My Top Five Candles For Christmas 2025

Christmas is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to start thinking about the festive aromas that will surround you for the next thirty-one days. Candles are synonymous with Christmas, whether that’s the tall countdown ones or the luxuriously fragranced variety, but choosing a scented centrepiece gets harder every year. The number of candles out there is phenomenal, and that means there are both hits and misses. That’s why I’ve done the legwork for you once again and hunted out some sure-fire winners. So, from Oxfordshire to Cornwall, it’s time to discover my annual Top Five Candles for Christmas.

In fifth place we’re indulging in the ceremonial side of Christmas thanks to London Nights from RNDL. Founded by Jack Randall and Matt Bagnall, their aim has always been to create fragrances that “tell a story and evoke emotions”. This candle has a richly decadent amber heart, which is accented perfectly by a glorious frankincense, but the combination of thyme and labdanum adds an aromatic resinous quality that is simply beautiful. This is the ideal scent for you to enjoy with a glass of ruby port. London Nights is available from the RNDL website and is priced at £55 for 200g.

Fourth place sees the return of perfumer Pia Long to the candle countdown, this time with Embers from St Eval. Based down in Cornwall, St Eval takes its inspiration from the local surroundings and nature’s seasonal shifts, and still proudly creates everything in-house. Embers is the embodiment of a fading Christmas Eve fire, and is brought vividly to life by combining cedarwood and sandalwood with pine-edged cardamom and golden amber. If you’re not lucky enough to have a real fire, then this is the next best thing. Embers is available from the St Eval website and is priced at £15 for 175g.

Moving on to third place sees an unusual addition to the festive line-up, as we enjoy an aromatic pause. Christmas is not the easiest time of the year for many, even those that love it can feel overwhelmed, and this is where Travel To Dreamland from Lords Fragrance House comes in. Lavender, chamomile and rose geranium have been combined in this candle, and the addition of grounding amyris completes the perfect scented switch off. A definite recommendation for those that need some quiet relaxation. Travel To Dreamland is available from the Lords Fragrance House website and is priced at £45.50 for 225g.

This brings us to second place and a return to Cornwall, this time to Penzance, to discover Low Tide from Join. One festive tradition enjoyed around the world is the Boxing Day walk and, if you’re lucky, this can sometimes include some time by the sea. This essential oil candle combines the sappiness of patchouli with a powdery chamomile, but there’s a whisper of moss in there as well that gives a hint of crisp morning air. Don’t you deserve a walk by the ocean? Low Tide is available from the Join website and is priced at £28 for 180ml.

We’ve reached the top spot for 2025, and it’s Cranbourn's scented embodiment of Christmas. The festive season means fir trees in the corners of rooms, cake spices from kitchens, and bowls of juicy clementines. Nordic Serenity combines eucalyptus-brightened pine needles with a citrus and peppermint pairing, but the spiced medley of ginger, clove and patchouli adds a festive scented reference that is unmistakable. Perfect for boosting a real Christmas tree or scenting an artificial one, the fragrance that you get is an absolute gift. Nordic Serenity is available from the Cranbourn website priced at £36 for 220g.

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]