The best rated scented candles are not always the strongest ones. Editors pick them for scent, burn time and how well they suit the season. Here is what one fashion magazine's experts look for, and how to read it for an Australian summer Christmas.
What Makes the Best Rated Scented Candles?
A Marie Claire UK feature asked fragrance experts to name a favourite. Their picks share a few habits. This is an opinion piece, so take it as editors' taste, not a test.
Notice what the list leaves out. Nobody says a candle must be heavy or sweet. They say it must suit the person and the home.
- Good scent throw, meaning the smell reaches the whole home.
- A long burn, with listed times from about 40 to 75 hours.
- A scent the buyer loves living with.
- Freedom to look beyond winter notes.
Does a long burn time matter for a gift?
It does. A longer burn means more evenings of use, which makes a gift feel generous. Check the label, then choose a size that fits the room it will live in.
Turn a Northern Winter List Into a Summer One
The magazine is British, so many picks lean woody, smoky and spicy. Christmas here is hot. A fireside candle can feel heavy in a warm lounge. Think about the heat too. A candle works harder in a warm room, so a lighter scent often feels kinder at 30 degrees.
Bright and juicy suits us better. The Fruity range offers ripe, sunny scents that feel at home on a long summer evening. The experts themselves note that fruity and fresh scents suit the season too.
A Gift Guide for the Person You Are Buying For
Think about her home first. A big open room suits a 3-wick jar. A small flat or a desk suits something gentler.
Not sure where to start? The gifts for her page narrows it down, and gifts under $50 helps if you are keeping to a budget. Add a lighter or a candle care item if you want the gift to feel complete. Small extras show you thought about how she will use it.
Quick answers
What is the best scent to give at Christmas in Australia?
A fruity or fresh scent is a safe, cheerful pick for a hot Christmas. If you know she loves warm vanilla or wood, choose that instead.
How do you choose a candle gift for someone you do not know well?
Go for a crowd-pleasing scent, such as ripe fruit or light citrus. Skip anything very sweet or very smoky, and pick a medium jar that suits most rooms.
A candle is a small gift that gets used every night. Choose a scent that feels like summer, and she may think of you each time she lights it. Wrap it simply and add a short note.
Related reading
- Best Smelling Christmas Candles For A Summer Christmas: florals for a hot December.
- Nicest Candles To Give: A Fresh Scent Most People Enjoy: a safe, bright gift pick.
- Christmas Scented Candles And The Smell You Remember: why scent and memory pair so well.
