For some people, luxe pampering means an ultra-soft cashmere blanket. For others it’s a chilled bottle of Krug Champagne. For me, it’s the soothing combination of flickering candlelight and my favourite scents: The perfect ingredient for me-time, duvet days and combating daily stress, while also creating a lovely backdrop for social evenings.
And these gorgeous creations of wax and glass work as powerful aromatherapy treatments as you breathe in the scented air, so they can really do no wrong in my book.
But… and it’s a huge BUT… quality is of utmost importance when choosing scented candles. Go for the 12-in-a-pack option and their cloying, soapy, chemical laden OTT odour is more likely to create a headache than relaxation. Well made candles, on the other hand, provide a subtle, refined and natural scent when lit up and look just as cool when not.
Plus, the latter have a much higher “burn time”: While the cheaper candles will usually burn down completely in 8-10 hours, one that’s loaded with high quality vegetal waxes can last anywhere between 50-100 hours without releasing harmful pollutants, toxins or soot.
Here’s a selection of the best winter candles on the shelves… ranging from delicate tuberose to voluptuous spiciness, there’s sure to be one that suits your personality and lifts your mood.
Sisley Paris Tuberose Candle
The night tuberose here is paired with precious balsam and vanilla for a scent that’s sweet, delicate and far from cloying. And the intense black paraffin wax paired with the matte white lacquered glass holder is almost sculptural.
No. 22 Bookshelf Candle
No. 22’s Bookshelf candle layers the warm, mellow notes of woody musk with birch tar, leather and verdant herbs to evoke the feeling of curling up fireside with a favorite novel. The signature cable-knit motif? An added bonus that makes for the perfect winter candle.
Jonathan Adler Hashish Candle
Scandalously scented with black currant, green apple, wormwood, patchouli and moss, the earthy-yet-couture Jonathan Adler scented candles are a tempting taboo to inhale! And when the wax burns out, the porcelain vessel makes for the perfect stash box.
Maison Margiela Jazz Club Candle
Musk, vanilla, vetiver, tonka bean and tobacco leaves… scented candles perfect for those who shy away from more feminine notes.
Diptyque Feu de Bois Candle
How in the world could any list of winter candles be complete without Diptyque’s Feu de Bois candle? It’s literally the next best thing to curling up in front of a crackling hearth in that dream countryside cottage IRL.
Paddywax Apothecary Collection Jar Candle
As evidence that feeling good doesn’t always need to drain the wallet, Paddywax’s Apothecary scented candles tick all the right boxes for innovative scents, quality and pretty packaging. Special shoutout to Orange Zest and Bergamot, which soothes and cheers simultaneously.
Himalayan Trading Post Tree Bark Candle
What smells like a sweet evergreen and brings with it a touch of rusticity in the form of a forest-fresh tree bark? Try these smooth soy wax scented candles, which smells like crisp winter air, aromatic fir trees, and sandalwood.
Nest Sugar Cookie Classic Candle
Craving something sweet? This confectioner’s dream mixes the warm flavors of Tahitian vanilla bean and bourbon-infused caramel with delicate threads of sugarcane crystals and the rich essence of golden amber. The result is the aroma of a freshly baked sugar cookie that satisfies even the most sophisticated sweet tooth.
Which winter candle do your senses crave this season?
Anubha Charan is a powerhouse in the luxury beauty industry, with over 15 years of expertise shaping the global beauty narrative. As the former Beauty Director at Marie Claire, she worked with the magazine's French headquarters to craft cutting-edge beauty content for international audiences.
Anubha's bylines have appeared in some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Travel + Leisure, WebMD, and Architectural Digest. She is also the co-author of Paris Bath & Beauty, a Simon & Schuster book on French beauty rituals.
Rachel Rex says
Ow now I want all of these! I love scented candles so much!