Blogmas | The best festive candles

I'm a bit of a candle lover, and when it gets colder and snugglier it's the perfect time to crack out the warm delicious scents. And Christmas is just the time to do this. I love the range of festive fragrances around, but it can be overwhelming, so I thought I'd try to narrow it down to my top five.

Now, scents can be a very personal preference, so what I might love, you might hate. However, hopefully they'll be something for everyone here. Also, apologies in advance but I think I probably suck as describing fragrances. So let's start at five, and work our way up to my ultimate favourite.

5. BOOTS SPICED APPLE CRUMBLE
I've not really tried Boot's own candles before, but I loved the sound of this scent. It didn't disappoint. First of all it looks awesome, I really do love the candles that decorate themselves with dried ingredients and gel. It has a very strong apple smell to it, so if you don't like apple this isn't for you, but I love its crisp sweet smell. Mixed with the cinnamon and clove it's the perfect alternative Christmas scent.

4. YANKEE CANDLE RED APPLE WREATH 
This is a Christmas fragrance I've been picking up year on year, Its a very warm fragrance that always makes me feel comfy, cosy and homely. Another apple based scent, mixed with cinnamon, maple and walnuts. You get a little nutty scent come through, but mainly its the apple and cinnamon that come through. It's not massively strong on either fragrance so you wouldn't turn around and immediately identfy it, but mixed together it's very homely.

3. YANKEE CANDLE CRANBERRY ICE

I was very kindly gifted a load of tea lights in the scent last year, and it quickly became my go to box to swap out dead tea lights when it was cold. This is definitely more on the sweet side of a Christmas fragrance. Generally I prefer a bit more spice, but I'm hooked on this. I love berry fragrances, and this has a tiny hint of tang to it which makes its sweetness bearable, and a little more Christmassy. Out of all of the Yankee Candle Christmas scents, I think this is at my top. It's not the strongest scent out there, but it's lovely and subtle.

2. THE WHITE COMPANY WINTER COLLECTION

I first smelt this when I popped into a store back in August, and quickly fell in love. It's a very warm and spicy scent, and just makes the room feel super cosy. The scent includes, orange, clove and cinnamon - all things you'd associate with Christmas, and it just makes me geniunely happy. I currently have the reed diffuser in my lounge and I love walking into the room and being hit by a wall of Christmas. This is the perfect Christmas present (as feature in my gift guide) as I think it's a scent everyone will love. Including my husband FYI...

1. ANTHROPOLOGIE ILLUME BOULANGERIE JAR IN SWEET VANILLA CINNAMON

Oh.My.God. Just wow. I don't think I've ever fallen so hard for a candle in my entire life. This has everything you'd possible want, a little bit of sweetness with the vanilla coming through, with the undercurrent of cinnamon spice. I love the smell of cinnamon generally as it makes me fell all warm and cosy and reminds me of Christmas, but it can be overpowering. Partnered with the sweet vanilla is the perfect combo, and if you get any candle for Christmas this year, it has to be this one.

Candles are the perfect way to make the home feel festive, so pick one up today and start to get that Christmas feeling.