The Ultimate Christmas Candle Edit

Still on the hunt for the perfect Christmas gift? As the day itself draws closer and closer it’s easy to get sucked into the world of panic buying, and this is where those awful Christmas gift stories come from. We’ve all heard the one of a man buying his wife an iron for Christmas haven’t we?

To avoid rash decisions, and becoming an urban legend gift-giver yourself, a candle always makes a great gift. This goes for almost anyone in your life, as who doesn’t like the glow and the scent of a lovely candle burning in your living room? So stand by, for our definitive guide on what to buy for whom.

Cloon Keen Antique Library Perfumed Candle; €40.00 at cloonkeen.com

The Book Lover

As my own living room is starting to resemble a personal library this one is high on my list. It has the lovely papery smell of an old paperback (fellow book nerds will know what I mean) mixed with the scent of leather and musky incense, making it the perfect unisex fragrance. Cloon Keen is an Irish brand, with this candle being inspired by none other than the Long Room in the library of Trinity College Dublin. Hard to resist for any bibliophile.

Max Benjamin White Pomegranate Candle;€24.95 at maxbenjamin.ie

The Kris Kindle

Possibly the hardest gift of the year to buy, you don’t want to over-spend but you also don’t want to look stingy. A Max Benjamin candle is a great option as they are reasonably priced and have gorgeous packaging. One I have frequently bought for people is White Pomegranate, as it has a lovely scent that is light and uplifting, not too sweet or heavy.

Pippa Collection Pink Peppercorn & Ruby Candle; €42.00 at pippa.ie

The Beauty Obsessed Teenager

With almost all teenagers influencer-obsessed a candle from Pippa O’Connor’s range is a winner. Not only is the packaging an Instagram dream (hello marble and rose gold) but it smells gorgeous too. Our favourite from the range is the Pink Peppercorn and Ruby.

Jo Malone London Red Roses Home Candle; €52.00 at brownthomas.com

The Glam Gal

Who doesn’t recognise the iconic monochrome packaging of Jo Malone? One that is sure to impress, as they always come gift wrapped so beautifully, we suggest a classic scent here, like Red Roses. They also come with Jo Malone matches, which look incredibly chic perched on a coffee table. Bonus points if you get the lid engraved, which they often do in Brown Thomas in the weeks before Christmas.

Brooke and Shoals Sweet Basil, Bay & Neroli Candle; €22.00 at brookeandshoals.ie

The Mother-in-Law

If you’re unsure of what scent to buy for a particularly fussy person, this Sweet Basil and Neroli from Brook and Shoals is a great option. Not too floral, but sweet enough, it’s lovely in a kitchen or bathroom. Made in Ireland using a natural wax blend, which is far kinder to the environment than paraffin wax.

Diptyque Oud Scented Candle; €50.00 at brownthomas.ie

The Minimalist

With their monochrome, but still luxurious packaging, Diptyque is the perfect choice for the minimalist in your life. Their scents are so unique to the brand that it is hard to choose just one. Oud, is a mysterious, deep woody scent that evokes the smell of church incense with notes of patchouli and sandalwood. As it is such a musky fragrance, with black and white packaging, it’s a great unisex candle.

The Burren Perfumery Neroli and Orange Soy Candle; €12.50 at burrenperfumery.com

The Ec0-warrior

Based in the wild landscape of Co. Clare, The Burren Perfumery scents are inspired by nature. A small, family run company, their candles are made with soy wax and only scented with essential oils. This is bound to please your clean beauty loving friend, and your supporting a small Irish business at the same time. Win-win.

Le Labo Santal 26; €63.00 at lelabofragrances.com

The Perfume Buff

Any perfume lover worth their salt is a fan of Le Labo. Notoriously tricky to get your hands on, the brand is now available to buy at Dublin Airport. Santal 26 is their standout fragrance, a surprisingly sexy scent with smoky, leathery notes. You can also get the label personalised with the persons name, which is a lovely touch. It smells unlike anything else so makes a really stand-out gift.