Holiday spending adds up quickly, and candles are one of the easiest things to overspend on. The good news is that affordable Christmas scented candles can smell great and burn cleanly. You just need to know what to look for, and what to ignore.
In this guide
We are not going to name prices or products here, since they change constantly. Instead, this is a checklist that works in any store, any year.
What makes affordable Christmas scented candles worth buying
A cheap candle is not a bargain if it smells like nothing or burns badly. Value comes from three things: how well it smells, how evenly it burns, and how long it lasts.
Judge those, not the packaging. A plain jar with a good scent throw beats a gold-foil box with a weak one. Many of the best affordable Christmas scented candles are unfussy and simple.
It also helps to shop early or look at end-of-season clearance tables, where affordable Christmas scented candles often turn up in generous sizes. A candle bought in January and stored in a cool, dark cupboard will be ready for next December, as long as it stays sealed and away from heat.
Weight is a clue. A candle that feels light for its size may hold less wax. Do not treat it as proof, but compare similar sizes side by side and notice the difference.
Pick the right festive scent family
Affordable Christmas scented candles come in a few scent groups, and some are easier to find cheaply than others.
- Evergreen: pine, fir and cedar. Fresh and crisp, they read as Christmas instantly.
- Spice: cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. Warm, but strong, so a little goes far.
- Citrus: orange and cranberry notes that feel bright and cheerful.
- Gourmand: vanilla, gingerbread and sugar cookie. Cozy and sweet.
Our tip: pine and orange tend to work well in affordable Christmas scented candles because they are simple, familiar scents. Complicated, layered blends are harder to do well at a low cost, so if you want one, test it first.
Test before you commit
If you can, smell candles in the store. Lift the lid, take one sniff, then step away for a moment. Sniffing too many in a row numbs your nose. Three or four is the limit.
Remember that the cold scent is not the same as the burning scent, but a very weak cold scent often means a weak burn. If the candle is sealed, check the label for a scent description and a wax type.
Online, read reviews with a skeptical eye. Look for comments about whether the candle burned evenly and whether the scent filled a room, not just whether it “smells nice”. Many affordable Christmas scented candles live or die by the wick.
Wax type and wick: the budget tradeoffs
Paraffin is common in affordable Christmas scented candles and carries scent well. Soy and plant-based blends cost a bit more, though not always. Beeswax is usually a premium option. The Wikipedia entry on paraffin wax explains what it is if you want the background.
Our view is that wax type matters less than quality control. A well-made paraffin candle will out-burn a badly made soy candle. If a candle burns cleanly, with a steady flame and no heavy black soot, it is doing its job.
Look at the wick. It should be centered and straight. A wick that is off to the side often leads to uneven melting, which wastes wax and shortens the candle’s life.
Stretch your candles and your budget
Once you have your affordable Christmas scented candles home, a few habits help them last.
On the first burn, let the wax melt all the way to the edge of the container. This prevents tunneling, where the flame sinks into a narrow well and wastes the outer wax. Trim the wick to about a quarter inch before each burn. Keep the candle away from drafts, which cause uneven burning.
Burn for a few hours at a time rather than all night, and always put the flame out before you leave the room or go to bed. Stop when about half an inch of wax remains.
Consider mixing sizes. A single larger candle in the living room, plus a few small votives or tea lights elsewhere, is often cheaper than several mid-size jars. Tea lights in a heat-safe holder cost very little and give a lovely glow.
Gifting and decorating do not need a big budget either. Affordable Christmas scented candles make lovely gifts. Wrap a small candle with a ribbon and a sprig of real pine or a cinnamon stick, and it looks far more expensive than it was. Group two or three small ones in a basket for a neighbor.
You can also refresh plain candles by tying on dried orange slices or evergreen clippings. Keep decorations well away from the flame and never leave a lit candle near them.
If you are buying for a crowd, a mixed box of small candles lets everyone pick a scent they like, and it keeps the cost per person low. Add a handwritten tag with a quick burning tip, such as trimming the wick, and the gift feels thoughtful.
Safety is the one place we will not cut corners. Choose a stable, heat-safe holder, keep candles away from trees and wrapping paper, and never leave a flame unattended. If you love the look of candles on a tree, consider battery-powered ones instead.
Shopping smart means the holidays smell wonderful without the stress. Pick a scent you love, check the wick and weight, and enjoy your affordable Christmas scented candles all season.
More on this site: Lampe Berger – New Spring 2014 Fragrances and Tocca Home and Personal Fragrance Overview.
Header photo: Petar Milošević, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0).
