There is a particular moment in early December when the house smells right for the first time. Maybe the oven is on, a pot of something spiced is on the hob, and a candle is burning on the sideboard. The best christmas scented candles are our shortcut to that feeling, and when you choose them well they work all day, not just at dinner.
In this guide
This guide is about making smart choices, not buying more. A few well-picked candles, placed sensibly, will do far more for your home than a shelf full of random ones.
Think in layers, not in single candles
The most convincing festive homes smell layered. You get a base of warmth, a touch of freshness and a bit of sweetness, all at once. You can get the same effect with the best christmas scented candles by using different scent families in nearby rooms, so that the smells overlap in the doorways.
For example, a woody spice in the living room, a bright orange in the kitchen and a clean evergreen in the hallway. Walking between them feels like moving through a gentle story, and no single scent has time to become tiring.
If you prefer a simpler approach, pick one scent you love and repeat it in different sizes. A large jar in the lounge, a medium one in the hall and a tiny one in the bathroom keep the house cohesive. The repeated note ties everything together.
Choosing the best christmas scented candles by room
- Living room: warm wood, amber or spiced orange for a rich, welcoming scent
- Kitchen: citrus or light berry, so it does not clash with cooking
- Hallway: evergreen or fresh fir to greet guests
- Bedroom: soft vanilla or gentle wood, burned only while awake
- Bathroom: small candles with fresh pine or citrus
A word on dining tables: leave strong scents off the table itself. Food and even the best christmas scented candles compete, and guests tend to remember the clash rather than the dinner. Unscented tapers or pillars in simple holders are a better choice and look just as festive.
Wax, wick and burn quality
All the lovely fragrance in the world will not help a candle that tunnels or smokes. Look for a wick centred in the jar and a smooth surface on the wax. Soy, coconut, beeswax and paraffin blends all appear in festive candles. The wider background on Candle explains the basic differences if you want to read up.
Once you light a candle, the first burn sets the pattern. Let the wax melt right across the surface, which can take a couple of hours in a typical jar. If you blow it out too soon, you create a memory ring and the candle will tunnel from then on. Keep burn times to a few hours, and always trim the wick to about a quarter of an inch before the next lighting.
Do not place the best christmas scented candles in a draught or next to a radiator. Draughts make the flame flicker and soot the glass, while heat softens the wax and weakens the scent. A sideboard in a calm corner is usually perfect.
Scale is worth a thought. In an open-plan room, one medium candle may not carry across the whole space, so cluster two near the seating area instead of spreading them thin. In a small bedroom or study, one small candle is plenty. Matching the size of the best christmas scented candles to the room is the cheapest way to get a better smell.
Safety when the house is busy
December means guests, wrapping paper, extra decorations and distractions. All of that makes candles a little riskier than usual, so keep your habits tight.
- Keep flames away from trees, curtains and wrapping paper
- Never leave candles burning when the house is empty or everyone is asleep
- Use heat-safe plates, trays or holders
- Keep out of reach of children and pets
- Check candles before you leave a room, and put them out if in doubt
If you have a lot of guests, think about where people will walk and reach. A candle on a low table at child height is an accident waiting to happen. Move your best christmas scented candles to shelves and mantels, and use flame-free options in busy areas.
Guests are a good test. Ask a friend who comes in from the cold what they notice first. If they say it smells lovely, you have the balance right. If they mention it right away and wrinkle their nose, turn the candle down or move it. Your nose adapts quickly, but a visitor’s does not.
Make it last into January
Candles do not have to disappear on the day after Christmas. Many of the best christmas scented candles in warm, woody and vanilla types work well all winter. Keep a couple of them for January, when the house feels flat, and light one on a dark evening.
To get the most from each of the best christmas scented candles, keep the lid on between burns, store candles in a cool place and trim every time. When the wax is almost gone, stop burning it, as the glass can overheat. Clean out any leftover wax, and reuse the jar for small objects or plants.
The best christmas scented candles are the ones that make you want to come home. Choose scents you love, treat them with care, and use them in the rooms where you actually spend time. That is all the festive magic you need.
If you are building a collection for the season, keep a short list of your best christmas scented candles by room. It saves money and makes next year’s shopping a breeze.
More on this site: Holiday Gift Guide 2012 and Thymes Kimono Rose.
Header photo: © Markus Felix | PushingPixels (contact me), Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
