Why it’s worth it: If I had to pick just one candle to recommend in this gift guide, it’d be Nest’s Holiday, specifically the three-wick version. I’ve burned hundreds of holiday candles over the course of my career, and this one wins out every single year. Its notes of bright pine, juicy pomegranate and mandarin, and spicy cinnamon and cloves combine into what, for me, 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.
What it smells like: spicy, warm, and wintery
Best Advent Calendar: Voluspa Holiday Advent Calendar Gift Set
Why it’s worth it: Voluspa’s 12-Day Advent Calendar is the gift that keeps on giving—I recently gave this to a friend, and he literally gasped in excitement. Inside are 12 petite candles, including some of the brand’s best sellers like Gingerbread Chalet, Noble Fir Garland, Forbidden Fig, and White Cypress. They’re not all holiday-themed, either, so your giftee can stash a few away and swap them in throughout the year.
What they smell like: a little bit of everything, which also makes it a great gift to split up among friends
Best Gift Set: Malin + Goetz Scent the Mood Set
Malin + Goetz
Scent the Mood Set
Why it’s worth it: I love a candle set for the holidays, but I love a customizable set even more. For this Malin + Goetz lineup, you can pick from six of the brand’s signature scents: Cannabis, Dark Rum, Leather, Bergamot, Otto, and Strawberry (which won a Best of Beauty Award in 2024). The fact that none of those options are particularly holidayesque arguably makes it an even better gift.