The Ultimate Candle Gift Guide

Because if you’re into food, you’re probably into candles too.
candle gifts

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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.

Set of 3 Holiday Candles

Diptyque Advent Calendar

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.

Holiday Candle Bundle

Half Baked Smash Bundle

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.

Custom Liquid Soap, Hand Lotion & Reed Diffuser Set

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.

Winter Discovery Mini Scented Candle Tin Set

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.

Strawberry Dessert Wax Candle

Big Night Pasta Candle

Nonna's Grocer Tomato Candles, Set of 3

Mini Cannoli Candle

Dominique Ansel X Joya Cronut Molded Candle

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.

Lucali & Joya Brooklyn Pizzeria Candles

Pasta Water Candle

Dinner Party Candle

Purple Basil Candle

Homesick Latkes and Lights Candle

Loewe Tomato Leaves Candle

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.

Banana Pudding Candle

Vanille Candle

Breakfast Leipzip Candle

Yankee Candle Chocolate Layer Cake Candle

"VACATION" by Vacation Perfumed Candle

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.

Carrière Frères Absinthe Candle

White Barn Coffee and Whiskey Candle

After Party Candle

Bonita Fierce 8.5-Ounce Candle

Homesick Let's Toast Candle

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.

La Droguerie Odor Removing Candle with Basil

Malin+Goetz Sage Candle

Charcoal Mini Scented Candle and Reed Diffuser Duo

Amalfi Lemon & Mint Classic Candle

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.

Ambre Emblem Taper Candle

Whittled Taper Candles

Maison Pechavy French Slim Taper Candles & Candle Holders

Product Button: https://www.anthropologie.com/shop/twisted-taper-candles-set-of-6

Hand-Painted Botanical Taper Candles, Set of 2

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.

Hawkins New York Essential Metal Candle Holders, Set of 2

Marizia Candle Holder

Venezia Smoke Green Glass Taper Candle Holders, Set of 3

Sujun Matte Black Candle Holders, Set of 3

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.

Snuffer and Trimmer Gold Set

Ronxs 3 in 1 Candle Accessory Set

Acqua di Parma Matches

Amarcado Ceramic Match Holder with Striker

Margot's Lighter, Gold

Marycele Candle Warmer Lamp with Timer