The Best Winter Candles

I'm a fan of scented candles whatever the weather, but there's something about dark evenings (and afternoons!) that makes me appreciate them even more. These are my top three for the festive season...

Jo Malone Incense & Embers. Need I say more? I'm pretty sure the name alone is enough to convince you how gorgeous this is. There's something distinctly celestial about this scent, which is definitely more incense than embers. Not the type I burned at uni... but the kind of alluring smokiness that might waft through the air as you stroll by a beautiful golden temple on a heady evening (I'm there now - in my head - grounded only by the cuppa and Rich Tea next to me). Incense & Embers smells rich and reassuring, with leather and amber lifted by vetiver and fir... perfect for this time of year.

Field Day candles (formerly Bog Standard) are made a few miles up the road from me and the limited edition Winter scent is hands down my favourite. Its maker has mastered the traditional festive cocktail of cinnamon, clove and orange - which I usually shy away from - quite beautifully. Field Day Winter throws quite a lot of scent, yet has a sophisticated softness to it that smells much more expensive than its very reasonable price tag (£13.95). It reminds me of the kitchen while baking Christmas cake, with a pot of mulled wine simmering on the stove... I'd happily gift this to everyone I know for Christmas, confident that it would be a winner. I've been burning it a lot and everyone who comes into the house comments on how lovely it is. Very importantly (to me) - this is not so overtly festive that you couldn't burn it long into the New Year. Don't hang about though, a wee bird tells me there's not many left.

Neom Perfect Peace is an uplifting, soothing scented candle made with 25 (!!!) essential oils including pine, myrrh and lime. I prefer it to Neom's traditional Christmas Wish fragrance and think it makes a particularly good choice for daytime burning, perhaps even on The Big Day itself? It makes a striking centrepiece and I have a feeling it would work well paired with a glass of something sparkling, a theory I may need to put to the test...

What's your favourite Winter candle?


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Autumn Candles

Since the clocks went back and darker nights set in, my love of candles has been rekindled and I've been burning one most days. Here are a few current favourites...

 

This is my second Rathbornes candle, hand poured in Dublin and made with pure essential oils. Wild Mint, Watercress & Thyme was inspired by aromatic herb gardens, with a blend of mint, lemon, eucalyptus, camphor, rosemary, thyme and ginger. For me this is an invigorating day time scent and an absolute breath of fresh air. The travel sized candles (£16) are a great way to try out the different scents. 

Charles Farris scented candles are made with premium ingredients encased in artesian hand-finished glass. The striking midnight blue makes a welcome change from the usual white or clear jars. The fragrance blends are picked by in-house perfumers and mine is Redolent Fig - an authentic blend of wild green fig leaves mixed with a hint of fruity cassis, soft florals and woody base notes. 

I've raved about Jo Malone Basil & Neroli already but had to include it as I've been burning it more than any other. Thankfully it's literally a slow burner and lasting well (read my full review here) ...if dark nights drag you down a little, this will lift your spirits while making your home smell incredible. Alternatively, Pine & Eucalyptus smells like walking through an enchanted Winter forest. 

L'Occitane Light up my Future is a limited edition fresh citrus candle, developed in partnership with Marie Claire to raise funds for the education of girls and young women in developing countries. I'll be picking up a few more of these (£8) as gifts in support of such a great cause. 


Products featured on Strawberry Blonde Beauty include press samples. See my full disclaimer here.

Spitalfields Candle Company ~ fragrant flickering Christmas

I love it when someone’s passion becomes their way of life, when they pour so much of themselves into something they love that it touches other people’s lives in a really positive way.  A couple of years ago Andrew and Philippa made a dozen orange and clove candles on the stove as Christmas presents for friends; last year they made more than 4000!

They have now moved from a small stall at Spitalfields Market to the High Street, but each candle is still lovingly hand blended and poured...

“We use a soya wax from a sustainable source, and only aromatherapy-grade essential oils. Wherever possible we use organic oils, or those made from UK-grown plant and herb extracts. The result is a 100% natural candle which gently fills any room with a beautiful fragrance.”

The Spitalfields Candle Company is a small company with big dreams.  Still in its early days, the company has had very little marketing or exposure yet, so I was honoured when Andrew invited me to review a few of his creations.  He’s also allowed me to share a special Christmas discount code with all of you… more about that later.

I’ll start with my favourite…

 Orange & Clove I’m not generally a fan of any fragrance that includes clove; it can have a sharpness that just doesn’t appeal to me - but not in this case. This smell is soft, warm and strangely comforting - both calming and uplifting. The orange is stronger than the clove (another plus) and it’s Christmassy, but not the kind of Christmassy smell that you go right off on the 26th December (is it just me that does that?).  Truly, it’s the most perfect Christmas fragrance I’ve ever come across. We’re bombarded with them on the High Street, and the best I’ve found in the past is White Company’s Winter Oil, but this candle knocks its socks off and everyone who comes into our home when it’s burning just swoons. I’d defy anyone not to like it.

Frankincense & Juniper are two scents that I personally adore - and a gorgeous alternative for Christmas. This candle is gorgeously rich, warm and spicey… I’d quite happily bathe in this fragrance.  The essential oil content means that you actually do sense the benefits when these candles burn ~ exotic, calming and soothing sums this one up perfectly. 

Ylang Ylang & Patchouli is Spitalfields Candle Company’s best seller. A sweet, exotic, floral scent, it is sensual, relaxing and balancing.  My sister, who adores candles, fell so in love with this fragrance I gave it to her.  She normally favours the likes of Diptyque, but has declared this little number the most beautiful candle she has ever smelt! This one, pictured above, is the smaller Classic Votive, 60g size. You can see how it compares to the others in the first pic at the top.

One of my favourite things about cold dark nights is lighting a candle and relaxing in its glow...

If you’re thinking of treating yourself or a loved one to a fragranced candle this Christmas, I’d definitely recommend that you head over to spitalfieldscandles.co.uk to check out its gorgeous range and support an amazing fledgling company! The full range includes Lavender & Chamomile, Lemon Verbena (next on my list!), Rose Geranium, Rosemary & Thyme, Vetyver & Lavender.

The little Class Votive 60g candles (see Ylang Ylang & Patchouli above) cost £8.99 and the Large 200g cost £25.

Enter CHRISTMAS+2011 at the checkout for 25% discount until 15 December 2011. P&P is free on orders over £25.