The best winter candles to turn your home into a cosy haven

There’s nothing like lighting a festive candle to make your home feel cosy during the countdown to Christmas! We absolutely love snuggling up on the sofa with the smell of classic winter candle scents (just remember to blow them out before you doze off!).

Whether you’re looking for a luxurious treat or some affordable alternatives, here’s our round-up of the best winter candles! For a festive touch, why not add a Christmas candle to your collection too?

For more ways to create a gorgeous smelling home, find out how to make your home smell great: scent ideas for every room.

Best winter candles for 2023

Woodwick Fireside candle

This fireside scented candle from Woodwick is a must-have for any home at Christmas. Not only does it give off the scent of a warm, wood fire, but it also has a wick that crackles as it burns - it sounds just like heavy raindrops on a roof. A gorgeously soothing sound to accompany your cosy night curled up on the sofa with a cup of hot chocolate! As the candle is fairly unique too with the addition of the crackle, it would make an excellent Christmas gift.

If you’re looking to purchase this on online, be aware that although it appears grey on the website, it’s actually a soft muted green. It’s available in a number of sizes.

Frosted Spruce candle

As the name implies, the Frosted Spruce candle is bursting with the refreshing scent of pine needles. You should also catch a touch of black pepper and citrus, how delightful.

We like the simplicity of the vibrant, no-frills tin - a perfect and subtle bedroom accessory.

For more bedroom accessory ideas, browse the best cheap home décor and spruce up your room on a budget.

Chai latte candle

• Buy now from Etsy (£5.31)

If you spend the cooler months sipping on a steaming chai latte, there's a candle for that! Blending cinnamon, benzoin, clove, nutmeg and peppercorn essential oils to mimic the spicy scent of the ultimate winter warmer, the chai latte candle comes in two sizes, with a burn time of 25 or 50 hours.

Made by independent seller TheVeganBunny, each candle is handmade in Britain with 100% natural ingredients - so you can bask in the soothing scent knowing your purchase is eco-friendly and cruelty-free, too!

Mandarin, Clove & Cinnamon Light-Up candle

• Buy now from Marks & Spencer (£10.00)

Nothing says Christmas cheer like the smell of spicy cinnamon and cloves punctuated with the freshness of zingy mandarin, which is what you get in this M&S candle, a steal at £10.00. Plus, we absolutely adore the design - light the flame and the village skyline comes alive with glowing moon, stars and windows lighting up the night sky. Magical!

Looking to add a festive touch to your bedroom this season? Browse the best Christmas bedding.

Fir Tree candle

• Buy now from The White Company (£20.00)

The White Company is always an excellent choice for clean and fresh scents and the brand's delightfully presented candles make for stunning Christmas gifts. This fir tree winter candle has notes of eucalyptus, pine and cedar so you can sit back and let it transport you to a snowy forest! An easy way to bring the freshness of a crisp, winter stroll indoors, place this winter candle on your coffee table for the most relaxing of night's in.

For a subtle and adorable Christmas décor idea, check out the best mini Christmas trees.

Arctic Frost

You're spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a Yankee candle for the winter season. The company's Arctic Frost candle has a burn time of up to 80 hours, so you can enjoy the scent of eucalyptus, peppermint along with hints of lavender, rosemary and vanilla, all throughout the winter season.

The lid conveniently doubles as a platform base so you can show off your new home accessory with pride, and we like the more unusual square candle jar design. This winter candle features two wicks, so you can enjoy even more of a magical glow!

By the Fire candle

• Buy now from Petits Rituels (£42.00)

Each Petits Rituels aromatherapy candle is intricately blended and handmade by artisan perfumer, Nathalie Allard, to provide a different therapeutic benefit. The By The Fire candle – a blend of cinnamon, clove, orange and lemongrass – is specially mixed to evoke feelings of warmth and happiness and allow you to feel safe and cocooned as the candle burns. It’s a perfect choice for those who want to restore a sense of wellbeing and relaxation over the hectic Christmas period – simply burn it for a minimum of three hours.

Pomegranate, Honey and Amber candle

• Buy now from Hampton and Astley (£57.99)

If you find the 'obvious' winter scents like cinnamon, vanilla, Christmas cookies, or mixed spice can quickly become overwhelming, Hampton and Astley's Pomegranate, Honey and Amber candle is the ideal option for you. The scent gives a nod to the season in the form of its notes of fruity pomegranate and musky amber, but it's subtle enough to use all year round, too.

Hand-poured in Staffordshire, this natural wax candle has a burn time of around 50 hours.

Feeling crafty? Learn how to make a Christmas foliage chandelier centrepiece.

Spiced Noir Luxury Scented Candle

• Buy now from Taylor Benfield (£30.00)

If you prefer warmth and spice over sweeter festive scents, this Spiced Noir candle from Taylor Benfield is the perfect winter candle for you. The warming wood and spice-based fragrance is inspired by the exotic scents of Malaysia and Indonesia – we’d liken it to the candles you’d find burning in a luxury hotel in New York. A full size is £30 but you really get what you pay for – the scent fills a room even before you’ve burnt it.

For more candle inspiration, check out the best autumn candles for your home, and if you're after some Christmas shopping inspo too, don't miss our secret santa gifts under £10!