Christmas is without a doubt the best-smelling time of the year, and the best time to invest in a sumptuous-smelling candle. They make the perfect self-indulgent purchase, last-minute gift and Secret Santa problem solver.
Every year you’ll find the classic festive scents on offer from some of your favourite candle brands like Diptyque, Jo Malone and The White Company. You can enjoy aromas of cinnamon, bergamot, orange peel and gingerbread to your heart’s content.
If you’re looking for something a little less conventional but equally comforting, read on for Refinery29’s round-up of our favourite home fragrances you can enjoy all year round. Coming up are unexpected and unconventional scents such as rosemary, fresh linen and saffron from a mix of well loved and lesser known brands at prices that will suit everyone’s budget.
Refinery29's selection is purely editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items we love! As part of our business model we do work with affiliates; if you directly purchase something from a link on this article we may earn a small amount of commission. Transparency is important to us at Refinery29, if you have any questions please reach out to us.
Add a little luxe to your home with this room refresher, a rich blend of mint, fresh lemon zest, rosemary and jasmine. We’ll be keeping this one all to ourselves.
Lumira Tunisian Mint Tea Candle, $49, available at Selfridges
A delightfully delicate mix of grapefruit perfume oil, bergamot and petitgrain essential oils in a sustainable soy and coconut wax makes this the perfect candle to burn in the kitchen after Christmas lunch.
Evermore London Grapefruit & Petitgrain Candle, $18, available at Evermore
Yes you are reading this correctly, this candle does in fact smell like chewing gum. Unconventional home fragrance fans should look no further than Anya Hindmarch’s new range. You’ll also find scents of pencil shavings, washing powder and lollipops.
Anya Hindmarch Small Candle Chewing Gum, $50, available at Anya Hindmarch
We’ve got our eye on this for Secret Santa. For the hard to please, you can’t go wrong with this budget-friendly, sweetly speckled and slow-burning candle, which smells great of course.
& Other Stories Tachisme Pepper Scented Candle, $19, available at & Other Stories
A stylish accessory for your abode, Berkshire-based perfumer Tom Daxon has combined heady suede with sweet amber for a warm, woody scent that’s not overpowering in the slightest.
Tom Daxon Under Milk Wood Candle, $55, available at MR PORTER
Imagine it's Christmas Eve and you’re standing in the middle of Oxford Street in a last-minute panic. Take a whiff of Seven Seventeen’s fresh linen candle and you’ll be instantly transported to your freshly washed bedsheets, snuggled up with a good book. Honestly, it’s that good. Perhaps the perfect gift for sleep-deprived parents or a burnt-out colleague. Plus, £1 from every purchase is donated to PANDAS Foundation, supporting mothers suffering from pre- and postnatal mental illnesses.
SevenSeventeen Peace (at last) / Fresh Linen, $34, available at SevenSeventeen
Enjoy a gourmet blend of warm, liquid caramel and crushed sea salt in this candle, which is indulgence at its finest. We definitely won’t be sharing.
Jo Loves Salted Caramel, $55, available at Jo Loves
Fashion designer Bella Freud has earned herself legions of fans not just for her knitwear but for her heady candles, too. In an instantly recognisable sombre glass jar, this tiger lily-rich candle is inspired by Jane Birkin and brings an elegant edge to your humble abode.
Bella Freud Je t'aime Jane Candle (Snow Lily), $45, available at Cult Beauty
When it comes to candles, it doesn't get more luxurious than Fornasetti. Treat yourself to the ultimate extravagance or, if you can bear to part with it, splurge on a loved one.
Fornasetti Ortensia Scented Candle, $140, available at Selfridges
From high end to high street, Aldi’s pomegranate extra-large candle rivals its luxury counterparts; enjoy its comforting scent wafting through your home.
Pomegranate Candle Centrepiece, $9.99, available at Aldi
Paying homage to the Pyramids of Giza, enjoy this birch, cedar, musk and patchouli scented candle in its jewel-toned jar all winter long.
Cire Trudon Philae Scented Candle, $78, available at John Lewis
Curl up by the fire on a frosty evening with this comforting blend of saffron, vetiver and patchouli. Looking as special as it smells, it comes in their bestselling mercury vessel for a luxe-at-low-cost feel.
The White Company Highland Escape Candle, $20, available at The White Company
Seductive, warm and exotic, bolstered by notes of rum and leather, makes this the perfect unconventional housewarming present for the new homeowner in your family.
(Malin + Goetz) Dark Rum Candle 67g, $16, available at Liberty London
The chicest tribute to tea there ever was. Inspired by founder Ben Graham's childhood visits to his grandmother’s home, it envelops any room in the comforting scents of ginger zest, cardamom and violet.
Byredo Chai Candle, $54, available at Byredo
Is it even a Christmas candle round-up without Diptyque? A sophisticated scent inspired by the tumbling seas, the decadently decorated pot makes the most stylish makeup brush holder you’ve ever laid eyes on. Practical and functional, what’s not to love?
Diptyque Baume d'Ambre Scented Candle, $53, available at Space NK
Creating an ambience with a lavender, eucalyptus and geranium mix, Elemis has brilliantly encapsulated the scent of its much-loved Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm in candle form. It’s a yes from us.
Elemis Soothing Glow Candle, $27.5, available at Feel Unique
For the sleep-deprived parents, the stressed-out students in the midst of essay writing or just for yourself, unwind in style with this blend of calming lavender and soothing chamomile.
This Works Deep Sleep Heavenly Candle, $25, available at This Works
Taking sophisticated scents and a socially conscious approach to fragrance, Kildare-based brand Candella uses upcycled wine bottles, pure soya wax and lead-free cotton wicks in its essential oil blends.
Candella Wood, $35, available at Wolf & Badger
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