If a candle doesn't smell luxurious, have a strong throw or win compliments from guests, then it doesn't deserve a place on our list of the best Christmas candles. Much like winter candles, they should ooze comforting, cosy vibes without playing into any festive gimmicks.
From mid-summer, countless Christmas candles arrive in the Marie Claire beauty cupboard, ripe for testing. And so, we set about filling our homes from then on with festive scents in order to separate the wheat from the chaff. Yes, it felt odd to smell cinnamon and clove in the middle of September, but we believe we have found some truly stand-out festive scents.
Christmas is a time to lean into those warming, homely sorts of candles that make you want to stay inside all day long. As a result, it's best to steer clear of anything too headache-inducing, meaning those artificial-smelling candles that tend to have names like 'sugared cinnamon bake'. Instead, lean toward luxury candles that walk the line between festive cosiness and expensive-smelling timelessness expertly.
And while luxury candles feel like a big expense at any time of the year, when it comes to Christmas, it can feel odd justifying the cost even more. Something about spending £50+ on a candle that can only fittingly be burned for approximately four weeks of the year always seems a little excessive. However, it's currently the best week of the year to stock up on festive scents as we've spotted some of the best candle offers in the Black Friday beauty deals.
After what feels like a lifetime of testing, we can confidently say these are the 14 best Christmas candles for 2025, many of which are currently on sale for Cyber Monday.
Shop candle deals
- Jo Loves Christmas Trees Home Candle: £44 at Space NK (save 20%)
- Beauty Pie Firewood Luxury Scented Candle: £16 at Beauty Pie (save 20%)
- Bamford Roasted Chestnut & Cashmere Candle: £32 at Space NK (save 20%)
- Neom Christmas Wish 3-Wick Candle: £46.40 at Space NK (save 20%)
- Acqua di Parma Panettone Candle: £60.80 at Space NK (save 20%)
- NEST New York Hearth 3-Wick Candle: £82.50 at Cult Beauty (save 25%)
1. Diptyque Étoile
Sapin is the perfect example of a fresh, light-on-the-nose festive candle that still scratches a Christmas itch. Meaning 'pine tree' in French, it smells incredibly earthy and warm, yet full of light and joy.
2. Jo Loves Christmas Trees
Ask any beauty editor to name their choice for most iconic Christmas candle, and you'd be hard pushed to find one who didn't say Jo Love Christmas Trees. No candle smells more like a real Christmas tree than this one. It's fresh, piney and totally sense-clearing—like taking a long walk in a pine forest on the crispest winter's day.
3. Marks & Spencer X Kelly Hoppen Christmas Joy 2 Wick Lidded Candle
If you're in the market for something a little more affordable that still has a luxe aroma, Kelly Hoppen's Love range with M&S includes this smart lidded candle. The notes read like a traditional Christmas recipe list, which might be a little trite for some, but do you know what? Sometimes that's exactly what you want at this time of year. Plus, you can use the next month to think about how you're going to reuse the pot.
4. Beauty Pie Firewood
If you're into seriously smoky, fireside scents, then boy, oh boy is this the candle for you. Most of us aren't blessed enough to have a fireplace, but burning this on cold winter nights will make it feel like you do. It's the sort of candle that makes you want to snuggle up on the sofa and fall asleep with a classic Christmas film showing on the TV.
5. Bamford Roasted Chestnut & Cashmere
Leave it to Bamford to nail the scent of chestnuts roasting on an open fire and wrap it up in one mighty-fine candle jar. This one is spicy, smoky and a little sweet on the nose without being cloying or headache-inducing. If you're playing host this season for a formal drinks party, this is the candle to burn in every room.
6. Jo Malone London Orange Bitters
Jo Malone London's iconic Orange Bitters has returned for another year with its super sweet gold-bowed lid. If you haven't experienced Orange Bitters before, it's zesty and warming with a heavy dose of freshness that is reminiscent of freshly showered skin. There are few candles in existence that are better than this one.
7. Neom Christmas Wish
Neom Christmas Wish isn't here to mess around. It's a punchy scent, so one to light in short bursts. For those looking for sugar, spice and all things nice this December. It's a burst of cinnamon, citrus and creamy tonka that you won't find in another candle on the list. It's a year-on-year classic.
8. Carrière Frères Winter Flower
If you haven't tried Carrière Frères candles before, know that they're some of the best on the market. This candle is really rather different. It has only a small hint of the spicy sweetness typical of Christmas candles that sits on a bed of fresh, wintery florals—it is welcoming and comforting, with a cool floral burst reminiscent of a snow-dusted festive bouquet.
9. Acqua di Parma Panettone
Acqua di Parma Panettone is, without question, one of the best Christmas candles you will ever smell. It errs every so heavily on the gourmand side of things, but in such a sophisticated way. It is warming, creamy and comforting, like shoving your nose into a freshly-baked cake. Magically, thanks to the brand's unrivalled citrus expertise, it remains light on the nose and beautifully fresh, with an almost aquatic crispness. If you're only going to buy one candle on this list, make it this.
10. The White Company Winter Mercury Bauble Candle
We couldn't compile a roundup of the best Christmas candles and not include Winter by The White Company. This iconic festive scent is 25 years old and still considered by many as the scent of the season. Yes, you could opt for the simple glass jar candle, but why would you when it also comes housed in this fun and ornate bauble that comes in two sizes?
11. Cloon Keen Noble Myrrh
Irish brands have seen huge success this year, and here is another one. This candle smells so beautiful. It is intensely warming, comforting and spicy—like the seasoned wafts you expect to escape the kitchens of a luxury hotel on Christmas Eve as they prep the dressings and sauces for the following day. It is, frankly, a feat.
12. NEST New York Hearth 3-Wick Candle
Is there anything more comforting than the scent of a hot, smoky hearth? Probably not—and this candle proves it. It fills the room in a way that no other candle can and emits the kind of aroma that makes you never want to leave. If you're not into gourmand Christmas scents, not a single part of you will regret buying this candle.
13. Evermore Ember
Another smoky delight that doesn't fall into the traditional Christmas category but is proving one of my most cherished burns throughout the festive season, Ember is deep, creamy and a little spicy. However, with a top note of orange zest, it maintains a slight Christmasy crackle that is perfect for this time of year.
14. Trudon Fir
We've saved the most expensive for last. This is a statement piece of a candle. Trudon's Fir is, hands down, second to none when it comes to 2025's Christmas-tree-esque candle offering. In fact, it's probably one of the best candles you'll ever smell. It has that iconic Christmas-tree-like piney freshness, but it's enveloped in a cocoon of warming, mouthwatering spiciness that smells like a luxury fragrance. Plus, it makes for an exceptional centrepiece.
