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Candles are never not amazing, but during the holidays, they're somehow even better. They're some of the warmest, coziest, best-smelling offerings of the year—fresh-baked treats, just-cut Christmas trees, a crackling fireplace, warm hot toddies. With a great candle, a strike of a match is all it takes to emulate the scents of the holiday season.
With that in mind, we've gathered a definitive ranking of the absolute best holiday candles you can get your hands on this year. Whether you want your home to smell like a luxurious winter getaway or a chic bakeshop with pastries aplenty, there's a top-ranked candle on this list for every kind of winter mood. And with prices ranging from $12 to $80, there's something for every budget, too.
How We Found The Best Holiday Candles
To round up this list, we turned to the help of our data-driven algorithm. This proprietary tool factors in best-selling buzz, editor recommendations, rave reviews, and more to find and rank the best products out there. From Diptyque's limited-edition holiday collection to affordable Target finds, scroll on to check out the 10 candles that made the cut, wrap up in a marshmallowy blanket, sip some wine, and shop your favorites.
Next up, check out the 10 Best Inexpensive Candles. Opening image: @thymesfragrances
December 7, 2021
Top 10 Lists serve as unbiased shopping guides to the most trusted product recommendations on the internet. Products are scored and ranked using an algorithm backed by data consumers find most valuable when making a purchase. We are reader-supported and may earn a commission when you shop through our links.
The Rankings
Diptyque Limited-Edition Holiday Pastry Candle
THE ONE THAT SMELLS LIKE A FRESH-BAKED PASTRY
WHY IT MADE THE LIST: Diptyque never disappoints, especially when it comes to limited-edition gems like this one. With cozy, warm notes of baked biscuit, cinnamon, and patchouli, it's one of the most unique candles on the list and will fill any room with the intoxicating scent of fresh-baked holiday treats —no baking required.
USER REVIEW: "Oh my word, this is a beauty of a candle. It’s called Biscuit, but the sweet aroma could easily be mistaken for a delicious pastry bought fresh from a bakery. The throw fills the room with an enveloping scent as if you’ve wrapped yourself in a flakey croissant. The gold lid makes it extra-specially luxurious. It’s a beaut."
Yankee Candle Balsam & Cedar Candle
THE ONE THAT SMELLS LIKE A REAL CHRISTMAS TREE
WHO IT'S FOR: Whether you're allergic to Christmas trees or simply live in a high rise that's way too complicated to get one into, this candle is the perfect supplement for anyone with a faux tree. With balsam, cedarwood, and juniper berry, it smells exactly how we imagine Taylor Swift's Christmas Tree Farm would.
ADDITIONAL THINGS TO KNOW: At just $30 for 20 ounces, two wicks, and a 90-hour burn time, this impressive candle is one of the most affordable on the list. Oh, and did we mention it has over 46,000 rave reviews on Amazon?
Voluspa Crushed Candy Cane Candle
THE ONE THAT SMELLS BOTH MINTY AND SWEET
WHY PEOPLE LOVE IT: Not only does this candle smell like a perfect blend of crisp peppermint and buttery, fresh-baked cookies, but the gorgeous textured glass basically doubles as decor. Grab a few different sizes and use them to accent your Christmas dinner tablescape.
USER REVIEW: "While most candy candle candles smell like a burning peppermint stick, this one is a lovely mix of sweet and minty. You can really smell the sweet, buttery cookies in the candle, which helps mellow out the peppermint. The small votive is perfect to freshen up a bathroom or guest room—especially during the holiday season!"
Nest New York Hearth Scented Candle
THE ONE THAT SMELLS LIKE A CRACKLING FIREPLACE
WHO IT'S FOR: Need something to make your Netflix fire feel like the real deal? Pick up this Nest best-seller. Infused with rich oud wood, frankincense, and hints of smoky embers, it perfectly captures that fireside feel—only one flame required.
ADDITIONAL THINGS TO KNOW: This holiday season, NEST is moving toward a more sustainable future with recyclable cartons made from sustainably sourced materials using renewable energy. Smells good and feels good.
The Collection By Chesapeake Bay Brown Sugar Chestnut Candle
THE ONE THAT SMELLS WAY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN IT IS
WHY PEOPLE LOVE IT: With its sleek black vessel and sweet-but-not-too-sweet scent, this candle looks and feels way more luxe than its price tag suggests. We recommend grabbing a few and giving them as gifts.
ADDITIONAL THINGS TO KNOW: Want more details on the scent? Think roasted chestnuts, brown sugared pecans, and cinnamon vanilla swirl amongst notes of acorns, maple trees, and fall leaves.
The White Company Winter Signature Candle
THE ONE THAT SMELLS EXACTLY LIKE WINTER
WHY IT MADE THE LIST: The White Company has been churning out this signature scent for decades, and it's only continued to gain loyal fans. Described as "the scent of Christmas," this cinnamon, clove, and orange candle is one you'll want to break out year after year.
ADDITIONAL THINGS TO KNOW: This iconic candle is filled with high-quality mineral wax to deliver a long, clean, and even burn every time—no tunneling here.
Capri Blue Fir & Firewood Jar Candle
THE ONE THAT SMELLS LIKE ANTHROPOLOGIE DURING THE HOLIDAYS
WHY PEOPLE LOVE IT: The decor, the gifts, the ridiculously cute knitwear—few things can compare to the magic of Anthropologie during the holidays. With a mix of both fruity and woodsy notes (think apple, clove, fir, pine needle, white birch, cedar, vetiver, and musk), this candle smells just like that.
ADDITIONAL THINGS TO KNOW: Anthro sells this scent in a votive size, too—perfect for Christmas tables and buffet displays.
Voluspa White Cypress Candle
THE ONE THAT SMELLS LIKE CHRISTMAS FOR 100 HOURS
WHO IT'S FOR: If you love candles that smell like Christmas, look no further. With notes of white cypress, juniper berry, mint leaves, and evergreen wood, this 18-ounce beauty will last through the holiday season and then some.
HELPFUL TIP: After you've burned the whole thing, keep the pretty glass jar and use it to store makeup brushes on your bathroom counter or vanity.
Nest New York Holiday Classic Candle
THE ONE THAT SMELLS NOSTALGIC
WHY PEOPLE LOVE IT: Somehow, Nest has made multiple reviewers reminisce on Christmases past with this scent. We don't know how they do it, but the blend of pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, cloves, and cinnamon with a hint of vanilla and amber is a crowd favorite.
USER REVIEW: "I am in love with Nest Candles! The fragrances are amazing. The Holiday Classic is exactly what I was hoping for, just in time for the Christmas season. The glass design looks so elegant on my console table. I bought a few as gifts, as well. It's amazing how a scent can transport you to a time where you feel so many happy emotions about Christmases past. Thank you, Nest!"
Thymes Frasier Fir Candle
THE ONE THAT SMELLS LIKE A WINTER GETAWAY
WHY IT MADE THE LIST: Crisp and fresh, this cult-favorite winter candle smells like a just-cut Christmas tree in a chic, snow-covered cabin somewhere. Specific, we know. According to one reviewer, it evokes the vibe of a "luxury resort in the winter."
WHY PEOPLE LOVE IT: According to the reviews, you'll want to burn Frasier Fir year-round—not just at the holidays.
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