Well in the throes of cosy season,what better way to hunker down than lighting a few candles? 'Candles really are for the depths of winter when we want our homes to offer a cosy respite from the harshness outside' explains Tom Daxon, founder and creative director of his eponymous fragrance brand. 'Everything looks better by the soft glow of candlelight; that paired with a mood lifting scent can help turn long dark evenings into something to enjoy rather than endure.’
Given the array of candles on the market, finding the right seasonal scent to ease us into Christmas can be overwhelming. For instance, do you opt for the traditional sweet and spiced fragrance - fruity, zesty and warmed with clove and cinnamon (and just as satisfying as a glass of mulled wine)? Or perhaps an alpine journey through cedarwood, leather and balsam to transport you to a cosy armchair by a fire in a log cabin? Whatever your fragrance preference, there is a candle to set just the right mood.
Connoisseurs will know all too well the joy in stocking up on seasonal candles, only to quickly hit a well at the bottom of the candle after a frustrating, uneven burn. A top tip for getting the most out of your favourite candle? ‘Burn them for two hours on the first lighting,' says Daxon. This way the wax will melt into a pool all the way to the edge, encouraging an even burn. ‘Also, before each burn, trim the wick to about 5mm to stop the flame from being too strong, preventing that black smoke.’
Whether you're hosting for Christmas or battening down the hatches, candlelight is the perfect way to set a relaxing ambience, but good candles needn't cost you the earth. From tapered candles for the dinner table to scented candles that will help you unwind, we found the best candles on the market that won't break the bank. So turn your out of office on, the lights off, and enjoy some well earned rest after burning the wick at both ends.
SHOP: The Affordable Christmas Candles To Buy Now
1 of 15MALIN + GOETZ, Dark Rum Votive Candle, £17
Winter calls for rich, spicy scents, and this powerful, lasting take on spiced rum has top notes of bergamot and plum, middle notes of leather and rum and a sweet base note of amber and vanilla. You can even burn at the same time as the brands 'Mojito Votive' to create a signature cocktail.
2 of 15H&M, Cork-lid Scented Candle, £3.99
Doing exactly as it says on the tin, this blend of sweet caramel, cinnamon, ginger and cream couldn't smell more like a Christmassy winters eve if it tried.
3 of 15Tom Daxon, White Narcissus Candle, £25
For a clean break from the rich, spiced scents of traditional Christmas, try a fresh floral like this wintery bouquet of narcissus against a smoky, complex backdrop. A merry Christmas indeed.
4 of 15Anthropologie, True Grace Set of 2 Taper Candles, £7
Add a dose of contemporary cool to the Christmas dinner table with True Grace's elegant tapered candles in block colours.
5 of 15Marks and Spencer, Neroli, Lime & Basil Light Up Candle Image 1 of 6 Neroli, Lime & Basil Light Up Candle Image 4 of 6 Neroli, Lime & Basil Light Up Candle Image 5 of 6 Neroli, Lime & Basil Light Up Candle Image 6 of 6 Neroli, Lime & Basil Light Up Candle, £9.50
Add ambience to any room with this magical light-up candle. Silver sequins add an iridescent finish to the natural candle light, just light the candle as normal and the LED lights will trigger filling your room with light and the citrusy scent of neroli, lime and basil.
6 of 15& Other Stories, Arabesque Wood Scented Candle, £17
Conjuring up the scent of fresh winter walks, this candle combines the earthy depths of luscious moss and warm amber, with a zingy citrus and ginger finish.
7 of 15Aldi, Amber Woods Wooden Wick Candle, £9.99
Amber Woods Wooden Wick Candle by Hotel Collection has a warming, cosy, scent reminiscent of a log cabin, making it the ideal choice for a cold Christmas. It even delivers a satisfying crackle as it burns for that fireplace feeling.
8 of 15Habitat, Winters Garden Boxed Candle, £4.50
If sweet scents aren't your thing, Habitat's winter candle is rich in balsam and cedarwood for a deeper winter scent. The beautiful packaging means its also great for gifting, that is if you want to give it away.
9 of 15Next, Festive Spice Fragranced Candle, £14
Ticking off every box for the perfect, cosy Christmas; the essence of crackling log fire, the scent of fresh mulled wine, and sparkly festive decorations, this candle has everything you need for the ultimate night in.
10 of 15Pretty Little Thing, Green Set Of 4 Tonal Candlesticks, £7
There is something elegant about the tonal shades of these tapered candles in wintery green. Dress the table with ivy, pinecones, slices of dried orange, and red velvet bows, finishing with these candles for an instagrammable setting.
11 of 15Sanctuary Spa, White Jasmine & Myrrh Candle, £8.33
Curious to know just exactly what Myrrh smells like? Think sweet, and oriental perfumery, and in this case blended with exotic, heady incense, dark musk and sensual spice.
12 of 15Landon Tyler, Evergreen Scented Candle, £6.66
Long after the Christmas tree has given up the ghost and dropped its needles, this seasonal dose of fresh pine, with sweet fir balsam and precious woods will help the festive feeling linger well into the new year.
13 of 15Cath Kidson, Shine Bright Christmas Wishes Tin Candle, £7
If looking at this candle alone doesn't make you feel full of festive joy, the smell certainly will. Warming cinnamon and clove with bittersweet orange and spicy ginger, cardamom and nutmeg on a creamy tonka and vanilla base, is Christmas in a tin.
14 of 15The White Company, Winter scented tea lights set of 12, £15
Set the scene with mini tea lights scattered across the table. These from The White Company are delicately scented with cinnamon, clove, orange too, to spread the fragrance for up to 12 hours.
15 of 15Makeup Revolution, Orange and Oud Candle, £5.60
Expect 32 hours burning time from the supremely affordable candle, that combines fresh, zingy orange with fragrant, musky oud.
READ MORE: 16 Of The Best Scented Candles For Men this Autumn
READ MORE: Affordable Candles You'll Be Proud To Have On Your Mantlepiece