21 best winter candles to fill your home with the ultimate cosy aroma
Waiting for the right time to stock up on winter candles? Well, November has finally arrived, and trust us, you don't want to put it off any longer. When it comes to seasonal shopping (especially during winter time), it's a good idea to keep ahead of the curve and tick everything off your wish list before Christmas arrives.
Nothing screams “winter” more than those cosy nights in accompanied by a spicy scent that fills your home. And winter candles provide a comforting ambience on a whole new level. Picture it: you're curled up under a weighted blanket, sipping hot chocolate and re-watching Love Actually for the gazillionth time. The missing element? A Christmas candle that stands on your coffee table and spreads the most warming scent (think: cinnamon, ginger, cloves, orange, cashmere, etc.). And compliments your interior scheme during the day. A tealight just isn’t going to cut it.
Home fragrance is, after all, the ultimate self-care treat after a long slog at the office. Whether your fir tree candle burns while you're reading, watching TV or when you're in the process of your X-step skincare routine, winter candles are great for unwinding. I always look forward to lighting my favourite cinnamon candle after a stressful day – it's my way of saying “I'm relaxing and nothing will disturb me.”
Financially cheap Christmas gifts don't have to be tacky.
Luckily, there are tonnes of winter candles to sift through. Perhaps you like a fresh forest blast from your candle – something strong, woodland-y and laced with green notes. Jo Loves’ Christmas Trees smells like a bracing winter walk. Perhaps you like a nod to Christmas, like sultry, smoky aroma, rather than going full Santa’s Grotto. Byredo's Bibliotheque is addictive (and not that expensive). Perhaps you find baked goods most comforting, like gingerbread scents or a vanilla frosted flame. Or maybe nothing smells quite as much like Christmas as cinnamon and spice, in which case The White Company’s Winter is a cult classic for a reason. Heck, there's even a Chai Latte scented candle, combining all those warm sweet and spicy notes that you crave during winter.
If you're having trouble narrowing down your picks, no need to worry – we've got you covered. We've carefully curated a list of the best winter candles for every budget and preference, from cult-favourites, Christmassy scents and festive fragrances that would make amazing gift ideas, too. You'll find options coming from leading brands in the candle biz (think Diptyque, Jo Malone, NEOM and The White Company) as well as underrated gems from the likes of Etsy.
Looking for more Christmas gift guides? Check out our edits of the best beauty advent calendars and the best beauty Christmas crackers to make sure you don't get caught out this Christmas. For more beauty content from Glamour UK Commerce Writer Denise Primbet, follow her on Twitter @deniseprimbet and Instagram @deniseprimbet.
Dim the lights and tuck into the longer nights with our round-up of the best winter candles below...
Best chocolate-scented winter candle
Diptyque Etincelles Scented Candle, £65, Space NK
Why we love it: A festive chocolate-scented winter candle? Yes please. Hand-poured and made with high-quality wax, this candle has an aroma that features warm notes of a wood fire with accents of chocolate and coffee, making it perfect for a cosy winter evening. It comes in a star-clad jar with a gold protective lid – it even looks good enough to eat (but don’t). One of the most decadent and best Christmas candles out there.
Save big when shopping for winter candles using these Space NK discount codes.
Best premium winter candle
Wild Berry & Bramble Townhouse Candle, £94, Jo Malone London
Why we love it: It might be on the more expensive side, but let’s face it, when else is the appropriate time to splurge on Jo Malone if not around Christmas time? Its luxurious design echoes in its scent, which features a lush combination of red berries with a bit of warming spice. If there’s a candle that will invite Christmas spirit to your home, it’s this one.
Looking for savings? Make sure to bookmark these Jo Malone discount codes.
Best NEOM winter candle
NEOM Christmas Wish 3 Wick Candle, £48, LookFantastic
Why we love it: This 100% natural scented candle features a comforting blend of 13 pure essential oils, which includes fragrances such as mandarin, cinnamon and tonka bean, all combined to help you have a relaxing winter evening. It also smells exactly like what you’d imagine Christmas to smell like, making it perfect for putting the entire family in a holiday mood. An easy 10/10 from us.
Save big when you shop for winter candles using these LookFantastic discount codes.
Best crackling winter candle
WoodWick Fireside Ellipse Candle, £30.99, Boots
Why we love it: This candle combines the natural scents of amber, vetiver and musk to create the perfect aroma to recreate the feeling of spending a cosy winter evening keeping warm by a lit fire. It’s designed to last up to 50 hours and will even crackle as it burns, resembling a real fireplace. And trust us, it doesn’t get any better than that.
Enjoy big savings using these Boots discount codes.
Best pumpkin spice candle
Spiced Pumpkin Soy Wax Candle, £16.95, Etsy
Why we love it: What’s more warming and inviting than the cult-favourite pumpkin spice? Correct, nothing. And although it’s a classic autumn scent, who’s to say you can’t enjoy it during winter time? This scented candle features comforting notes, including cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom blend, orange, vanilla, and, of course, pumpkin spice. Plus, it's a soy candle too, making it one of the best vegan options out there.
Best Habitat winter candle
Habitat Large Frosted Cedar Candle, £14, Habitat
Why we love it: Looking for a candle that turns your living room into a “winter wonderland”? Say no more. Habitat’s Christmas-edition three-wick candle does exactly that. The scent features sweet natural notes and a bit of spicy cinnamon. But the best part about this candle is the way it looks – you’ll spot pine needles, cinnamon and fir cones peek through the wax, making it even more winter-appropriate. Plus, you’ll get 45 hours of burn time too. Sign. Us. Up.
Save big when shopping for winter candles using these Habitat discount codes.
Best snow scented candle
Limited Edition Neige/Snow Candle, £65, Diptyque
Why we love it: Another Christmas-edition candle from Diptyque, and boy, is it a good one. I mean, if the fact that it’s literally snow scented doesn’t scream “winter”, we don’t know what else will. The scent features a stunning combination of heliotrope and white musk, and the packaging makes the candle that much more magical, thanks to the gold and silver stars that actually glow in the dark.
Best smoky winter candle
Slow Burn Candle, £46, Boy Smells
Why we love it: Luxe? Check. Spicy and smoky? Check and check. It’s one of the brand’s best-selling candles, and for a good reason too. Its beautifully complex scent makes it a great winter candle. Notes include black pepper, raspberry, tonka, smoked papyrus and more. What’s not to love?
Best winter forest scented candle
Charles Farris Winter Evergreen Jar Candle, £38, Fortnum & Mason
Why we love it: If you’re after a winter candle that will transform your home into a magical forest – no need to look any further, because it doesn’t get any better than this. It’s cosy, it’s comforting and it’s Christmas-y. It features notes of cedarwood, pine and cranberry. Plus, it burns for up to 40 hours. *Adds to cart*
Best White Company winter candle
Winter Medium Botanical Candle, £32, The White Company
Why we love it: Nothing says ‘Christmas’ more than the combination of orange slices, pinecones, cinnamon sticks and pink pepper berries. This medium-sized candle features a hard outer layer made from 100% mineral wax as well as a soft core centre that comes with a single wick. An all-time favourite that was designed 21 years ago and has remained timeless since.
Best Chai scented candle
Chai Latte Scented Candle, £5.90, Etsy
Why we love it: Not only is this candle one of the most affordable options out there, it’s also incredibly unique and features one of the most warming scents – Chai Latte. That’s right, it smells exactly how you’d imagine it: sweet yet spicy. Think cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and peppercorn. Now, imagine your house smelling like delicious chai spices. Tempting, right?
Best ESPA winter candle
Winter Spice Standard 200g. Candle, £40, ESPA
Why we love it: Made from hand-poured natural wax and infused with essential oils, this limited edition ESPA candle has a warming scent of sweet orange, clove, cinnamon and ginger. And if you love it, there’s always an option to go for the 1kg size, which features three wicks that ensure an even burn every time. Plus, the packaging alone is what makes this candle worth the splurge.
Bookmark these ESPA discount codes to save.
Best winter spice candle
Winter Spice Gel Scented Candle, £28, John Lewis
Why we love it: This large candle is practically a Christmas decoration on its own. One of John Lewis’ best-selling holiday products, it features a festive blend of spicy cinnamon, clove and orange, combined with warm spices and sandalwood to cr2eate the perfect winter candle. The best part is that once you’re done, you can reuse the jar to store little trinkets or potpourri.
Enjoy big savings when using these John Lewis discount codes.
Best Jo Loves winter candle
Jo Loves Christmas Trees Home Candle, £55, Space NK
Why we love it: Fill your home with the smell of a freshly cut Christmas tree with this pine-scented candle from Jo Loves. It also features additional notes of lavender, incense and amber that help create a comforting aroma. This design is one of the most eye-catching ones we've spotted, so if there's anything that can spice up your Christmas decor, it's this candle. Did we mention that it’s vegan too? Try to top that.
Save big when shopping for winter candles using these Space NK discount codes.
Best winter candle with a warming scent
Winter Signature Candle, £20, The White Company
Why we love it: A magical combination of spicy cinnamon, rich warming clove and fresh zesty orange, The White Company Winter candle is a bestseller for a reason. It's spicy and warming – exactly what you want during the colder months. And it comes in festive packaging too, meaning it'll make a really cute Christmas gift. We don't know about you, but it's definitely going on our festive wish list.
Best oud scented winter candle
Oud & Bergamot Home Candle, £65, Jo Malone
Why we love it: A rich and mysterious scent, Jo Malone's Oud & Bergamot is the epitome of winter. Smoke-y oud radiates with the clarity of crisp bergamot and warming cedarwood – a scent to get lost in. It features Jo Malone's signature design and has burn time of approximately 45 hours – plenty to last you till end of the year and even carry you over to 2023. Let's be real, when it comes to candles, it doesn't get any better than Jo Malone.
Save when you shop for a winter candle with these Jo Malone discount codes.
Best Yankee Candle winter candle
Yankee Candle Large Cinnamon Stick Scented Candle, WAS £27.99 NOW £16.99, Amazon
Why we love it: Everyone knows and loves Yankee Candle. After all, they're pretty much dominating the candle industry, and for a good reason too. And Cinnamon Stick is one of the brand's bestselling aromas for winter. It fills your home with the iconic, sweet and spicy scent. And let's be real, is there a better scent to fill your home with than cinnamon? It's one of the most cosy and inviting aromas that is sure to bring on that much needed festive season.
Make sure to bookmark these Amazon discount codes for savings.
Best H&M winter candle
Rich Mahogany Large Cork-Lid Scented Candle, £12.99, H&M
Why we love it: A sophisticated blend of black tea, raspberries and sandalwood make this aroma perfect for winter. According to H&M, “it's like cuddling up in a leather armchair in an antique library”, and we couldn't agree more. Not to mention, this candle is also one of the most affordable options out there and it gets you 80 hours of burn time (yep, actually eighty). So if you're looking for a candle that has the potential to last you till the end of winter time, this one is definitely worth considering.
Enjoy big savings using these H&M discount codes.
Best woody winter candle
Fireside Signature Candle, £20, The White Company
Why we love it: Think relaxing moments curled up with a good book beside a roaring log fire and you'll be on the right lines with how this candle smells. Soft smoked woods, fresh birch and rich patchouli combine with clove leaf, amber and creamy vanilla. Not only will it make a great gift for a loved one, but since it's one of The White Company's signature scents, you can burn it all year round, regardless of the weather outside.
Best BYREDO winter candle
BYREDO Bibliothèque Candle, £31, Cult Beauty
Why we love it: This candle evokes an atmosphere of studious calm. It features fragrant top notes of peach and plum, adding subtle sweetness to the overall scent – exactly what you need when you're curling up with a book while it's freezing outside. Plus, if there's a brand that knows how to do great fragrances, it's BYREDO, and their candles are just as great.
Save big using these Cult Beauty discount codes.
Best cosy winter candle
Shimmering Spice Candle, £26, Space NK
Why we love it: Exclusive to SpaceNK, this winter-y candle deserves all the praise it gets through customers reviews. The cosy cinnamon, cedar and all spice scent of this lush candle has garnered a cult following over the years. And its decadent golden design makes it a must-have for interior enthusiasts. It has “cosy vibes” written all over it, period.
Space NK discount codes will save you money when you buy your winter candles this year.
