Ready or not, Christmas has crept up on us, and now is the perfect time to start easing slowly into the festive season (if you haven’t already). Every year, I pick up a few Christmas candles for the house: my trusted favourites, plus a couple of new ones to try. For me, nothing makes a home feel more Christmassy than a festive scent gently lingering in the rooms—subtle, warm, and wonderfully atmospheric.
I’m a fan of subtle scents (nothing overpowering for me or my guests) and I tend to lean toward the luxury end for the purest, highest-quality ingredients. My favourite Christmas candle notes right now are pine, rosemary, and vanilla: warm, inviting, and gently herbal. You won’t find many overly sweet scents in this review, as I always gravitate toward more sophisticated, understated scents.
Here are my go-to Christmas candles for this year.
1. Jo Malone – Roasted Chestnut
Jo Malone candles are always a classic. I’ve been buying the Pine & Eucalyptus candle for years, without fail—it’s a true Christmas staple that never disappoints. It even made an appearance in my old “Spotlight on Christmas Candles” post! But my new favourite has to be the Roasted Chestnut candle. I discovered it last year, and although I didn’t think I’d love it based on the cold throw, I completely changed my mind once it was lit.
It’s the warmest, cosiest fragrance, blending a hint of sweetness. The smoky chestnut notes balance the caramel most beautifully. It actually reminds me a little of Diptyque Vanille, which is my all-time favourite. I love lighting it in our living room; it’s subtle enough not to overwhelm, yet you can definitely sense it in the air. It has an unexpectedly seductive quality—a beautiful balance of masculine and feminine notes. I also love the elegant gold dice lids this year, which come with the candle when purchased as part of the duo.
Price: £59 (45 hours burn time)
2. Cire Trudon Gloria
Now I’m moving on to a slightly sweeter scent, which is completely different from any other candle I’ve ever had. Cire Trudon, the oldest candle maker in the world, has been crafting candles for French royalty and nobility since the 1600s. Their most popular candle, Ernesto, was even named after a Cuban politician. This candle has been a repeat order for me for years—and I absolutely love it.
Gloria, however, couldn’t be more different. The cold throw is quite strong—almost overpowering at first—but the hot throw softens beautifully, becoming more subtle, cosy, and inviting. The fragrance is a luxurious blend of sweetness, spice, and woody depth, almost like a perfume you simply cannot resist. This candle is the perfect winter scent, and I love using it for our New Year’s Eve celebrations. Warm, inviting, and so indulgent, it’s the kind of fragrance that makes you want to put on your best dress (even if you’re staying in), which happens to be my favourite thing to do during the Christmas holidays. I’m also a fan of the signature gold logo that subtly nods to the brand’s royal heritage.
Price: £80 on sale (55-60 hours burn time)
3. Diptyque Feu de Bois
This candle is a great little substitute for a log burner. It’s the ideal scent for the colder months, with notes of burning embers and a touch of lapsang tea that give it an unusual, slightly mysterious fragrance. I also love the green colour—beautiful to look at and paired with a divine fragrance. I find that this scent appeals to both men and women: strong, cosy, and beautifully long-lasting.
One thing to note is that my Diptyque candles tend to tunnel if I don’t burn them for at least four hours. It’s not always ideal, but giving them a longer first burn really helps ensure an even melt and the best possible fragrance throw. Proper candle care really does make all the difference!
Price: £58 (60 hours burn time)
4. White Company Winter Botanical Candle
The White Company candles are a great alternative to the eye-wateringly expensive luxury candles. The packaging is always simple and chic, and they offer beautiful scents for every season. I do find that the larger candles have a better throw, which makes them especially good value.
The spicy, warming Winter Botanical candle is an absolute must-have for me this Christmas. I keep it in our open-plan kitchen to help disguise any cooking smells, and it works beautifully. It also makes a gorgeous centrepiece for the Christmas table when paired with a bit of foliage. The scent notes are cinnamon, clove, and orange (with the cinnamon and orange coming through quite strongly). It’s a truly timeless Christmas classic, capturing all the traditional festive aromas in one beautiful piece.
The cold throw is impressive too, and White Company often runs 20% off offers around Christmas, which is always a bonus. A candle that’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser!
Price: £45 (80 hours of burn time)
5. St Eval Bay & Rosemary
And last—but certainly not least—we’ve reached one of my favourite UK candle brands, which I discovered in the Cotswolds a few years ago. St. Eval is actually a Cornish candle maker that I feel is still very much under the radar. I remember walking into a shop when the subtle scent from one of their diffusers hit me; I immediately had to look up the brand, and I’ve been buying their products ever since.
St. Eval Bay & Rosemary is the ultimate Christmas scent for me. It’s easily the most affordable candle in this entire review. Is it as good as the luxury ones? Well, it’s a smaller candle to start with, and the fragrance is a little less complex than some of the high-end options mentioned above, but in terms of value for money, it’s unbeatable. It’s a beautifully herbal fragrance that feels wonderfully Christmassy thanks to its fresh, forest-like notes. It’s versatile enough to use all year round, though I tend to rotate mine by season. If you prefer something a bit more sophisticated than the tin, you can also get it in a gorgeous amber glass jar.
This candle always gets compliments from guests, and we love the matching diffuser, too. Amazing value for money—and it looks chic and minimalist as well!
Price: £15 (45 hours burn time).
As a Final Note
I hope you’ve enjoyed my Festive Candle Edit 2025. Candles are such a personal thing, so if you can, it’s always worth giving them a sniff in person—and don’t let the cold throw put you off, as most really come alive once they’re lit.
Whether you’re into spicy, sweet, woody, or herbal scents, the right candle can completely change the feel of a room and make the festive season feel that little bit more special. I know I’m already looking forward to lighting these over the coming weeks. After all, Christmas is officially here—I can practically smell it in the air!
