This Candle Makes My Apartment Smell Like a Christmas Tree Farm—and It's $22 on Amazon

Courtesy of Thymes

Peppermint, cinnamon, and gingerbread are all undeniably festive, but pine reigns supreme as my favorite holiday scent, hands down. Every year, I look forward to stepping inside my childhood home and smelling the familiar crisp aroma of our freshly chopped Christmas tree. But it turns out, taking care of a real tree is a lot more work than my parents ever cracked it up to be when I was growing up. So, if I could fill my apartment with that nostalgic, refreshing fragrance without dealing with fallen needles, sticky sap, and constant watering, it would be a win-win. Luckily, thanks to this candle, I can.

The Thymes Frasier Fir Candle, available for just $22 on Amazon, is my favorite winter candle by a landslide. Like its name suggests, the main note is pine needles, coupled with sandalwood and cedarwood for a cozy, woodsy scent. Unlike some Christmas candles modeled after popular seasonal desserts, this pick isn't too sweet, overpowering, or gimmicky—and it's nothing like that cheap air freshener scent you might associate with pine, either. Au contraire, it's sophisticated, light, and refined. One inhale immediately transports me back to the childhood wonder of walking around a tree farm, wide-eyed and rosy-cheeked, in search of the perfect pick to bring home.

Courtesy of Amazon

Buy It: Thymes Tin Candle – 6.5 Oz – Frasier Fir Candle ($22, Amazon)

But don't just take my word for it—over 1,000 happy Amazon shoppers rave about this Christmas candle, too, calling it the "best holiday candle around," "the only fir-scented candle worth buying," and "so worth the money." They compare its smell to "a fresh cut tree decorated for Christmas" and say it "permeates the house."

Plus, multiple shoppers rank this holiday candle above popular retailers: "Better than Slatkin, Yankee Candle, or Bath & Body Works by far!" one shopper claims. Another backs up the candle's superiority over well-known brands: "This holiday season I went on a quest to find the best smelling Christmas tree-scented candle. I bought candles from Trader Joe's, Anthropologie, and the top-rated Amazon candles. This candle has the overall best scent, it burns well, and the scent carries even when the candle isn't burning."

Related: 5 Holiday Trends from Walmart That Work in Every Room in Your Home

It's happened to all of us: You buy a candle that smells wonderful upon the first sniff in the store, but when you bring it home and light it, you hardly smell the fragrance unless you take a huge whiff up close. That is not the case with the Thymes Frasier Fir Candle; it's so fragrant that it single-handedly fills my entire apartment with the lovely scent of fresh pine trees. Plus, it features a long-lasting burn of up to 45 hours, so you can keep it going throughout the Christmas season—and into the New Year, too.

If $22 seems like too much to spend on a candle, opt for the $15 version first (and buy the bigger option after you likely burn through it quickly.) Shop the Thymes Frasier Fir Candle in more sizes below and shop other products like lotions and soaps in the refreshing scent here.

Courtesy of Amazon

Buy It: Thymes Pine Needle Frasier Fir Candle — 2 Oz ($15, Amazon)

Courtesy of Amazon

Buy It: Thymes Green Glass Frasier Fir Candle – 6.5 Oz ($30, Amazon)

Courtesy of Amazon

Buy It: Thymes Pine Needle Frasier Fir Candle – 6.5 Oz ($30, Amazon)