I'm a home fragrance connoisseur—these are the only 14 Christmas candles that meet my high expectations

It's no secret that I'm a candle snob (I'm a fragrance-specialist beauty editor after all)—and this trait of mine is particularly prominent when it comes to Christmas candles. If a candle doesn't smell luxurious, doesn't have a strong throw and doesn't win me compliments from guests, I don't want to know about it. I like my winter candles to ooze comforting, cosy vibes without playing into any festive gimmicks, and this makes Christmas candles a tricky purchase to navigate.

Luckily, as a part of my job as a beauty editor with a specialty in all things fragrance, I get to test out almost every Christmas candle out there. So far this year, I have filled my flat with some truly stand-out festive scents, along with some truly nauseating ones. For me, Christmas is a time to lean into those warming, homely sort of candles that make you want to stay inside all day long. As a result, I typically steer clear of anything too headache-inducing, meaning those sort of artificial-smelling candles that tend to have names like 'sugared cinnamon bake' have no place in my home. Instead, I lean toward luxury candles that walk the line between festive cosiness and expensive-smelling timelessness expertly.

And while luxury candles feel like a big expense at any time of the year, when it comes to Christmas I struggle to justify the cost even more so. Something about spending £50+ on a candle that can only fittingly be burned for approximately four weeks of the year always seems a little excessive. But then again, I'm an excessive person—what can I say?! Luckily, though, this year I'm seeing some of the best candle Black Friday beauty deals I have ever laid eyes upon, so I'm using it as a fine excuse to stock up.

After what feels like a lifetime of testing (although it's realistically been about two months), I can confidently say these are the 14 best Christmas candles for 2024, many of which are currently on sale for Black Friday.

1. Diptyque Étoile

You know when I mentioned I don't like sickly-sweet Christmas candles? Étoile is the perfect example of a fresh, light-on-the-nose festive candle that still scratches my Christmas itch. Meaning 'star' in French, this candle sparkles on the nose with fizzy white florals, while velvety-soft, creamy petals swaddle you in comfort. It is full of light and joy.

2. Jo Loves Christmas Trees

There is, in my humble opinion (and the opinion of every beauty editor I know), no candle that smells more like a real Christmas tree than this one from Jo Loves. It's fresh, piney and totally sense-clearing—like taking a long walk in a pine forest on the crispest winter's day. 

3. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baies des Fôrets

Unlike most of the other candles on this list, this one from Maison Francis Kurkdjian leans on fresh, fruity notes rather than sweet gourmands or gimmicky pines—but that doesn't make it any less perfect for Christmas. Predominantly, it's green and fruity, but somehow, through what I can only call a stroke of pure genius, everything comes across icy and snowy. It's a fresh festive treat for the nose.

4. Beauty Pie Firwood

If you're into seriously smoky, fireside scents, then boy, oh boy is this the candle for you. Living in a two-bedroom London flat means I am not blessed enough to have a fireplace, but burning this on cold winter nights makes it feel like I do. It's the sort of candle that makes you want to snuggle up on the sofa and fall asleep with a classic Christmas film showing on the TV.

5. Bamford Roasted Chestnut & Cashmere

Leave it to Bamford to nail the scent of chestnuts roasting on an open fire and wrap it up in one mighty-fine candle jar. This one is spicy, smoky and a little sweet on the nose without being cloying or headache-inducing. If I owned a big country manor and hosted festivities for my imaginary upper-class acquaintances, this is the candle I'd choose to burn in every room.

6. Jo Malone London Orange Bitters

Jo Malone London's iconic Orange Bitters has returned for another year, and it's looking cuter than ever with its little orange bow on top. If you haven't experienced Orange Bitters before, it's zesty and warming with a heavy dose of freshness that is reminiscent of freshly showered skin. There are, in my opinion, few candles in existence that are better than this one.

7. Neom Christmas Wish

Neom Christmas Wish isn't here to mess around. Truthfully, it's actually a bit too strong for me, and I prefer to light it in short bursts. However, its beauty can't be ignored (and I don't know a soul who doesn't love it), so I think it's important I include it on this list for those of you who want sugar, spice and all things nice IV'd into them come December. It's an assault of cinnamon, citrus and creamy tonka that I don't think can be compared to anything else—it's a year-on-year classic that, despite its unrivalled throw, I don't seem to tire of.

8. Carrière Frères Winter Flower

If you haven't tried Carrière Frères candles before, know that they're some of my absolute favourites. This Christmas, the brand has released a trio of limited-edition candles. Each one is as beautiful as the next, and I truly struggled to choose only one favourite. In the end, this one came out on top. Why? Because it's really different. It has only a small hint of the spicy sweetness typical of Christmas candles that sits on a bed of fresh, wintery florals—it is welcoming and comforting, with a cool floral burst reminiscent of a snow-dusted festive bouquet.

9. Acqua di Parma Panettone

If I could only burn one candle this month, just know it would be this. Acqua di Parma Panettone is, without question, the best Christmas candle that has ever come my way. You might think a panettone-scented candle doesn't quite fit with my gourmand-detesting vibe—and typically you'd be right. However, Acqua di Parma's take on panettone is one I can absolutely get on board with. It is warming, creamy and comforting, like shoving your nose into a freshly-baked cake, but magically, thanks to the brand's unrivalled citrus expertise, it remains light on the nose and beautifully fresh, with an almost aquatic crispness. If you're only going to buy one candle on this list, make it this.

10. Goutal Une Forêt d'Or

I don't know whether it's the beautiful vessel or the exquisite scents, but nothing feels quite as luxurious to me as a Goutal candle. This limited-edition number delivers all of the boujee festive vibes. It smells like walking through a Christmas tree farm as the snow falls, while cradling a cup of orange-infused mulled wine to warm up your hands.

11. Cloon Keen Noble Myrrh

I am holding a very special place in my heart for this candle this Christmas. At first I thought I might be biased because I love to see an Irish brand doing such amazing things, but then I took a step back and realised the real reason I love this candle so much is because it just smells so great. It is intensely warming, comforting and spicy—like the spicy wafts you expect to escape the kitchens of a luxury hotel on Christmas Eve as they prep the dressings and sauces for the following day. It is, frankly, a feat.

12. Nest New York Hearth

Is there anything more comforting than the scent of a hot, smoky hearth? I think not—and this candle proves it. It fills the room in a way that no other candle can and emits the kind of aroma that makes you never want to leave. If you're not into gourmand Christmas scents, not a single part of you will regret buying this candle.

13. Evermore Ember

Another smoky delight that doesn't fall into the traditional Christmas category but is proving one of my most cherished burns throughout the festive season, Ember is deep, creamy and a little spicy. However, with a top note of orange zest, it maintains a slight Christmasy crackle that is perfect for this time of year.

14. Trudon Fir

I know what you're thinking and yes, I was building up to this eye-wateringly expensive finale. If I had thought about a specific order to this list in terms of my personal rankings, this would have come out at number one. However, I have to take into consideration the fact it costs over £100. Trudon's Fir is, hands down, second to none when it comes to 2024's Christmas-tree-esque candle offering. In fact, it's probably one of the best candles I have ever smelled. It has that iconic Christmas-tree-like piney freshness, but it's enveloped in a cocoon of warming, mouthwatering spiciness that smells like a rich-man's aftershave. Plus, it makes for an exceptional centrepiece.