sapin Classic Candle 190g: £68 from Diptyque
Yankee Candle Collection Gift Set: Was £60, now £29.50 from Boots
The White Company Winter Mercury Luxury Votive Candle 95g: £16 from LookFantastic
NEST New York Holiday Classic Candle & Diffuser Set: £95 from Sephora
M&S London Light Up Scented Candle: £10 from Marks & Spencer
ESPA Winter Spice Candle 200g: Was £45, now £40.50 from LookFantastic
Liz Earle Spiced Bitter Orange Botanical Candle 220g: Was £37, now £27.75 from Liz Earle
Space NK Shimmering Spice 3-Wick Scented Candle 400g: £42 from Space NK
Lords Abernethy Forest Winter 3 Wick Candle 650g: £62 from Lords
Yankee Candle London Christmas Tea Signature Large Jar 567g
Was £29.99, now £20.99 from Debenhams
Image:
Laura Mulley)Big, heavy and strongly scented, Yankee Candles are guaranteed crowd-pleasers. Its Christmas collection is inspired by festive celebrations around the world, including this London Christmas Tea fragrance, with notes of ginger, black tea, cinnamon and woods.
NEOM Winter Wellbeing Candle Trio 3 x 75g
Was £48, now £38.40 from LookFantastic
Image:
Laura Mulley)I'm a huge fan of NEOM's candles, and this year's Christmas collection is just stunning, with gorgeous packaging and scents that really fill the home. Unsure which scent to go for? Buy this three-piece set, which contains a 75g candle of each: cinnamon-y Christmas Wish, pine-inspired Perfect Peace, and warm, woody Cosy NIghts.
Diptyque Sapin Classic Candle 190g
£68 from Diptyque
Image:
Laura Mulley)Scented candles don't come much better than Diptyque's and I defy you to find anyone who wouldn't be blown away to receive this as a Christmas present. Sapin – a fresh, earthy, pine tree scent – is one of the brand's most popular at Christmas, and you'll smell it as soon as you open the box. This year's has been designed by artist Lucy Sparrow and features a felt decoration and luxe gold lid.
Yankee Candle Collection Gift Set
Was £60, now £29.50 from Boots
Image:
Laura Mulley)Another Yankee Candle idea, but here's a way to get eight different ones for less than £30. This gift set usually costs £60 but is currently down to £29.50 as part of Boots' Star Gifts pre-Christmas sales. This means that each product inside – one medium jar, two tumblers, three filled votives and two wax melts – could technically be valued at £3.68. White Spruce & Grapefruit is a lovely fresh, zingy scent, while Black Cherry and Christmas Cookie are perfect for those who love gourmands.
The White Company Winter Mercury Luxury Votive Candle 95g
£16 from LookFantastic
Image:
Laura Mulley)For a candle that looks as good as it smells, go for this chic little White Company votive. What is lacks in size, it makes up for in scent, as it smells exactly like mulled wine tastes: warming, spicy, lightly fruity. Once it's burned down, clean it out and use it as a tea light holder.
NEST New York Holiday Classic Candle & Diffuser Set
£95 from Sephora
Image:
Laura Mulley)This NEST candle is what we imagine Kris Jenner's house smells like at Christmas; with notes of pomegranate, pine, vanilla and amber, it just smells (and looks) expensive. Your best option is to buy this candle and diffuser set together – it makes the ultimate gift.
M&S London Light Up Scented Candle
£10 from Marks & Spencer
Image:
Laura Mulley)Another favourite every year, M&S's light up candles are always a hit, often selling out in advance of the festive season; just light the candle in the centre and LED lights will turn on, illuminating a beautiful London scene. It's not the strongest smelling one of the bunch, but what it lacks in powerful aroma it makes up for in dazzling style.
The particular London design was sold out online at the time of writing (although you may find it in stores still), but this other light up design is similar.
ESPA Winter Spice Candle 200g
Was £45, now £40.50 from LookFantastic
Image:
Laura Mulley)Another that hits your as soon as you open its elaborate box, and another with strong whiffs of mulled wine: sweet orange, clove, cinnamon and ginger. This one has a slightly more spa-like vibe though, high in mood-boosting essential oils, and a smart gold lid.
Liz Earle Spiced Bitter Orange Botanical Candle 220g
Was £37, now £27.75 from Liz Earle
Image:
Laura Mulley)Want a candle that'll see you through the festive period and into spring? This Liz Earle offering is the one for you. Its design is refreshingly spangle-free for a Christmas candle, and its spiced orange scent smells as fresh as it does festive.
Space NK Shimmering Spice 3-Wick Scented Candle 400g
£42 from Space NK
Image:
Laura Mulley)High up on many a beauty editor's Christmas wish list every year, Space NK's stunning Shimmering Spice candle has acquired cult status, with notes of cinnamon, cedar and all spice. I think this big three-wicker is good value compared to many others, but it's also available in 75g (£18) and 190g (£28).
The White Collection Gingerbread Scented Candle 160g
£8 from Boots
Image:
Laura Mulley)One for those with a sweet tooth or fans of the current gourmand fragrance trend, this smells like a freshly baked gingerbread house (albeit fairly faintly). For £8 though, it's good value, and I'm impressed that it comes with a metal lid/stand.
Lords Abernethy Forest Winter 3 Wick Candle 650g
£62 from Lords
Image:
Laura Mulley)This lovely home fragrance brand is a fairly new discovery to me, and I've fallen in love with its scents inspired by locations around the world – including Abernethy Forest in Scotland, with notes of pine needle, cedarwood, eucalyptus, patchouli, peppermint, lavandin and fir balsam. The 225g jar I have is currently out of stock, but the larger three-wick one is still available.
English (US) ·