As soon as the calendar flips to November, I am lighting up all my favorite holiday candles. I love turning my apartment into a Christmas-y oasis with all the best Christmas candles this time of year.
I have tried a lot of holiday candles over the years and the following are the best of the best in my opinion. Freshly updated with all my latest finds, too.
The Best Holiday Candles
So if you’re also ready to start the holiday spirit via scent, check out my roundup of all the best holiday candles to shop this year. A variety of them make great gifts for hosts and hostesses, too!
And since my travel schedule won’t allow for me to get a Christmas tree this year…I’ll instead be relying on my favorite candles to get me in the mood.
Nest Holiday Candle
I purchase this every year! It is such a unique scent that says holiday without being woodsy. Pomegranate, Mandarin orange, pine, cloves and cinnamon with a hint of vanilla and amber. Cozy and festive.
This one is available on Amazon so you can get it in a pinch if you’re a Prime Member.
And their Winter Chai is nice, too if you like less traditional cozy holiday scents.
Jonathan Adler Holiday Pop
Its festive metallic vessel is just one reason I love this candle. The other is the fact that it smells like a crisp winter day during the holiday season. Part pine, part cinnamon. Repurpose the glass afterwards for a chic carry-all.
This is one I’ve repurchased year after year.
Illume Balsam & Cedar
Not only does this candle make your house smell like a Christmas tree, it also comes in a beautiful mercury glass that you could re-use after your candle has burnt out. This one is also available on Amazon so you can get it in a pinch if you’re a Prime Member.
They offer the scent in a variety of formats if the mercury glass isn’t your personal taste.
Jo Malone Pine and Eucalyptus Candle
A more mellow and fresh candle if you’re not one for major fir-scents. This one is a lovely way to warm your home with a subtle yet cozy somewhat Christmas-y feeling scent.
A few other best holiday candles:
Hotel Lobby Holiday
My friend Lindsay really nailed the scent of her original holiday candle. It features notes of Evergreen, Fresh Pine, Balsam Fir, Blue Spruce and it gives all the festive winter vibes you want in a Christmas candle.
It also burns for 65 amazing hours, has great throw so your whole room will smell of it & it comes in a beautifully packaged box so it also makes a great gift. (Speaking of which – don’t miss shopping the brand’s curated Gift Sets).
This year they also introduced a Holiday in New York Candle I picked up and it’s equally as amazing – amber and soft woods rest on a velvety base, with a touch of ripe fig which is one of my personal favorite notes.
Next I want to try the new Fifth Avenue Holiday Candle.
Williams Sonoma Winter Forrest
The most affordable good forrest-y candle I’ve found. Just $25!
Thymes Fraiser Fir
This is a long standing favorite of mine and I repurchase it every year without fail. Such a Christmas classic. It is good enough to be a stand-in for a real Fir.
And by the way – they also offer this scent in an essential oil so if you have a diffuser I absolutely recommend you get it. It’ll make your whole space smell like a Christmas tree!
La Jolie Muse Fraser Fir Candle
A good candle for minimalists due to its sleek jar that would actually make a great vase after the fact. This candle is large and burns for 80 hours! It was a good impulse purchase I made on Amazon last year and I still have some to burn this season – it’s that big!
. . .
I’d love to know – do you have a favorite holiday candle? Do share in the Comments below! When I am not burning holiday candles this season, I am also using my Pura Nest Holiday fragrance in all my smart diffusers. It is magical every time I come home!!
And if you don’t already have an electric lighter you’re doing it wrong!! I have one for every room in my house nowadays! And they make a great stocking stuffer, too.
Let me know if you end up picking up any of these and what you think! Do you have any favorites I should try?
Shop the Candles
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These are all so good! I love Nest holiday candle – have you tried their Winter White? It might be my favorite candle ever! Hope you’re having a blast Down Under and thanks for all these recommendations.
Ooo I haven’t!! Thanks for the rec!
Oops, it’s not by Nest, it’s Illume. Still amazing tho!
Can you like the little croissant, it’s so cute!
Sorry it is no longer available! It was from Anthro. If it ever comes back in stock I’ll be sure to share on Instagram as I always get asked about it 🙂
Oh, I am getting more and more obsessed with candles so this roundup comes at a perfect time! I need to check them all out. I’ve been wanting to treat myself to a Jo Malone candle this winter so getting one that smells like Christmas definitely sounds like a perfect idea.
The Career Edit
http://thecareeredit.co/
Aw yay! Report back which ones you end up getting!
I bought the Nest candle after searching your site and finding another post with your favorite candles. I’ve had it for a few days and I’m obsessed!! Definitely going to need to order another!
So thrilled to hear this! I haven’t gotten my annual Nest one yet but can’t wait to do so! Thanks so much for sharing!
Have you ever smelled Illume’s woodfire?! It’s my all time favorite scent and evokes hygge in my home. Also, love those red pajamas! They look so comfy and festive !
No! I’ve never heard of that one but am obviously going to buy ASAP now! Thank you for the rec!!
All great recs. Haven’t tried all, but most on list and find the Thymes to evoke the scent closest to a real Christmas tree. It has a great throw too.
Aside from holiday scents, recently discovered the most beautiful scent. Self confess to buying the candle for the aesthetic to match my new home office design. The Diptique Beverly Hills signature candle. I ordered directly from the store. It is just incredible and if they made a perfume I’d dip myself in it. The vessel is equally gorgeous. Just love it so much. Can’t get enough.
Ooo I’ve never even heard of this one! I can’t wait to try it. Thank you for the rec!
I purchased the Ilume Cedar and Balsam candle. The packaging is beautiful — if you gave it as a gift it would not need wrapping. The frosted glass container is perfect and the aroma is Christmas year round. Great choice in my book! Thanks for the great idea.
Yes I always love giving and getting candles as gifts! Love when brands make it easy
Diptyque – Feu de Bois! An expensive but special candle.
ooo I only have ever had a mini so I need to get the full size for the proper throw!
If you’ve never tried the Harlem Candle Co Holiday candle I HIGHLY recommend it! It beats out the Nest holiday candle just slightly for me since I prefer more piney scents. I’ve had several Harlem Candle Co candles and I cannot recommend them enough.
Oh I need to try this one! Thank you so much for the rec!!
I’ve been burning Sweet Water i Sweet Water Decor soy candles for the last year and am happy with all the scents-Fall, Winter and others. They burn very cleanly and smell natural but they do not have a particularly long burn time. I am going to layer in two of your suggestions this year. Thanks!!
Ooo I’ve not heard of this one – thank you for the rec!!