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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 in my house 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.
Seasonal Scents
Autumn is peak candle season, and we love to stock up on all the warming scents that evoke cozy afternoons at home and long walks in the woods. If you like things on the sweeter side, 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 apple crisp and pumpkin pie in your house whenever you light it, which may or may not be a good thing. If you're more into the smoky, mysterious side of fall scents, go for DS & Durga's Tuberose Myrrder or Catbird's Tarot Deck candle, which has back-to-school notes of pencil shavings.
Classic Scents
I love lighting a scented candle (or three) when I'm having guests over for dinner, but I never want the my candles to overpower the scent of whatever delicious thing is about to come out of my oven. That's where these clean, classic scents come in. They're subtle enough to blend with the other (good!) smells in your home, but intriguing in a way that will have your friends snapping photos so they can buy one and copy your scentscape.
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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Candleholders
If you want to make an extra-nice host gift, pair some of our favorite taper candles with a set of candleholders, 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 special candle accessories. Wick trimmers, snuffers, and nice matches are always welcome in a candle lover;s household.
