I’ve always been a sucker for the holidays. There’s just something about it that has always appealed to me. I’ll do the gingerbread houses, stockings and the cookies. I’ve done everything at least once, except for Hallmark movies. I’m not ashamed to march right into a Bath & Body Works and smell the best holiday candles they have to offer. In fact, I did and I’ll tell you which ones I wouldn’t mind smelling till my eyes started watering.
Fresh Balsam
The name says it all. It’s that pine tree smell you get when you just throw it on top of the car or when you have to stuff your face into it to hang a particularly heavy ornament. A truly timeless smell that appeals to noses of all sensitivities.
Peppermint Marshmallow
This could be a very divisive candle. If you like having your home smell like, well, peppermint, then this is for you. My God, will it smell like peppermint. However, if your nostrils can only handle as much as your taste buds can of this seasonal treat, then you might want to keep reading.
Flannel
I guess the idea behind this candle was to capture the logger-type scent. I don’t know if they succeeded or failed, but it just smells like someone drenched wax in cologne. I guess it’s a great candle for those who enjoy the smell of their grandfather, but really, it’s a shame because the smell would work great as a spray. As a holiday candle, though, I’m not entirely sure what it’s marketing.
Frosted Cranberry
This candle smells much better than it should have. I expected, like most candles, an intense saturation of an already overbearing scent. This was very different. “Frosted Cranberry” carried that sweet smell in a muted undertone that almost made me spend $24.50 on it. First it giveth, then it taketh your money.
Spiced Gingerbread
A sensitive nose would quake at the scent of “Spiced Gingerbread.” The smell hits you at full force and adds an extra curveball: an after-smell. It’s hard to describe what an after-smell is like — it’s like an aftertaste, but more fragrant. The downside is that if you don’t like the scent to begin with, the after-smell won’t do you any favors. However, I do have to give Bath & Body Works props on managing to pull it off.
Champagne Toast
Another surprisingly good, soft smell. This scent is by no means overpowering and headache- inducing. It’s just enough to get its message across. The enticing aroma of champagne is what this candle has to offer and it makes for a simple, but sophisticated, scent to have wafting around your home.
These are just a few of the many candles you will find on the market this holiday season. Hopefully, you’ll go candle hunting as well and make me feel less embarrassed. Don’t forget to practice fire safety.
