My Top Five Candles For Christmas 2021

The tree has been brought down from the loft and, if you're anything like me, you're also desperately trying to remember where you put the fairy lights. This can only mean one thing, it’s Christmas! Alongside all of the traditions that go with the festive season, my annual contribution is recommending which flickering piece of scented magic needs to take pride of place in your home this year. We often fall back on the old favourites in December, but I'm going to ask you to try something a little different. This year’s choices have been harder than ever, but the time has finally arrived to reveal my Top Five Candles for Christmas.

In fifth place we’re heading down to Yeovil to discover the scented masterpiece that is Patchouli & Sandalwood from Nostara. This company was founded back in 2017 and has continued to offer exquisite candle fragrances. When you find out that the perfumer behind this one is Marina Barcenilla, you know you’re in for something special. With a blend of rose and ylang ylang over a richly flavoured patchouli and sandalwood base, this candle provides the most beautifully warming aroma to surround yourself with this Christmas. Patchouli & Sandalwood is available from the Nostara website and is priced at £35 for 200g.

Fourth place sees the welcome appearance of the only Christmas candle in the line-up this year. Candaroma was founded by Paula Roberts and is based in the seaside town of St Leonards on Sea in East Sussex. Her beautiful Winter’s Night candle appears every year, although it's always slightly reworked, and comes in the most fantastic eco-box that’s decorated with a stag. Hand poured by Paula, the scent combines the classic notes of bitter orange, nutmeg and clove, but gently lays them over a bed of frankincense imbued cedarwood. Winter’s Night is available from the Candaroma website and is priced at £20 for 200g.

Moving on to third place finds us reaching for our hat and scarf as we get ready for the Boxing Day walk. Morning Mist from Maison Vivi adds a gloriously outdoor quality to the room as it burns. Inspired by the Cérou Valley in France, the combination of spearmint and lemongrass adds a wonderfully piercing crispness, whilst the vetiver and cypress provide the effect of an earthy forest with a light coating of dew. This is perfect for those looking for a little extra bite. Morning Mist is available from the Maison Vivi website and is priced at £30 for 170g.

That brings us to second place and the appearance of the delicately decadent Smoked Plum & Leather from Jo Loves. Now, Jo Malone is famous for gently embracing a room with scent and allowing us to sink into the fragrance, and she does that brilliantly with this candle. You are treated to subtle notes of brushed leather, aged cognac and sugar-frosted plums, so you’ll definitely find yourself wanting to snuggle down for a relaxed Christmas celebration. Smoked Plum & Leather is available from the Jo Loves website and is priced at £55 for 185g.

So, we’ve reached the top spot for 2021 and it takes us down to Keyneston Mill, the home of Parterre Fragrances, and their outstanding Root of all Goodness. This company grow some of the ingredients for their fragrances in the grounds, and this one features their English vetiver. The scent contains a sophisticated whisper of resinous labdanum and aromatic ginger but, alongside a perfectly measured green lemon, the powdery vetiver is given full chance to shine as it conjures up the autumnal gardens. Root of all Goodness is available from the Parterre Fragrances website and is priced at £35 for 210g.

Whichever candle you go for this year, please remember to observe the instructions and NEVER leave a burning candle unattended! To read my candle recommendations from previous years you can click on the images below. [Samples provided by the companies]

  

Posted by Stephan Matthews at 07:00:00

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Labels: Candaroma, Christmas Candle, Jo Loves, Jo Malone, Maison Vivi, Marina Barcenilla, Morning Mist, Nostara, Parterre Fragrances, Patchouli & Sandalwood, Root of all Goodness, Smoked Plum & Leather, Winter's Night