The 16 Best Luxury Candles That Smell Like a Cozy Winter Day
- 1/17
The 16 Best Luxury Candles That Smell Like a Cozy Winter Day
Do you smell that? That inescapable deluge of pine, spice, and good cheer can mean only one thing: Wintertime is upon us. Or, as I like to call it, Candle Season™. For candle fans, there is no better time than right now, when candles burn constantly, a soft glow settles over the world, and cozy, warm scents fill the air. Now that the sun sets in the afternoon, my daily candle burning starts basically at lunchtime.
You don’t have to be a candle obsessive like me to appreciate a good luxury candle. Not only do they make the perfect gift for anyone, at any time, they’re also the best thing to festive-ize your abode throughout the dreary colder months. While the best winter candles lean into the scents of the season like fresh pine, smokey woods, and warm spices, the true MVPs are candles that you can burn year round without seeming like someone who leaves their Christmas lights up in July. By all means, burn a candle that smells like a Christmas tree, but if you want to get more use out of it, look for one mixed with other woods like cedar or sandalwood to temper it. Or, instead of overdosing on cinnamon, burn one that has cardamom or black pepper for that spicy, but less season-specific, note. You don’t have to limit Candle Season™ to just a few months—you have the power to extend it to twelve.
So I say go forth and candle! You couldn’t ask for a better time of year to stock up and light up. After hours and hours of sniffing dozens upon dozens of candles, I’m confident in telling you that these are the best out there.
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Courtesy - 2/17
Christmas Gloria Candle
Cire Trudon
bloomindales.com
$145.00
The blown glass vessel of this candle from centuries-old French brand Trudon (it was apparently Marie Antoinette’s favorite candle company) might scream Christmas, but this wood-heavy scent laden with spices smells more like a crackling fire in an ultra-luxe ski chalet. If you’re okay shelling out a bit more for a luxe candle, this is just the ticket.
bloomindales.com - 3/17
Cinnamon Musk Candle
Otherland
otherland.com
$36.00
Can cinnamon be sexy? In this case yes, and believe me, this candle is a vibe. Sure, there’s cinnamon, which gives you a seasonally appropriate vibe, but Otherland's version is warmed up with amber and white musk, which takes cinnamon out of the kitchen and into more sensual territory. Think of it as the perfect candle for a grown-up holiday for two.
otherland.com - 4/17
Sian Ka’an Candle
Aedes de Venustas
aedes.com
$75.00
Really, any candle can be a holiday candle if you try hard enough. Lean into the spiritual side of the holiday season with this incense-heavy concoction from iconic niche perfumery Aedes. It’s a little out of the box, but the smokey Mayan incense smells simultaneously like an ancient church and a post-holiday trip to the beaches of Tulum. No other candle can do holiday-to-beach better.
aedes.com - 5/17
Dark Rum Supercandle
Malin + Goetz
malinandgoetz.com
$150.00
This mega candle not only looks great on any surface thanks to the midcentury style blown glass vessel, but it’s also the most grown up holiday candle you could possibly find. Forget literal holiday scents like trees and cookies - this baby is packed with the scent of sweet, spicy rum.
malinandgoetz.com - 6/17
Fireside Oak Candle
LAFCO
lafco.com
$70.00
Candles, especially those of the holiday variety, can be overwhelming. Sometimes you want to get pounded over the head with scent, but sometimes you want a little more of subtle experience, you know? This smooth, woody scent won’t immediately fill your room with aggressive scent (what candle people call the “hot throw”) but instead gradually scents your surroundings without overpowering everything.
lafco.com - 7/17
Étincelles Candle
Diptyque Paris
diptyqueparis.com
$84.00
Think of Diptyque as the ultimate candle person candle. Each year, they come out with limited edition holiday scents that enthusiasts snap up with glee - and hoard all year long. For 2022, this Entincelles (which means “spark” in French) is the standout. It’s spicy and warm, but also smooth and sexy thanks to the notes of chocolate and coffee. It’s somehow both traditional and completely surprising - in the best way possible.
diptyqueparis.com - 8/17
Balsam Fireplace Limited Edition Candle
HomeCourt
homecourt.co
$65.00
Think of this scent as a winter night bonfire made up of balsam fir branches, pine cones, juniper berries and anything else you’d find in the middle of a winter forest. It’s seasonal enough that it brings a cheery holiday vibe, but fresh and woody enough that you could get away with burning it any time of year. I say buy a few so you don’t miss out once the limited run ends.
homecourt.co - 9/17
Cypress Balls Small Scented Candle
Loewe Home Scents
net-a-porter.com
$85.00
Is it just me or can the holidays be so pine heavy that I become a little numb to the smell? I mean, sometimes enough pine is enough, am I right? That’s why I love this candle - it has the woody, fresh vibe that you want from an evergreen candle, but it’s not so piney that you feel like you’re living inside a Christmas tree. If you really want to go big, opt for the ginormous large size which will literally last a year.
net-a-porter.com - 10/17
Fireplace + Clove Candle
Outdoor Fellow
outdoorfellow.com
$36.00
This isn’t a humble brag or anything, but my apartment enjoys one of the rarest things of all in New York City: a wood burning fireplace. But building and then cleaning up a fire is exhausting, so when I want the vibe without the hassle, I spark up this candle. It’s so smokey, woody and rich that if I close my eyes, I feel like I’m sitting in front of the real thing.
outdoorfellow.com - 11/17
Charcoal Woods Classic Candle
NEST New York
saksfifthavenue.com
$46.00
You can’t go wrong with the classic Nest Holiday scent, but if you’re hoping for a little more longevity once January hits, this super masculine candle will carry you through. It smells shockingly just like an open fire that burned down to its embers. It’s strong, but not overwhelming, and scratches that open fire itch without setting of your smoke alarms.
saksfifthavenue.com - 12/17
Django Candle
Baobab Collection
baobabcollection.com
$140.00
The scent of this large scale candle is warm, spicy and festive - perfect for winter nights and holiday gatherings - but what really makes it stand out is the eye catching design on the vessel. When the light of the wick shines through, it creates a stained glass look that you can’t look away from.
baobabcollection.com - 13/17
Beech Forest Incense Candle
R. Swiader
rswiader.com
$72.00
Where some of the candles on this list are subtle, this one is intense. Light the wick and within seconds the entire room is filled with the fresh, woody scent that is mysterious and seasonally appropriate without making you feel like you’re being tortured by an elf. It’s not technically a holiday candle, either, which makes it even better to keep around permanently.
rswiader.com - 14/17
Grand Bazzar Candle
L'Objet
bergdorfgoodman.com
$125.00
For me, the most important thing a holiday candle can smell like is warmth. Forget snow or pine trees or, god forbid, sugar cookies. I want my candles to create a cozy feeling to help get me through the dark, cold winter nights. The warm cardamom, nutmeg and coriander in this candle are like a swirl of spice that instantly warms my bones. It’s exotic and mysterious in a cool, festive way that won’t feel played out come January.
bergdorfgoodman.com - 15/17
Twenty Earth Candle
Tom Dixon
tomdixon.net
$175.00
My nose sometimes starts to get a little sick of the endless parade of heavy spices and woods that are so ubiquitous in holiday candle scents. That’s why I like this candle, which isn’t even a holiday candle per se. It’s woody, but also fresh and crisp (it’s the mint). It smells kindof like walking through the forest during a fresh snow in a sparkling, bright way.
tomdixon.net - 16/17
Merry Berries and Mimosa Scented Candle
Molton Brown
neimanmarcus.com
$50.00
I’m not always a fan of sweet scents, but I know a lot of people are, which is why this candle is on this list. It’s sweet thanks to the fruit and floral notes, but it’s not one of those crazy scents that’s meant to smell like a cake or chocolate chip cookies or something. It’s a festive crowd pleaser that’s ideal for holiday gatherings.
neimanmarcus.com - 17/17
Charcoal Candle
Apotheke
apothekeco.com
$42.00
When you’re a kid, the prospect of receiving coal for the holidays is bone chilling. As an adult, however, I find it pretty exciting - if by coal you mean this candle, that is. This minimal black candle is rich and smokey with a dose of oud and a lot of wood. It smells literally like charcoal, but the fanciest charcoal you’ve ever seen (or sniffed).
apothekeco.com