Candles get unfairly thrown into the category of things you buy people if you don’t know them at all—but we would argue the best candle gifts are actually quite personal. After all, they’ll go on to scent the recipient’s entire living space, which, in a sense, is an extension of their whole being. If you’ve found one they’re eager to burn when guests come over, we’d say you actually know them pretty well, and you should go forth with confidently gifting them a new winter candle or two.
Candles can be taken seriously without taking them too seriously. There’s as much excitement in a kitschy launch from Bath & Body Works as in a new luxury blend from Diptyque. And, in any given Allure editor’s home, there might be three candles going at once: a small-but-powerful one for the mudroom, a subtle one for the office, and a large one to fill an open-concept kitchen-living-dining area. (What can we say? We’re extra.) It’s not uncommon for us to have a full storage cabinet—and even half a coat closet—stocked with candle backups.
All that is to say: We’ve tested a lot of these things. 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Best Overall: Nest Holiday Candle
Why it’s worth it: If we could only pick one candle to write about for our holiday gift guides, this is the one that would get that honor. Its notes of bright pine, juicy pomegranate and mandarin, and spicy cinnamon and cloves combine into what, for us, 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.
Best Advent Calendar: Voluspa 12 Day Advent Calendar
Voluspa
12 Day Advent Calender
Why it’s worth it: Voluspa’s 12-Day Advent Calendar is the gift that keeps on giving. Inside are 12 petite candles, including some of the brand’s bestsellers like Forbidden Fig and White Cypress. They’re not all holiday-themed, either—which makes it easy to stash a few away and swap them in throughout the year.
a little bit of everything
Best for Housewarmings: Flamingo Estate Green Goddess Candle
Why it’s worth it: For the perennial hostess (or anyone who basically lives in their kitchen), this Green Goddess Candle is decidedly charming and inviting—let’s just say you’ll find yourself coming over more often. Instead of an overpowering gourmand, it channels a fresh herb garden with bright mint, crisp pea tendrils, and aromatic rosemary and basil. The result? A refreshing, elevated scent that makes any kitchen smell effortlessly chic.
Best of Beauty Winner: Malin+Goetz Otto Candle
Why it’s worth it: Allure associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen vouched for this Allure 2025 Best of Beauty winner, which is one of the biggest candles she’s ever owned (and yet the candle she’s burned through the fastest). And it’s a crowd-pleaser even for the most discerning noses. “Though it’s a floral scent, when it’s lit, you pick up warm notes of cashmere musk, which kept my rose-adverse husband from complaining,” she says. “In fact, he recently asked for a refill, because as I said, we burned through this one quickly—well, as quickly as you can go through a one-plus-pound candle!”
Prettiest Candle Vessel: Oribe Desertland Candle
Why it’s worth it: While there is pine in Oribe Desertland Candle’s top notes, the wildflower-centric scent is decidedly season-agnostic. Sure, that fragrance is lovely, but the glass vessel—black with just a pop of green—is what really makes this gifting appropriate.
Best Under-$40 Candle: Maison Louis Marie Le Refuge d’Ernest Candle
Maison Louis Marie
Le Refuge d’Ernest Candle
Why it’s worth it: Of the many mid-priced candle options out there, Maison Louis Marie’s are the most likely to trick people into thinking they’re much more expensive than they are. The brand’s Bois de Balincourt is an Allure all-time favorite, but for the holidays, we’re leaning toward Le Refuge d’Ernest. Ernest was founder Marie’s great-great-great grandfather, a scientist who built a cabin in the Alps; this candle is meant to smell like the cozy fire a hiker might light once they get inside.
Best Gift Set: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Trio Scented Candle Set
Maison Francis Kurkdjian
Trio Scented Candle Set
Why it’s worth it: For your fanciest friend, this set of candles from the makers of Baccarat Rouge 540 is bound to hit the spot. All three scents lean woody and herbaceous—think crisp pine needles underfoot, crushed cedarwood, and a whisper of sage or juniper in the air, like taking a stroll through a snow-covered forest.
Best Gourmand: Glasshouse Night Before Christmas Candle
Glasshouse Fragrances
Night Before Christmas Candle
Why it’s worth it: Unless you’re certain your giftee has a strong sweet tooth (sweet…nose?), a gourmand candle can be a risk. But Glasshouse’s Night Before Christmas Candle—with its notes of sugared plum and spiced vanilla—is more subtly sweet than bakery-in-your-face. Every candle company claims you can reuse their vessels; since this one comes with a glass lid that fits snugly, you actually might.
Best Evergreen Scent: Bath & Body Works Tree Farm Candle
Why it’s worth it: Despite the relatively low price point (often even lower thanks to Bath & Body Works’s frequent sales), this pine-scented Tree Farm Candle punches well above its weight. It’s not good for a cheap candle; it’s just good. The scent is spot-on accurate, the throw is just as impressive as (if not better than) some of the pricier options here, and this year’s frosted green vessel for the long-time best seller is simple and elegant.
Best Crowd-Pleaser: Diptique Baies
Why it’s worth it: Perfect for anyone who loves a fresh scent but isn’t quite sure what notes they’re into, Diptyque Baies is easy to love with a mix of lush berries and delicate rose; together, they hit just the right balance of fruity and floral. It’s inviting without ever being overpowering, and therefore a permanent fixture in our gifting lineup for the people who are impossible to shop for.
Best Unexpected-for-Holiday Candle Scent: Le Labo Limited-Edition Black Concrete Candle Santal 26
Le Labo
Limited-Edition Black Concrete Candle Santal 26
Why it’s worth it: Another icon in the fragrance world, Le Labo’s Santal 26 candle has arrived in a limited-edition all-black design. The beloved smoky, leathery scent remains the same, but it’s now housed in a sleek, minimalist bottle that’s guaranteed to complement their home decor.
Best Citrus: Sidia X Sofie Pavitt Face The Studio Candle
Sidia
X Sofie Pavitt Face The Studio Candle
Why it’s worth it: If you’re familiar with Sofie Pavitt’s skin-care line—or lucky enough to have visited her downtown NYC studio—you already know she does effortless luxury best. The same goes for her candle collab with Sidia. With notes of mandarin, yuzu, orange, and white musk, it bottles up that just-got-a-facial freshness, making it the perfect gift for the friend who always has a facial booked.
Best Milky: Liis Choux Choux
Why it’s worth it: This dessert-inspired milky candle whips up the works: fresh cream, cocoa, vanilla beans, mocha, and fleur de sel caramel (a yummy caramel-based confection). However, don’t expect this hyper-sweet combination to feel cloying, as hints of warm, soft sandalwood temper its sweetness.
Best Splurge: Trudon Cyrnos Mediterranean Aromas Candle
Trudon
Cyrnos Mediterranean Aromas Candle
Why it’s worth it: For the person who really went above and beyond this year—your mom who doubled as a babysitter, your BFF who always picks up your calls, your partner who held it down—this is the thank-you gift. Trudon’s Cyrnos Mediterranean Aromas Candle is a true luxury they’d never splurge on for themselves. It burns for up to 60 hours, filling any space with the crisp, sun-soaked scent of the sea, like a mini vacation in candle form.
a walk through a citrus garden on the Mediterranean sea
Best Holiday Scent: The Maker Spiritus Candle
Why it’s worth it: Cannabis might not seem like the obvious holiday scent, but mixed with vanilla and frankincense, it rounds the scent out into something warm and vibrant. And we can’t get over The Maker’s scalloped candle vessels: They feel like they belong on the mantle at an enormous old mansion.
Best Floral: Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia Scented Home Candle
Jo Malone London
English Pear & Freesia Scented Home Candle
Why it’s worth it: You really can’t go wrong with any of Jo Malone’s candles as gifts—they all just smell fancy—but we’re partial to this elegant floral scent. Once you smell it, you might end up self-gifting yourself the perfume version too.
Best Musky: P.F. Candle Co. Teakwood and Tobacco
P.F. Candle Co.
Teakwood and Tobacco
Why it’s worth it: P.F. Candle Co. is the place to shop for the fragrance lover who seems to have everything—and for anyone looking to score a luxe scent without breaking the bank. Every blend puts a modern twist on classic notes, even the brand’s very first candle—Teakwood and Tobacco—which adds a bright, citrusy edge to a traditionally musky leather scent.
Best Smoky: Homecourt Cece Candle
Why it’s worth it: The one who finds joy in a spotless countertop or always has a candle burning during their Sunday reset will love this candle. A favorite of Homecourt founder Courteney Cox, Cece balances cinnamon, carrot seed, patchouli, and vetiver for a grounding, earthy aroma that makes any space smell freshly cleaned, even if they didn’t actually get around to it this week.
Best Fall: Cozy Earth Cider
Why it’s worth it: The internet’s favorite loungewear brand has expanded its cozy offerings by getting into candles. We love the vessel that Cider comes in: The simple ceramic silhouette makes it blend easily into any home-decor aesthetic, but the red feels more special than your standard stone neutrals. And, once your loved one actually lights it, they’ll be enveloped in the scent of spicy and sweet apple cider—as if it were boiling on the stovetop.
Best Spicy: Replica Jazz Club Scented Candle
Maison Margiela
Replica Jazz Club Scented Candle
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How we test and review products
When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that’s included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.
For our review of the best candles for gifts, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, and contributors to review the products. This ensures our testing base spans different skin tones, genders, and dermatological conditions. We considered each product’s performance across four primary categories: ingredients, wear and longevity, packaging, and inclusivity. For more on what’s involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.
Our staff and testers
A beauty product is a personal purchase. You might be searching for a face cream to address persistent dryness or a new nail product to add to your Sunday self-care routine; you may simply be browsing around for the latest launches to hit the hair market. No matter what you seek or your individual needs and concerns, Allure wants to ensure that you love anything we recommend in our stories. We believe that having a diverse team of writers and editors—in addition to the wide range of outside testers and industry experts we regularly call upon—is essential to reaching that goal.