My Christmas Tree Might Be Artificial, But These 9 Candles Mean My Living Room Still Smells Like a Festive Woodland

Key notes: Pine, eucalyptus

Burn time: 45 hours

Jo Malone London is a brand that nails Christmas scents every single year, and their limited-edition Pine Eucalyptus scent perfectly captures the spirit of the season while still managing to feel fresh and modern. It’s deliciously crisp and clear—and definitely brings that traditional Christmas tree element to the forefront with an abundance of pine—but the addition of eucalyptus adds an almost grounding element which provides some much-needed calm in the run up to the big day itself.

Key notes: Pine, resin, cedar, moss

Burn time: 50 hours

There is always something that feels so special about lighting a Diptyque candle at Christmas and Sapin—the brand’s classic pine tree fragrance— is always a huge seasonal hit. Once lit, you’d be forgiven for thinking that my fake tree was transported from a snowy mountain farm in the Alps thanks to just how icy fresh this scent is. It’s festive, elegant and undeniably sophisticated and captures the very spirit of winter in one chic gold jar.

Key notes: Spruce, snow on cypress, fresh pine, incense, spices, far off smoke

Burn time: 60 hours

This cleverly named candle from D.S. Durga delivers exactly what it says— the scent of a Christmas tree in a beautiful ruby red jar. This one has lots of green goodness like pine and holly, so you really get that winter forest feeling, yet there’s also a warmth to it. The subtle hints of incense and spice balance the verdancy and conjure images of enjoying a mulled wine around a cosy burning fire.

Key notes: Sweet orange oil, eucalyptus, fir, fir balsam absolute, firewood, pine, cinnamon, clove, cashmere wood

Burn time: 50 hours

I first discovered this Beauty Pie candle last year when I was lucky enough to be sent one, and it was love at first sniff. The real testament? As a beauty editor with a rather hefty candle stash already, I used up the entire candle and rushed to buy myself another one before Christmas Day hit—that’s how good it is. You don’t have to take my word for it, though; this pine candle has hundreds of 5-star reviews raving about how good it is. One reviewer even notes that “one guest thought the smell was from my Christmas tree (the fake tree)”, which is a testament to just how accurate and uplifting this festive burn is.

Key notes: Eucalyptus, pine, cedar

Burn time: 70 hours

The White Company always delivers on scented candles that are so beautiful they serve as a Christmas decoration in their own right. This one is slightly earthier than some of the others on the list, with an almost mossy undertone to it, so if you aren’t a fan of the gourmand fragrances that are normally synonymous with the festive season then chances are you’ll love this one. It’s like taking a countryside walk on Christmas morning and utterly uplifting.

Key notes: Balsam fir, resins, amber, precious woods

Burn time: 70 hours

My fake tree might be almost a decade old and looking a little tatty around the edges, but when this iconic Christmas candle from Maison Francis Kurkdjian is burning, you’d be forgiven for thinking that I’ve got a 5-star luxury spruce in my living room. This really does capture the fresh and woody scent of a traditional Christmas tree and has all of the sinus-clearing balsam fir and pine notes that you’d want in a festive candle. However, it’s the addition of amber that I think really elevates this candle to the next level and makes it smell so incredibly expensive and rich.

Key notes: Fir, myrrh, lime

Burn time: 35 hours

As much as I love Christmas, like a lot of people I find that this time of year can get quite overwhelming. So when I’m starting to feel a little frazzled, this is the candle that I’ll be burning to restore tranquility and calm to my home. It has all of the piney freshness of a Christmas tree with myrrh adding a resinous warmth and an unexpected dash of lime adding a mood-lifting citrus burst that immediately clears away any blue moods.

Key notes: Pine oil, amberwood, clove, cedarwood, peppermint, eucalyptus, patchouli, moss

It’s evident from the moment you light this candle that it’s inspired by a real forest in Scotland as it really does capture the spirit of a snow-covered woodland in candle form. I love the way that it fills my space with sharp pine needles, earthy moss and clarifying peppermint, but still has a hint of winter spice to it for a festive feel. It’s like wrapping yourself up in a cashmere scarf and heading out for a walk in the crisp Scottish Highlands. Plus, special mention to the beautiful jar which this year has the sweetest illustrations from British artist Piece of the Peach.

Key notes: Pine needles, cinnamon, clove, pink pepper, thyme, patchouli, moss, amber, velvet woods

Burn time: 40 hours

I think this pine candle is the only one on the list that isn’t from the brand’s dedicated festive offering—proving that pine candles aren’t just for the festive season. This one is a layered and complex take on a Christmas tree candle, mingling the freshness of pine needles and woods with spicier notes like pink pepper, cinnamon and clove. It’s bright, twinkly and the kind of scent that works well all season long, thanks to its lightweight and clean scent that never feels overwhelming.