One of the many joys of gardening is the scent that comes off the flowers – a wonderful, comforting reward after all your hard work over the seasons. During winter, with more time spent indoors, we need other ways of getting that reassuring scent of nature. The best scented candles are, we think, those with a botanical twist, as they are the perfect way of reminding ourselves of the brighter seasons to come. Christmas candles can also bring an instant burst of festivity into our homes.
Here we have combined the two and compiled a list of 12 botanical Christmas candles to get you into a cosy wintry mood, while also feeling optimistic for the gardening year to come.
These candles would make a wonderful gardening gift for that special gardener in your life. And love all things botanical? Check out our tried and tested botanical gins for Christmas here.
Don't miss our gift guide for kids' gardening presents and ideas for last minute Christmas gifts.
Here's our Christmas gift guide for gardening gift ideas
The best botanical candles
Aery Botanical Collection candles
Liven up your senses with this set of three candles from the vegan candle and diffuser brand Aery Living.
This is one of their botanical collections (they have two) and it reminds us of winter evenings by the fire and crisp, cold days out at a National Trust garden. The set includes a Herbal Tea candle with essential oils chamomile, lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, coriander & thyme; a Green Bamboo candle with essential oils cypress, patchouli, orange, sandalwood, pink pepper and herbs; and a Black Oak candle with essential oils cedarwood, cardamom, nutmeg, oakwood, oakmoss and spices.
The green brand uses 100 per cent soy candle wax from sustainable European-grown soy for an eco-friendly, clean burn with lead-free cotton wicks. With its eco-friendly ingredients and gorgeous scents this is a wonderful gift for eco-conscious gardeners.
Burn time: 15 hours
Collingwood Cedar, Birch and Vetiver botanical candle
- Buy now from Collingwood (£38)
Transport yourself deep into the heart of a forest with this botanical candle rich with smoky cedar and birch that unfurls to reveal bergamot, vetiver and warm amber.
The candle wax is made from an eco-friendly mix of mineral and coconut wax and the scents are made from pure essential oil. This is a scented candle we'll be burning all winter long.
190g
Burn time: 40 hours
Cockles and Heart vintage botanical candles
- Buy now from Cockles and Heart (from £22.50)
Brand new eco-focused, herb-obsessed candle company Cockles and Heart offers quirky homemade candles using all natural materials, with scents grown on a smallholding in Devon. The candles are made using coconut and rapeseed wax (the candles have no nasties) and they have organic cotton wicks. What's more, they all come in beautiful porcelain cups, sugar bowls, milk jugs and more.
The herbs used are grown organically and the candles are also scented using essential oils. We particularly love the bergamot and lime offering, but there's thyme, lavender and plenty of other scents to choose from.
Burn time: Between 15 and 35 + hours
The Botanist scented candle
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This scented candle from designer Paul Smith evokes smells of moss and lemon as well as haitian vetiver. This would make the perfect gardening gift, or keep it for yourself and burn when you need a dose of heavenly garden scents.
It comes in a beautiful coloured glass jar, and once you've reached the end of the scented candle (sob) the ceramic jar would make a stylish pot for pens, pencils or even for for seed storage. And lucky for us garden lovers, the botanical scent also comes in the form of a diffuser and a 1000g candle.
240g
Burn time: 50 hours
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Earl of East Greenhouse botanical candle
Known for their intense scented candles, Earl of East has somewhat of a cult following. We love their whole range of hand-poured candles but Greenhouse is the scent we'd recommend. Thanks to the blend of vine tomato, parsley seed and basil, it has a fresh fragrance, reminiscent of summer days in the garden.
Poured into an amber apothecary glass, these eco-soy candles have a minimalist vibe. They can sit fairly subtly on the shelf, but when lit, the scent gently transports you into relaxation mode.
170ml
Burn time: 35-40 hours
Octō Italian Garden botanical candle
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With its blend of therapeutic-grade rosemary, sweet orange and sage essential oils, this candle's scent is reminiscent of long walks through an Italian garden. The scent is also great for a natural lift and memory boost, as the antidepressant properties of rosemary oil are ideal for focus and overall brain performance.
These candles are made from soy wax and are hand poured in small batches in London.
250ml
Burn time: 40-50 hours
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Jo Loves Christmas Trees botanical candle
- Buy now from Cult Beauty (£55)
What could be more festive than the scent of a freshly-potted Christmas tree? As wonderful-smelling as the iconic Jo Malone candles, this botanical candle from sister-brand Jo Loves perfectly captures the warm, familiar, crisp scent of a Christmas tree. The pine notes accompany aromatic lavender, incense and amber to create an altogether festive and comforting scent.
The Christmas candle comes in a classic, silver glass candle holder with a lid to keep dust off the wax. The candle wax itself is hand-poured and cruelty-free and all comes in sustainable packaging. Jo Loves also offers personalisation, so you can leave your own message on the candle as an extra-special touch to your gift.
186g
Burn time: 37.5 hours
Buy now from Cult Beauty (£55)
Laboratory Perfumes Gorse Candle 200g
- Buy now from Parasol (£55)
Inspired by the Provence countryside, covered in gorse, this is a candle which gives off a fresh and delicate scent. Blending gorse with coconut and a hint of cardamom it's a lovely way to be transported to summer in the midst of winter.
270g
Burn time: 40 hours
Buy now from Parasol (£55)
Holistic London Moroccan Orange and Mimosa botanical candle
- Buy now from Holistic London (from £19)
According to scented candle brand Holistic London, this handcrafted candle will fill your home with a scent so comforting and inviting, no one will ever want to leave. The orange essential oil has a relaxing and calming effect, while instilling positivity, combined with the warm and comforting scent of mimosa.
The orange blossom used for the candle is responsibly sourced and hand picked in Morocco.
120ml, 180ml or 500ml
Burn time: 40 hours
Buy now from Holistic London (from £19)
Agua de Jardin botanical candle
- Buy now from Selfridges (£50)
This is a deliciously scented candle from cult candle brand Boy Smells. It's inspired by 'lost civilisations' and evokes scents of tropical gardens.
The botanical candle includes notes of pimento berry, coconut water, jasmine, fig leaves, macadamia nut, ambrox and salted musks. The palette is velvety and nutty, with rich, exotic notes - perfect for a dark, winter evening. The candle wax is hand-poured and made from coconut and beeswax, all encased in a striking, moss-green tumbler.
Be sure to check out Boy Smells's Gardener candle too, which has notes of tomato vines and honeysuckle.
240g
Burn time: 55 hours
Buy now from Selfridges (£50)
Ptolemy Aromatique candle
- Buy now from Aēsop (£83)
If you really fancy treating yourself or a loved one this Christmas, the Ptolemy Aromatique scented candle from luxury skincare brand Aēsop would make an unforgettable gift, and a long-lasting one too! This botanical candle evokes scents of an ancient Japanese forest. The cedar, cyprus and vetiver conjure up earthy, woody notes, perfect for a winter's day tucked up indoors.
The botanical candle is made with vegan-friendly ingredients and comes in a stylish, minimal jar – a perfect gift for a style-savvy gardener.
300g
Burn time: 65 hours
Buy now from Aēsop (£83)
First Light scented soy candle
- Buy now from Green Tulip (£11)
This botanical candle is made by The Botanical Candle Co., professionals in naturally-derived candles and is made with vegan-friendly soy wax and essential oils. With a clean and peppery scent, this botanical candle is designed to be lit first thing in the morning, to give you that fresh-air feeling that you get after an invigorating winter walk.
Notes include menthol, tea tree, camphor, kino (eucalyptus resin) and pepper – all zingy ingredients to help wake you up! It's also a great candle to burn when you're feeling stressed and need to unwind or shake off the day.
500g
Burn time: 80 hours
Buy now from Green Tulip (£11)
What is the correct way of burning a candle?
It may seem like a silly question, but burning a candle in a way that doesn't create that annoying 'tunneling' effect is all down to the way you first burn it. Tunneling is when only a small amount of wax is melted, leaving the rest to annoyingly gather around the edges. To avoid this, you should burn your new candle for one hour for every inch in diameter on its first burn until the whole top layer of wax is burning. So, for example, if your candle is two inches in diameter, you should let it burn for two hours to melt the top layer evenly. Lastly, always remember to keep your candle wick trimmed to around 3mm to avoid soot building up around your candle jar.
Read our guide to the best garden candles for creating an evening glow.
