13 Christmas and Holiday Candles That Are Actually Giftable

Scent: Mint with balsam and vanilla

Why we love it: It's all the classic holiday scents rolled into one. It's also strong, but in a good way, because certain candles don't pack a punch like you might hope.

Why it makes a good gift: For starters, this scent is only available during the holidays, which gives it that exclusive feeling. It also has unique design on it, which makes it feel even more giftable.

Scent: Bayberry, frankincense and myrrh

Why we chose it: "I love a bayberry candle, which is scented with the waxy covering from the fruit of the bayberry plant," said Mike Garten, our photographer, who also noted that a burning bayberry candle will supposedly bring you good luck!

Why it makes a good gift: You're going to get a lot of bang for your buck here — according to the brand, over 100 hours of burn time. But more than that, as Mike said, there is the tradition of when you give a bayberry candle to someone, it will bring them luck once it burns all the way down, which is a lovely backstory.

Scent: Orange and clove with cinnamon

Why we chose it: "It smells like a Little Women Christmas," says Elisabeth Engelhart, our visual styling director. "And the citrus means it’s a clean scent and not as overpowering as like a vanilla or peppermint."

Why it makes a good gift: Orange and clove is a very traditional holiday scent, but it's also a bit surprising and probably something they wouldn't pick up for themselves. The brand says it has a burn time of 25 hours, which is pretty good considering its price.

Scent: Clove and fireplace

Why we chose it: To me, this smells like a box of ornaments. It really makes a room feel extra cozy because it does offer that smokey scent. "I like clove, and this is an unapologetically clove, spiced scent. I feel like it'll really fill a room," one of our testers said when they gave it a sniff.

Why it makes a good gift: It's one of the brand's new scents for 2024, so it feels like a fresh idea without having to think too outside the box.

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Scent: Fir balsam and snow with juniper berries and patchouli

Why we chose it: "It’s refreshing without being too overpowering," said Grace Wu, one of our analysts. "It has nice notes of pine and juniper berry."

Why it makes a good gift: Outdoor fellow is a small, family-run business for those looking for a more meaningful way to shop this year. It also has a very minimal design to fit in with most home aesthetics. And because it's more of a winter candle, it won't feel out of place come January.

Scent: Gingerbread spice

Why we chose it: My theme this year is gingerbread, so this fits in perfectly. But that's not the only reason why I picked it. I don't like sweet scents at all, and anything cookie related usually smells like a bakery. This doesn't. It's a subtle ginger scent.

Why it makes a good gift: The obvious is that it's personalized without having to spend a ton on something personalized. It also has some weight to it, so it feels substantial as a gift. Once it's done, they can use it anytime of year as a jar.

Scent: Pine and peppermint with rosemary, orange and patchouli

Why we chose it: "I discovered this brand on a trip to Scotland, and fell in love with this scent, which is perfect for Christmas," said Lauren Matthews, our executive digital director. T'he heady scent of pine with notes of peppermint, orange, rosemary and patchouli makes you feel like you're tucked away in a cozy cottage in the middle of the woods."

Why it makes a good gift: It's handmade in Scotland, so that in itself feels impressive. It also comes packaged in a pretty cylinder box, so it's pretty much ready to gift.

Scent: Bourbon and white maple with vanilla

Why we chose it: "These LAFCO candles are so gorgeous in hand-blown glass vessels you can reuse," said our beauty director April Franzino. "This is a non-traditional warm amber-y, slightly sweet scent, can be used beyond the holidays."

Why it makes a good gift: First of all, it's heavily discounted. This isn't an ordinary candle, it's large — 15 ounces with a 90-hour burn time. LAFCO is a luxury brand, so when it's on sale, you have to grab it. Even when it's not, it's good if you're going for a statement present for someone like your mom.

Scent: Juniper berry, cinnamon and orange with vanilla

Why we chose it: "I love a fresh and fruity scent in my home at all times, and am not a fan of heavier gourmand fragrances," said Amanda Constantine, our of our analysts. "This candle blends citrus with berry, spices and a woody scent. Plus, the jar is gorgeous, like an added piece of holiday decor."

Why it makes a good gift: It's got that pretty candle shape we all love, but is usually only found at pricier stores. I can see giving this as a hostess gift or to a coworker or boss.

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Scent: Pomegranate, mandarin orange, pine, cloves, and cinnamon with vanilla

Why we chose it: "It's one of my all-time favorites," says beauty assistant Catharine Malzhan. "It smells so festive and Christmas-y."

Why it makes a good gift: It comes ready to gift in the signature NEST packaging. It's a little pricey, which means they likely won't buy it for themselves, so it's a nice way to spoil someone special. The pretty vessel it comes in is also reusable.

Scent: Fresh fir and pine needles with mint-infused eucalyptus

Why we chose it: It has a very fresh smell that can take up a room. My family uses a faux Christmas tree, but when you light this, you feel like you're surrounded by real ones. It also burns very evenly.

Why it makes a good gift: It's a small business, which we love. And really, the jar just exudes elegance. While a bit pricey, it has a cool backstory. According to the brand, the scent is inspired by Billie Holiday's favorite perfume, Emeraude.

Scent: Eucalyptus, citrus, mint and pine with juniper and sage

Why we chose it: Honestly, when I first smelled this, I was just so impressed by how strong this small candle smelled, even when it wasn't lit.

Why it makes a good gift: To me, it's the perfect little gift or stocking stuffer. It has a tin container, so no one has to worry about glass breaking, but it's still decorative. It's also a small business.

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Scent: Wood fire

Why we chose it: There are few things that make me happier than this scent. Extreme? Maybe. But when you don't have a fireplace and are looking for that fireplace smell on a cold night, it just doesn't get better than this candle. I have it lit right now as I'm writing this.

Why it makes a good gift: diptyque is a luxury Parisian brand. It's the brand you see in all the celebrity house tours. It's been around since 1960. But it's expensive, so this is going to be your main gift to someone like your partner.