The Best Scented Candles to Burn Now

Jo Malone London's annual Christmas collection has landed, which means it's finally time to start thinking about the end-of-year gifting mission. Your safest bet for in-laws, siblings, and pretty much anyone in-between, is the brand's limited-edition candle, which this year smells of gingerbread and cinnamon.

Trudon creative director, Julien Pruvost, has been trying to tempt tea master Yu Hui Tseng into a collaboration for years – and now, he has succeeded.

The only female Chinese tea master and owner of Paris’ legendary La Maison des Trois Thés, Tseng has worked with the history-steeped fragrance house on a trio of limited-edition scented candles. None attempt to cut-and-paste the scent of tea itself, but instead pay homage to the rich traditions surrounding the art.

Speaking to Tseng’s razor-sharp sense of smell, each scent is delicate yet complex. L’Esprit de l’Eau is an incense-warmed ode to spring water, with mineral freshness over crisp juniper and pepper. Sous un Ciel de Pétales' is floral and bright, with notes of Himalayan jasmine and lemon. But the truly memorable choice is Terre à Terre: a muddy, mossy ode to tea terroir, with notes of elemi, ambergris and patchouli combining to create the scent of a humid forest.

For a brand that has created scents inspired by pasta water and Black Francis, this fireplace-themed candle is actually pretty pedestrian. It does showcase exactly what the indie (literally: they're wholly owned by the 'noses') perfume house does best though, which is turn an everyday scent into something spectacular. Trust this one to turn even the most soulless rental flat into something cosy and homely.

Created 16 years ago, Malin + Goetz’ cannabis candle was inspired, obviously, by a trip to Amsterdam in the 1970s. While the origin story might be predictable, what might surprise you is that this now-cult fragrance smells more like a freshly cut lawn than a teenage bedroom: think bright bergamot and punchy black pepper over creamy sandalwood.

This month, the brand celebrates its signature aroma with a limited-edition drop, created in collaboration with Brain Dead. The aroma remains the same, but the wax is now green, and comes wrapped in the creative collective’s trademark graphics.

Byredo’s candles are endlessly popular, and there’s a scent in the line-up to satisfy just about anyone. The latest, Sweet Grass conjures the dry desert heat via meditative palo santo and musk, making for an aroma that truly brings the outdoors (if not the Great British outdoors) in.

Earl of East's London-made candles are made using pure soy wax and can fill a high-ceilinged room with ease. An ode to the Grand Trianon, Versailles, Jardin de la Lune is a woody, aromatic scent with a heady white-floral twist via tuberose.

Loewe's artisanal terracotta candles are a style statement regardless of whether you actually light the wick or not. We do recommend you ignite this one, though: the aromatic, earthy scent will elevate any living space.

A staple of the millennial coffee table, Assouline's Travel Series tomes are as much a style statement as they are actual reading material. Now, you can burn the book of your choice via the corresponding ceramic candle. Ibiza smells like zingy citrus over warm, heady patchouli which, depending on which side of the White Isle you frequent, may or may not be an accurate depiction.

In the same vein as the cult Parisian brand's signature fragrance, this 100% soy-wax candle burns (for 24 hours) with a classically masculine blend of bright citrus and deep woody notes.

Weird but completely welcome, Haeckels' Pluviophile candle is the olfactory equivalent of throwing open the front doors mid-downpour.'

Wet concrete' might not have the same ring to it as 'fresh flowers', but this unusual candle boasts addictive, unconventional appeal. It's blended with petrichor – the chemical compound released after rainfall – and smells uncannily like a coastal road on a rainy day

This is the candle version of the scent rumoured to be Harry Styles' fragrance of choice – a fact that sent demand spiralling last year. Indeed, it's a very nice smell to have on your body or in your bedroom: think a deep, warming blend of sweet vanilla and smoky woods.

This year, Maison Francis Kurkdjian has eschewed the predictable vanilla and cinnamon notes to create a Christmas collection that feels wholly refreshing. Inspired by a snow-capped garden, Jasmin d'Hiver blends heady white florals with the sweetness of mango: it's fruity, floral and potentially festive, depending on how good your imagination is.

Part of Paul Smith's pleasingly perky homeware line, this colour-blocked glass candle will breathe life into any living space. The Botanist scent is perfect for warm days and nights: think peppy lemon and vetiver combined with herbs: a fitting ode to the great British garden.

Diptyque's candles are loved for their aesthetic as much as their aroma, so it makes sense for the brand to be moving into refillables. Crafted from heavy engraved glass and designed to be kept forever, these luxe votives can be topped up with scented wax inserts (which are considerably cheaper than the original). The brand has created four new scents to accompany the collection: Temple Des Mousses conjures a Japanese zen garden with an earthy blend of moss, matcha and woods.

Burning with the same unmistakeable blend of bergamot and woods, this classic yellow candle is the perfect gift for any loyal wearer of Acqua di Parma's Colonia.

Once you know that 'skog' is Swedish for 'forest', the appeal of this one grows exponentially. Pine and fir trees blend with bright florals, creating a calming yet bracing scent.

The scent that made Le Labo a name worth dropping, Santal 26 now boasts heavyweight cult status. Turns out, it makes a stellar home scent too: the soft, sweet sandalwood and leather blend feels warming, yet never cloying.

French fragrance house Eight & Bob makes vegetable-wax candles that feel fresh and invigorating – never fusty or cloying. Start with Varenna: an ode to Lake Como, it blends bright green botanicals with a smooth amber base.

The note to unite all fragrance heads, fig leaf smells famously good –be it in a mens fragrance or a candle. This one combines the sharp green note with mind-clearing eucalyptus and deep, smooth cedarwood.

Properly sustainable, B-Corp certified bath and body brand Comfort Zone makes some of the best candles for slowing down a brain that's slipped into overdrive. Sweet orange is combined with earthy, grounding cedarwood: a welcome alternative to the host of saccharine lavender scents out there.