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Candles have a bad gifting reputation, unfairly thrown in the category of “things you buy people if you don’t know them at all.” But we’d argue that the best candle gifts are actually quite personal. You have to be intimately familiar with the type of scents a person likes (you’d never want to give a baked cookie candle to your spicy pine friend) as well as their home decor aesthetic. Otherwise, your candle gift is likely to make an appearance at the next white elephant exchange.
As far as present options go, the candle market has incredible range. There are, of course, your classic holiday scents: the aforementioned pine or cookie options; fresh, snow-inspired fragrances; rich, warming spices. There are plenty of those on this list, but also picks that are less obviously seasonal, so your recipient can burn them any time of year. The vessels vary in vibes, from simple white ceramic to gilded artwork on blown glass. There’s also something for every budget: under $30 options from Bath & Body Works and Lush; luxury candles from Nest, Diptyque, and Byredo; and everything in between. If you’re ready to wow everyone on your list with a candle that feels highly personal, check out our picks for this season.
Our Top Candle Gifts
- Best Overall: Nest x Pierre Marie Holiday 3-Wick Candle, $102
- Best Advent Calendar: Voluspa Holiday Advent Calendar Gift Set, $185
- Best Gift Set: Malin + Goetz Scent the Mood Set, $84
- Best Alternative Take on Evergreen: D.S. & Durga Amber Antiquity Candle, $80
- Best Smoky: Element Brooklyn Campfire Stereo, $32
- Best Gourmand: Aurja Satvik, $84
- Best Candle for Foodies: Flamingo Estate Mini Three Sisters Set, $98
- Best Under-$20 Candle: Lush Candy Cane Scented Candle, $19
Best Overall: Nest x Pierre Marie Holiday 3-Wick Candle
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Nest
x Pierre Marie Holiday 3-Wick Candle
Nordstrom
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Bluemercury
Allure former content director Kara McGrath lighting the Nest x Pierre Marie Holiday 3-Wick Candle
Kara McGrath
Why it’s worth it: If I had to pick just one candle to recommend in this gift guide, it’d be Nest’s Holiday, specifically the three-wick version. I’ve burned hundreds of holiday candles over the course of my career, and this one wins out every single year. Its notes of bright pine, juicy pomegranate and mandarin, and spicy cinnamon and cloves combine into what, for me, is the winter scent. “It’s both sparkly and spicy—think more festive than fir-tree vibes (although I like those, too),” says contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai. The eight-ounce $50 version makes for a perfectly good gift, but springing for the 21-ounce three-wick version for $87 is worth it if you can swing it: It burns for 100 hours, and the scent throw (a.k.a. how far its scent reaches) from just a single wick hits every corner of the house.
What it smells like: spicy, warm, and wintery
Best Advent Calendar: Voluspa Holiday Advent Calendar Gift Set
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Voluspa
Holiday Advent Calendar Gift Set
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Sephora
Why it’s worth it: Voluspa’s 12-Day Advent Calendar is the gift that keeps on giving—I recently gave this to a friend, and he literally gasped in excitement. Inside are 12 petite candles, including some of the brand’s best sellers like Gingerbread Chalet, Noble Fir Garland, Forbidden Fig, and White Cypress. They’re not all holiday-themed, either, so your giftee can stash a few away and swap them in throughout the year.
What they smell like: a little bit of everything, which also makes it a great gift to split up among friends
Best Gift Set: Malin + Goetz Scent the Mood Set
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Malin + Goetz
Scent the Mood Set
Malin + Goetz
Why it’s worth it: I love a candle set for the holidays, but I love a customizable set even more. For this Malin + Goetz lineup, you can pick from six of the brand’s signature scents: Cannabis, Dark Rum, Leather, Bergamot, Otto, and Strawberry (which won a Best of Beauty Award in 2024). The fact that none of those options are particularly holidayesque arguably makes it an even better gift.
What it smells like: whatever you desire
Best of Beauty Winner: Cereria Mollá Bulgarian Rose & Oud
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Cereria Mollá
Bulgarian Rose & Oud
Cereria Mollá
Why it’s worth it: Allure editors burned hundreds of candles during Best of Beauty testing this year, and this one from Cereria won out. The consensus was that this blend of velvety Damascus rose and smoky oud makes for a floral that’s darker and more intoxicating than the average bouquet. “The smell is heavenly and seasonless,” says senior news editor James Manso. “Just enough depth for snowy winter nights but freshly floral enough to complement my air conditioning in August.”
What it smells like: a smoky floral
Prettiest Candle Vessel: Oribe Desertland Candle
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Oribe
Desertland Candle
Dermstore
Bluemercury
Oribe
Why it's worth it: While there is pine in Oribe Desertland Candle's top notes, the wildflower-centric scent is decidedly season-agnostic. “It's surprisingly fresh, and I actually burn it year-round—it works just as well in the summer as it does in the cooler months,” says contributing commerce editor Deanna Pai. The fragrance is lovely, but the glass vessel—black with just a pop of green—is what really makes this gifting appropriate.
What it smells like: crisp and floral
Best Gourmand: Aurja Satvik
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Aurja
Satvik
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McGrath lighting the Aurja Satvik Candle
Kara McGrath
Why it’s worth it: Aurja is a new brand on the home fragrance scene, and I’ve been trying to get everyone I know on board since the launch. The candles are particularly good for gifting, both because of the elegant ceramic vessels and because they come with a set of nice, long matches in the box. Satvik is a musky vanilla that’s sweet without being cloying.
What it smells like: a creamy gourmand
Best Under $20: Lush Candy Cane Scented Candle
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Lush
Candy Cane Scented Candle
Lush
Why it’s worth it: Leave it to Lush, a brand of approximately one million great scents, to also sell yummy-smelling, affordable candles. These come in a simple tin vessel that goes well with any type of home decor. I’m partial to the sweet, minty Candy Cane version for the holiday season, but the brand also has options based on its best-selling body-care scents, like Twilight and Super Milk.
What it smells like: sweet and minty
Best Luxury Candle: Blueme Gold Holiday Candle
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Blueme
Gold Holiday Candle
Amazon
Why it’s worth it: If you want to splurge on candles this year, here’s the one to do it with. The massive gold vessel is worth the price alone since it doubles as a decorative art piece. But the candle inside is amazing too, with notes of evergreen trees and golden amber. Plus, the vessel is refillable, so you can swap the scents out during other seasons.
What it smells like: spicy pine
Best Floral: Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia Scented Home Candle
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Jo Malone London
English Pear & Freesia Scented Home Candle
Nordstrom
Why it’s worth it: You really can't go wrong with any of Jo Malone London’s candles as gifts—they all just smell fancy, and the packaging includes a cute little bow—but we’re partial to this elegant floral scent. Once you smell it, you might end up self-gifting yourself the perfume version, too.
What it smells like: slightly fruity florals
Best Spicy: Maison Margiela Replica Jazz Club Scented Candle
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Maison Margiela
Replica Jazz Club Scented Candle
Amazon
Nordstrom
Why it’s worth it: For the loved one who treasures cozy nights in with a good book and music in the background, this candle is the perfect complement. With notes of rum, neroli, tobacco, and vanilla, it captures the moody warmth of a dimly lit jazz club—no need to step out into the cold to enjoy it.
What it smells like: smoky and just a little bit sweet
Best Alternative Take on Evergreen: D.S. & Durga Amber Antiquity Candle
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D.S. & Durga
Amber Antiquity Candle
Nordstrom
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McGrath lighting the D.S. & Durga Amber Antiquity Candle
Kara McGrath
Why it’s worth it: I love a good, classic pine-scented candle, but sometimes you need a break from pure Christmas tree. Leave it up to D.S. & Durga to do evergreen with a twist, blending juniper with ancient spices and amber. Plus, how elegant is the cobalt and rust vessel?
What it smells like: woody spice
Best Milky Scent: DW Home Warm Cinnamon Milk
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DW Home
Warm Cinnamon Milk
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McGrath lighting the DW Home Warm Cinnamon Milk Candle
Kara McGrath
Why it’s worth it: The milky fragrance trend works just as well in home scents as it does in perfume. This one takes that creamy goodness and adds a little spice, making for an undeniably festive candle. The cute ceramic container helps make it extra gifting-friendly.
What it smells like: cinnamon milk
Best Fresh Scent: Hotel Lobby Candle Fresh Snow
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Hotel Lobby Candle
Fresh Snow
Hotel Lobby Candle
Why it’s worth it: Hotel Lobby’s whole deal is making scents suitable for a fancy hotel, so its candles are great gifts for your bougiest friends. Fresh Snow is a rare floral that works well for me in the wintertime, thanks to grounding notes of suede and musk.
What it smells like: white florals and musk
Best for Maximalist Decorators: Paddywax A Dopo Black Cedar & Fig Candle
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Paddywax
A Dopo Black Cedar & Fig Candle
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McGrath lighting the Paddywax A Dopo Black Cedar & Fig Candle
Kara McGrath
Why it’s worth it: This Paddywax candle would be a great gift just based on the vessel alone, but luckily it smells incredible too. I’m partial to the tiger design with the fig scent, but there are tons of different artwork and fragrance combinations to choose from.
What it smells like: green and fruity
Best Candle for Foodies: Flamingo Estate Mini Three Sisters Set
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Flamingo Estate
Mini Three Sisters Set
Nordstrom
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Why it’s worth it: If your giftee prefers a savory gourmand, this Flamingo Estate set will make their candle dreams come true. The green glass vessels go perfectly with the tomato, rosemary, and sage-inspired scents inside. I love to burn these when I’m hosting dinner parties, since the scents tend to complement whatever I’m cooking.
What it smells like: fresh herbs and vegetables
Best Spa Vibes: Liis In This World Candle
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Liis
In This World Candle
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Liis
Why it’s worth it: While this might be the least holiday-themed option on the list, your perfume-obsessed friend will love getting a candle from cool-girl indie fragrance brand Liis. It’s also a great option for any stressed-out pals, since the blend of eucalyptus, fig, lavender, and sage creates an immediately calming aroma.
What it smells like: the inside of a high-end spa
Best Green Scent: Diptyque Ortie (Nettle) Classic Candle
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Diptyque
Ortie (Nettle) Classic Candle
Nordstrom
McGrath lighting the Diptyque Ortie (Nettle) Classic Candle
Kara McGrath
Why it’s worth it: A Diptyque candle is a classic can’t-go-wrong gift. While I do love the ever-popular Baies, Ortie is a great option if you want something they’re less likely to already own. It’s nice and fresh, with notes of nettle, mint, and violet.
What it smells like: fresh green plants
Best Smoky: Element Brooklyn Campfire Stereo
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Element Brooklyn
Campfire Stereo
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Element Brooklyn
Why it’s worth it: One of my favorite types of winter scents smells like a fireplace, and this candle fits the bill. It opens with spicy pink pepper and clove, then rounds out with woody and milky notes that are extremely cozy. Plus, the price point is pretty unbeatable.
What it smells like: a midwinter night in front of the fire
Best Berry: Byredo Cloudberry Candle
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Byredo
Cloudberry Candle
Nordstrom
Byredo
Why it’s worth it: Jammy berry fragrances are trending this season, and that includes home scents. This holiday launch from Byredo also has notes of lavender, mint, and moss that keep it from getting too sweet. The seasonal packaging and wooden lid make it especially enticing for gifting.
What it smells like: berries surrounded by fresh greenery
Best Coffee Scent: P.F. Candle Co Salted Mocha Candle
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P.F. Candle Co.
Salted Mocha Candle
Amazon
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Why it’s worth it: I find most coffee candles to be overwhelmingly sweet, but not this one from P.F. Candle Co. The brand makes “intentionally soft” fragrances that, at least anecdotally, can be less of a headache trigger than some with stronger smells.
What it smells like: coffee, chocolate, and a touch of salt
Best Peppermint Scent: Apotheke Norman Rockwell Peppermint Taffy Candle
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Apotheke
Norman Rockwell Peppermint Taffy Candle
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Ulta Beauty
Why it’s worth it: This candle pairs a classic Christmas scent (peppermint) with a classic artist (Norman Rockwell) for the ultimate holiday gift. How cute would this look on a mantel next to the tree?
What it smells like: creamy peppermint taffy
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