We LOVE a scented candle. Nothing can enhance then mood better – well nothing legal anyway! Whether you want to energise your workspace, chill down your living room for a relaxing night in or add a little romance to the bedroom, there’s a winning combination of wax and wick that’s sure to do the trick!
With us all spending more time at home this year and in the spirit of ‘hygge’ we cast our nets to find the best scented candles to adorn your homes this Winter – here’s our pick!
Rituals – Ritual of Hammam Candle
High Street Favourite Rituals offer scented candles in all of their collections, but it is the aromatic Ritual of Hammam that particularly floats our nasal boat! Based on the authentic Turkish steam bath scents of rosemary and eucalyptus, it is an intoxicating, masculine smell that is perfect for a home spa experience or massage. The candle lasts for up to 50 hours and at £19.90 represents good value. Available online and in store. www.rituals.com
JOGB SLOJO – Relaxing Candle
Perfect for lighting at the end of a hard day working at home to help reclaim the space as your own, the SLOJO candle, from artisan candle and comfort accessory store JOGB, combines geranium, cedarwood, patchouli and pure labdanum to de-stress your mind and body superfast. Made using pure plant-based soy and rapeseed wax, the candle burns for up to 50 hours and, whilst it’s not a candle I would buy based on smelling unlit, set it going for a couple of hours and the smell envelops you in calm, wrapping you up like a big old hug. Normally priced at £65, the candle benefits from a lockdown sale with 30% off at www.jogbliving.com
Avanti – Hand Poured Orange and Pomelo
What is that makes oranges, a summer fruit, so festive? Made using vegan-friendly soy wax, essential oils and with a wooden wick which adds a gorgeous little log crackle sound to the experience, Avanti candles are handmade in Leicestershire and new for Christmas 2020,the sweetness of orange and sharpness of pomelo in this candles enhances base notes of vetiver, patchouli and oakmoss. Priced at £19 and with a burn time of around 45 hours, the scent of these candles fills the room wonderfully. Available from https://avanti-candles.com
Espa Winter Spice Deluxe Candle
The luxury spa skincare company have created Christmas in a candle with their Winter Spice offering. Available as a 410g standard size for £55 or as a 70g votive at £15 and presented in a smart green and gold box, the Espa candle does feel and smell like a proper treat. The warming aromas of Sweet Orange, Clove, Cinnamon and Ginger envelop you and your home but it is the festive smell of cloves that really hits you! The scent does fill the room well but it did seem to burn quickly – perhaps we were just enjoying it too much! www.espaskincare.com
Kindred Fires Personalised Christmas Candle
We love the range of personalised candles available from Kindred Fires. There’s an option available for every occasion including beautiful remembrance candles, baby’s first Christmas, gifts for mums, dads and grandparents and personalised candles for the home including the option we chose, Christmas at Ivy Cottage. The quality of the candles and print is excellent. After you’ve personalised the outside of your candle you can choose your scent as well with a dozen options available including Pink Grapefruit and Basil as well as Sandalwood and Black Pepper which we chose. Candles burn for approximately 40 hours depending on what you choose and start from just £16. www.kindredfires.com
Sassy Shop Wax
Not a candle as such but wax melts bars which are sure to make great sticking fillers this Christmas. Bright and glittery these candyesque bars of wax remind us of the sweet sugary smells of scratch n sniff stickers and pencil case erasers from when we were kids- far from sophisticated but joyful and evocative. Our favourite has to be Snow Pixie – totally takes you back to being 7 and the world of Victoria Plum! You can even get the range in room sprays – it’s a done deal for the nieces this Christmas! Bars cost just £2.90 each and are available from www.sassyshopwax.com
Nostara Winter Wonderland
Great value at just £35, Nostara’s Winter Wonderland candles conjures up a medley of winter spices and fruits with notes of clove, ginger and cinnamon and a backdrop of Jasmine. It’s a gloriously traditional Christmas scent and perfect for lighting whilst decorating the home ready for Santa coming to call. The Winter Wonderland candle is made with natural, eco-friendly, 100% soy wax, hand poured in the UK and is available at www.nostara.com.
Utopia Signature Luxury Candle
The packaging alone makes the Utopia Signature Candle a fabulous gift experience. Arriving cloaked in a reusable, black velvet bag and smart, ribboned box, the elegant matt, black candle surprises with a musky, masculine fragrance thanks to a signature mix of amber, patchouli and mint blended with orange, grapefruit and warm leathery notes over it’s 40 hour burn time. A sophisticated gift, the Utopia Signature candle packs a much bigger punch than it’s £35 price tage would suggest – what’s more there’s 20% off online right now at www.utopiamixinteriors.com
So which would be out pick? We genuinely love these all – if we didn’t we wouldn’t recommend them but the candle that has made the biggest impression on us has to be the Kindred Fires personalised collection- they really do make a wonderful gift and are well priced too. We shall be ordering from their range this Christmas.
