While scent is a very subjective experience, there are notes that we all immediately associate with the most wonderful time of the year.
As soon as we catch a whiff of cinnamon, or the spicy hint of star anise and cloves cross our path, we are immediately transported to Christmas and all the warming joy that these scents offer in the depths of winter.
The aforementioned, alongside pine, orange and ginger have become synonymous with the countdown to the big day.
The festive period is a full sensorial experience, from the twinkling fairy lights to the traditional jingles. The season ignites all five senses in a way that ensures it lives up to its magical reputation.
Burning a Christmassy candle has the overwhelming ability to transform your mood, so switching your typical home fragrance for these festive aromas is a surefire way to fully embrace the seasonal spirit.
While the notes are important, the flicker of the flame can also work wonders in creating a cosy ambience. When sunlight is lacking, the simple action of lighting a candle can be an act of self-care, skipping the bright big overhead light for a scent bougie that provides warmth both inside and out.
Over the years, the fragrance houses have taken great care in the curation of the scent composition as well as the vessels in which they are set. Fitting seamlessly among your tinsel and Fir, they are typically red in colour and decorated with intricate gilded detailing.
Showcased as they appear on the virtual shelves, we have selected the sumptuous scents of the season, from returning favourites by Jo Malone’s Jo Loves to new compositions from lesser-known labels.
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Jo Malone Roasted Chestnut Home Candle
The aroma of roasting chestnut is synonymous with the festive season - and you need not go to New York City to catch a whiff. Jo Malone has captured the rich, smoky scent and packed it into a special candle with the notes of nutmeg, cinnamon and clove and the sweetened touch of soft caramel.
Buy now £59.00, Jo Malone
Penhaligon’s Festive Folly
Bringing a playful spirit to its Christmas offering, Penhaligon’s has wrapped its fragrance favourites in vibrant hues and stripes with gold touches to prove that, without a shadow of a doubt, this is luxury scenting ripe for gifting.
The Festive Folly is a limited edition home fragrance that sees an intermingling of vanilla and spice set in a suitably red-hued exterior.
Buy now £70.00, Penhaligon’s
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Scented Candle Baies des forêts
Transporting you to the snow-filled streets of Paris (no Eurostar or reliance on the weather needed), Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baies des forêts ignites the olfactory of holly layered with warm spices and fruity wood notes.
Buy now £85.00, Harrods
Trudon Limited Edition Angelo Scented Candle
The opulence of Versailles is both the design and scent inspiration behind Trudon’s Christmas collection and the candles are as sumptuous as the legendary palace. Your festive plans may not include opulent balls and masquerade parties a la Louis XIV but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring a touch of luxury to the occasion.
There are four candles; Gloria with wood spices, Fir, Arosa with rose amber and our personal favourite, Angelo - an orange cinnamon blend. The exterior is decorated with 24-carat gold leaf depicting chandeliers, pendants and curtains as well as the signature Trudon coat of arms.
Buy now £94.50, Liberty
Daylesford Mistletoe Candle
Under the mistletoe takes on a whole new meaning with Daylesford. The seasonal shrub is the inspiration for this fragrance combination with fresh and green notes from green stems and figs. As the scent evolves, lily and cyclamen reveal themselves before anchoring with the base of amber woods and soothing musk.
Buy now £46.00, Daylesford
Acqua di Parma Panettone Candle
This limited-edition candle from Italian fragrance house Acqua di Parma calls on another tradition from Bel Paese, panettone. Sure to send your cravings into overdrive, it has notes of citrus, vanilla and candied fruits in line with the traditional Milanese festive pastry.
Buy now £60.00, Liberty
Goutal Une Fôret D’or
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This limited-edition candle will make a striking addition to your seasonal decor. But the magic occurs when Une Fôret D’Or is lit and the aroma of forest fills your space. It is created with notes of pine, mandarins and fresh oranges and housed in a deep blue glass exterior.
Buy now £83.00, Escentual
NEOM Cosy Nights
Cosy Nights has notes of sandalwood, frankincense and nutmeg for a suitably seasonal aroma that will get you in the mood for the festivities. Much like the rest of the NEOM collection, the candle has a room-filling scent (even when unlit) with a rich blend of essential oils that will make you feel like you’re in front of a cosy, roaring fireplace even in your compact London flat.
Buy now £55.00, John Lewis
Jo Loves Christmas Candles
When it comes to scenting your home for the holiday season, Jo Loves has the most expansive selection of suitably festive aromas. The Christmas Trees and Log Fires are bestsellers each year. The former recreates the fresh forest scent of pine trees with lavender, incense and amber and has been given a redesign for 2024. The latter is a smoky, comforting aroma that will transport you to a countryside retreat in front of a log fire.
The Snowflakes blends eucalyptus and cinnamon to give a white Christmas whether the British weather plays ball, while the Plum Pudding combines the sweet elements of candied citrus fruits, caramelised brown sugar and crystallised ginger. To round off the collection, there’s the Gingerbread Candle that has notes of cinnamon and orange with clove, ginger and vanilla and Roasted Chestnuts with touches of candied vanilla and earthy sandalwood that is nostalgic and classic.
And if you can’t decide between each of the room-filling scents? Well, renowned perfumer Jo Malone CBE has thought of that. Her Jo Loves label is offering the Christmas Layered Candle that combines three of the seasonal favourites on top of each other; opening with the refreshing note of pine with Christmas Tree before evolving into the sweet Plum Pudding and finishing up with the smoky aroma of Log Fires.
Buy now £55.00, Jo Loves
The White Company Winter Signature Candle
A stalwart in The White Company’s seasonal offering for over 20 years, the Winter Signature Candle has earned cult status among those familiar with its warming fragrance. It was created with the Christmas-ready combination of cinnamon and clove that provide a spicy touch but are balanced with the zestiness of orange.
Buy now £22.00, The White Company
& Other Stories Déjà Vu Mood Scented Candle
This is not your ordinary fruity aroma. It opens with the juicy note of raspberry but intrigue comes from the floral heart that has a trio of dynamic accords; jasmine sambac, blue cyclamen and saffron flower. The base calls on ambroxan and driftwood that you may think would provide a woody drydown but to throw you off the scent, there’s cotton candy to keep you wanting more.
Buy now £23.00, & Other Stories
Cowshed Winter Candle
Cowshed excels in its sumptuous aromas that create a cosy ambiance and its Winter Candle is the embodiment of this. The range was created to promote different feels, from relaxing to energising but this seasonal scent ignites the Christmas feeling with its notes of cinnamon, pine and juniper.
Buy now, Cowshed
Maison Margiela Replica By The Fireplace Candle
No log cabin in the woods with a blazing fire? No problem. This candle is designed to replicate the smoky aromas as part of luxury fashion house’s Maison Margiela home fragrance offering. You can picture the scene: it’s a dark winter’s night, a fire is crackling and you’re in your slippers sipping hot chocolate. This is the scent that accompanies you with notes of chestnut, pink pepper and clove combined with cashmere and orange flowers. Sweet yet woody.
Buy now £55.00, Cult Beauty
Floral Street Berry Bloom Candle
Floral Street’s limited-edition Berry Bloom candle is a combination of seasonal favourite aromas. It sets notes of red apples with muddled berries, sweet pear with jasmine blossoms and a base of vanilla bean that makes for a cosy, sumptuous combination. The vessel is burgundy-hued, so will fit seamlessly among festive decorations and it’s made from recyclable materials. The candle itself is vegan, sustainable, and is made up of natural wax. It has a burn time of 40 hours.
Buy now £38.00, Floral Street
