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If you don’t know what to give someone, candle gifts are always a good idea. In fact, I keep a little stash of nice candles at all times for those unexpected moments when you need a last-minute gift: promotions, almost-forgotten birthdays, housewarmings, etc. A candle is a lot more thoughtful than a gift card, and no one needs to know that you’d been keeping that hand-poured sandalwood candle in your cupboard for exactly this occasion.
Candles make a perfect gift at any time of year, but they’re especially good holiday gifts, because 1) holiday scents and 2) people are hosting a lot, so little vibe-enhancers like candles are welcome additions to any parties. A lot of holiday candles also come in a nice gift box, which eliminates the need for wrapping paper. As you read through this list of the best candle gifts, you’ll probably find a few that immediately make you think of a certain family member or loved one, but it’s not a bad idea to stock up on a few extra candle gift sets and limited edition scented candles in case you wake up one morning and remember that your office’s white elephant exchange is in an hour.
Holiday Candle Gift Sets
I don’t know a single person who wouldn’t squeal with delight if they received the limited edition Diptyque holiday candle trio. I would personally probably pass out if someone gave me the luxury candle brand’s $500 advent calendar, but I digress.
Snif’s holiday scented candles strike just the right balance of nostalgia-inducing and very on-trend. Be warned: The Half Baked Smash Bundle will make you think there’s someone baking gingerbread and pumpkin pie in your house whenever you light it, which may or may not be a good thing.
If someone is hosting you over the holidays, get them this Holiday Essentials bundle from Nest New York. It comes with a scented candle in a gilded glass jar, a diffuser, and a fancy hand soap: something every host honestly does want.
Apotheke’s candles are made with essential oils and hand-poured in its Brooklyn studio. The Winter Discovery gift set is ideal for anyone still figuring out what kind of scented candles they like.
Candles That Look Like Food
This was a big year for candles that look like food. Maybe this was tied to the Grocery Girls trend. Maybe we just like being pranked by our home decor. Whatever the reason for the current proliferation of candles that look like garden-fresh produce and things you’d find at a patisserie, BA’s editorial staff gets really excited any time we see a new candle shaped like food, and your loved ones probably will too.
Candles That Smell Like Dinner
The connection between scent and taste is a strong one, so it makes sense that people who are into food are also into fragrance. If you’re buying a gift for someone who is not really into sweets but is very into, say, red sauce Italian, get them candles that smell like the things they truly love: tomatoes, basil, and pasta water. There’s also Homesick Candles’ Latkes & Lights scent, which will make anyone who grew up on the Rugrats Chanukah special immediately miss their bubbe.
Candles That Smell Like Dessert
There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a savage sweet tooth. Yankee Candle’s chocolate cake jar candle smells exactly like Betty Crocker cake mix, while Vacation’s “Vacation” scent takes the concept of a dessert-like scent in a slightly more scandalous direction.
Candles That Smell Like Cocktails
Boozy scents make perfect gifts—for the right person. An aspiring mixologist will probably love the Carriere Freres absinthe candle, which has a heady, herbaceous scent that calls to mind the green fairy. Anyone who likes to spike their coffee will get a bit of a buzz from White Barn’s surprisingly sophisticated coffee and whiskey scent.
Odor-Neutralizing Candles
BA’s Editorial Operations Manager Kate Kassin lives, cooks, and sleeps in a studio apartment, so odor-neutralizing scented candles are a key component of her home decor. If you know someone who loves to cook but doesn’t want their whole house to smell like garlic all the time, look for candles with neutralizing ingredients like sage, lemon, and charcoal.
Taper Candles
Nothing sets the mood for a dinner party like a nice set of taper candles, but it’s one of those things that people don’t often buy for themselves, which is the definition of a great gift idea.
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Candle Holders
If you want to make an extra-nice host gift, pair some of our favorite taper candles with a set of candle holders, so your giftee won’t be scrambling to find an empty wine bottle to stick their nice new candles in.
Candle Accessories
Know someone who, like me, already owns way too many candles, scented, tapered, food-shaped, and otherwise? Honestly, you can probably still get them more candles, but you could also branch out and get them some nice candle accessories. Wick trimmers, snuffers, and nice matches are always welcome in a candle lover;s household.
