Lifestyle

20 Incredible-Smelling Candles to Burn This Holiday Season

LifestylePublished Nov 4, 2019
By Mandy Velez
pumpkin patch candleHomesick

The holidays are approaching and while there's still no verdict on whether folks should start decorating for Christmas before or after Halloween, getting cozy can still happen. In fact, out of all the holiday preparations, getting the home into holiday mode is part of the planning. That is possible to do just by decorating for fall and winter in general with decor that's not specific to Christmas, for those against bypassing Thanksgiving. A great way to get into the holiday spirit, no matter what side of the aisle a person is on, is through candles. With their many scents, candles can transform a room and transport people back to a place or time. They can simulate cookies in the oven or a crackling fire. Plus, they just look magical burning and set a mood for many occasions, from dates to dinner parties. It helps that there are a lot of seasonal scents to choose from.

So what exactly does the candle market look like right now? I didn't know myself, but after some digging, a little bit of testing and asking some trusty Twitter followers, the below list materialized. Turns out, people know a good candle when they have it and they remember it, or stock up on it. Some of those recommendations are included below.

There are also prominent candle retailers rising to the top of people's preferences from a brand perspective and Homesick and Voluspa are part of that crop of fast-risers. Then there's the tried and true brands, like Bath & Body Works and Yankee Candle, which have an array of aromas to choose from. Many on the list are also made with cruelty-free, paraben-free and long-lasting materials. Even some of the candle cups (or holders) are decorative in their own right. Voluspa's holders can double as cups for holding accessories. 

Whether the goal is to be super festive or just have good, calming smells during a busy holiday season, there are definitely options out there. Take a look at the ones we found below.

*Psst: if you choose to purchase an item from this post, CafeMom.com may receive a small cut. Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
1/20
Chandelier by Otherland-placeholder
Chandelier by Otherland
Otherland

Chandelier by Otherland

Otherland's Chandelier candle is one of the five main candles in the brand's collection. This one's three top scents are champagne, saffron, and leather and it has a 55-hour burn time.

Chandelier ($36, Otherland)

2/20
Champagne Toast by Bath & Body Works-placeholder
Champagne Toast by Bath & Body Works
Bath and Bodyworks

Champagne Toast by Bath & Body Works

Holidays tend to see more champagne than other times of year, so it makes sense to have a candle to make it smell like the drink all the time, with a brunch twist, of course. In addition to a "bubbly champagne" smell, other scents include sparkling berries and juicy tangerine with essential oils. 

Champagne Toast ($15, Bath & Body Works)

3/20
Pennsylvania Candle by Homesick-placeholder
Pennsylvania Candle by Homesick
Homesick

Pennsylvania Candle by Homesick

Homesick has carved itself a successful space in the candle world, with candle names and scents that feel close to home, literally. The Pennsylvania candle brings whoever smells it into a world of butter, rum, and chocolate.

Pennsylvania Candle ($30, Homesick)

4/20
Pumpkin Patch Candle by Homesick-placeholder
Pumpkin Patch Candle by Homesick
Homesick

Pumpkin Patch Candle by Homesick

A seasonal Homesick candle that I have tried personally, courtesy of the brand, is the Pumpkin Patch candle. It smells like actual pumpkin spice baked goods and easily fills a room.

Pumpkin Patch Candle ($30, Homesick)

5/20
Marshmallow Fireside by Bath & Body Works-placeholder
Marshmallow Fireside by Bath & Body Works
Bath and Bodyworks

Marshmallow Fireside by Bath & Body Works

Marshmallow fireside as a scenario sounds pretty amazing, and it would make sense that the Bath & Body Works candle is highly rated. As far as smells go, think of marshmallows, firewood, and vanilla.

Marshmallow Fireside ($15, Bath & Body Works)

6/20
Tahaa-placeholder
Tahaa
Glasshouse Fragrances

Tahaa

If one wants the home to smell like a Starbucks or other super cute coffee shop, then the Tahaa candle is a good choice. It has a vanilla caramel fragrance "with fresh Coconut and Frankincense."

Tahaa ($45, Glasshouse Fragrances)

7/20
Lavender Cedarwood by Bath & Body Works-placeholder
Lavender Cedarwood by Bath & Body Works
Bath and Bodyworks

Lavender Cedarwood by Bath & Body Works

Lavender is said to have a calming effect and useful for people with anxiety, which is the reason it's a scent in this aromatherapy candle. Cedarwood is a fragrance that brings more earthy tones.

Lavender Cedarwood ($15, Bath & Body Works)

8/20
Cardamom & Vetiver by Hearth & Hand-placeholder
Cardamom & Vetiver by Hearth & Hand
Target

Cardamom & Vetiver by Hearth & Hand

Chip and Joanna Gaines fans, rejoice. The pair's brand at Target, Hearth & Hand by Magnolia, includes this cardamom and vetiver scents. In translation, the "soy candle features the spicy and woodsy scents of cardamom and vetiver in a gray glass jar with a wooden lid."

Cardamom & Vetiver ($13, Target)

9/20
French Cade Lavender by Voluspa-placeholder
French Cade Lavender by Voluspa
Valuspa

French Cade Lavender by Voluspa

Voluspa is also a go-to candle company that can deliver really awesome scents, and French Cade Lavender is one of them. It came on the recommendation of a friend, and for good reason. It's wood and lavender smell create a calming ambiance.

French Cade Lavender ($28, Voluspa)

10/20
Christmas Cookie by Yankee Candle-placeholder
Christmas Cookie by Yankee Candle
Yankee Candle

Christmas Cookie by Yankee Candle

Yankee Candle is the tried and true mall brand that is there for last-minute holiday purchases, or everyday candle needs. But Christmas Cookie is a step above. If one should want their home to smell like sugar cookies are in the oven at all times, this is the scent to get.

Christmas Cookie ($13, Yankee Candle)

11/20
Orange & Ginger by Bath & Body Works-placeholder
Orange & Ginger by Bath & Body Works
Bath and Body Works

Orange & Ginger by Bath & Body Works

For a more tangy candle, the Aromatherapy candle Orange Ginger has that scent. The main idea: Energy. And when winter comes and it gets darker earlier, it might be nice to have this candle burning. 

Orange & Ginger ($15, Bath & Body Works)

12/20
Toasted Pumpkin Minimalist Candle by Brooklyn Candle Studio-placeholder
Toasted Pumpkin Minimalist Candle by Brooklyn Candle Studio
Brooklyn Candle Studio

Toasted Pumpkin Minimalist Candle by Brooklyn Candle Studio

Pumpkin is the official smell of fall and this toasted pumpkin candle will keep the smell going well into the winter, too. It is "the perfect scent symphony of toasted pumpkin seeds, cardamom, nutmeg, clove, and cinnamon notes."

Toasted Pumpkin Minimalist Candle ($24, Brooklyn Candle Studio)

13/20
Maple Leaves by Crate & Barrel-placeholder
Maple Leaves by Crate & Barrel
Crate and Barrel

Maple Leaves by Crate & Barrel

There's nothing quite like the crisp, brisk air in fall. Crate & Barrel captures that in the form of its Maple Leaves candle. The candle casing is also super cute.

Maple Leaves ($14, Crate & Barrel)

14/20
Holiday Mini Candle by Homesick-placeholder
Holiday Mini Candle by Homesick
Homesick

Holiday Mini Candle by Homesick

Homesick gets right to the point with its candles, and that's exactly the case for its Holiday candle. This is a mini should one would want to gift it (though keeping it is perfectly fine, too). Scents include cinnamon, clove, and bay.

Holiday Mini Candle ($16, Homesick)

15/20
Pumpkin Chai by Nest Fragrances-placeholder
Pumpkin Chai by Nest Fragrances
Amazon

Pumpkin Chai by Nest Fragrances

Pumpkin and chai is for those basic (read: awesome) coffee drinkers. Per Amazon, the candle has "a blend of wild pumpkin, spicy masala chai, Cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon."

Pumpkin Chai ($16, Amazon)

16/20
Champagne by Jonathan Adler-placeholder
Champagne by Jonathan Adler
Wayfair

Champagne by Jonathan Adler

According to Wayfair's description of the Jonathan Adler Champagne candle, it feels like: "New Year's Eve, silk-satin sheets, a million bucks." Despite champagne's neutral tones, this candle smells fruity.

Champagne ($42, Wayfair)

17/20
Visions of Sugar Plum by Voluspa-placeholder
Visions of Sugar Plum by Voluspa
Voluspa

Visions of Sugar Plum by Voluspa

With a name taken straight from a Christmas poem, this Voluspa candle was made for the holiday season. And its scents are quite diverse too: Plum, dried cherry, powdered sugar, toasted hazelnut, and lemon zest.

Visions of Sugar Plum ($29, Voluspa)

18/20
Portable Fireplace by D.S. & Durga-placeholder
Portable Fireplace by D.S. & Durga
Violet Grey

Portable Fireplace by D.S. & Durga

I personally love the smell of a burning fireplace and I love the idea of the smell being a candle. A cool fact is that the candle was "hand-poured in the Brooklyn studio of husband-and-wife duo."

Portable Fireplace ($65, Violet Grey)

19/20
Holiday Candle by Nest Fragrances-placeholder
Holiday Candle by Nest Fragrances
NEST/Sephora

Holiday Candle by Nest Fragrances

For a general holiday fragrance, the Nest Fragrances candle has all of the classic scents, including pomegranate, mandarin, pine, cloves, and cinnamon, along with a touch of vanilla and amber.

Holiday Candle ($140, Sephora)

20/20
Spiced Chestnut Candle by Williams Sonoma-placeholder
Spiced Chestnut Candle by Williams Sonoma
Williams-Sonoma

Spiced Chestnut Candle by Williams Sonoma

A more earthy scent will come from the Spiced Chestnut candle by Williams Sonoma. It's of course chestnut scented, with hints of cinnamon and clove.

Spiced Chestnut Candle ($20, Wililams Sonoma)

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