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Everyone knows someone with impeccable taste in home decor. They’re the friend who can make the smallest space feel bright and airy, who knows exactly where to thrift the coolest pieces, and who can upcycle even the shabbiest furniture. So what do you get that person for Christmas? As self-confessed candle connoisseurs, our money’s on the pièce de résistance of any space — whether it’s the living room or the bedroom: a beautifully crafted scented candle.
You don’t have to be a scent snob to appreciate the vibe-enhancing effects that candles have on any space — but if you are, we’ve got that covered, too. Whether you’re looking for a fragrance inspired by the holiday season or something that feels completely timeless, we’ve curated the ultimate beauty editor-approved list of candles we’d love to see under the tree this year.
From the usual suspects (ahem, Bath & Body Works — but spoiler alert, not the ones you’re thinking) to lesser-known names that feel totally unexpected, peruse our top gift picks to give, get, and, of course, burn, baby, burn.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Nest New York Birchwood Pine
You’ll be hard-pressed to find another candle that captures the holiday spirit like Nest’s Birchwood Pine. Crisp notes of white pine and balsam fir meet comforting birchwood, musk, and amber to transform any space into an idyllic winter forest. Plus, the three-wick jumbo size will last well into the new year.
NEST New York Birchwood Pine Candle, $, available at Sephora
Loewe Tomato Leaves Candle
Loewe’s Tomato Leaves candle is oddly addictive, and the vessel is so undeniably chic, you’ll forgive them for not wanting to light it. It perfectly captures the sweet, green, spicy, and fuzzy scent of crushing tomato leaves between your fingers. If they’re into growing veg and plants on their porch or balcony, they’ll adore this.
Loewe Small Tomato Leaves Candle, 5.8 oz., $, available at Neiman Marcus
Glasshouse Fragrances Velvet Rhapsody Candle
Aussie candle brand Glasshouse is so underrated. The scent projection is just as good as any designer candle, and my favorite has to be Velvet Rhapsody. Creamy jasmine is spliced with zippy yuzu citrus and fresh waterlily, resulting in a scent that’s unmistakably floral but incredibly clean.
Glasshouse Fragrances Velvet Rhapsody Candle, 13.4 oz., $, available at Neiman Marcus
D.S. & Durga Portable Xmas Tree
Every year, D.S. & Durga brings back its Portable Xmas Tree candle (a festive interpretation of its bestselling Portable Fireplace scent), and 2025’s limited-edition red votive is easily one of the most covetable candles we can think of. With its spicy notes of clove, cubeb (an aromatic, pepper-adjacent plant) clashing with herbal pine, holly, and fir, it’s a no-brainer for the status candle friend on your list.
D.S. & Durga Portable Xmas Tree, $, available at D.S. & Durga
Sidia x Sofie Pavitt Face The Studio Candle
NYC-based facialist Sofie Pavitt is the ultimate “IYKYK” name on any skincare savant’s lips, so when she teamed up with Erin Kleinberg’s lifestyle brand Sidia, we knew we were in for a treat. The result between these two powerhouse founders is The Studio, inspired by Pavitt’s downtown hotspot. Featuring invigorating yuzu and neroli alongside an earthy base of blonde woods, rose water, and white musk, it’s the perfect candle for the beauty lover who’s always ahead of the curve.
Sidia x Sofia Pavitt Face The Studio Candle, $, available at Sofie Pavitt Face
Jenni Kayne Aspen Candle
You might know Jenni Kayne as the brand behind plush cashmere sweaters and elevated home décor, but word to the wise this year: Don’t sleep on the candles. Our choice pick for an unforgettable gift that’ll impress even the bougiest friend is Aspen, which juxtaposes crisp notes of balsam fir, eucalyptus, and cypress with bright, juicy grapefruit for a result that’s festive yet unexpected.
Jenni Kayne Aspen Glass Candle, $, available at Jenni Kayne
Cozy Earth Gather Candle
If you have a little less to spend, go for Cozy Earth’s Gather candle. Earthy cinnamon, warming bourbon, and smoked wood give it a leathery, brooding quality — perfect if they like deeper, more complex scents. It’s a soy and coconut wax blend, which also means better indoor air quality, if that matters to them.
Cozy Earth Gather Candle, $, available at Cozy Earth
Bath & Body Works Frosted Cranberry Candle
This is not your average Bath & Body Works Candle. With an elevated ceramic votive (which can be repurposed to house everything from makeup brushes to your favorite pens), these candles make an excellent gift for anyone who has a soft spot for the iconic mall brand’s three-wick candles. Frosted Cranberry is a grown-up version of your saccharine fruity scent, with its wintery notes of iced cranberries, blonde woods, apple, and tonka bean.
Bath & Body Works Frosted Cranberry 3-Wick Candle, $, available at Bath & Body Works
Diptyque Tubereuse Scented Candle
Every cool girl owns a Diptyque Tubereuse candle, and if you ask me, it’s the brand’s best — and most compliment-worthy — scent. It’s a creamy, heady floral that feels intoxicating in the best way. It’s also one of Diptyque’s most popular wedding candles, so if they’re getting married this year and thinking about scenting their wedding, they’re likely to fall in love with this one.
Diptyque Tubereuse (Tuberose) Scented Candle, $, available at Nordstrom
Trudon Nuit Enchantée Luna Candle
If you really want to treat them, it has to be Trudon — the brand’s candles smell sensational even when they’re not lit. Nuit Enchantée Luna is like taking a breath of fresh air indoors: zingy bergamot, a sweet petal accord, creamy birchwood, and crunchy green lotus make up the notes that linger long after you’ve blown it out. Even better? The golden interior makes it feel like a piece of art — and it doesn’t fade as it burns.
Cire Trudon Nuit Enchantee Luna Candle, 9.5 oz., $, available at Neiman Marcus
Jo Loves Black Cashmeran & Tonka Candle
They’ll burn through this faster than you can strike a match — it’s that good. The initial notes of bitter orange, zippy ginger, and warming cardamom give way to a glug of rich rum, vanilla-esque tonka bean, and creamy cedarwood. It fills my entire apartment with a scent that’s as cozy as a cashmere blanket — which makes sense, considering Jo Malone (of fragrance fame) is the mastermind behind the dreamy brand.
Jo Loves Black Cashmeran & Tonka, $, available at Jo Loves
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