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Yes the unpredictable rain and fleeting daylight can be miserable, but it's a great excuse to bask in the glow of a flickering candle. There's something about the ritual of lighting the wick that can either help set you up for the day or unwind in the evenings. Candles are also a great way to put you in a better headspace, whether you're burning a joyful, citrusy scent to uplift a work area, or going for something softer and cocooning for a cosy night in with your current read. Plus, we love how a luxurious candle elevates any situation; burn a Maison Francis Kurkdjian beauty for your next Love Is Blind binge - you'll instantly feel fancier.
If you're hosting dinner parties for the festive season, light a candle at least an hour before so it scents the home just in time for your guests to arrive. 'Consider the food that's being served too,' says perfumer and co-founder of Boujee Bougies Nick Gilbert. 'More hearty foods call for a warm and subtle scent like woods or leather whereas lighter meals work well with fresher scents of citrus or greens'. Boujee Bougies' Gilt is a hit with customers as soon as the temperatures drop, says Gilbert. 'It's rich and full of amber, so it provides a feeling of warmth and cosiness that we all crave in the winter.'
But with so many options now available, you don't have to splurge to scent your space. & Other Stories, Muji and Zara make excellent candles that boast an impressive throw (how much a scent fills a room) at accessible price points. Plus, the visually-pleasing vessels can be reused time and again as storage and drinking glasses.
Shop ELLE's edit of the best winter candles
Boy Smells Grace Jones Standard Candle
The celeb beauty line fatigue is real but this Grace Jones (yes the Grace Jones) and Boy Smells candle collab is one we can get behind. Inspired by Jones' Jamaican heritage, this spicy scent has notes of fresh freesias, salted musks and a 'wet stone accord'; a nod to the smells one experiences in Jamaica after the rain. Jones also told The Cut that she uses candles 'for spells', which has us sold, TBH.
Diptyque's seasonal candle vessels just get better each year. And what's inside is just as dreamy. Sapin smells like a walk through a pine forest in the snowiest of winter; bracing, fresh and woody. The stars on this year's jar is glow in the dark too. We can't think of anything cooler.
Sunday Of London Ad Astra Candle
These limited edition, almost holographic candle jars make excellent gifts as they'll live on your mantelpiece forever as a cool piece of storage. It comes in two shades, and you can have them filled with your favourite Sunday Of London scent.
Malin + Goetz Dark Rum Supercandle
'Supercandle' is an apt description for this hefty, 780g of deliciously scented wax housed in a chic cereal-bowl sized jar with matching lid. Dark Rum is one of the brand's standout scents, with notes of juicy plums, soft leather and a splash of milk.
One for those with a sweet tooth, this dessert-inspired candle is almost as delicious as the real thing thanks to a generous dose of vanilla and candied fruits.
Tata Harper Into The Forest Candle
If you've ever wondered what a lush, sprawling farm in Vermont smells like, here's the answer. Kind of. Tata Harper's collab with candle brand Nette takes inspiration from a pine-strewn corner of Harper's organic farm and promises to restore calm to frenzied days.
Miler Harris L'Air De Rien Candle
Miller Harris' L'Air de Rien perfume was famously worn by style icon Jane Birkin, and now the brand's bringing back the candle - which smells like plush, old libraries and dusty books - for a limited time so you can impress your guests this dinner party season.
Beauty Pie Fir Balsam, Sandalwood & Sweet Orange Candle
Speaking of dinner parties, this one by Beauty Pie fills the room with a warming, cosy scent without overwhelming a festive menu.
Liberty Stately Bouquet Scented Candle
With delicate hints of cashmere and musk, Liberty's latest candle is perfect for quiet nights in.
We imagine this candle is what having high-tea in the Bridgerton's Wedgwood-blue living room smells like: romantic, dreamy, and with plenty of Earl Grey going round.
Skandinavisk SNÖ 2-Wick Scented Candle
This Scandi-cool candle is a brilliant palate cleanser for all the spice-tinged Christmas home scents. It's clean and airy, like a shimmering blanket of mid-December snow.
Some candles simply fill the room even before they're lit. Trudon's ultra-fancy, gilded candle is one of them. Gabriel is an ode to fir trees and sweetened with a waft of incense.
Jo Malone London Pine And Eucalyptus Home Candle
Let's face it: Jo Malone London excels at festive candles every year and 2022 is no different. The Pine and Eucalyptus candle returns in a white snowball-illustrated vessel that's oh-so-cute and it smells just like Christmas morning.
Henry's Townhouse Saturnalia Limited Edition Candle
Tucked away on the busy streets of Marylebone is a six-bedroom townhouse that was once inhabited by Jane Austen's brother, Henry. Today, it's a plush boutique hotel with a range of 18th century-inspired candles. Saturnalia is an homage to a classic Christmas day. Think mistletoe and holly decorations, generous spreads with spiced fruit cake and gingerbread and a fireplace that's crackling away.
Jo Loves Christmas Trees Home Candle
Want the pine-fresh scent of Christmas trees without the hassle of cleaning up after shedding needles? This fan favourite Jo Loves candle is your best bet.
& Other Stories Taschisme Pepper Scented Candle
A perfect balance of reviving spices and soft florals, Taschisme Pepper is great for scenting your work space and perfect as stocking fillers.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Pomme D'amour Limited Edition Candle
This candle is an all-singing, all-dancing ode to joyous Christmas fairs with all the trimmings you could possibly ask for. It's toffee apples through the eyes (or...nose?) of famed perfumer Francis Kurkdjian so it's still a grown-up affair and far from cloying.
Dior Miss Dior Millefiori Couture Edition Candle
Dior's home offerings are as beautiful as you'd expect but this millefiori-adorned candle just raised the bar. It smells even prettier, with fresh floral notes. The smaller size makes it a brilliant option for bedside tables and gifting too.
Byredo's Symphonique sets out to capture 'lingering memories of winter nights spent at home', and it does just that with the scent of cloves, ginger, star anise and citrusy orange.
Glossier Orange Blossom Neroli Candle
Glossier's love affair with neroli is long-documented (you'll find the scent in it's bodycare products) so it came as no surprise that the candle launch features this luminous scent. The minimalist pink jar is a bonus too.
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