The scented gifts others won’t hold a candle to.

The colder months of year might elicit shivers of dread for some of us, but for others they are an opportunity to appreciate the cosier side of life. And aside from cashmere throws and roaring fires, what’s cosier than a candle? Candles have been around since ancient Egyptian times and have seen humanity through its darkest times (the Victorians in particular were fond of them), but nowadays they are one of life’s luxuries rather than a necessity; something with which to create a pleasant atmosphere, and not to mention a shrewd gift. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the finest candles below, where you can find us waxing lyrical (ahem) on why they’ll make the season ahead that little bit more special.

As you might expect for a company that’s been around for nearly four centuries and has supplied the palace of Versailles and King Louis XIV with candles, Cire Trudon is rather special. Founded in 1643 in Paris, it is the oldest candle-maker in the world, and its candles are as rich and fêted as its history. Its Abd El Kader candle is one of the house’s lighter-scented offerings, and mixes the freshness of spearmint and ginger with the warmth of vanilla.

Mr Tom Daxon is clearly a fan of Mr Dylan Thomas, and has named his Under Milk Wood candle after the Welsh poet’s 1954 radio drama. Its fragrance is intoxicatingly smoky, full of old-world scents like patchouli, suede, amber and musk, giving it a heady smell that’s ideal for adding a warm atmosphere to a chilly winter evening.

A Fornasetti candle isn’t just for Christmas, so to speak – the ceramic vessels that house its vegetable-based wax candles are keepsakes in their own right and make a welcome addition to the home long after their wicks have burned down. The house’s candles also frequently feature Mr Piero Fornasetti’s muse, the opera singer Ms Lina Cavalieri, who in this iteration can be seen wearing a golden burlesque mask. It features the brand’s Otto fragrance, a spicy, warming scent made from a mixture of lavender and thyme, cedarwood, orris and incense.

Jo Malone London’s Oud & Bergamot is one of the brand’s headiest scents, and its candle fills the room with a smooth, satisfyingly dark fragrance. Made from black wax and housed in a black glass vessel, it’s just the thing to set the mood for an evening of drinks by the fire.

Staid Diptyque mainstays such as Feu de Bois and Baies might be infallible classics, but for something particularly appropriate for the festive season, give the brand’s new Sapin de Lumière a go. Packed full of lush woody scents, it evokes a verdant pine forest. Wintry and fresh, it comes in two sizes: 190g and 70g, the modest size of the latter making a particularly apposite gift.

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