Christmas candles are a classic part of holiday decorating. They come in different sizes, scents, and materials, and they vary in how they should be used and stored. Keep reading for a closer look at Christmas candles and some of the best scents for the season.
Christmas decor hardly feels complete without candles. They are one of the holiday’s key symbols and have been part of Christmas traditions for centuries. For Christians, candles represent the Star of Bethlehem.
Christmas candles come in different types, serve different uses, and have seasonal scents. Scented Christmas candles can suit the holiday, and common questions concern their types, uses, and scents.
What Are Christmas Candles?
Christmas Candles in Holiday Traditions
Christmas candles can symbolize the Star of Bethlehem and commemorate the birth of Jesus, whom Christians often call the Light of the World.
Lighting a candle in the window on Christmas Eve has traditionally signaled hospitality and welcomed wanderers. In some countries, the candle is understood as a greeting for guests, and accounts of Christmas candle use date back to the Middle Ages.
Four Advent candles
The Advent season starts on a Sunday sometime from November 27 to December 3 and ends on December 24, Christmas Eve. Four candles are lit weekly on the Sundays of Advent.
The traditional Advent set contains one pink candle and three purple candles. Advent candles also include one white Christ Candle, which is lit on Christmas Eve and burns overnight until Christmas morning.
Some large Advent candles mark the days of December, with the final mark falling on December 25. Light the candle daily and let it burn down to the next mark. Depending on the model, the markings may start on December 1 or at the beginning of Advent for the current year.
Christmas window candle meaning
Irish immigrants brought the window-candle tradition to the United States. During periods of British oppression in Ireland, a candle in the window could signal that Catholic priests were welcome to enter and celebrate Mass. In the United States, the tradition later came to signify welcome to travelers and overnight guests.
Many households in the present-day United States still use Christmas window candles, although they serve a decorative purpose and no longer carry their past symbolism. Christmas candles can also lift the festive spirit.
Christmas scents
Christmas scents can come from oranges, vanilla, cinnamon, or gingerbread, as well as a Christmas tree, baked cookies, hot wine, a pine forest, ground coffee beans, cold fresh air, or hot chocolate. Scented candles use these Christmas scents as home fragrance.
Choosing Christmas Candle Brands
Fragrance oils should be non-toxic and vegan, and candles should be free from phthalates and parabens. When selecting a Christmas candle, check the fragrance safety and the materials used.
Paper, cotton, cardboard, and soy wax are examples of materials used in candles. Natural ingredients may make candles suitable for some homes, while fragrance oils should meet the standards of the International Fragrance Association, or IFRA.
Diptyque candles may be among the best; proper storage can help them last for years.
Popular Brands of Christmas Candles
The following 10 brands make scented Christmas candles and may be worth considering before you buy.
Yankee Candle Brand
The Bath & Body Works Candle Brand
Anthropologie
Sand + Fog Candle Line
WoodWick Candle Brand
Homesick Brand
Voluspa Brand
Diptyque Brand
Paddywax Brand
DW Home Brand
More Christmas Candle Ideas and Advice
Christmas Scent Candles
Christmas fragrances can evoke feelings of joy and bring memories to mind, especially familiar notes such as cinnamon, warm cocoa, a pine forest, and oranges. Favorite Christmas scents include baked cookies, mulled wine with oranges, cinnamon, vanilla, and crisp cold air.
Christmas Cookie Candle by Yankee Candle
Sparkling Cinnamon Candle by Yankee Candle
Safe Candle Burning and Window Use
A nearby open window may create a draft while a candle burns, increasing fire risk. If you burn a paraffin candle and need ventilation, open a window away from the candle rather than creating a draft beside it.
Natural-wax candles with natural cotton wicks are presented as an alternative for enclosed spaces. They may reduce concerns about fumes, but ventilation should not require placing a burning candle near a draft.
Keep a burning candle away from air conditioners, fans, and open windows. Avoiding moving air can reduce fire risk, but it cannot eliminate that risk entirely.
Candle Gift Symbolism
A candle can be a gift for anyone. Its symbolism may represent warmth, support, and affection, while candlelight may symbolize optimism.
Some scents may have a calming effect. A lavender candle containing natural lavender extract may be an option for someone with a stressful job.
A scented candle gift works for a new home, a new job, a birthday, or Christmas.
Christmas Home Scent Without Scented Candles
Place orange peels around the house, especially near radiators, where the heat releases their Christmas scent. Natural pine branches can also add fragrance, and decorating them improves their appearance; a natural Christmas tree can provide a whole-home scent throughout the holiday.
Cinnamon sticks and freshly baked Christmas cookies can scent the living space. For a stronger scent, pair these natural aromatic sources with high-quality scented candles.
Funny Candle Gift Sayings
- “A true friend is one who makes you laugh so hard you pee a little.”
- “You work harder than an ugly stripper—overworked and underpaid.”
- “My last f**k. Oh look… It’s on fire!”
- “Don’t make me use my mom voice!”
- “I had the privilege of meeting you!”
- “I survived another meeting that should have been an email.”
- “Sometimes you forget you are awesome, so this is your reminder.”
- “I’m only talking to my dog today.”
- “You are awesome! Keep that sh*t up.”
- “Don’t let anyone treat you like free salsa; you are guac!”
